I drive my S nuts with my constant re-arranging and re-decorating. Really, I do. But kiddos are constantly growing. Interests shift and needs change. So, in my humble opinion, a house and the rooms withing the house must do the same.
Wyatt was not the only one who needed some space of his own. Up until this year the older boys have shared everything except beds. (However, they usually both end up in one or the other bed by morning.) Until a few weeks ago they had to share one dresser, one small desk, one bulletin board, etc.
But over the last year, it has become increasingly clear that they are becoming their own little people with their own interests and ideas about how they want things in their world to look. Zane is my organizer and he likes his things neat and tidy. Ian is my laid back guy and could care less if the clothes in his drawer are folded. Or even all the way inside the drawer for that matter. You can see how this could create lots of problems while sharing one dresser.
The boys did not want separate rooms yet, but they loved the idea of creating some separation within their current room set up. So, we decided that we needed separate desk areas and separate clothes storage.
Their room is long and narrow with two doorways on either side on one end and another wall with bi-fold doors (which might go away like the others have). And then there is the dormer area which is another challenge as far as wall space goes. We decided that it was more important for them to have their own desk areas to store supplies and games. But since they still share socks and underwear, they could share a long, low dresser if they could have their own drawers.
The search was on for some thrifted furniture. And one day, my friend Alicia and I found the perfect piece at Family Thrift in Norfolk. The dresser had three small drawers across the top with four larger drawers on the bottom. Perfect! Good solid wood, not particle board. And at $35 it was a great deal.
The dresser was originally yellow and white like it had been in a little girl's room. And when it came to discuss what color the boys wanted to paint the dresser, everyone had different ideas as you might guess. Ian wanted red and orange flames. And Zane wanted yellow and green. I was at a loss. But Alicia and I had just been talking about seeing chalkboard paint used on furniture. So, there was my solution. Chalk board paint with the boys getting to pick their own drawer colors.
Zane's desk is the one they originally shared. It is a small little desk that I got before S and I were married. It was originally my grandmother's desk and I can remember it holding phone books and stationary. And now it is filled with colored pencils and and bionicle parts.
Ian's desk is a vintage A. Brandt ranch oak piece picked up at a steal from the nice older man who fixed our dining room buffet. It was originally headed for Wyatt's cowboy room. Wyatt has an A. Brandt mirror in his dress up corner, so I thought we would eventually put this desk in his room, but right now there isn't room. It fits perfectly in the space at the foot of Zane's bed, so that's where it went. And I like it a lot more there than I thought I would. I am not a matchy-matchy person when it comes to decorating and this is the perfect "boy" desk...heavy and sturdy.
Both of the boys love, their new spaces. Zane is still organizing his desk just the way he wants it and has even asked for "vanilla" folders like I use. And of course, Ian shoves everything in those deep drawers.
And everyone is happier...until they want separate rooms.