How to Maximize Space in a Toddler Room

Bedrooms

If you frequent Apt34 from time to time, you may have seen that I’ve been working on a toddler room refresh for my two and a half year old. Rather than get overwhelmed by trying to redesign the entire space at once, I decided to tackle it area by area. First up: the closet. Did you see the before I shared a few weeks back? The closet was just a hot mess and a missed opportunity to capitalize on very usable space. But now the makeover is complete and today you get to see the after! I can’t wait to hear what you think.

It did take a bit of elbow grease to get the closet looking this spiffy. First there was the getting rid of the things (yes, I forced myself to part with stacks of swaddle blankets and tiny baby outfits I’d been holding onto with a vice grip). Then there was the cleaning of the things. Funny how grungy a space gets when you don’t touch it for months on end!

Thankfully, a few quick swipes with Clorox Triple Action Dust Wipes caught all the dust and dog hair that had accumulated in there. I love that they pick up allergens too. I followed that up with a thorough wipe down with Clorox Disinfecting Wipes for a totally clean slate. The closet looked as sparkly new as the day we moved in.

After that good wipe down, I set out to transform this space into a little creative studio for my little guy. Now all his art supplies, legos, stickers and the like are within reach of his little fingertips – and out of my sight! The secret? Boxes on bins, on tubs, on boxes. For example, I found the perfect white bins that hide the (ever growing!) collection of legos. So happy about that.

The adorable ABC bins now holding favorite puzzles, blocks and balls are from Pehr Petit. I love that the bins still feel young and playful, but are a touch more elevated in the monochromatic color palette.

Despite my personal aversion to color, I had to pay homage to my kiddo’s creative side by displaying some of his masterpieces and his most-prized possessions on the closet wall – the banjo and ukulele. Now his instruments hang just like his music teacher’s – major bonus points for mama (though he’s probably more excited about the little men they’re hanging from then the display itself).

This little kid table is the perfect workstation for anything creative. I love that the stools can tuck in out of the way. And it’s actually pretty comfortable for me to sit at too.

get the look: wall-mounted book bins // pehr petit alphabet baskets // children’s banjo // children’s ukulele // white storage bins // white washed wood storage bins // fabric storage bins // little buddy wall hooks // wooden elephant puzzle // retro wood car // maxi helly helicopter // baby letto lemonade play table // vehicles book

Finally, I corralled our extensive book collection with wall mounted shelves that make it easy for a toddler to recognize book covers and grab what he wants to “read” for himself. I keep the nicer titles that are less friendly to rough and tough play in the upper bin. It’s the perfect way to make use of the vertical space.

With this little makeover, I accomplished two goals: dramatically increasing the amount of usable playspace in my son’s room and I gave myself way more storage and the ability to tuck away mess with the simple swing of a door. It was a win all around. I’m happy to report that my son is just as thrilled with his new space as I am!

For more peeks into our San Francisco Victorian, CLICK HERE.

For more kid’s room inspiration, CLICK HERE.

original photography for apartment 34 by andrea posadas

This content was created is in partnership with Clorox. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. Thanks for supporting collaborations that I’m excited about and that have kept apartment 34’s doors open

How to Make the Perfectly Imperfect Bed

Bedrooms

How much time do you have to get ready in the morning? An hour (liar). 30 minutes? 15? Three?! No matter how quickly you have to get out the door, you can in fact make your bed and you’ll be SO much happier at the end of the day if you do. No seriously! Thankfully, bed making does not have to be an arduous experience.

I’ve been slowly working to get my master bedroom together (why do we always neglect the room we spend so much time in)?! While we still hardly have any furniture, I decided it was time to make our bed a truly inviting space. My years-old set of all white bedding we carried over from our old loft was feeling rurl tired. To transform our space, I turned to Parachute, the online go-to for amazing bedding, and couldn’t be happier with the final result! This is a bed that proves you can in fact, make a wonderfully inviting bed in almost no time at all. What do you guys think?

Step one in designing a bed is picking your vibe. While I styled my guest bed to neutral and ultra minimal, I wanted our bedroom to feel a little more sultry. I also wanted to design my bed to match our lifestyle – which trends toward a little chaotic and always on the go. So I set my sights on a perfectly imperfect bed. Sure, there are formal ways to make a bed, really traditional looks, boho and modern styles, but I need something that is pretty low maintenance.

