It all started with this:
An olde VW Bus....hand painted by Mr. Waterman above my baby's crib.
Before I go one step further on this mini makeover, you must go to Mr. Waterman's website and see just how fab~u~lous he is....You will die when you see what this guy can create. D.I.E.
But, come back soon...
After that was painted above my son's crib, and soon to be toddler bed if the pool man doesn't stop showing him how to climb out. I caught him teaching my son this and couldn't believe my eyes. I will stop there and probably don't have to tell you that I bopped him upside the head at his stupidity. I mean really who teaches their kid how to climb out of his crib....silly pool man....
Sorry, I just got off track, after the V Dub was painted I ordered this striped rug to pull in some color:
It is from Pottery Barn kids, but I got it off Ebay for a lot less... A. LOT.
And added the cute sock monkey to his shelf. This monkey creeps my mom out...Sorry mom, I kinda like him!
Along with the sock monkey sits this vintage reproduction lunch box. Yes it is metal and just like the one I used to carry as a kid with my thermos of Tang to elementary school everyday. What your mom didn't give you Tang as a kid? This is now the "daycare lunch pail", I got over the weekend in Long Beach at Powell's Sweet Shoppe :
After I received a package with some stencils from sweet little Byrd and it was decorated with this little tag, an idea hit me...I have lots of ideas...it drives the pool man nuts, luckily this idea didn't involve him or tearing down any walls:
Why not just paint #'s down the whole dresser...that way when my son is old enough, I can say grab some socks from drawer #3 and meet me in the car with your sac lunch, Tang included and backpack!
I decided to sand the #'s down a bit so they look more like this now:
Ahh, much better. Drawer # 4 is filled to the brim with hand made blankets for my punk.
Drawer # 1: I can't even tell you what is in there.
Drawer #2: more of the I can't tell you what is even in there.
Drawer # 3: does have some socks and probably more of the I can't even tell you what is in there...
You get the idea. I guess I should have spent the weekend organizing rather then painting #'s!
Anyhoo, then came these sweet frames. I ordered 3 in all from this Talented lady.
And yes, I am fully aware i need to add photos in the frames...the pool man mentioned this as well....probably after I yelled at him for teaching my kid gymnastic rolls out of his crib.
And then the funniest thing happened, the same day Mr. Waterman came to paint the olde VW bus, I walked past an antique shoppe on Del Mar and low and behold this Q~T sat parked smiling at me.
I ran home told the pool man, and Mr. Waterman who I am sure was tired of me talking about VW buses by this time and called my mom and probably told the neighbor too...
I ran back and grabbed it. It now sits on the dresser, untouched by my little punks hands...
That's all folks...just a little makeover since my baby will be 2 in exactly one month! No more Nursery, now a toddler room. I will be adding a baby gate in front of his door soon and bolting the dresser to wall next weekend, as I for-see those gymnastic rolls being performed off the top of his dresser if my punk gets the chance. And, yes it can be a circus around here.
Cheers to Mr. Waterman for making my V Dub vision come true and to mini makeovers!
P.S. Don't worry I won't put Tang in my kids Sac lunch, so you can just leave that out of your comments...! Te hee!
P.S.S. Mr. Waterman is actually a friend of ours, I just like to call him Mr. Waterman it has a cool ring to it and yes he is for "hire" if you live locally, just tell him Tara sent you....you might hear a loud :::sigh::: immediately following the mention of my name, just move right along!
Reference: Paint color is Chocolate Chunk by Dunn Edwards~ Polka Dots are Vanilla Shake also by Dunn Edwards~
That VW bus is fabulous - love it! I also really like your "mini" makeover. What a great room! What you did to the dresser, well, I just love it. It's perfect now!
Posted by: Zita - Mlle Magpie | March 24, 2009 at 03:27 AM
Love the VW bus! Amazing that you found that one in an antique store! How perfect is that?! The colors and special touches all around the room are amazing!!!
Posted by: ALVN of WhisperWood Cottage | March 24, 2009 at 04:47 AM
I love that bus...is it really a vintage piece? We have a few of the metal trucks in the boys room, and love it.
I love your little guys room, so different and PERFECT.
XO
Posted by: kasey | March 24, 2009 at 04:53 AM
Oh my goodness...This room is just darling. Okay, I am floored by your endless talents! Boys rooms are not easy and you nailed this one! Love the attention to detail. Oh, yea, you are right to be perturbed with the pool man...TEACHING a kid to escape???? WHA?! I got a good laugh at that, sounds just like something my guy would do as well! Have a great day and kudos on such a wonderful room for your little punk!
