Young House Love

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Playroom Plans

You guys already know that our playroom is looking kinda rough these days (thanks to this whole house update post from last week):

Prog Playroom

But we’ve decided that once we clear it out, it’ll actually suit our family better as a less traditional space. Burger is a beloved member of our family, so we think he deserves his own little area. And since Clara plays pretty much all over the house (in the office, the living room, the kitchen, and her room – depending wherever we are with her) we won’t really need an official “playroom” until baby number two comes along (and we turn the playroom into a bedroom).

And I’ll spoil the surprise for all of you folks on bump watch, Clara’s brother or sister will probably be about three years younger than her because I’ve got strict orders from my doc to give my body two full years between pregnancies to heal (thanks to some birth complications with Clara). And since it takes almost a year to bake a human on top of that two year waiting period, that’s where we came up with the whole three year approximation.

But back to the playroom. We’ve decided… drumroll please… to give Burger his own little nautical themed room! Because every pooch deserves some sea faring fun. He always seems to have the best time at the beach, so that jumped out at us as the right environment to really set him at ease. The sea gulls, the warm summer air, the sailboats, an errant pelican. What eight pound chihuahua wouldn’t love that? But enough talking, here’s our Burger-licious mood board:

Playroom Mood Board

  1. Our color palette will be pretty straightforward: navy, red, and white (with some natural wood tones and maybe a few pops of yellow worked in there for fun). The walls will stay white with graphic red & navy accents along with a super cool mural for added pop (more on that later).
  2. How cute would a few of these $33 seagull mobiles be when hung in a flock from the ceiling? Burger should like them since he loves watching real birds flap around outside in real life.
  3. This boat-ish dog bed was the inspiration for the entire nautical theme. At $260 it’s not cheap, but what can I say? Burger’s like L’Oreal. He’s worth it. Plus it’s such a room-making detail that we just couldn’t pass it up.
  4. Here’s the mural that I want to paint on one of the walls. I like that it’s obviously sea-inspired without being too over the top (a dock with a single pelican in the foreground feels kind of “understated” compared to some of the other busy and über bold murals that we’ve seen).
  5. This weathered ship’s wheel (for $34) should look cool on one of the mural-less white walls in the room.
  6. No dog room is complete without an on-theme dog toy, so this $7.99 blue anchor chew toy definitely fits the bill.
  7. And since we want to keep Burger looking “cohesive” with the rest of the room, we can’t wait to pick up this $27 outfit to help him get into character.
  8. Instead of something more traditional, we thought hanging fisherman’s nets (just $17.99 a pop) as “curtains” would add lots of texture and more sea-faring fun. Fingers crossed Burger doesn’t get all tangled up in them. Haha.

So that’s our vision for the playroom, at least for the next few years. Should be interesting.

Now I’m just putting words here, just to fill up space so that when you’re reading the numbered points above your eyes don’t skip down the page and notice this next part. You know, because it’ll ruin the surprise.

So in case you’re wondering if we’re totally off our rockers… we might be. But this post is still totally a joke.

Playroom Joke

APRIL FOOLS!!!

Did we get you? Did the $260 dog bed tip you off? Or was it our description of the pelican mural as “understated”? Did you really think Burger would be caught dead in that sailor’s suit in the name of cohesive design? Or did you all know this was coming given our history of April Fools Day hijinks (like this post and this post)?

Comments

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Nope, that’s the whole truth and nothing but the truth. We know everyone checks for a bump whenever there’s a full body pic of me (except for the Sharnold photo yesterday). Haha.

      xo,
      s

  3. Sadie says

    All I could think was “but what about the Clara rug??” and then I thought “Well, maybe they can put it in the dining room.” Ahh, the dizzying highs and terrifying lows. haha

    Reply

  4. Wendy says

    I have to admit – you had me. I kept thinking, why wouldn’t they tackle painting the paneling in the kitchen first??

    Reply

  6. Angie Butcher says

    I’ve only been following your blog for a couple months so… you totally got me. I hadn’t pegged you for the dog obsessed type. The truth is that there are people who do just that thing. Rooms for their cats, birds or fish.

    Good job. Kudos on a great April Fools post.