Next step was picking a color palette. Thankfully, matching sheet sets are a thing of the past. I love that with Parachute you can choose any color combo you like. I paired a lovely 100% Egyptian cotton percale in Sand for my fitted sheet with a deep slate hue for the top sheet. These sheets are super soft straight out of the bag and will only get better as you wash them. I also love that they’re really big – covering the bed beautifully.

The third step for this perfectly imperfect looks is layering. I firmly believe that the only thing that should go to bed naked is you. Your bed, on the other hand should be layered with a variety of blankets and throws to create that cozy, inviting texture. I added a lovely embroidered coverlet with a global vibe atop my sheets and topped it all off with a Parachute linen duvet cover in Toast (obsessed with their linen – it’s SO good) folded down to reveal all the different textures.

When it comes to pillows, I’m a firm believer that there is no need for piles and piles. Yes, if you stack your bed with all things mud cloth, it’ll get pinned a million times, but what do you actually do with all of them? Sweep them to the floor and then have to pick them all back up again. No thank you. I say keep it classy with no more than four. I chose standard pillowcases in percale to match my sheets because you can actually sleep on them.

When it comes to other accents, I liken throw pillows to jewelry. Throw one on as an accessory to complete the look. I chose a velvet throw pillow in my current color obsession – terra cotta. The addition of velvet adds one more yummy texture to the mix.

Shop The Look: Fitted Sheet // Top Sheet // Pillowcases // Duvet Cover // Bed // Pendant // Floor Lamp // Rug

A simple, inviting bed that doesn’t require 30 minutes to accomplish. You can make this bed in under 30 seconds. Not convinced? We even made a video to show you just how easy it is to get this laid back, yet sophisticated look. Check it out!

It’s amazing how nice it is to walk into a room at the end of the day and see a warm inviting bed awaiting you. It’s the perfect way to relax at the end of the day – if you can stay awake for more than two minutes.

photography by andrea posadas

This post is in partnership with Parachute. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. Thanks for supporting posts that have kept apartment 34’s doors open.

Baby Space Update: How to Transition a Nursery to a Toddler Room

Bedrooms

This week on Instagram I’ve been talking about transitioning my son’s room from a nursery to a toddler room so I thought I’d talk about here as well! Now that our kiddo is two (going on teenager), I think he’s ready for a big boy update. It also feels like the perfect summer project!

Now there a lot of different directions I could go and I’m having a bit of tough time zeroing in on one big idea.

I’m certainly drawn to Scandi-style which I think could easily evolve and grow as my kid does.

At the same time, an accent wall situation would add fun color and playfulness.

This loft bed situation is a kid’s dream come true.

Though a more rustic version is probably more realistic. I do love how loft beds offer more place space underneath them.

This space is just precious, but I’m afraid it won’t age well. I’m not really looking to redo this kids room every 1-2 years.

And of course, my minimalist tendencies creep back in and I think maybe I just keep things really clean, cool and simple. But is that not playful enough??

What say you?? Anyone experienced with the evolving kid room challenge who cares to share their secrets? Any particularly fun ideas you’ve seen or mistakes you’ve made?! Design aficionados – any genius ideas?? I’m in the mood boarding phase at the moment so I’ll definitely share where I land!

You can check out what the nursery looks like at the moment right HERE. Also, head to Instagram to see the full tour before my story expires!

PS: Our Summer Newsletter launched today! Have you signed up to be on the list yet?? Just scroll down my right sidebar & click subscribe.

image 1 my scandinavian home / image 2 apartment therapy / image 3 contemporist / image 4 apartment therapy / image 5 / image 6 over the ocean

A Touch of Tuscany at Home

Bedrooms

If there are two things I can’t get enough of, it’s changing things up around our house and all things Italian. After living in Siena and traveling to Italy many times over the years, I’ve confirmed that Tuscany is my happy place. So I partnered with Clorox to give you a Tuscan-inspired guest bedroom refresh and a lovely afternoon with girlfriends that felt like we could have been in the Tuscan countryside.

Why, pray tell? Well, the new Clorox Scentiva collection is all about getting the most out of things in life. As I’m sure all you fellow parents know, anything we can do to save ourselves time AND simplify our ever-growing “to-do” list is a win. Every moment you save means more precious time to do the things you really love. That’s why this spring, Clorox has introduced Clorox Scentiva™ to keep your home smelling great and squeaky clean without a multi-step process. Their new Tuscan Lavender & Jasmine scent will transport your senses to straight to the Italian countryside. The scent was my inspiration for a quick guest bed refresh as we head into the summer hosting season.

As you may remember, this is what the guest bed looked like before.

And here’s what it looks like now!

