it has been too long since the last...
summer kept me outdoors...travelling...kiddo organising...thinking...creating...
so it's now time to take stock of what is a new school year here in ol'Blighty...& to share with you a long awaited virtual coffee....
i've been struck with the spring cleaning bug...so grab your coffee & head with me, if you will, to the kiddos domain...the playroom...
not the season to clear out...i realise...but for me, having grown up down under where the start of a new school year is january...clearing out is what i do when they all go back to school!
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| (a gorgeous gift from the lovely anna to our little vegemites) |
i'm starting a fresh new school year with organised cupboards...clear under beds & a full re-cycling bin...
just as i would in january living on the beaches back home...
you can sit in the sunny bay window whilst i tell you about this playroom...
when we first moved from our sandy-toed life in sydney, to our *horse-riding-football-mad-milk-from-the-local-farm-country-inspired-life* here in ol'Blighty...i had my check list in hand...
my own personal *what-i-want-english-house* check list...
&
right up at the top was a playroom...
not a rumpus room- as friends had had in australia when we were growing up...
not a family room- where the toys were dumped & everyone ate round a coffee table...
i wanted a real mary poppins playroom...where the kids had their games...the girls had their doll houses...& there was a drawing desk...
a playroom where they all snuggled down in winter to watch movies...
& where in summer, we opened the windows & let the air in...
& where kids could climb in & out from to the garden with their friends...
so when we looked at big old english houses...i just held my breath for a playroom...
& we found...on the edge of our little market town...a perfect playroom...with a bay window...& high ceilings & lotsa light...
aussie kids need a lot of light & a lot of space...suddenly our outdoor life was about to become indoors and this playroom was the perfect mary poppins inspired answer...
so for three & a half years we have lived in...& so loved this playroom...
but just because i wanted it so desperately didn't mean it was my space...
chippy was not high on the kids list of decorating...
nor was a sense of calm white or jugs of flowers...
this playroom was for kids...& toys & colour & dancing & wii & karaoke & lotsa fun...
so we met half way via ikea & some very special vintage car-boot, thrifted finds...
i must admit...i don't usually share a coffee in here...it's only cause i'm on this cleaning thing that i'm giving you the bay window seat...
you've not had to side step any little animals living in castles...leggo scooter sets...i-pods...art supplies...drink bottles...tents...cubby houses, sweet rappers or soccer boots...
the floor is clear...
the kids are at school...
come 4 o'clock & i'm back on my chair in the sitting room...
pretending the floor hasn't been covered in up-ended baskets of
so...if we were really having a coffee today...i would ask you if you've ever dreamed of a real life mary poppins playroom....
i'm not into the singing birds...or the ordered shelves...or the links to a world of children seen but not heard that a playroom used to represent...
but i do love me a space to hold all the kid stuff...
everyone always harps on about the long nights, the broken sleep and the constancy of having and rearing kids...
i just wish someone had told me about all the stuff !
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| (the daunting after-summer-before-cleaning-out-very-used-playroom!) |
so...coffee drunk...playroom seen...i'm either pushing you back out into the wind with a bag of pre-loved toys under your arm...or you're coming with me to attack my sewing room & office space...
totally up to you...
but from here on in...it's pots of tea...garbage bags...a ruthless edge to the day...perhaps a little cursing thrown in for good measure and a promised sense of satisfaction at the end of the day...
&
you can still take the bag of toys...
&
we may even find you something special in the sewing pile...
tempting i'm sure ;)
~~~~
yep...i thought you'd be away...thanks for the coffee...
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| (disco ball + world globe + vintage map + doilie bunting = playroom heaven!) |
hi melissa, thanks for the coffee and the peek inside your kids' gorgeous playroom. love the vintage feel and your lovely photos!!
ReplyDeletex
melissa- as i have a million things to get rid of around here already i will not be leaving with a bag of toys today...sorry. i would help you with the other rooms and then i might just help myself to the sewing basket : ) ...all to have a friend to drink coffee with! i do dream of a mary poppins playroom and i lovelovelove yours. now if only i had a big bag like hers to hide all my crap in ; )!! thanks for coffee and good luck with the spring cleaning!
