Project Reveal: Big Girl on Broadway

Finally! I'm ready to reveal the Big Girl on Broadway project. This project was installed months ago, but my first photoshoot was a fail (#entrepreneurproblems), and then the summer basically got away from me before I could sit down and work on this beaut!

This past spring, I was so excited when Awesome Family enlisted me to turn their third bedroom/office/guest room/storage room into a Big Girl room for their adorable two-going-on-three little girl, who will hereon in be referred to as Client M. It was time for Client M to move out of the nursery and into a Big Girl Room with a Big Girl Bed. Come late summer, she would be getting a brand new baby brother (any day now!) It was so smart of her parents to start The Great Transition a few months before and gift her with this room for her 3rd birthday.  Very strategic for everyone involved - I like it and am taking notes... although I am not pregnant with Baby #2  and we do not have a third bedroom.

After the initial phone consultation with Awesome Family (no pink walls + calming vibe + budget of 5K all in), Client M and I had a meeting at her beautiful pre-war apartment building on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. I came armed with the following inspiration images:

This is what I call the "Yay or Nay Session" so I can get a better idea of what the client has in mind. In this case, Awesome Family and Client M liked a little bit from each photo, and especially loved this last photo (which I would just like to mention I worship! You can see the room in its entirety here). 

After I gave Client M a high five and a hug goodbye, I set to work putting together style boards and floor plans. If you are a dedicated le petit a.p.t. reader (which I know you ALL are), you may remember this blog from back in the day in which I shared the two style board runner ups. But since you're probably too lazy to click back to it (it's okay, I get it) I present them to you here: 

Mid-Century Magic

Cool palette of grey and blues. Black bed to “anchor” room and tie in the client's existing black and white zebra rocking chair. Wooden mirrors bring in a natural accent for warmth. Ruffly bedding and light pink accent lamp bring a feminine touch without being overpoweringly girly.

Vintage Eclectic

Colorful “boho” patterned vintage kilim rug as the focal point of the room, drawing on the blues/greens for the wall color. The mirror and pulls on the bed bring in a natural material, balanced by the mix of the metal lamp and acrylic side table. Fun mix of large and small scale patterns on bedding to pull together the colors without feeling too “matchy”

And here are the floor plan runner ups:

1. Area Rug / 2. Daybed / 3. Dresser / 4. Client's Existing Zebra Chair / 5. Client's Existing Play Kitchen / 6. Client's Existing Play Table and Chair / 7. Floating Bookshelves / 8. Table Lamp

1. Area Rug / 2. Full Size Bed / 3. Client's Existing Play Kitchen / 4. Client's Existing Zebra Chair / 5. Round End Table / 6. Table Lamp

And the winner was ...

Big Girl Glam

Gorgeous pink, blue and mint rug, coupled with sophisticated mirrored dresser. Blue/green walls to pick up on rug. Mixture of textures and patterns to avoid fussiness. Upholstered faux leather white trundle/storage bed (bonus- wipeable!). Black natural material accent table + fun animal art gallery wall to tie in black/white zebra chair. 

1. Area Rug / 2. Daybed with Storage / 3. Large Dresser / 4. Client's Existing Play Kitchen / 5. Client's Existing Zebra Chair / 6. End Table with Book Storage / 7. Table Lamp

About midway through the project, I came by to check on everything that had been delivered thus far and pick out a paint color. 

Progress Photo via Instagram @lindsaysaccullointeriors

Once the walls were painted and everything had been delivered/assembled, I came in to do my installation while Awesome Family was away on vacation. It took a few days and some small tweaks for me to get everything they way I wanted it to look, but I couldn't be happier with the final result.  Awesome Family loves it, and that makes me so happy. And in Client M's words? "Wow, this is incredible!"

The daybed has a trundle drawer that allows for a mattress, but we opted to use it as toy storage instead by adding bins to compartmentalize. 

I did my best to categorize/organize, but as a mom of a toddler, I know that you could spend your life categorizing, sorting and putting away toys, only for your meticulous work to be adorably torn apart within minutes, so I didn't go too crazy! I bet my partner in organized design @shelfienyc could have a field day with this! (Don't forget to enter our instagram giveaway, details here.) 

Client M is quite the little bookworm, so book storage was a priority. Wall-mounted shelves, bins and baskets for overflow did the trick.