I love the way Italian beds are made so simply. All you really need are some classic neutral linens and a rustic accent or two. Nothing fancy required. Just timeless, beautiful elements that make a bedroom a calming respite.

My guest bed update started with toning the space down a bit. I replaced the oversized art over the bed with a classic convex mirror. An antique stool serves as a side table and a bouquet of lavender adds both a rustic element and a dash of life. I made the bed with vintage french linens from my favorite antique shop Elsie Green and a pom pom throw for a little texture. A quick clean and my guest room both looked and smelled great.

While I’m the first to admit that the previous design was lovely, I appreciate the paired back, retreat-like feel of the room now. I want my guests to feel transported to a relaxing getaway when they stay with us – not inundated by the toddler terror zone they might encounter when the step out of the guest bedroom door.

With one less task on my to-do list, the only question left was how to best spend my free time! I decided to grab the opportunity to indulge in another favorite but rarely enjoyed activity – girl time. It’s so rare that I get an afternoon with mama friends. We’re usually too busy chasing tiny humans in opposite directions. But I was able to sneak away and enjoy a lovely Tuscan-inspired picnic on a beautiful afternoon with two of my faves – Emily of The Refined Woman and Taylor of Glitter Guide fame.

Snuggling babies in the sunshine was an added bonus.

This spring Clorox wants to help you save time and get out and enjoy your favorite things. They’re offering Apartment 34 readers a $150 GIVEAWAY where one lucky winner will receive the latest line of Clorox^® Scentiva^™ products, a beautiful picnic basket for your own outing with friends or family and a $50 gift card to buy some new cooking supplies or attend a cooking class.

HOW TO ENTER

1. Comment below with how you’d spend a little extra time this spring

2. Sign up for the Apartment 34 Newsletter for an extra entry (click here for the submission form)

A winner will be selected at 8AM PST on Monday, May 15 and announced here.

GOOD LUCK!

bedroom photography by ana kamin / picnic photography by jen kay

This post is in partnership with Clorox. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. Thanks for supporting collaborations that I’m excited about and that have kept apartment 34’s doors open

10 Beautiful Beds

Bedrooms

You know those Mondays where you need a crane to drag you out from under your covers?? Yeah, I’m having one of those (my feet are tired ya’ll). So I thought I’d share 10 beautiful beds that’ll inspire you to get back in yours. But make it prettier of course.

1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10

Take a Tour of My Guest Room

Bedrooms

In case you missed it, a couple of weeks ago I shared the inspiration behind my guest room. Well today – you finally get the full guest room tour!

The online decorating service Decorist, and their head of design Ashley Redmond, helped me pull my wishlist together and create my dream room – a light and airy space that serves as a respite for our guests and provides me with an inspirational place to work. I think the room accomplishes both beautifully!

The Wyatt upholstered bed from Room & Board is the prefect place for friends and family to rest their heads. We dressed it up in classic linen bedding and used hmong pillows and a throw by The Citizenry to add texture. The large scale art print by Brian Merriam from Tappan Collective helps accomplish one of my primary goals for the space – a gender neutral color palette.

bedside table via ATG, light fixture by West Elm

I like providing guests with a little bedside reading and some yummy candles to help them feel at home.

This walnut dresser from ATG helps anchor the otherwise bright white space and offers some much needed extra storage. I leaned and layered art for now – I’m still not ready to commit to hanging a lot on the walls! It also gives the space a more casual vibe.

This room had to do double duty since I had to give up the Apt34 studios space (tear). But it was easy to tuck a a chic work area into a corner of this room. I’m obsessed with my Lostine desk, with its metal base and ash wood top. It has a refined industrial look. The Lostine wire chair adds a rustic, vintage vibe that we softened with a luxe sheepskin. It’s the perfect minimal space to focus and get things checked off my to-do list.

I love having extra seating in bedrooms. Whether it’s a spot to sit and put your shoes on, read or simply lay out some clothes – it’s just so nice to have somewhere to sit other than the bed.

The entire room seems to glow – its the perfect combination of light streaming in from my bay windows, the lovely white walls (Benjamin Moore’s White Whisp is my go-to color) and cool California vibe that Ashley helped me pull together. I love that the room feels relaxed but also very pulled together and cohesive. It’s currently my favorite room in the house – and not just because it’s the only one that’s actually complete at the moment. Here’s how you can incorporate this look into your space.

