["Dottie" with the vintage globe, toy & lamp]
[Linens from Joann's Fabric, WalMart, Target & a family friend]
[Abaye, by Dan Robertson]
[White Rabbit, by Dan Robertson]
[Ethnic print pillow from Grandma]
|[Bee Costume from Target]
[Cutain by Mama, Nightlight from Babies-R-Us]
[Flea Market Chair, blanket, rug & toy from Ikea]
MATERIALS:
Paint: Kilz Mondragon (dark
orange), Ace Indian Summer (Pale Orange),
Bright White Trim ($60)
Furniture: Crib (loaned), Rocker ($56), Wardrobe ($150), drysink/changing table ($125), Table and chairs (yard sale $20)
Bedding: Sprouts gingham changing pad cover & bedskirt (WalMart $15 &$18), striped sheet (Target $18), orange/red polka dot blanket (IKEA $10), fabric & pom pom trim for pillow case, curtains & skirt (WalMart less than $20), yellow polka dot fleece (Babies-R-Us
$10), Quilt (handmade gift)
Organizers: White Shelves (Lowes $30), Blue Tin Bucket (WalMart: $11), Blue Tin Caddy (WalMart: $8), Orange Wastebasket (WalMart $12), Hanging Diaper Caddy (Babies-R-Us $25)
Decor: Chandelier (Urban Outfitters $36), Red Rag Rug (IKEA $40), Rocking Chair Cushion (WalMart $8), Paneled closet door (Lowes $50), Knobs (Target $4)
We had it all planned out: 2008 would be the “Year of House Renovation” and in 2009 we would pack our bags for the trip of a lifetime: a journey to Ethiopia to meet the child we were adopting. And then, life went ahead and made its own plans…
A mere two weeks after submitting our adoption paperwork (expecting a 12 month wait), and knee deep in the first week of a whole house renovation to our newly purchased 1805 home, we received the call.
“We know who your daughter is.”
With those words came a rush of joy. We wrote the details of her name and birth date on the only thing we could find – a 2x4 – and sat down to survey the debris of our 9 month renovation plans and budget.
We had just 3 months to make the house perfect until we needed to leave for Africa to pick her up
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The Goal: Warm, whimsical, long-lasting We also wanted to use materials that would last as she grew and were accessible in our rural Ohio town or online. Although a welcoming nursery was high on the priority list, it was way down on the budget below all the major functional areas of the house. Thesolution was found in a group effort of creative resourcefulness. |
| [Night Watchman, acrylic on canvas, by Dan Robertson] |
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| [Toy, by Blabla] |
[Quilt handmade by a family friend] |
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The Triumphant Trinity: Paint, inexpensive fabric and good friends. A deep orange was chosen for an accent wall coupled with a pale orange on the rest. Friends rallied; a crib was loaned, another friend helped find the rocker, wardrobe and dry sink (for a changing table) at a local auction, and Nana set to painting them in turquoise, red and yellow. A friend gave his weekend to build the closet which was trimmed with molding left over from the kitchen renovation. Mom sewed curtains, embellished the plain gingham baby bedding from Wal-Mart with an ethnic-inspired red swirl fabric and added paint stripes & pom-poms to the plain roller shades. |
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This vintage & charmingly hand made dry sink was found at a local auction for just $125 and makes a great changing table while she's little while still being useful storage once she's grown. The diaper bag is from Babies-R-Us and the blue-green woven basket is from Land of Nod. |
Dad, the artist, painted a series of African animals and a waving Bee for his little girl with the motto “Rukiya, Just Bee.” A charming but inexpensive chandelier from Urban Outfitters and some more paint gave the old ceiling fan new life when the globe was broken during the work. A colorful tin tub, trash can & caddies (from Wal-Mart) help organize toiletries and corral the toys. While we can’t account for the value of the love, sweat and creativity that went into it, Mom and Pop are really happy with the bottom line and Baby Ru is just outright “ga-ga” over her welcoming new home.
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| [Resting Rasta, acrylic on canvas, by Dan Robertson] |
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| [Hoppin' John, by Dan Robertson] | ||
