This week, my post will focus on how I decorated my little boy’s bedroom- using thrifted treasures, inherited items, antiques or vintage finds, and pieces we brought over from our home in England.
I also planned a homeschool lesson where the children helped me make a special English-inspired treat, called flapjacks.
After my last post on vintage girl decor, I thought it was only fitting to balance things out with a bit of charming, vintage, boyhood.
So come along, and join me, for a fun day of thrifty decorating and sweet baking!
~Charming, Vintage, Boyhood~
A few months ago, I decided to give my boy’s bedroom space…a little revamp.
And of course, I thought it was only fair to ask them to help me. Afterall, they are the ones who live in their space.
So, I loaded my children into the car- for a trip to the thrift store- and I asked the boys to be on the lookout for a few noteworthy items.
Their faces beamed with excitement when I asked for their expert help! It was a fun experience for all of us and, I enjoyed seeing the delightful things they picked out.
~Bunting, a Sweet Addition to a Child's Bedroom~
Bunting flags are a beautiful European item that are often seen floating around many parts of England. I find bunting so charming that I enjoy using it to decorate many spaces in our home.
When our oldest daughter was born, my husband and I went into an adorable shop on the high street in England, where we bought her a personalized set of bunting flags for her bedroom. Following this, we have purchased each subsequent child a set of personalized, bunting flags from England-as birthday gifts.
You will see bits of the English bunting flags hanging above our boy’s dresser and on the wicker, European toy box.
~Dresser Tops, The Perfect Space to Decorate~
Many bedrooms in England have wardrobes (this is in part because many bedrooms do not have built-in closets). We brought several wardrobes to America- from our home in England.
The boys have plenty of storage space in their wardrobe, but I wanted a dresser for a bit of warmth and charm.
So, when searching for a dresser in America, we wanted something that was full of character. I also wanted something that was not too tall, as the boys are both quite young.
When we found this dresser from a family in our town, I immediately thought the height was perfect- as it would allow the boys to have a reachable place to display some of their favorite things.
Then came the fun-decorating the top with them- and with their thrifted finds!
~Dresser Art from the Thrift Mart~
I knew I wanted some art for the back dresser wall. Naturally, I was thrilled to discover a canvas print featuring a stone wall and some grazing sheep.
The sheep print was hiding on the floor of a thrift store. I turned it over for closer inspection and I immediately thought of my time in England. The stone walls and the sheep reminded me of wintery walks with my husband and our oldest daughter.
We enjoyed some lovely field walks in our village. England has wonderful, beautiful paths to wander.
I also found an actual painting of a boat that I believe has some age to it. The painting is signed by the artist which, in my opinion, makes it very special.
The other picture is also thrifted and is a charming, vintage, print of a teddy bear -which the boys both liked.
~A Bedroom Full of Books~
The boy’s bedroom is filled with many delightful books.
My love for children’s books inspires me to scour the book section whenever I go thrift shopping. I especially love it when the books have personal, handwritten notes… hiding, just inside the cover.
In fact, I have been known to buy the book simply because there was a lovely, handwritten note inside.
Incidentally, I wanted a place to put some of our most special books. I looked for thrifted, vintage book ends for a long time, to no avail.
As a result of my unfruitful search, I went on eBay to further pursue my decorative idea. I was not disappointed when I stumbled across an adorable pair of cast iron, British bulldog book ends! They are now my favorite dresser find in the boy’s room.
~Dresser Jewlery~
I like to add decorative figurines to certain areas in the home, as they can add pizazz and personality to an otherwise- ordinary surface.
I knew the boy’s dresser needed a few adorable figures to add a bit of charm and fun.
As I mentioned before, I instructed the boys to be on the lookout for little things they would like on their dresser, and they did not disappoint.
The ceramic frog was a thrift find that my oldest son picked out, as he loves frogs and lizards.
The vintage puppy dog is made in Italy. It is a sweet, decorative figurine that my youngest son was drawn to.
We chose the little wooden box, firstly, because there was a handwritten note on the top, which gave us a little insight into its previous “life.”
If someone takes the time to write a note, ensuring the history of an item is known, it is worth buying in my opinion.
Also, I think every child can benefit from a little box to store treasures in. This box was only ninety-nine cents, but the note written on the top made it more valuable to me.
I guess I am a romantic thinker.
Lastly, the lamp is an antique that belonged to my grandad. It sheds a warm light on the space.
After putting all our special finds together, I am happy with the considered and storied top. These finds were not found all at once, but instead, over several months.
That is the beauty of gathering thrifted and vintage items, they all have a different “story” to tell.
Long may they continue.
~Cozy Reading Nooks~
I also like to create little reading areas in my children’s rooms. It reminds me of my kindergarten classroom.
As a little girl, my peers and I were given small squares of carpet that we could then bring to any cozy area in the classroom to enjoy reading time. I try to create this in my home as well- as I always want to foster a love for reading.