SHOP THE LOOK: satsuki shibuya art print / pendant light / occasional chair / black cashmere throw / wall sconce / throw pillows / log side table / wool rug / bedside table / desk lamp / desk / chair / leather catch all / icelandic sheepskin / nate berkus tray

And I thought I’d share a few more of my renovation resources. As mentioned above, the paint is Benjamin Moore in White Whisp in matte on the walls and high gloss on the trim and windows. Our door hardware is by Emtek. Our hearth is Dekton from Cosentino. We installed 5″ wide plank oak floors and stained them a light gray. The window’s roman shades are custom made by The Shade Store.

To see all my Before pics and the entire design process for this room RIGHT HERE.

To catch up on our entire renovation process, CLICK HERE.

photography by carol varizi

Before & After: Our Guest Room

Bedrooms

I have another fun reveal of our new house for you today! I’ve been working with the online interior design service Decorist to complete our guest room. I’m so excited to finally get to share the entire process with you.

I wanted to design our guest room to be both a respite for visiting family and friends, as well as a space I love to be in on the daily because the room also doubles as my home office. I worked with Decorist designer Ashley Redmond to achieve both of these goals. She helped me hone in the final vision for the space and pull together a look that makes me smile everyday. Here are the moodboards I initially created to get our process started.

I focused on three key things for this room: A warm, welcoming color palette with a mix of neutrals, natural wood and touches cool tones that would create serene space. Secondly, I wanted to make sure the room had a comfortable and inviting guest bed and thirdly, I wanted the space to feature both a relaxing seating area as well as accommodate a small office area I could escape to during the day (working on our dining room table has just not been cutting it!). I threw a few more things onto the wishlist at the last minute: a bit of storage (because even with my dream closet, there’s always overflow) as well as wanting to be sure the room felt like it was decorated with a minimal hand. I didn’t want the space to feel overwrought.

Ashley immediately got my vibe. I loved the room concepts Ashley provided. Decorist uses this cool 3-D imaging that really helps you visual what the final space could look like. Here’s how the plan for the guest room looked.

With the moodboards and initial room concept in hand, I was able to turn Ashley free to hone a sourcing list of pieces certain to make my vision come to life. That was amazing help for someone with a completely overpacked schedule such as myself. Ashely and I were able to bounce ideas back and forth until we found what we both loved.

Here’s how the room’s final shopping list turned out.

SHOP THE LOOK: satsuki shibuya art print / pendant light / occasional chair / st. frank throw / west elm wall sconce / throw pillows / log side table / wool rug / side table / desk lamp / desk / chair / leather catch all / icelandic sheepskin / nate berkus tray

And here is the before pic of what the guest room looked prior to any renovations (eek!).

To see the after, head over to Architectural Digest – they’re featuring our guest room reveal today (cue happy dance).

To catch up on our entire renovation process and all the reveals to date CLICK HERE.

5 Key Ingredients for a Welcoming Guest Room

Bedrooms

With the arrival of Memorial Day weekend and the official start of the summer travel season, it’s time to get ready for guests. Thankfully, creating a tranquil visitor-ready space is much easier than you think. Even if you don’t have a lot of space (or are just getting settled in your new house!) just a few thoughtful details came make your visitors feel like they’re getting the royal treatment.

Even though we’ve barely gotten our footing, I’m excited to host our first guests. After living in less than 1,000sq ft, having a guest room feels like such a luxury. Yet my guest room, like the rest of the house, is not even close to being “done.” That’s going to be a loooong process. But if you get creative, you can pull together a totally inviting space.

Obviously, the key to a good stay anywhere is an excellent night’s sleep. If there’s thing you should always invest in, it’s your bed. For our guest room, we went with the Wyatt bed from Room & Board in a soft gray velvet. It has a hotel bed look, which I love. And our Cocoon by Sealy mattress is already getting rave reviews. But it’s how you make your bed that will make visitors feel extra special. I’ve been a bit obsessed with the various bed making styles. My current favorite: sheets tucked in nice and tight, layered blankets folded down almost to the bed’s foot to expose all the colors and textures and then a good stack of pillows. I like just two decorative pillows for a crisp clean look.

Since we don’t have much furniture yet, I had to get creative to make the guest room functional. No bedside tables? No matter! A pouf and a cool decorative ladder (ladders are having a moment) are all you need to give your guests a spot for a glass of water, their phone or a book. This were I also put two of my other key ingredients for a the perfect guest room – fresh flowers and good smells. A lovely candle, or in this case my favorite room spray from le labo, is a luxurious touch.

I repurposed our floor lamp to serve as a bedside light, at least for now. A basket for extra throws is always nice should your guests get cold in the night.

