Since it seems like we will never ever ever until the end of time get to build our house (WHY IS THE PERMIT PROCESS SO DANG LONG?!), I am turning my focus to the home we live in now.  Its a rental house that we’ve been in for over 2 years and it looks like we need to renew our lease yet again.  boo.  We’ve switched the girls rooms around a bit and always just used whatever furniture we already had on hand – I’m a big fan of using what you have and only buying what you need, when it comes to redesign.  We keep saying we’ll get some new stuff for the new house, or redecorate their rooms in the new house, but its been so long that I’ve decided to slowly start that process now!

My oldest, Grace, is almost 15 (HOW?!).  She is super creative and artistic and wonderful in all the wonderful ways.  She has been pinning images of what she wants her room to look like, so we’ve been pulling ideas from there.  Basically, she’d like to live in a jungle, with lots of textures and wood.  But in real life, we’re trying our best.

Eventually, I’d love to get her a platform bed with a wood headboard, or a black iron bed.  And add a lot more plants.  She needs a big ol’ bookshelf for her massive book collection (that is in her closet now), and I’d love for her to have a place to display her art.  A desk would be awesome, too, as she’s pretty much completely independent in her school work now (woop woop!).

Other than getting her a new duvet cover and a few plants, everything in this room has been pulled together from around the house.  Its like hunting for treasures in my own home!

Let’s start with the bed – I got her the same duvet cover as our grey one – its linen and has the best lived-in wrinkled look without looking totally sloppy.  Plus, I am hoping to trade with her occasionally and use the white one in our room!

The sheets are from Target.  I love a good white sheet set, but I am so tired of whites getting dingy and love a good black and white print (similar).

Also, my dad made that bedside table for my girls when they were little!  I think we’re going to paint it white… or maybe black.  I think every room can use a little black in it.

I have a problem with throw pillows.  I love them all.  I pulled a few together from all over the house and kind of like this random collection.  Faux mongolian fur, a rich velvet (similar here),  and a beachy stripe with tassels (similar here).

I found this heavy knit throw blanket at our thrift store and its a family favorite (similar blanket here).  Like so much a favorite that I don’t know if I will let it stay in here!  It’s like wearing a giant sweater!

I bought the rug originally for Silas’ room, and it has moved a few times around the house.  I love the color and print, but its really lightweight and not super great quality.  But definitely worth it for the price.  It works great in here because the giant oil stain (from Silas working on his RC cars in his bedroom) is hidden under the bed!  It has a little bit of a print to break up all the solids in here, and is huge so it covers most of the red/orange floor. (similar style here & here)

I got this chair years ago for $5 at a garage sale.  Yes, $5! It needs a new coat of paint – I’m thinking another coat of white with gold legs…

The faux sheepskin adds a little lux and coziness to this spot, as does the striped throw.

Grace is a bit of a collector – like if something goes into her room, its hard to get it out – trinkets, gum wrappers, mismatched jewelry… so I need to give her spaces to put her things, but not so much space that all the things can fit! On top of this hand-me-down dresser is a small collection of containers.

I bought this little pot for my desk but love it in here, so I’m sharing ;)

This little tray fits just the jewelry that she wears the most (same tray in different colorway). And she has a small enamel bowl that holds deodorant and mascara and hair ties.

Next to her bed she has a small fruit crate turned  bookshelf.  Almost all of our furniture in this house is vintage, but I’d love to mix in some more modern pieces, like a metal tray table here like this.

That floating shelf is my favorite feature of her whole room.  I’m hoping we will continue to add more plants here to give it more of a greenhouse look.

The shelf is from Ikea, and was originally paired with another in our dining room at our last house.

Thankfully, Grace is really content with how her room is now.  Maybe its because I keep cleaning it to take my outfit pictures in!  Over time, I’d like to find a new lamp, replace the rug, and continue adding plants.  But for now, I have a happy teenager, and you can’t ask for much more than that!