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Reality Daydream

The Dream is Free, The Hustle Sold Separately

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A little addition to the big-girl room!

December 26, 2013 by Bethany Sy

Good morning friends! Did you have a wonderful Christmas?

The girls weren’t really sure what was going on, but once they got to opening presents, they were definitely on-board with the whole Christmas thing.

christmas morning

I think they’ll understand the magic of Christmas (and the true meaning) better next year. But we had a great day being home with our little family and making memories with the girls.

Speaking of the girls, they still have not transitioned to their toddler beds yet… and I’m thanking my lucky stars. Partly because I’m still enjoying their confinement, and partly because THE ROOM IS NOT DONE! It’s been on the back burner for a few weeks while I search out the perfect size dresser. You know me… very picky and hopeless tight-wad. For a half-a second, I considered using this little dresser we had in our garage… but it was a little SMALL. And also PURPLE.

Herringbone Stenciled Accent Wall with Toddler Bed  Fainting Couches {Sawdust and Emrbyos}

We wanted a dresser on the smaller side for that space (just not THAT SMALL) because we didn’t want it to cover up all that work I did stenciling the herringbone wall, and our upholstery skillz on the Toddler Bed / Fainting Couches. Plus, I just wanted the dresser to act more as a barrier to break up that blank space and make the girls feel like they have their own little corner in the room.

The more I thought about it, the more stipulations I came up with for this dresser:

  • Approx 35-40” wide and 35-40” tall. And not necessarily square… just within those dimensions.
  • Not Painted… just plain stained wood. Because I like to throw natural wood pieces into my designs similar to all these gorgeous inspiration photos.
  • Simple/clean lines and potentially with a mid-century feel.
  • OLD with some character and years of love, yet structurally sound… basically I wanted it to be ‘turn key’.
  • I budgeted myself $50 AT THE MOST.

Now, I scoured craigslist pretty much daily. And fumbled through many-a-thrift store. When finally… FINALLY… I came upon this:

Fullscreen capture 12182013 31341 PM.bmp

It was my everything.

I know it doesn’t seem very special, but I think you’ll learn to appreciate it as the room slowly comes together.

Progress on Paisley and Adelyn's big-girl room {Sawdust and Embryos}

I’m considering changing out the pulls and using campaign hardware. I love campaign dressers and the industrial feel that the hardware brings. But I haven’t gotten that far yet… so we’ll see!

I’m finishing up a little somethin-somethin for this room that I’ll be back to share after the weekend! Now that the dresser part is figured out… things are about to start HAPPENING!

Have an inspired day!Sawdust and Embryos

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About Bethany Sy

Nick and Bethany Sy are the creative free-spirits behind DIY/Lifestyle blog, Reality Daydream. They recently purchased a historic mansion and have been documenting the ups and downs of renovation and making this home their own... all while sharing tips and tutorials along the way! When they found themselves in the trenches of infertility, they started a journey that would prove to be their most important DIY project ever, and have 3 beautiful girls to show for it. <3

« An update of sorts
How to Make a DIY Starburst Mirror »

Comments

  1. 27

    Rachel says

    January 6, 2014 at 11:41 am

    Beth,
    I thought I would peek back at your blog to see if you had any dresser updates. Thanks for posting this. I adore that room (and especially the fainting couch beds)! It honestly makes me happy to see the dresser being used in such a great space. I would have been bummed if some college kid had bought and then subsequently trashed it. Good luck with all your New Year projects. I’ll be sending “sticky” thoughts your way this spring 🙂

    Reply
    • 28

      Bethany @ Sawdust and Embryos says

      January 7, 2014 at 12:39 pm

      Awww thanks Rachel! We love the dresser and think it looks perfect in the twins’ big-girl room. Thanks for hooking us up! And thanks for the ‘sticky thoughts’… HAHA! I hope you’re feeling well and excited for your little one!

      Reply
  2. 29

    Pamela @ Little Red House says

    January 1, 2014 at 9:12 pm

    Iowa City? I was so close to you this last week and didn’t even know it (although I did think about you and wondered if I was near you)! Cute dresser, too.

    Reply
  3. 30

    Paula says

    December 30, 2013 at 9:55 am

    So glad I saw this follow up on the girls room. I have been wondering about your choice. It looks great!!!

    Reply
  4. 31

    jackson says

    December 29, 2013 at 2:49 am

    Not to throw a wet blanket on this and all, but unless you put some railing on the side of the bed, your girls will fall out of bed nightly, possibly cracking their cute little heads on the what-looks-like sort of sharp edges of the base of the dresser. Of course, you can always put some little throw pillows down there until they learn to sleep without falling out of bed. Just a thought.

    Reply
    • 32

      Bethany @ Sawdust and Embryos says

      December 29, 2013 at 11:10 am

      Jackson… we appreciate your concern, but honestly we’re not worried about it. These beds are very close to the ground as-is, and if they fall out… they fall out! If it was something where they could seriously hurt themselves, that would be a different story. We’re planning to put a pool noodle under the fitted sheet to create a ‘lip’ around the edge of the toddler mattress, so that should help some.

      Reply
      • 33

        jackson says

        January 2, 2014 at 3:41 am

        I only mention it because my two kids fall out of bed all the time. We hear this in the middle of the night. Fortunately we have raised wood floors, so no one gets too damaged. We’ve resorted to rolling an office chair next to my two year old daughter’s bed.

        Reply
  5. 34

    Paige says

    December 28, 2013 at 11:00 am

    I love that new dresser! It instantly brought that whole space together.

