2011 Room tour!

 

peek in.

I’ve been looking forward to sharing my bedroom tour for a little while now. My attempt was to make it less teenager-like, since you may know I’m a very sophisticated and mature college student these days. Except I ended up painting my desk pink and put a kitty pillow on a bed, so that worked… well.

I really wanted to change things up from my last room(well, I rearranged and added this wall several months later) without breaking the bank. I’m only going to be living here for six more months, so I didn’t want to invest in a lot of pieces and I was happy to be able to redecorate within a reasonable budget.

So let’s go on a tour!

First is my bed. The quilt is from an antique mall near Yakima, WA. It’s the softest quilt in the world and for $35, it was quite the steal. I’m excited to use it in my homes for the rest of my life. The kitten pillow was made for me by friend Brenna and the pillowcase was stolen from my mom’s linen drawers.

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That cross-stitch tray had me squealing in Goodwill and then I squealed some more when I saw it was a $1. I hot glued two paper clips to back so I had something to hang it with. I use some American Crafts glitter Thickers I had on hand to spell out “sweet dreams” above it.

I decided to pull my dresser out of the closet where it had previously lived to give the lovin’ it deserved. And, say hello, to Kara’s hair in mirror. Hello!

To those who don’t know, I painted my dresser my senior year of high school white and then hand drew on the lettering. The secrets drawer is underwear/bras, twirl is skirts, yaypants is pants, and lazy is all my lazy clothes and pajamas. Three of the knobs are from Anthropologie and one was a gift from my friend Rhi.

julyroom18_2

All the things on top of the dresser you probably recognize. The pastry deck thing was from Goodwill that I spray painted yellow, the white pedestal was a gift from my mom, the pink bowl was from Anthroplogie, and the glass earring holder was from the dollar store.

I display my necklaces with small nails straight into the wall. The mirror was also from Goodwill that I spray painted yellow.

love that hat.

Moving over to the wall is one my new favorite organizing things! I had this large plywood Tolkein quote wall thing(inspired by Mandi) that I wasn’t ready to part with, but sort of tired of seeing everyday. I decided to flip it around and organize my to-do lists by project on them.

corner

This system has been working really well for me. I print off the papers(Pacifico font), and use artist tape to secure them. Having them right in front of me helps and I like the organization by project. That way I can pick a day to work one thing and stay focused.

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I machine sewed the American Crafts glitter thickers to this piece of lace, put two tiny nails in the wood, and used binder clips to hold up the banner.

to do.

And now my very favorite corner!

julyroom17_640

I got bored with my old desk and decided to face-lift it with some bright pink. I used the shade Amber Rose by Valspar.  The Lowes guy recommended using the floor and deck paint to make it more durable.  I used two coats of primer and three coats of the pink. For the quart sized primer and paint it was $20. Which was more than the $15 I spent on the desk several years ago from a thrift store.

I am also considering some exterior renovations of our house, but we may just go with a professional power washing of the deck. I checked a few companies, and most likely, we will go with these guys since they seem to have amazing reviews and really know what they are doing:

https://triplecleanpowerwashing.com/

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Another frugal favorite of my desk area is those shelves(right image). I had these subtle, wire wall shelves in my head that I couldn’t find anywhere. It dawned on me that I was looking for something a store supply store would have. Luckily, there is this great(and weird) store supply store in Nampa, Idaho called the Farm Store where they have things like 8 dollar overalls and a room full of disembodied mannequins.

I had to hunt these down in the backroom, but they were $1.50 each. My dad helped me screw them into the wall.

Resources: German cuckoo clock from a White Elephant gift exchange(I believe they got it when they were in Germany), sweater cat print from Paper Sparrow, God is Love bookmark thrifted, Pink girl print from Danny Brito,  Wuthering Heights copy gift, Chinese cat gifted by Danielle, two Kim Smith prints, and the large yarn painting was from the Brass Razoo.

That cup is the source of my new Russell Wright obsession. The color! The design! Ah! The mini book was created by me for my Life Story class.

Sigh. This whole little desk area makes me happy.

desk.

Resources: Agnes print by Ashley G, thrifted Fiddler on the Roof record, vintage doily, glass thing from Pattycakes Vintage, assorted old books, vintage embroidery, Rhi zines, Anthropologie plate, and Little Otsu planners.