A nightstand houses a canvas bin full of books, and Moroccan style storage baskets with lids corral Client M's extensive stuffed animal collection.

Sock Money chillin' in his zebra rocking chair, waiting for story time.

Initialed wall plaques with hooks hung at Tiny Human height are perfect for Client M to hang up her backpack after a tough day at the park. She can cook herself up something tasty in her fabulous pink play kitchen, while keeping an eye on the time.

The gallery wall is a collection of Awesome Family's previously owned frames, a ceramic wall plaque from Client M's grandma. Awesome Family loves to travel around the world, so I snagged this whimsical map print at Homegoods.

I had fun with this DIY while installing: Awesome Family's previous owned shadowbox + acrylic letter M from Marshall's + black and white photo + leftover wall decals = Custom Personalized Wall Art. 

I almost fainted when I found this perfect vintage pink lamp at Yanatiba, a vintage shop in my neighborhood.

Open shelving with Erasable Chalkboard Bins conceals toys within the closet and allow fun flexibility with bin labeling.  

The closet is pretty deep and has a tucked away side shelf that allows for plenty of toy and game storage.

I'm obsessed with these erasable chalkboard storage bins - and these slippers.

Flying Arrow Decals adorn the inside of the closet door - because, why not?

Client M is still a Tiny Human, and her Big Girl Bed is quite tall due to the storage/trundle drawer. So we needed a stylish step stool, which proved hard to find. An Ikea Hack saved the day.  Awesome Family painted this raw wood Ikea stool with the leftover paint from the walls, and I stepped in to personalize it with removable wall decals. 

And of course, here are some before and after's!

I really had a blast doing this amazing room for such a cool Tiny Human client. I'm so glad she loves it and has been sleeping in her Big Girl Bed for a few months now. And truly, she is so adorable and animated, she should not only live on Broadway, but be on Broadway! Does anyone know an agent? This girl has got some serious style. I have a feeling she'll be teaching her new baby bro the ways of the world in no time.

~L.S.

Photocreds: Yours Truly

A Big Girl and a Mom Bot

It's been a busy week here at le petit a.p.t., hence the radio blog silence. Eric will have been in four cities within five days by this Sunday. When he's away, I desperately try to keep myself physically busy with projects around the a.p.t. (installed two things with my drill today, woo!), walks, playdates, outings with Ms. Avery Etta, errands galore. Anything to make the day go by faster works for me. It's been a nice break from the computer and social media, which we all know can becoming draining after awhile. 

With all of the travel Eric has being doing lately, I've been what I call "single-momming it". This is only for a week at a time. I'm in awe of those who do this always. I honestly don't know how they do it. Much respect to you, mamas! I know some don't consider being a mom a true job, but it is the hardest job. And that's an understatement. You truly don't know until you are living it. There's no amount of babysitting or experience with children that can prepare you for it. All I can say is I Heart Avery, and I Heart Daycare. I feel so lucky to have a good support system place, and I give major props to those who don't and actually make it through the day, raising a healthy, well-adjusted child to boot.

You can have the happiest, most easygoing baby, but they are still a baby, and you are still a mommy who needs a break once and awhile. Or at least you need to know that your partner is coming home at the end of the day to let you take a five minute breather by lying face down  on the spaghetti-milk-filled floor while he throws tiny human in the tub. It's hard when you know he's not coming home. It's a different mentality. You basically just power through like a mom bot. You enjoy the alone time and sense of independence to an extent, but it gets real old real fast. For more on single momming it - aka #babydaddytravelsalot read this great blog entry by Katie Schorr. 

So, while I'm failing in the search to find some extra time to upload and edit my final images from the Big Girl on Broadway project installation, I want to share with you the "winning" style board that my client chose. Awhile back, I shared with you the two runners up. You can find them here. 

Without further ado, ta-da! Here it is:

Big Girl Glam

Gorgeous pink, blue and mint rug, coupled with sophisticated mirrored dresser. Blue/green walls to pick up on rug. Mixture of textures and patterns to avoid fussiness. Upholstered faux leather white trundle/storage bed (bonus- wipeable!). Black natural material accent table + fun animal art gallery wall to tie in black/white zebra chair. 

I can't wait to show you how this came to life, once I'm done single-momming it... Until then, I'm on momopilot mode. 

Signing off!

~L.S.