shedding light on the darkroom

Despite many unpacked boxes, we have been in this house for almost a year. Some projects we planned on tackling last summer are wrapping up just now. When we first set up the sleeping arrangements, Aden insisted the darkroom in the basement would be his bedroom. After ripping out sinks and countertops, everything got a good dose of white paint.

Grandma Ellen was on board to help for not only one but two of her trips up here. She is completely undaunted by any DIY project. (We've asked for help on some nightmare situations.)

We added a chalkboard wall on one side. Aden has had a lot of fun with art in the past so I hope he will feel inspired to create in his space.

The concrete floor is actually in great shape so we left it alone. The walls are all crazy though so Matt & Grandpa Ken wrestled a nail-shooter-into-concrete-machine to add some molding.

The bed frame is new from Ikea and we have plans to transform the headboard into something soft and cushy for him to lean against while he reads in bed. For the time being it is raw pine and so is his long, lean shelf above the chalkboard. Then came another area that is specialty; custom murals.

 Aden had a really cool idea to do the Seattle skyline.

 Paint dried and things started to find a place. The dark box behind the apple painting (made by a friend) will be the window after we get our tax refund. The Mickey painting was something I did at Aden's request. He painted the American flag. The circle cubbies are Ikea, we bought them 10 years ago and the boys still like them.

 Aden painted the bird on the left of the doorway. A whole lot of trim work and lighting and adding that window to do still. I couldn't wait to share, though.