ReplyDeletei love your playroom! and yes! i've dreamed about mary poppins and hers. i wish cleaning it up was as easy as she does...just snap your fingers right? wish it were that easy...oh well. yours looks terrific and i'd love to see your other organized spaces!
ReplyDeleteHello Melissa
ReplyDeletelovely aussie post :)
Come home - I want to have a real coffee with you and not a virtual one.
I loved the map of Australia.
x
Loulou
I think it looks fabulous, lovely and bright and I love the dotted spot rugs - perfect for hop scotch.
ReplyDeleteNina x
Well, first I have house envy....
ReplyDeleteI would LOVE a playroom, play area, play anywhere but the living room area! As typing away here, a half constructed train set, puzzles and a tent are staring me in the face....sigh....high ceilings...baywindows (and to think that we have a big house in holland, now I live in a small appartment...sigh..),anyway, love to have a look and coffee today, I too have to clean out, I started small last week, but then we got some sunny days so you know what I choose....
Love the other post too btw, about life lovely,
ok, got to step away from the computer, kids to tend to, xxxx
It looks lovely! Have a gorgeous day, Kellie xx
ReplyDeleteOh my, as tempting as it is... it's spring here and I am doing my own major throw out! I just ripped into a cupboard last night and got ruthless. The children are terrified now! And they should be.
ReplyDeleteI adore your playroom, such cute rugs and table set up. Oh and those very nice baskets too. Love me some seriously good storage. Shame it won't look like that for long isn't it? Never dreamed of a playroom myself, but you may be onto something there. I'm over all the junk everywhere i look. And the paper! Where does all the paper come from??? Kids have the power to produce so much of it.
Good luck with your sewing room. Can't wait to see the makeover.
That is most certainly Playroom Heaven!! Oh how I long for a space like that to hide all of Jacqs mess...no matter how many times I try to tidy up and keep it clean...he is like a little tornado that has run right through the place..destroying everything in his path..lol
ReplyDeleteThe print looks so lovely...so glad you found a special little nook for it in your home. Thank you lovely x
Right, I am inspired. I will just have a cuppa, grab a garbage bag and start the declutter.
ReplyDeleteYour playroom is perfect. Just the thing for kids to be kids. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the coffee, delicious. However, now that I'm all caffeined up, I need to tackle my neglected house cleaning!:) Love the map/globe area, as that always stirs the imagination.
ReplyDeleteMaureen
LOVE having a peek into your playroom! Sweet rug arrangement and totally jeal of your vintage school desk there. Verrrry nice :)
ReplyDeleteYes, all the stuff! So much STUFF. I am currently trying to figure out what to do with the mountains of stuff I need to clear out of the preschoolers room to make way for the new baby. hard.
I heart your playroom big time! I love old houses. Mine is Victorian but only small so we use the 'middle room' as a sort of play area/ eating area. I try to make it fun in there with vintage bits and pieces. Dreaming of one like yours.....maybe a few years you never know. *Sigh*
ReplyDeleteSuch an inspiring room Melissa, I should thinks its every kids dream place to be :) x
ReplyDeleteAh, loving this post, Miss Melissa. How lucky were you to score that bay window with all that gorgeous light streaming in? Jackpot. Our playroom is still a WIP but we're getting there. I covet your simple IKEA storage solution (they're not down here yet, quite unbelievably). And I have invested in your fabulous stencil set so who knows - maybe PB's playroom might have a similar touch ☺. J x
ReplyDeleteAn imρressive shаre! I've just forwarded this onto a coworker who was conducting a little research on this. And he actually ordered me lunch because I found it for him... lol. So allow me to reword this.... Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending some time to discuss this issue here on your website.
ReplyDeleteMy web-site Hip Hop Loops
It's good to know that you've had specific guidelines while house hunting. It made the search easier, and I'm sure you've considered may things in searching for a new house. Well, it's been two years now. What happened to your cleaning and remodeling projects? :)
ReplyDeleteLevi @ Virginia.ChurchillMortgage.com