Project 2018 : Our kids' room transformation!

Their room had been like this since before Jasper was born. 

A wooden cot. 

A sofa chair. 

A basket of books. 

That's all. 

Then when we know Jasper was coming along, we added a sleeping nook for Jasmine, to train her to sleep out of the cot. 

Then Jasper came. Wooden cot shifted to master bedroom for a few months, then back into this room. 

Jasmine's nook.

And there is the wooden cot.

The other side of the room.

The giant grey cabinet was added just maybe few weeks before Jasper was born.

And the air purifier also was added when Jasper was an infant, it was the season of haze that we decided to buy, but we really rarely use it. Main reason - we always forgot to switch it off.

For quite a while, we kept their dirty laundry in their room. In that blue basket.

In the period of time, that was the best arrangement I could think of with the furnitures we had and the situation of the room.

The mattress here, little Jasmine only needed half of it, so the other end above are basically filled with just pillows. I know it is not the best, so I kept thinking what else can we do?

Finally in December 2017, I painted the blue cabinet. I have been thinking about doing it for years, but always felt like it's going to be a lot of work. And I didn't mind those blue paint, really. The reason I felt I need to paint it is more of the inner part of it, it's just plain wood and has the old wood smell. We've used it to keep the kids' toys but because of the smell and of course the location of it, it doesn't get use a lot by the kids. Last year, I just had an idea to paint and give to them as christmas present, like a doll house?

So I took leave one day, just to tackle this project! Joshua had helped me sand it the night before.. but it was just a brief sanding job.

I had to scrape it again and sand it manually.

After rinse and wipe clean. I started to paint!

Definitely took me longer than expected. And the little rain didn't help. :(

But I still continue. Few coats later, the inside looked fantastic. It was very straining to my neck to ensure every corner in it esp the ceiling part was fully covered with the white paint.

Then the outside.

Half way through it I had to go pick up the kids. And continue again after Joshua got home.

And after I had the final coat on, I left it out overnight to dry.

Once it's done, we shifted it into the kids room and then... I got more ideas rolling!

On boxing day, we checked out toddler beds in Ikea. 

Jasmine loved each one of them. The cheapest one was out of stock, otherwise I might have purchased it.

Back at home, they started to put toys in the white cabinet.

It still carries a very strong paint smell, even after I tried air-ing it and adding an air freshener to the door knob. It takes time and I just hope it will not affect the kids health.

This is the best spot to keep this cabinet, easy to open and the most strategic space in the room.

Jasmine's bed is a bit too long.. so my next plan is hopefully have a shorter bed.

I initially thought it could be a doll house, but I now think it's making more sense to keep their play things in here. Sometimes they pretend it is their fridge.

In Jan 2018, we switch Jasper out from his cot. The cot was pushed to the corner. 

Both sleeping on the floor now gives more space for everyone to move about.

 He did very well, but it is only short term solution. I do have a bigger plan! :)

End of January, we bought second hand Sundvik toddler bed from Jill for RM170. She just posted on the mother's chat group and I was the first to ask her, YES!! I wasn't really sure it was what we need to make the room work, but I do know it is a good deal not to be missed.

Then in March, we finally sold the baby cot on Facebook Preloved, to Jess Hum from Acts Church. I think, for RM190. 

April, Ah Yan came to fix the corner cabinet in the room. About this corner cabinet, I've asked a carpenter recommended by colleague to build one. The guy came to measure and then no more news from him. Maybe it's too small job. But I was glad he didn't get back to me, because from his description, he wanted to build a kitchen cabinet here. Like what?? that's not what I want. Anyway, I went to ask Ah Yan, because I know he will know what I want. He built a similar one in Muar house. He came to take measurement and I explained to him how I wanted it etc, he understood everything.
The main objective was to house all the fibre optics and phone lines etc. So that we can get rid of the big grey table, to give this room more space for my big plans.

I actually contacted him in January, but he was so busy with finishing up other works before CNY, he dragged this job till April. I was just patiently waiting. So the day came!

