OUR RENOVATION JOURNEY : THE PLAY ROOM/ DEN MOOD BOARD REVEAL
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As we reach our sixth month anniversary of building work over at the ‘Rat House renovation’, I thought it was about time I shared one of my mood boards for our first room reveal.
Today I’m talking about our playroom/ den.
Located on the right side of the house on the ground floor, this room was previously used as a dining room by the previous owner. It was filled with antique furniture and a lot of rat poison (I’m not exaggerating- at least they were aware they had a problem), it had been left pretty neglected and hadn’t seen a duster or a hoover in a long old time, although it was easy to see that it must have looked beautiful in its former life.
The evolution of the playroom
This room is now going to be used as a playroom for our little boy during the day, and a cosy den for us Adults in the evening. A space for us to retreat in to watch a movie whilst having the eco wood burner on from Arada stoves (I’ll talk about this more soon).
Although we will have a lounge across the hallway from this room, we love that this room is completely separate to the kitchen/ dining space and you can shut yourself away and have more privacy. Aka, when I have my mates round and we’re drinking Prosecco in the kitchen my other half can lock himself away with a tv and a cosy wood burner and escape from the cackles.
We want the space to feel fun and imaginative for Otis, but also grown it up and quirky in the evenings once the toys are packed away. I’m envisioning this room becoming a musical room one day in hope we might own a piano for our son, and then will evolve into his X box room, and then one day his pre drinks space with his mates. Ha, yes I am already thinking that far ahead! And although I’m sure I will have decorated this room a trillion times by then, I’m hoping I won’t want to change it for at least a few years (he’s only 2 so I have plenty of time until then).
I still need to research storage, but I’ve got my heart set on a large sideboard for our grown up lounge across the hall and would also love something practical and hardy for storing toys inside in this room. For the playroom I don’t want it to look too childlike, but it also needs to pass the toddler durability test. I saw a beautiful sideboard at a Heals press event which I literally dream about day and night, but sadly its out of my price range (even in the sale), and I’m under no illusion that this would work for a playroom, but I’ve still stuck it on here anyways as you should all see it.
We will also have a tv on the wall, away from little hands, which will also be handy as it will take up less space.
But back to the wallpaper, and the theme. Because let’s face it, that’s why you’re all here.
If you haven’t guessed already, we’re going for a subtle jungle theme in here. As you know we’re big fans of jungle prints, so it was inevitable that we should continue this theme into our new home. Plus, being a massive fan of Divine Savages and their beautiful wallpaper and prints and having had their Deco Martini wallpaper in our previous home I was super excited to see that they had launched a new colourway of their Faunacation print into the jungle greens, so it seemed like a match made in Rat House heaven.
And yes, I know what you’re thinking. I said I wasn’t going dark… I just like to keep you on your toes *wink. What I probably should have said is that I’m not going to have any Railings paint in our house which was a bit of a trademark paint colour in our old home. So much so, I wish I’d got ruddy shares in the stuff we had so much of it. But it’s time for a change, and this time I’m also giving some new paint brands a whirl to see how they stack up as I think it’s time for some new kids on the block.
We’re putting picture rails back up and will be wallpapering up to the picture rail and then painting above it in new paint company Lick Green 06 in Matt, then using Lick Green 06 eggshell on the woodwork and using Lick 02 white on the ceiling. Lick are a new paint brand which I discovered in lock down and I’m excited to see how their paint compares.
We’re getting some gorgeous new cast iron radiators from Best Heating for this room and for our grown-up lounge across the hallway- these are the Milano Tamara oval column in antique brass from Best Heating and are just stunning.
We’ve removed the old brick fireplaces that used to be in this room and the main lounge and we have replaced the fireplace in this room with with a beautiful eco burner from Arada Stoves for extra heat, and I’ve bought an original 1930’s deco wooden surround on ebay for a bargain £150 which I want to leave in the wood to contrast with the wallpaper and side board. And even though we have stripped the house back to the bricks and removed the original features, we’re hoping it will still have bags of character from what we put back in.
To furnish it, we will be super excited to be reunited with some of previous belongings which will fit nicely into this space, including our West Elm Drake green velvet sofa and Distressed Arabesque wool rug in steel for this room, and layering some of my favourite House of Hackney cushions which have accents of gold and teal to being some new colours into this space.
I’ve also found some beautiful lacquered brass transparent light switches and sockets which are amazing to go over the top of wallpaper from Corston Architectural detail. They’re clear so let the wallpaper shine through whilst still being practical and having a pop of brass which I think will look amazing in this room.
That just leaves me with deciding on a light and curtains. I’m hoping for something with a bit of drama like the attached Anthropologie Victoria tassel light or something similar.
So what do you think? Was it pretty obvious that we’d go jungle somewhere? You never know, the giraffe might even make an appearance in here at some point. You’ll just have to watch this space.
Lick Paint Dark Holly Green 06 in Matt for the wall above the picture rail ( £38 for 2.5L)
Lick Paint Off White 02 in Matt - for the ceiling (£38 for 2.5L)
Divine Savages Jungle Faunacation wallpaper (£140 a roll)
West Elm Drake sofa in Green Velvet ( £1,099)
1930’s original wooden surround purchased from Ebay £150
Corston Architectural detail switches and sockets from the £28
Best Heating Milano Tamara - Oval Column Cast Iron Radiator - 760mm Tall - Antique Brass from £229
House Of Hackney Saber cushion £195
Heals Remi sideboard - large £2,639
Arada stoves eco burn from £879
I’ve also done a bit of research on beautiful sideboards as I’m currently looking for two and have become sideboard obsessed.
Heals Remi sideboard £2,639
Mustard Made Olive sideboard £249
Made.com Markle sideboard £549
Cult furniture BALHAM WOODEN SIDEBOARD WITH THREE DOORS, NATURAL £1199.00
Which ones your favourite?
