Cassie Bustamante

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Emmy’s American Girl Play Nook

March 26, 2014 by Cassie 43 Comments

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As a family of four plus a dog living in a smaller home, we try to make sure each square foot is functioning at its highest potential.   And of course as our family evolves, the space evolves with us.  Each child has their own room which serves as their own sanctuary.  Sawyer has his all American/Star Wars inspired room, which is the larger of the kids’ bedrooms.  Emmy has a very colorful and eclectic room; it’s much smaller, but has the larger closet, which we all know come in handy in the adolescent years!  Because her room is smaller, we’ve given her a little bonus real estate off of our basement playroom.

A little over a year ago, I made over this nook to suit her needs at the time; she loves to craft so we set up her own private craft studio in the closet.  It started out like this….

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We added aqua paint to a wall, a shelf, a rod with buckets, baskets, some art, a little table and chair, and she was good to go!

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Fast forward to a year later, and this little nook was always a mess of pom poms and paper scraps, sticker backings, glitter glue, and more.  To top it off, Emmy was not doing the actual crafting in here, but pulling it out to do at a larger table.  We needed to re-evaluate the use of this space.  I had just purchased some vintage aqua lockers for the playroom, so Emmy and I got to work loading them up with all of the craft supplies.  As a growing girl, her needs changed, and in order to keep the function of this space, we had to change it as well.  What Emmy needed was a place to play with her American Girls, a cozy and girly corner all to herself…. and Molly, Saige, and Isabelle.

Once the space was cleared out we had a nice clean slate, ready for total girlification!

I knew I wanted to create some fun graphics for Emmy on the walls.  I ordered a set of gold vinyl hearts from one of my favorite etsy shops, Cuckoo4Design Studio.  They arrived quickly and I got right to work adding the hearts to the wall.  I will admit that I do not have a spacial mathematics sort of mindset, so I eyeballed where my hearts should go and used very rough measurements.

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On the other side, I could not decide what to do so consulted a friend who is also into design, and also has daughters into American Girl.  She suggested a pastel rainbow, and I loved the idea!  Again, not measuring but eyeballing, I taped off sections of the wall in a straight rainbow pattern.  I taped it so that I had three slightly wider spaces, allowing for the tape.  I chose a pastel array of rainbow colors and painted the wider areas each with 2-3 coats of acrylic craft paint.  .

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Once those were dry, I moved the tape to cover the edges of each of these spaces, and expose the entire white areas that were left.  I painted in the remaining colors, peeled off the table, and we had ourselves a rainbow!
As for the decor, I kept the shelf and bar that we had previously added.  The shelf stores a box of American Girl clothing, fun accessories and shoes; and the bar was perfect to hang clothes that had a velcro closure we could clasp around it.   We brought in the bed that was taking up too much space in Emmy’s room, with gorgeous bedding created by Emmy’s grandmother.  Finally, the “girls” came in to complete the space.

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Here is a closer look at how the rainbow
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And opposite that wall are the gold hearts.

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And of course the dolls have their own accessories, such as dance cases…

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and pets….

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And every girl needs a shoe collection.

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Emmy thoroughly enjoys playing in her nook, and when asked what her favorite part of it was, she said “That they have their own space with rainbows and hearts!”  I think that sums it up well!  And I have to admit, I had a lot of fun creating this little space for her!

Also, I wanted to let you know you can find me at one of my favorite blogs today…. designPOST interiors where I am participating in  Beth’s Take Two Series, sharing my favorite change to the house and also my favorite change to my life!  Head on over to find out what they are, and while you are there stay awhile and be inspired!  I will leave you with this peek into her home….

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Filed Under: Emmy's Room, Kids, making our home, Playroom

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Comments

  1. 17 Perth says

    March 26, 2014 at 10:57 am

    I always love little nooks under the stairwell! No doubt Emmy loves this space! Love the rainbow!

    Reply
  2. Gail Wilson says

    March 26, 2014 at 12:15 pm

    That’s a great space for Emmy. I remember Jamie’s American Girl days. Great job mom!

    Reply
  3. Jaime Costiglio says

    March 26, 2014 at 12:17 pm

    Cassie it makes my heart sing when I see you making the space work best for your current needs. Love how you assessed the ‘too small craft space’ and made it really work for all the doll stuff.

    Reply
  4. Julia Konya says

    March 26, 2014 at 12:46 pm

    Yay, love it so much and Lilly wants to come over for an American Girl play date 😉
    Thanks so much for the shout out.