I also think it’s a nice touch to offer your guests a supply of toiletries. A toothbrush and toothpaste, soap, lotion and even shampoo and condition. I’m notorious for getting things (since I’m usually rushing to catch my plane) and this way your visitors don’t even have to ask to borrow something.

Finally, leave out some good reading material. It’s always nice to read a little something before bed and this way you guests to have to sit under the goal of their phones. That is not conducive to a good night’s sleep!

And there you have it. If you add just a few thoughtful details you can have the ultimate guest room. Warning: you may end up waiting to sleep in a room like this yourself.

Room sources: Throw pillows, pouf, ladder, leather basket, throws, p0mpom coverlet, floor cushions Jessie Black / Wyatt bed from Room & Board / Cocoon by Sealy mattress / Flaneur sheets / West Elm floor lamp / Morgan toiletries / florals by Natalie Bowen Designs

In case you’re curious about details of our house here are a few: Benjamin Moore paint in White Whisp / adorne by Legrand switches & wall plates / emtek glass door knobs

original photography for apartment 34 by suzanna scott

Creating Your Happy Place + A Cocoon By Sealy Mattress Giveaway

Bedrooms

*UPDATE THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED!”

Well, all the paint is dry, the floors are finished and our boxes are stacked ceiling high in our new house! Even as I walk from room to room it still feels a bit like we’re squatting in some elegant yet unfurnished Airbnb. But I can’t wait to turn this house into our home. After living in what I knew would be temporary spaces for the last five years, it’s almost hard to know where to begin. This is the home I might live in for the next – well, suffice to say too many years to truly fathom.

Whenever crave making a space feel homey I head straight to the bedrooms. A bedroom should be your sanctuary – your respite from the day’s stresses. It’s your opportunity to create the physical manifestation of your distinct style – this is the place to get really personal with your design. Your design should also be centered around a good night’s sleep since we do spend one third of our lives in bed!

Now that we’re living in an actual house, we’re spoiled with a guest bedroom – and I’m actually more excited to create the ultimate respite for my future guests than I am for myself. I’ve only stayed in a couple of guest bedrooms over the years that have stuck with me – but when a room is decorated just so, has eye-catching touches and attention to detail – like the ultimate hotel-like bed, well, you remember.

So I’m setting my sights very high for our guest room. All will be revealed in due time (you’re going to have to be a touch patient for the before & afters), but I’m starting with the bed. It’s been quite some time since I got a new mattress so when Sealy offered to send me their new Cocoon by Sealy mattress I was thrilled to finally get to try the whole bed in a box idea. No spending hours testing mattresses at some showroom – it just shows up at your doorstep ready to be unpacked. Count me in.

I snapped a few pics of my unboxing experience for you – it’s seriously nuts how a mattress can fit into such a small box! – and be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post… two lucky readers will win their own Cocoon by Sealy!

The box was delivered right to my doorstep.

Our queen-sized mattress was easy to open up.

I see a future playhouse for Carter coming on!

The mattress comes vacuum sealed. You simply remove the plastic and 30 minutes later et voila – your mattress is good to go!

how badly does it look like a need a good night’s sleep in that pic!
Cocoon by Sealy includes all classic mattress sizes, from a Twin to a California King and two distinct feels: Softer – a cozy, more enveloping feel; the right choice if you like sleeping in your bed and Firmer – a sturdy, more substantial feel; the right choice if you like sleeping on your bed. Since this is our guest room I went for softer because I always love a cushy mattress when I’m on vacation!

The coolest part? Cocoon by Sealy offers 100% Satisfaction guaranteed, 100 Night Trial, Free Shipping and a 10 year warranty. If you don’t like the mattress for any reason you can return it – no questions asked. You don’t even have to repack it. Sealy will arrange to pick up the mattress and donate it to a local agency.

I’m so excited to partner with Cocoon by Sealy to giveaway two mattresses to two lucky Apt34 readers. To enter, simply tell me what makes your bedroom your happy place in the comments section below.

Two (2) winners will be selected at random on Monday, April 25 at 8:00am PST. Entrants limited to the continental U.S. only. No purchase necessary to enter.

I’ve got rather grand plans up my sleeve for our guest room, but I’m glad I know I’ll have a comfy bed for our visitors to enjoy no matter where the design takes me. And we’re actually hosting our first guests this weekend so I’ll be getting a full review of the mattress. Stay tuned for updates!

image via amber interiors

This post is sponsored by Cocoon By Sealy. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. Thanks for supporting partnerships I’m excited about and have kept apartment 34’s doors open.

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