Currently without the built in, all the wires are kept under this grey historical table. We planned to sell it. That's our next plan. I have kept it all these years due to being sentimental, it was seen in the picture of my great grandfather in the old Setiawan bungalow. Now I know is time to move on.

Ah Yan also helped us fix our bed, the fibre cloth broke into pieces and powder, so now he helped add wood to it.

It was almost like a one day job, mainly because he messed up the modem a bit, but it was all good at the end.

This is the room with built it. No more cot, no more grey table. Room is now spacious.

So glad it is slowly coming together.

Another historical furniture, from my daddy's tangkak office. I love it but.... it has smelly cushion. Like poop smell.

I asked Ah Yan whether he can change the cushion for us. He said Yes!! So we sent to him in May (when we go back to vote).

In May, I finally pulled the trigger and bought RM220 standard single bed frame from Carousell. RM160 bed frame + RM60 delivery & installation fee. Warranty 1 year, if wood breaks they will replace for free.

This is the final night before the bed gets delivered and we also plan to assemble Jasper's toddler bed. Upgrade together. :) 

This is what I will miss most and probably what caused me to procrastinate on upgrading them to beds.

Next morning, after I drop them off at the day care, I came home to prepare the room for bed arrival in the evening.

Joshua was out for some stuffs (he was in between job), so I first cleared all their beds/mattresses and then carried up the Ikea toddler bed that we have stored in the drum room. I prep the place properly complete with the manual, for Joshua to assemble it when he comes back from his errand.
Then I went off to office to work. Bed delivery is in the evening

So when I return at about 4pm, Jasper's bed was assembled that afternoon before Jasmine's bed was delivered. Delivery came only at 5pm.

Joshua went to pick them up and when they came back, they saw this!! Freshly completed!

It was a surprise for both kids.
I only managed to put on the bed sheets but it is already looking so great!

The plan in my head finally became reality before my eyes. 

We did not buy new mattress yet, plan to get full latex mattress but need to do research.

So this is their new sleeping arrangement. The mickey mouse mattress was there just in case Jasmine fall off the bed, but she never did! We donated to Village Store House after that.

Look at Jasper, still getting to use to the bed. The first night he woke up at 3am as usual and cried because he didn't know how to get down from the bed.

I used the preciously hand made pillow cases for their pillows and surprisingly fits perfectly. :) 

And I get to tell Jasmine bedtime stories of my dad and my grandma.

Now that the beds are in, we still need a solution for their books.

I have done all sorts of research about the possible options for book shelves. And finally I saw this at Aeon Big!!! It will be almost perfect to replace the blue basket. Would've been perfect if it is white in colour lah, hahaha.

And also I thought this chair was redundant but suddenly had an idea for it.

It is now a dress up corner by the window. Bought princess dress and cat boy cape & mask for them!

Here, the books are all waiting for new shelf. Joshua will buy on the May 28th, Aeon member day. Which is the next day.

Still need to buy door handles to replace the broken one that is also too long. Currently the door handle is too long and when we slide the toddler bed out, it hits the corner.

Finally on 28th May, Joshua bought RM33 bookshelf from Aeon Big and we fixed it up the next day, with some little help. :)

 So satisfied to see books alll going into the shelf.

When the cat boy mask & Cape come, it becomes a nice backdrop for picture too.

 Here's Jasmine's pink princess dress.

7th June, fixed door handle only to found out one side was wrong design.

They are DIFFERENT!! This is really ridiculous. I complained to the seller and she asked me to try to accept it. I said no way. So she agreed to send me a new one... but guess what since beginning of July she said shipped until 29th July, I've not received anything.

I hate having this item being a pending item to really finish what we have done to the kids room. So I am waiting until August, to order just 1 unit again at my own cost. And I will never ever visit the seller store again. 

Hopefully this system can last another 2 years.. that is if Jasper don't grow too tall too fast.. He is outgrowing his uniqlo jeggings faster than expected. I wish he don't grow tall too fast! Otherwise his bed will need to be lengthen, and the walkway into the room would become narrow and uncomfortable... by then I hope I have another idea! :)