Posted by: Kristen | March 24, 2009 at 05:17 AM
OOOOHHhh Mr. Waterman's VW is sooo wonderful! Your son has the cutest room on the block! Yes he does, okay love the numbers and of course your VW bus you found! all so California cooooool!!!! :)
hugs,
LuLu
Posted by: LuLu | March 24, 2009 at 05:24 AM
What a cute room! You are right, those numbers on the dresser are cute. Great idea. I'm getting ready to tackle my boys room and this one is inspiring.
Posted by: Maggie DeLauder | March 24, 2009 at 05:42 AM
love everything in his room! when i was little we traveled around germany in a vw van just like that! gotta love it!
love the drawer numbers as well....and the idea of socks on bottom! my son pulled the whole dresser down the other day climbing up to get socks...yes climbing up! yikes!
Posted by: Katie Snead | March 24, 2009 at 05:45 AM
Now all you need is a surfboard for his room! Very cool, yet cute, boy's room. Love it!!! Especially the VW Buses and numbered dresser. And I love getting little packages from Little Byrd, too. Her giftwrapping, alone, is a work of art. Happy Tuesday you busy bee. :)
Posted by: apriliniowa (heather) | March 24, 2009 at 05:53 AM
Oh, Tara! I just love reading your posts, and love that you talk way too much! I mean, I know you've read my blog (thanks for the comments) and you know that I talk way too much, too!
Love the toddler room; the color scheme, the painted numbers, the painted VW, and the vintage VW - isn't it so special when you find something like that - you know, that is just THE perfect touch in a room.
Looking forward to tomorrow's post! Becky
Posted by: Becky G. | March 24, 2009 at 06:17 AM
Oh Tara, his room is DARLING!!!!! I love the dresser and the colors and the rug and everything! It should totally be in a magazine! Great job and thanks so much for sharing.
Posted by: Tricia | March 24, 2009 at 06:23 AM
i can't believe that you saw the bus and waited to buy it...that is some self-control right there!
The dresser looks adorable. and i love the lunch box...i really love metal lunch boxes but i don't own any. now, there is something i could buy and get away with it!!! :)
chasity
Posted by: chas at the wild raspberry | March 24, 2009 at 06:49 AM
Oh Tara!!! LOVE the dresser! LOVE the VW bus image and old bus on the dresser! LOVE the frames. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!!!
Posted by: lissa | March 24, 2009 at 07:06 AM
Thanks for the vote of confidence you left for me! Your room make over is ourstanding...love the chocolate colors and of course the VW Van! What great inspiration and color palette. Must be nice to live "free and easy".
Janet
Posted by: Janet Doherty | March 24, 2009 at 07:59 AM
I love this room! Especially in love with the twinkie lunchbox! great job!
Posted by: pinkcupcakevintage | March 24, 2009 at 11:58 AM
Love, love, love it!! It is adorable. I love the chocolate walls and the VW theme is perfect. What a lucky little guy to have such a great room.
Cheers-Duchess
Posted by: duchess.of.reel | March 24, 2009 at 12:42 PM
Clever and talented! Thanks for sharing such a wonderful room!! Would love to showcase your room on our design and decorating for babies, kids and teens blog. Please contact me - thanks! Toni - design dazzle
Posted by: Toni Roberts | March 25, 2009 at 01:04 PM
So cute!!! And I love your new profile pic!
Posted by: Sara | March 25, 2009 at 01:29 PM
So you're a mom and a wife and.... how do you make the time to do what you enjoy?
I am inspired by your projects and your baby's room is just how I would do mine if I owned our home.
Sometimes I feel so stuck.
Thank you for sharing!
Posted by: Allegra | March 25, 2009 at 08:30 PM
i love that you sanded down the numbers of the drawers. that step made it look so much prettier.
Posted by: heyais | March 25, 2009 at 11:40 PM
looooove what you did with the stencils!!! Your creativity amazes me - how clever you are!!
Posted by: Rebekah | March 26, 2009 at 08:00 AM
Adorable room and love the VW, both painted and toy versions. With that so tempting toy on top of the dresser, be sure to anchor the dresser to the wall:) Toddlers love to climb!
Posted by: Elizabeth | May 01, 2009 at 07:14 PM
i just came across your site while planning a nursery for my soon to be baby boy ... i've been hoping to do vw buses for quite some time ... with a vintage look to the entire room ...
i have 2 girly-girls already and i'm just not a primary color gal ...
and your room is so perfect! mind if i borrow some of your ideas??
(oh yeah ... and sorry i'm so late to the party!)
Posted by: jen | October 13, 2009 at 07:37 AM
How adorable!
Posted by: Ryan Kay | December 16, 2010 at 01:02 PM
That is wonderful! Love the VW painting in the wall. The number along the dresser is a great idea and I'm thinking of the same with mine also. Totality, its cute and pretty punky.
Posted by: aionaccount | February 09, 2011 at 11:01 PM