    Reply
  5. buildingacharmedlife says

    March 26, 2014 at 1:06 pm

    What a sweet little space! 🙂

    Reply
  6. Korrie@RedHenHome says

    March 26, 2014 at 1:18 pm

    What a fun play space!

    Reply
  7. Dana Frieling says

    March 26, 2014 at 1:22 pm

    Tiny, tight spaces are the best for playing. I used to convert my small closet into all kinds of things as a kid! Emmy will have the best memories of the super cool spaces you’ve created for her, Cassie.

    Reply
  8. Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co. says

    March 26, 2014 at 1:39 pm

    What a sweet and cozy spot for Emmy! It’s like a little hideaway! And I love the rainbow and the hearts!

    Reply
  9. reFresh reStyle says

    March 26, 2014 at 1:46 pm

    Adorable! You’re such a cool mom!
    Debbie

    Reply
  10. Rachel at Maybe Matilda says

    March 26, 2014 at 1:55 pm

    Coolest little play nook ever! I love the gold hearts on the wall. It looks so fun!

    Reply
  11. Jane Craske says

    March 26, 2014 at 2:02 pm

    So sweet, I’ve really got to step up. C:

    Reply
  12. Elizabeth @ The Little Black Door says

    March 26, 2014 at 2:05 pm

    Good golly I love the rainbow! What a fun place!

    Reply
  13. [email protected] says

    March 26, 2014 at 2:10 pm

    That is too cute! I bet she is LOVING that space! Life to the full! Melissa @ DaisyMaeBelle

    Reply
  14. karen@somewhatquirky says

    March 26, 2014 at 2:30 pm

    Precious! I’m sure she thinks she’s in American Doll heaven here.

    Reply
  15. Bliss says

    March 26, 2014 at 2:32 pm

    I played daily with my big dolls, my space was outside in a screened in patio. But every day I brought my babies back in to my room where there were safe. If my mom would of carved out a little niche for me in the house, I would of been in heaven. Now tell me, surely there is an “Emmy” American girl doll yes?

    Reply
  16. Sixty-Fifth Avenue says

    March 26, 2014 at 2:57 pm

    Adorable Cassie!! Emmy will have great memories playing in her sweet little nook.

    Reply
  17. Mekenzie @ interiorsbykenz.com says

    March 26, 2014 at 4:27 pm

    Oh how darling. You would not have been able to get 10-year-old-kenz out of there!

    Reply
  18. Rita Mireles says

    March 26, 2014 at 5:28 pm

    This looks perfect for her it’s such a ‘happy room’. I love it!
    And so you know, I was unable to get online to check my fellow bloggers blogs all week so i’m catching up now (just incase you missed me 🙂

    Reply
  19. michelle@decorandthedog says

    March 26, 2014 at 5:58 pm

    It’s so cute! Seems like the perfect Emmy room!

    Reply
  20. Heidi @ Decor & More says

    March 26, 2014 at 6:53 pm

    Love this sweet solution to needing a little girl cave! So fun and fresh, Cassie. 🙂 I think the rainbow is my favorite part!
    xo heidi

    Reply
  21. Caitlin @ Desert Domicile says

    March 26, 2014 at 6:55 pm

    What a sweet little space! Is it weird that I’m jealous of the doll’s shoes? They’re better than mine haha

    Reply
  22. Kim @ NewlyWoodwards says

    March 26, 2014 at 7:59 pm

    How awesome is this space? I love that you made it work for her now. And I love the combo of the rainbow wall and the gold decals. So cute.

    Reply
  23. Ali Richardson says

    March 26, 2014 at 8:07 pm

    She better not grow out of this closet before I get a chance to play in it. C’mon emmy! Auntie Ali needs some time in the closet! XO Fab!

    Reply
  24. Gretchen says

    March 26, 2014 at 10:45 pm

    I love this little space! I was a little sad that the craft space was going away, but it’s completely adorable in its new incarnation (and I can definitely see how she’d tend to want to use a bigger table for craft projects)

    Reply
  25. Heather{Our Life In a Click} says

    March 26, 2014 at 11:16 pm

    I want to play in there! How fun! My girls have so much AG stuff, it’s all packed up now. Enjoy it while she still does!! It goes so fast! 🙁

    Reply
  26. Amber Wills says

    March 27, 2014 at 1:19 am

    That doll bedding is too cute! Also I cannot wait to see the house tour! Looks incredible!!