    Reply
    • 35

      Bethany @ Sawdust and Embryos says

      December 29, 2013 at 11:07 am

      Thank you Paige! I’m so excited that this room is slowly coming together! 🙂

      Reply
  6. 36

    Katie @ On the Banks of Squaw Creek says

    December 26, 2013 at 8:54 pm

    It’s PERFECT! I love warm wood. And I love the comment from Sandy about how she’s adopted your girls. So sweet!

    Reply
    • 37

      Bethany @ Sawdust and Embryos says

      December 29, 2013 at 11:05 am

      YES! ‘warmth’ is definitely something this room needed and I think this dresser will do the trick!

      Reply
  7. 38

    Terry says

    December 26, 2013 at 6:29 pm

    Have I missed the post on those awesome little fainting couch beds? I want to know more about those!

    Reply
    • 39

      Bethany @ Sawdust and Embryos says

      December 29, 2013 at 11:04 am

      The fainting couches are one of our favorite projects of all time!! Here’s the link!
      https://realitydaydream.com/2013/09/inspiration-and-construction-of-toddler-beds-part-1.html

      Reply
  8. 40

    Jami @ What the Graham says

    December 26, 2013 at 3:33 pm

    I absolutely love it! The dresser will be a great anchor on the wall! Once we get Tenley out of her crib we plan to build her bed and am totally jealous by the space y’all have in there!!

    Reply
    • 41

      Bethany @ Sawdust and Embryos says

      December 29, 2013 at 11:02 am

      Are you dreading the transition to big-girl bed as much as I am? 🙂

      Reply
      • 42

        Jami @ What the Graham says

        December 30, 2013 at 9:04 pm

        Initially my response is yes but I only have one hurricane running around so I think you have me beat!

        Reply
  9. 43

    Suzan says

    December 26, 2013 at 12:21 pm

    Oh my gosh! How incredibly adorable is this big girl room!! Love love!! 🙂

    Reply
    • 44

      Bethany @ Sawdust and Embryos says

      December 26, 2013 at 1:09 pm

      Thanks Suzan! You’re so sweet!

      Reply
  10. 45

    sandy says

    December 26, 2013 at 12:04 pm

    You guys are such an inspiration. The dresser is perfect and certainly sets the décor off perfectly. Secretly I’ve adopted the girls as my GDs. I have 2 GD and 1 GGD … but a family can’t have too many GC. I never tire of reading about the girls, they are so adorable and sweet.

    Reply
    • 46

      Bethany @ Sawdust and Embryos says

      December 26, 2013 at 1:10 pm

      Oh my gosh that’s the sweetest thing! And THEY can never have enough granny’s!

      Reply
  11. 47

    Debi says

    December 26, 2013 at 11:55 am

    I just love that dresser. It brings the whole room together.

    Reply
    • 48

      Bethany @ Sawdust and Embryos says

      December 26, 2013 at 1:16 pm

      Thanks Debi! I feel the same way!

      Reply
  12. 49

    Stacey says

    December 26, 2013 at 11:17 am

    That wall and those beds are crazy amazing! I love the simplicity of the wooden dresser too! Can’t wait for the finished product!

    Reply
    • 50

      Bethany @ Sawdust and Embryos says

      December 26, 2013 at 1:17 pm

      Thank you Stacey! The room is slowwwwwly coming together! WOOHOO! 🙂

      Reply
  13. 51

    Terri says

    December 26, 2013 at 11:15 am

    I love how the round knobs of the dresser make the tufted buttons in the “beds” pop!

    Reply
    • 52

      Bethany @ Sawdust and Embryos says

      December 26, 2013 at 11:17 am

      I didn’t even think about that… but you’re right! So fun!

      Reply
  14. 53

    Nikita says

    December 26, 2013 at 11:09 am

    Love the dresser… IMMEDIATELY when I saw the wall I imagined dark wood in the room..it just makes the wall pop even more and looks so gorgeous.

    Reply
    • 54

      Bethany @ Sawdust and Embryos says

      December 26, 2013 at 11:17 am

      Yay I’m glad you agree Nikita! I’m LOVING it so far. Can’t wait to add some more details that I have swimming around in my brain! 🙂

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. How to Make a Starburst Mirror - Sawdust and Embryos says:
    March 4, 2014 at 8:57 am

    […] accent wall, there’s a lot of ‘pizzazz’ going on in the twins’ big-girl room. Adding the plain wooden dresser grounded the room a lot and brought some necessary warmth (and […]

    Reply
  2. How to make Roman Shades using Mini-Blinds says:
    January 24, 2014 at 8:22 am

    […] couch / toddler beds, stenciled and trimmed-out the herringbone patchwork accent wall, acquired the perfect dresser, and fashioned a vintage-esque starburst mirror. Phew! That run-on sentence sounds far more […]

    Reply

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We are Nick and Bethany! Welcome to our blog, Reality Daydream where we share our DIY adventures!
Click here for lots of art projects using only wood stain on furniture!!
Please feel free to share or pin my posts! You're welcome to use ONE of my images (no collages or pinnables) with a link back to the corresponding post. Please do not edit or crop that single image in any way. Improper use of my photos, ideas or words is a violation of copyright. Thank you!

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Attention: Almost any do-it-yourself project involves risk of some sort. Your tools, materials, and skills will vary, as will the conditions at your project site. Reality Daydream has made every effort to be complete and accurate in the instructions of the plans on this website. Reality Daydream will not assume any responsibility or liability for damages or losses sustained or incurred in the course of your project or in the use of the item you create. Always follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions in the use of tools, check and follow your local building codes, and observe all commonly accepted safety precautions.

 

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