I like to have cozy areas where the boys can go when they have quiet time in the afternoons to look at their books. This gives me a bit of time to do laundry, or prep for dinner, or do a more in-depth homeschool lesson with our oldest daughter. Win, Win!
Sometimes, a mom needs a bit of tranquility too! Cue the quiet reading time.
~Thrifted Children's Books for Cozy Reading Nooks~
Speaking of reading, one of our favorite books from England is called Alfie’s Feet. It is written by Shirley Hughes. Craig and I got it from a secondhand bookstore in England, shortly after our daughter was born. We brought it back to America with us.
Not long ago, I was looking at the children’s book section of a thrift store, and I saw a hardback book with the word “lorry” on it. (I knew this word from being in England. It is another word for an articulated lorry, also known as an eighteen-wheeler). I did not have time to read it, but put it in the shopping cart.
When I got in the car, and opened the book, I knew immediately that the illustrations were the same as the ones featured in Alfie’s Feet!
After arriving home, I found Alife’s Feet and saw the authors were the same on our book, and The Big Concrete Lorry.
I was so happy to have found it-or maybe, just maybe- it “found me.”
The Big Concrete Lorry also has a cute note printed inside- giving words that American children may not know- that are used in the book. Words like dustbin and aeroplane.
Finds, like this, I always feel are somehow meant to be.
~Walls, a Storyteller~
Another feature I wanted to create in the boy’s bedroom was a collage wall. I love collages of artwork, all put together on a wall. In my opinion, they can tell such wonderful stories. As each new piece is added, the story of life and its memories is being told.
This gallery wall is an amalgamation of thrift, new, and family items.
The cityscape of Chicago was a gift I gave to Craig when we were dating.
The painting of the little girl and boy was painted by my grandfather a long time ago.
The two cross stitch pictures add a bit of warmth and vintage appeal to the space.
The squirrel and the bee were a thrift find, and I thought they were charming. Clearly someone put a lot of work into them- making them even more valuable in my eyes.
The cross-stitched bible verse is a family piece.
I love gallery walls because they can be easily swapped out with new thrifted artwork. They are also very individualized to the taste of the room’s dweller.
~A Shelf for Treasures~
I enjoy decorating our home with special areas to place special treasures. Sometimes this is in an old china cabinet or bookcase, and other times… it is a shelf on the wall.
For the boys’ room, I decided to use a shelf that was mine as a little girl. I wanted them to have a safe space to put things they liked or found important at the time. I decided not to repaint it so that it kept its history and vintage feel.
The cross stitch of the two cars was a piece I found at an antique, thrift mall. I thought it showcased skill, and I loved the way it was framed. It also had an inscription on the back… which I loved.
The bits and bobs on the top of the shelf are a wooden, carved giraffe which we got at a thrift store, some of my dad’s old toy cars and blocks when he was a boy, and a peg board my husband made.
These bits are personal and special items to us-so we place them there to keep them safe.
The trumpet we recently found at the thrift store. I tried it in two different places (the dresser and the shelf). I liked the shelf the best for now. This way, the trumpet is seen- but not able to be played with by curious, little hands.
The trumpet is made in Italy, and unfortunately, is not in usable condition. However, I think it is perfect for a unique interior decoration- as its shape and form is beautiful.
The shop owner knew a bit of the trumpet’s history. She told us it was from the 1920s and it was donated by its original owner.
The story alone was enough for me to know; we needed to take it home.
~My Boy's Joy- An English Inspired Treat~
The English-inspired recipe that I chose to feature this week is Flapjacks. I thought this was a fitting recipe to share, as flapjacks are a favorite of my boys.
So, what is a flapjack you may be asking? A pancake? No, no, not a pancake.
Flapjacks are flat, oat bars that use four staple ingredients. Oats, sugar, golden syrup, and butter.
They are very versatile as almost anything can be added to satisfy your personal taste. Common additions include chocolate chips, cinnamon, raisins, seeds, etc.
Golden Syrup can be tricky to find in some American grocery stores. I found my golden syrup at Publix in the international section.
Golden Syrup is a common ingredient in England- and boy, oh boy- is it delicious! It tastes a bit like toffee or butterscotch. I find it to be a luscious, indulgent ingredient!
I also use Turbinado sugar, as the original Demerara sugar is difficult for me to find. Turbinado sugar is also delectable. It has a course, crunchy texture and a slight molasses taste.
Flapjacks are commonly eaten in English cafes, by children, and even by athletes or cyclist, as it offers slow, digestible carbs and energy.
This is a sweet treat. If you do not like super-sweet foods, you may try to melt dark chocolate and drizzle that over the top.
We love our English-inspired flapjacks, and hope that you do as well.
Speaking of “an English garden in the summertime”- Let us conclude with this lovely photo of… an English garden in the summertime.
I took this photo when England was my home.
I bet they could make some tasty flapjacks in this cottage…ahh, I can almost smell them now.
Until next time!
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