    Reply
  27. Twice Nice says

    March 27, 2014 at 1:36 am

    Ahhh, such a wonderful spot for her! This is something she will remember for the rest of her life. Such wonderful memories she will make there.

    Reply
  28. Kris @ Driven by Décor says

    March 27, 2014 at 1:43 am

    This is amazing! I always loved small, cozy spaces when I was little and can only imagine how much your daughter is going to enjoy playing there. So super cute.

    Reply
  29. Allison says

    March 27, 2014 at 2:46 am

    This is wonderful Cassie! I love the special space you created for Emmy and her dolls. It’s so cheerful with the rainbow and the hearts. I would love to have this space for myself at my age!

    Reply
  30. House Envy says

    March 27, 2014 at 12:34 pm

    this is so darn cute! love it.

    Reply
  31. Eclectically Vintage says

    March 27, 2014 at 2:51 pm

    Such a cute little hiding place to get lost in for hours! Just hope that’s not my bed when I visit!!!
    Kelly

    Reply
  32. Lisa @ Shine Your Light says

    March 27, 2014 at 4:34 pm

    Cassie, first of all this is such a dreamy little space for the sweetest of little girls. I would have loved a nook like this when I was a kid! Second, the rainbow. Oh how I love it! Third, enjoy enjoy enjoy this lovely innocent time of Emmy’s life….I know you do….that is such a darling age isn’t it?!

    Reply
  33. Bethany DeVore says

    March 27, 2014 at 6:16 pm

    what a happy little space! Love the rainbow wall!

    Reply
  34. [email protected] says

    March 27, 2014 at 7:38 pm

    That space is as magical as a unicorn! So love it! xo K

    Reply
  35. Good Time Charlie says

    March 27, 2014 at 11:02 pm

    I had a big doll collection and played with them well into my older childhood years. I would have LOVED to have had a space like this, but that would have been hard to find in a one story rambling rancher. I want to come play in there with dolls, it looks so cute, and the rainbow is adorable.

    Reply
  36. Laurie from Laurie Jones Home says

    March 28, 2014 at 12:48 pm

    I love this! Sloan is 15 but I think she played with her AG dolls up until a few years ago! The longer we can keep our girls from growing up the better! This space is magical! The rainbow is awesome!!!

    Reply
  37. Keya Davis says

    March 28, 2014 at 1:39 pm

    cassie, when mary saw this she gasped! what a great space for emmy!

    Reply
  38. Shelley | Crazy Wonderful says

    March 29, 2014 at 2:10 am

    That rainbow is so cool and unique! The hearts I’m loving (I actually just put gold hearts up in Izzy’s bedroom closet a few weeks ago. She still lights up when she sees them). What a lucky little girl Emmy is 🙂

    Reply
  39. Ashley@AttemptsAtDomestication says

    March 30, 2014 at 1:40 am

    What a fun little space for Emmy! I love the pastel rainbow and hearts!

    Reply
  40. Renee says

    March 30, 2014 at 7:52 pm

    What a great mom you are…every little girl would love this. It’s so special and pretty! How fun for her!

    Reply
  41. Our Pinteresting Family says

    March 31, 2014 at 12:38 pm

    What a cute little space! She is such a lucky girl. You are such an awesome mom!

    Reply
  42. Audra Renewed Projects says

    May 15, 2014 at 11:10 pm

    After seeing this post I was inspired to paint a rainbow on my daughters wall. It turned out great!Thanks for the great idea.
    http://renewedprojects.blogspot.com/2014/05/rainbow-free-dollhouse.html

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Fall In Love Room Reveal: Eclectic Playroom says:
    November 7, 2014 at 8:49 pm

    […] The TV nook was one of the first areas of the playroom I tackled.  I knew I wanted the TV to be lost in a black wall (I used chalkboard paint) and I wanted the credenza to pop.  I also added a DIY capiz garland at that time.  And of course no space is complete without a disco ball.  Emmy and I found two of these at the flea market and one went here, and the other in her American girl nook. […]

    Reply

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Hi, I’m Cassie!

I believe that you don't have to spend a lot of money to live a beautiful life and be your best self.  Here you will find budget friendly ideas to live happily, healthily, sustainably, and most importantly authentically.  We all get one chance at this life, and this ordinary girl plans to make hers extraordinary. How about you? Read more...
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Hi! I'm Cassie.

Mother, wife, shop owner, blogger, writer, incurable diy-er, furniture painter, coffee and wine drinker, friend. Seeking happiness and passing it on. Read More…

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