That plastic baby makes me really uncomfortably happy. My mom bought them somewhere for a children’s Sunday School craft and I asked if I could have it. That mini book on top was made for me a few years ago by Mandi.

And, can we all just swoon over that aqua chair? I had been searching at every thrift store in the Valley for a reasonably priced desk chair and freaked out when I found this. Kip told me about the Youth Ranch outlet store on Orchard and Irving in Boise. If you’ve ever been to the “Bins” in Portland, this is the Youth Ranch equivalent of it. It’s gross and dirty and you dig through huge bins of crap to hopefully find a treasure or two. Each piece of clothing is $.50 and all the housewares and junk is pay by the pound. They have quite a bit of junky furniture outside, couches are like $5-10 and each chair is a $1. I found a few chairs I didn’t mind outside, but was wandering around inside to see what I could find when I saw this beauty. It was a school chair with the desk top still attached.

Currently I’m waiting for a commenter to freak out on me about removing the desk ledge. But, hear me out. Yes, it was absolutely fantastic as a school chair, but it’s not really practical. I won’t have a house big enough to use it just to look at it, so I asked my dad to remove it so I can use it for a chair. And, it rocks. So don’t hate.

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And, alas, my window seat. I had used it to display a bunch of books, but got bored it so I modified it some.

windowseat.

The typewriter is another thrift store find. I loved the font, so that why I got it.

typewriter

I also wanted to have my favorite mini-books, art journals, and scrapbook pages within grabbing distance. Ah, paper makes me happy.

all my minis and art journals and scrapbook pages.

And some peaks in my closet. (Link to another shot).

Glasses organization. A folded vintage hanky over glitter ribbon:

glasses.

And my instant photo repository:

julyroom24

With a pretty Ashley G raindrop from Rhi too.

And, there you have it! Thanks for reading and listening to me brag about my thrift store deals.

{ 48 comments… add one }

  • Kate March 4, 2012, 12:54 pm

    Great vintage feel – I really love your dresser!!

    Reply
  • batool January 19, 2012, 1:36 pm

    i love your room can you sent pictures of a 10 year old girls room i am going to paint my sisters room for her birthday!!!!

    Reply
  • Carly M. January 2, 2012, 3:03 pm

    Your bedroom full out BLEW MY MIND. I love the colors and the cute, happy, I-don’t-have-a-care-in-the- world sort of feel to it. You have such a way with thrift stores, and you know how to make thrift seem classy. I’ve looked through your blog 4 times and counting………..and i still can’t get enough! Trust me, i will DEFINITELY be back. :)

    Reply
  • Laura November 19, 2011, 12:39 pm

    I love the dresser space and how you painted the names on the drawers. Awesome idea! The space is quite simple but you have really made it special! I have picked up so many ideas…

    Reply
  • Jess September 29, 2011, 10:39 am

    This is soooooooo lovely, especially your chest of drawers!! Genius idea! Room envy.. . .

    Jess x

    Reply
  • anka August 5, 2011, 8:31 am

    Your bedrooms is great! I loved the tour, the to do wall lists and the typewriter. I’ll be back again.

    Reply
  • Heather August 4, 2011, 6:02 pm

    I love your dresser! So cute!

    Reply
  • Michaela July 24, 2011, 3:47 pm

    Kara! I just found your blog and I’m so happy I did. I write an interior design blog, so your room makes me smile a lot! Your dresser drawers are genius! (: I read your about me and saw you’re moving to Portland next year. Fun! I’m going to school for interior design in Seattle, so we won’t be too far away (: Have a wonderful Sunday! Look forward to reading more from you
    xoxo
    Michaela

    Reply
  • Haylee July 22, 2011, 9:05 pm

    Oh my gosh, really? Your room is AMAZING. I want everything in sight. The bedspread, the typewriter, the beyond amazing drawers! I cannot even explain how in love with everything I am. Would you mind if I post a couple of your picture of my Tumblr? (AKA the place where I keep all of my VERY favorite photos.) I would link back to your blog of course. Let me know!

    Reply
  • alecto July 16, 2011, 2:28 pm

    your room is my absolute dream room! the colors are fantastic and you & i both have a typewriter on display! i also share your love for paper- it makes me so happy.

