Welcome to The Igloo

Today is April 29th, 2015. And my 2nd Room Renovation of the year is now complete. For this project, I transformed what was a Kid's Playroom and created a new space that I like to call a Kid's Lounge. It's basically an age appropriate space where my kids and their friends can hang out, play video games, play board games, read comics and just chill... Come take a look inside.


But before we move ahead, we have to remember where we came from...





I remember creating this playroom for my kids when the twins were barely 2 years old. The twins are now 9 and Nash is nearly 12. It was certainly time to move on from the princess castle and plastic kitchen, and create a new space for the next chapter of their lives. This picture fondly takes one last look at the old space and a bygone era...

With that, let's move on to the New Space shall we?

As I was creating this Kids Lounge, I thought the space was deserving of a name. I was thinking along the lines of "The Loft," but my kids had other ideas. They now call it "The Igloo" because it's so COOL in here. FYI, my daughter McKenna made this sign. Chill Peeps...

As you come up the stairs, this will be the first thing you see... a 4ft x 4ft wall decal of an AT-AT Imperial Walker. This thing is MASSIVE! Once you see it, you instantly know that you are not in Kansas anymore...

Welcome to Star Wars Corner... When I first visualized this room, I knew I wanted to incorporate some of my kids' favorite things (and let's be honest, mine too).

The original concept for this room was based on incorporating 3 things into the room design: Star Wars, Comic Books, and Video Games. However, I wanted to showcase all of those things in a "Vintage Style," more specifically a Mid Century Modern Style...

This is how you represent Classic Star Wars in a vintage fashion. I love these prints. They keep to the overall theme while still staying well within the design scheme.

This Paul McCobb vintage desk located in the center of the room is basically the transition between the 2 distinct areas. Vintage Radio and a Bluetooth speaker all on a vintage desk... Angry Birds, Mameshiba, R2D2., TMNT. All coexisting in harmony...

In keeping with the 50's period. This class photo is from 1953. It is my father's Junior High School Graduating Class Photo. It was important to me that we include my father, who has since passed away, into the space. You can find him on the top row, second in from the right side. Handsome fellow... Love you Dad.

Here's the other side of the transition space. On the wall is an actual Disneyland Map from the late 50's that my brother Kenny bought me years ago. I heart Vintage Disneyland. You will see Vintage Disneyland represented all over my house. Inside the bench below the map, you will find board games and various fun things that are available to play anytime. We've never had a Scrabble Night as a family until recently. Now we all love Scrabble Night!

Here's the first shot of the Lounge, Video Game, and Comic Book area. Whenever I don't know where my kids are, and the house is much too quiet, I can usually find them here...reading comic books.

Spider-Man, Iron Man, The Hulk, The Green Lantern, and Captain America. I grew up with these stories, these characters... Now my kids can too.

Now transitioning over to the media side of the area.

This little media area was the first area of the room to be completed. It holds PS2 games, the coveted NEO GEO games, comics, dvds, and assorted Pokemon, Avatar, and random figures.

I tried several iterations of posters on this wall, but nothing seemed to work until I found these...  I knew that I wanted art that was video game related for this wall, but whatever I put up also needed to stay with the vintage theme. These prints fit the bill perfectly. These are the actual US Patent design sketches for the Atari 2600 and the original Nintendo Gameboy. To be honest, they probably mean more to me than my kids, but they still appreciate them.

Now here are some wider shots of the bigger space. Here you can see the transition desk and lounge area working together to make a cohesive space. No one will notice this but me, but do you see that little yellow pillow on the bottom left hand corner? I use that to bring some of the yellow from the left side of the room to the other side. Conversely, I use the white of the pillows to balance the white chairs on the other side of the room. When you are dealing with a space this long, balance and marrying the 2 sides is key...

Here's a shot of the full room from the back. Overall, I'm very happy with the space. And more importantly, my kids love the room and generally hang out here everyday...

 One last shot. May the Force Be With You...

For Nash

On June 3rd, my son Nash will be graduating from Carver Elementary and moving on to Huntington Middle School. While that's nearly 3 months away, the yearbook committee recently requested that each parent write a congratulatory note for their child to be included in the upcoming yearbook. 

That note is due today. 

Because I tend to be long-winded, only a portion of this note will make it into the yearbook. However, when Graduation Day arrives and my son walks across that stage, THIS is the note that I will tearfully place into his hands...


Nash,

Your mother and I are so proud of the man you are becoming... 

And it has nothing to do with your grades, how many trophies you bring home, or how popular you turn out to be. 

You have proven to be a man of integrity. You truly care about others, and have a heart for those who can’t help themselves.

Whatever you may achieve in this life, know that our love for you will not ever change, for we couldn't be any prouder of you than we already are. 

So as you go forth in whichever direction you choose, I give you permission to take chances. I give you permission to try new things and walk different paths. And most importantly, I offer you the unlimited opportunity to make mistakes, and the freedom to fail...  

While we’re excited for the things you’ll do and Oh, the places you’ll go, know that the only thing that matters, is the person you are and the character you show.

New Workout Space

Well, the first house project of 2015 is complete.


While it may not look like it at first, this is my new workout room. OK, workout/multi-media/man room. No doubt, the room ended up much more sophisticated than I had previously planned. I want to call it the "Smoking Room," but I don't smoke, or the "Whisky" room, but I very rarely drink anymore... 


Now that the room is complete, I find myself spending much more time in this room than I had originally thought. The room turned out to be the perfect retreat for me, packed with a lot of function.

Feel free to drop in and hang with me anytime, but you'll have to bring the whisky...





The Opening Shot...



Some might remember these chairs. These are the chairs I saved from Goodwill about 2 months ago. With some elbow grease and quick instructions from YouTube, these now look fantastic. Worn in just enough to tell stories, but nice enough to shine.









So yes... I do workout here. I probably workout here 3 times a week in the mornings.



My favorite routine... Especially #4 and #5.







I originally had artwork hanging here, but it didn't make sense, so I bought a picture ledge to display some of my vinyl collection as art. I love how this looks...



Madonna, Oingo Boingo, Tears For Fears



REM, U2, The Smiths








I actually was in a band in high school... OK, I was really only one of the backup singers. - A proud member of The Hello Kitty Korus.



Etch A Sketch



View from the other side... Here is *most* of my music and movie collection.






One of my prized possessions... An Eames molded plywood chair from the Mid Century Modern era.  Ain't it beautiful?



Overall, I'm very pleased the way this room turned out. It has become way more than a "Workout Room" to be sure. I now use it as music room, quiet room, reading room, and generally just an escape I can go to when life starts moving too fast...


On to the next project.