When I was a kid and my parents took us to open houses, my sister and I always claimed the most interesting room as “ours”—the one with secret compartments or the biggest windows. If we toured Kristin’s home, the attic she converted into their daughter Ella’s bedroom would win hands down. It’s the kind of space that invites squeals of delight and instant arguments over who gets dibs. Here’s Kristin’s letter about the transformation:
Hi everyone! I debated which project to submit, but I’m choosing my daughter Ella’s room for a few reasons: a) the story involves dead pigeons—what renovation tale doesn’t have a little gross-out moment? b) it’s not the kitchen (ours still needs work), and c) you seem to appreciate kid spaces that are playful and flexible. So here’s our story.
When we first saw the house, the mansard roof and the attic caught our attention. Despite crumbling brick, water-damaged wood, and pigeon remains, we saw potential: a treetop bedroom. We were sold.
During demolition we removed the rotted pine flooring, keeping one wall of tongue-and-groove pine that we could salvage.
We designed built-in wardrobes (fabricated by a local millwork shop) to add storage and hide the ductwork that serves this floor and the one below. After that, we covered the exposed rafters and installed beadboard between them.
The best surprise was the salvaged pine boards applied to the front wall. They added texture and became an ever-changing activity and display wall for Ella’s artwork and projects.
Do you see the map leaning against those angled boards? It’s subtle in photos but looks great in person. The dormer also offers a lovely view of the Gateway Arch and summer fireworks—just the icing on the cake.
I’ll include before-and-after shots of the mansard we rebuilt—mostly my husband’s work since I was pregnant and then caring for a newborn. The mansard is integral to Ella’s room, though it was an expensive necessity. I used to joke that she had the most expensive nursery on the block—slate and copper aren’t cheap, but our labor helped. Enjoy! – Kristin
If you want more details and photos from Kristin’s makeover, check out her blog for the full story about how lucky little Ella is to have such a creative, carefully planned room. Thanks for sharing, Kristin! Now—who wants to argue with me over who gets that attic room?