    Reply
  • amylapi July 16, 2011, 9:31 am

    okay seriously? so many comments I don’t know where to start.

    1- how did I miss this? well I know how, is that I didn’t change your feed. I was the idiot still subscribing to your old feed. thanks for re-directing me because I was losing it without my kara fix
    2- your new blog design is aMAZing. seriously pretty, graphic, simple, stunning.
    3- your room. is. unbelievable. it’s like my favorite graphic design come to life.
    4- you were born an artist.

    that’s all for now. I’m overwhelmed with visual stimulation. I’m going to leave now and come back and drool some more in a few mins.

    oh yeah, and I miss you. can we meet in NY again? :( :\

    Reply
  • Ewa Doherty July 14, 2011, 8:09 pm

    Very interesting entry, I look forward to the next! Thx for share

    Reply
  • Ashley Toussant July 13, 2011, 8:20 am

    Such a lovely room, Kara! I love it!! all of your different elements and touches. so great! I really like the sunglass display. good idea :) love-Ashley

    Reply
  • Nikki July 10, 2011, 7:27 am

    Your room is amazing! We have the same clock, with the lady on a swing, in our kitchen! ^^ x

    Reply
    • karahaupt July 12, 2011, 3:21 pm

      Ohhh, clock twins! Yay!

      Reply
  • Michelle Clement July 9, 2011, 3:19 pm

    Ohmygoodness – it’s so lovely!! :) Everything is so great. The words on the dresser have totally stolen my heart, as did the little embroidery on you desk. ah!

    Reply
  • Katie July 9, 2011, 9:20 am

    Wow Kara, you’re room is beautiful! My room isn’t nearly so gorgeous now, let alone when I was in college! I love the drawers with the words and the mis-matched knobs, and all the little details. So lovely!

    Reply
  • Hilary July 8, 2011, 10:19 pm

    What a pretty room! I love everything about it :) I especially like the green chair, what a deal!

    x Hilary
    thecleverlife.etsy.com
    oneclutteredlife.blogspot.com

    Reply
  • Shannon July 8, 2011, 2:35 pm

    OMG!!! YOU are YAYPANTS!!

    I had seen a pic of your dresser on another blog (I’m sure you were mentioned, but I didn’t notice at the time) and I thought it was the awesomest thing ever. My husband and I use yayword all the time. “I’m on the yaytrain” “picking up yaypizza”, etc …

    Your room is gorgeous, such a wonderful inspiration. Thank you for sharing!! :)

    Reply
    • karahaupt July 12, 2011, 3:22 pm

      Hahahhaha. That makes me really happy!

      Thank you!

      Reply
  • Belly b July 7, 2011, 12:39 pm

    I lOVEEEE your deskkkkk omggg.. and the typewriter!!!! *audible gasp*

    <3 Belly B

    Reply
  • Denise Morrison July 7, 2011, 10:07 am

    So pretty and organized. Please tell me it’s messy sometimes?! I haven’t been on the computer much-summer is so quick and glorious I don’t want to miss anything. I have missed all your news. Reading back on what you have written I am happy you are so comfortable and at peace with your decision to move to Portland. and with your friend! I hope your summer is going well. and Happy Belated birthday!!

    Reply
    • karahaupt July 12, 2011, 3:25 pm

      It’s messy MOST of the time, haha! Heart you!

      Reply
  • anastasia July 7, 2011, 9:19 am

    your room is amazing, it’s fresh and pretty. i tried to do that with my room but it’s too small/im a hoarder/i’m leaving even quicker than you are C: i did repaint my dresser almost the exact same color:

    http://uglyplants.blogspot.com/2011/05/aaand-finally.html

    mine’s lighter and I dont take as beautiful photos as you.

    also, im glad you took off the desk part of that chair. im constantly on the lookout for chairs JUST like that!!

    Reply
  • amanduhhhhh July 7, 2011, 6:51 am

    Hi!!! I just stumbled across your blog last night and I stayed up until 1 a.m. browsing through it. I love it.. and I LOVVVVVEEEEE your room. So adorable!!

    Reply
  • Juliette July 7, 2011, 6:21 am

    What a beautiful room, the drawer is so special, nice ideas everywhere!

