Out with the Old (mostly) and in with the New: A Big Girl Room

Gracie Cakes came to me a couple of months ago and said that she liked her room but with turning 9, she would really like to change it to more of her big girl (dream) room. Honestly, very little about her room has changed since she first started sleeping in a big girl bed and many existing things were a part of her nursery.  So, I got it.   Some catalogs came and I told her to sit down and give me some ideas about what it is she was wanting.  Matt was out of town on business during this time so I told her that I understood, but she would need to talk this over with her daddy.  She asked if I would print out some things for her to share with Matt.  I did and when Matt returned home she asked him about a good time to meet and talk with him.  She invited me to the meeting as her "back up."  HA!   She proceeded to give her daddy a presentation on why she needed a new big girl room and exactly what her vision was for this new room.  It was too cute and funny!
Matt also let her know that he understood and discussed budget with her.  Let me just say, she was all smiles at the end of their "meeting."  
First on her list was saying goodbye to the pink walls.  She knew she wanted a blue turquoise type color.  While Matt was away on another trip, she and I tried out a few samples.  (We tried out about 13 samples to be exact and we tried them out on 5 different walls including two in the bathroom.  Matt was beside himself when he came home and realized he had to sand this off five walls.  Oh mercy!  Light bulb moment, might have been better to put it on poster board.  However, I felt the need to see it ON the wall so..... We just stayed very clear and quiet until the walls were sanded. )  After she decided on Benjamin Moore's Jamaican Aqua, we got busy painting.  Matt and I actually love the color.  (We were really skeptical and the pics don't really do the deepness and brightness of the  color justice.) 
It has taken us several weeks to finish her room, but I must say, it is really adorable and should grow with her a while.  Gracie, well, she is as happy as can be and so very proud.  According to her, it meets all her expectations.  She swears it makes her sleep better. HA!
Enjoy sweet Gracie!  And just remember, you are never too big to snuggle.  

The contenders- see the sample patches on the wall

Our first day of work and our first order of business was hanging her new chandelier

One last pic of the old (and yes, Girl Scout Tin Mints made that whole ordeal much more enjoyable!)

This Tiffany Blue jewelry box she received for her first communion was her inspiration for the color

Why not drag a few things out while everything is piled high and strewn about?

Ta- da!

Another big item on her wish list was a new vanity.  When it arrived, she couldn't wait to see it put together.  I love how she and Molly helped out. Her new bean bag also arrived so you can see how far the help extended.  HA!

Painting day and yes, this child has changed outfits about three or four times.  Please Grace add some dirty clothes to the dirty mess everywhere.  I love how she thought a diamond bracelet was the perfect painting accessory.  

She even added some paint to the walls.
(in a new outfit- of course!)

The end of the day and a painting job.

At the end of painting, she couldn't wait to get that vanity set up in her room.  While things are still in complete disarray, she sits down to play makeup. Gotta love a girl with priorities.  

Just a reminder of where we started

This cute print was framed for her new room.

Bathroom all finished, right down to the ruffle shower curtain

She really wanted this monogram over her bed.  Matt and I thought it might be a bit much and a more simple design might work better.  Silly us..simple and Gracie just don't mix and when it's all said and done, she was right!  It is too cute!

She likes to read in that large bean bag before going to bed each night.  

Notice that painting hanging over her dresser?  It's the one thing that Grace said she couldn't give up.  I couldn't have been happier.  It means so much to all of us.  It has always hung in Gracie's room, even before she came home.  

This was our DIY in the room.  Lily Grace and I just finished this project over spring break.  It's a 24x36 magnet board.  We covered sheet metal with fabric and framed it.  It's so bright and pretty.

She picked out all the bedding too.

A new Big Girl room- all finished

Sweet Dreams Gracie!  I had so much fun working on your dream room with you!