    Reply
  • bargain bex July 6, 2011, 11:06 pm

    love, love, love the diy drawer – i did something pretty similar to my own, but black markered my favorite quotes onto my three drawers instead – great minds must think alike! ;)

    Reply
    • karahaupt July 12, 2011, 3:26 pm

      Indeed! ;)

      Reply
  • elsie larson July 6, 2011, 8:46 pm

    so so pretty! i love it a lot.

    Reply
  • Pretty Lady July 6, 2011, 7:25 pm

    I really like your room! thank for the tour. And your dresser? Mad props

    Reply
  • Tish July 6, 2011, 4:12 pm

    You room is gorgeous! Awesome job, I love your style.
    I’m so jealous because I wish my apartment was white. I dream of all-white walls. It makes the place lighter & brighter and then your colorful stuff stands out more!
    And I’m totally stealing your sunglasses display idea. I have mine sitting on thumbtacks in the wall, but backwards (the bridge of the nose sitting on the tack), I’ve been wanting to do something better where I can actually see my lovely shades, and I never even thought of just hanging them on a string horizontally.
    So thanks for the lovely room inspiration, eye candy and the great idea!
    <3

    Reply
  • Mia Helen July 6, 2011, 3:15 pm

    I enjoyed reading about every detail of your room! It turned out so beautiful Kara!

    Reply
  • Nora July 6, 2011, 3:13 pm

    Love all the fantastic details…seriously so inspiring! It’s making me wish I was a sophisticated and mature college student like you are instead of being the old and boring graduate student that I am. :)

    Reply
  • teddi July 6, 2011, 3:08 pm

    that dresser is beyond! you should be so proud of yourself. i adore it!

    Reply
  • Sarah Rooftops July 6, 2011, 2:43 pm

    Oh, I love your room! Beautiful! Tranquil! Personal!

    Reply
  • Kristen July 6, 2011, 2:30 pm

    Your room is so lovely and peaceful! I just want to sit in it! :)

    Reply
  • Mel July 6, 2011, 1:59 pm

    Love the glasses organization idea! What a great use of limited space. I love all of the colors against the white walls, and the color of your desk is killer.

    Thanks for sharing!

    - Mel

    Reply
  • Chelle July 6, 2011, 12:45 pm

    OMG, Love your room! I can never figure out how to punch up a white space without making it look random/tacky, but holy cow, you’ve perfected it! So pretty and feminine and fresh without looking young or high-schooly. <3

    Reply
  • Ashlee July 6, 2011, 12:37 pm

    I love how clean and simple everything is. Yet, it seems like everything has a twist or a pop of color! I love that fact! This is one of my favorite posts! I’m really inspired! <3

    Reply
  • Cath July 6, 2011, 12:03 pm

    Gosh I love this! What a dream, lots of things I wouldn’t mind having in my bedroom, and that chair, simply wonderful <3

    Reply
  • Nicole July 6, 2011, 12:02 pm

    absolutely lovely! I wouldn’t expect anything less than wonderful or creative from you, Kara.

    Reply
  • Jessica July 6, 2011, 11:42 am

    your room looks like a dream. a very good one!

    Reply
  • elledoubleyouu July 6, 2011, 11:31 am

    How adorable! I love how you managed to keep it simple and classy yet artsy and fun all at once!

    Reply
  • Michelle Elford July 6, 2011, 11:17 am

    I loooooooove this! So many great ideas!! Thanks for sharing!!

    Reply
  • Meg July 6, 2011, 11:16 am

    Oh, I wish my room looked like yours (and was also that tidy!) :) I love that you managed to keep it minimalistic yet so bright and cheerful! xx

    Reply
  • Alessia July 6, 2011, 11:04 am

    Your room looks amazing! Everything is so pretty, very well curated :)

    Reply
  • Danielle July 6, 2011, 10:56 am

    i love all the color and prints! your room is very well put together. i love it!

    Reply
  • Kerry Hiatt July 6, 2011, 10:16 am

    GASP! Please, please, please can you come redecorate my WHOLE house? I would never leave my bed if I had a bedroom like that. It’s gorgeous! xo

    Reply

Next post: create my own photography website. done.

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