    Reply

  9. Devon @ Green House, Good Life says

    The decor wasn’t exactly your style, but I don’t think giving four-legged family members their own space is so crazy — my bunnies have their own room , designed and decorated just for them. (Oh, and the link has some info on where you can find the jute rug from the old YHL bedroom (now in the sunroom), which World Market no longer sells.)

    Burger is rather on the, um, independent side to spend much time in his own room, though.

    Reply

  10. memorly says

    I **knew** it was April Fool’s Day, but somehow I managed to get sucked into this, too. The funny thing is as I was reading, I kept thinking, “This sounds totally heinous, but I’m sure Sherry and John will find a way to pull it off”…shows my level of faith in you guys!

    Reply

  11. Niki says

    You got me! I thought that the color scheme really didn’t “fit” with the rest of the house but since my dog = my child (no kids…just two dogs) I completely understood. When I read about the bed my eyebrows lifted and I thought to myself “well…I guess they save money on other things so they felt justified spending that much.” I read on and was actually thinking of telling you that they have “fishing nets” at Michaels that were probably cheaper. I guess I’m gullable (not sure how to spell that) but I wasn’t even thinking about April Fool’s Day! Good one!

    Reply

  13. Michelle N says

    You had until I got to the dog bed price. I was thinking seriously, I know they love Burger…but his own room, lol. I will say that dog bed is pretty awesome! I’m not sure it’s worth $260. Funny!

    Reply

  14. Kelly says

    Okay, so I tried to read this article 3 times, and each time I would stop and turn away in utter disbelief, just thinking “are you crazy?”. And then finally, I read it all the way through. And once relieved, I did find it quite funny ;-) That was cute you two! :-) and I definitely fell for it! Happy April Fools from snowy Norway!

    Reply

  15. Hannah says

    Uh, you totally had me with the “a few of these $33 seagull mobiles.” I was thinking “don’t they realize that after they hang ‘a few of those up’ that it’ll be costing them around $99! That’s not like them! What’s going on!?

    Reply

  16. Kerry says

    But! But! I liked the dog bed!!!
    I was a bit concerned about the whole idea of a whole room for an 8 pound dog, especially with the fish netting as curtains. but what do I know, I have cats.

    Reply

  18. Sg says

    You had me at the pelican mural – hilarious. And in general it seemed way too tacky for YHL. But thanks for the laugh! :)

    Reply

  20. Melissa says

    one glance at the mood board and I knew it was a joke. Very funny! LOL

    Besides, the whole nautical motif doesn’t relate to Sue the napkin so well. :p

    Reply

  21. Laura says

    Oh my gosh, I thought YHL just jumped the shark! Thankfully it’s only April Fool’s! You got me! Too funny.

    Reply

  23. cassie says

    Haha!! You guys got me! Although I did question the post. How could your color choices not match Sue the napkin!? And really, a nautical themed room!? You two are way to cool for that:)

    Reply

  24. Jolie Cazier says

    I have to admit I quit reading at number 2 and skipped to the bottom…thinking “they have lost their minds” on this one!

    Reply

  25. Melissa @ A Place to Nest says

    Ok totally got me. I just started with the blog at the end of last year. So i did not realize I should expect trickery from you all :) Thank god! I mean- I love my cat too but was shocked to hear a whole room for them. It’s your house but phew….

    Reply

  26. Jennifer says

    I fell for it.
    I was shaking my head in disbelief the entire post! I thought, but… what about Sue the napkin? Red, blue and white?! Really?
    But then when the Sailor suit was brought up, I remembered it was April Fools.
    I was a little worried! :)

    Reply

  28. Amber says

    I agree with annabelvita. I don’t think Burger would want to be all alone in a room when he has you guys to hang out with. This is a funny post though haha.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      It’s true. He’s way too into family time these days. Haha. He basically follows Clara from room to room just to watch “his baby.” Very cute.

      xo,
      s

  29. Nancy Morrison says

    Ok, so you got me. I was gonna let you run with and see where it leaded but I was definitely thinking that you were gonna spend a lotta money and effort on something so temporary. LOL

    As far as kids, mine are almost exactly 3 years apart. I have two boys and it’s a great difference. They are still very close but I also am able to enjoy one on one time when the older one goes to preschool (and soon kindergarter!). I am still undecided on a 3rd child but I would like for them to be about the same age difference.

    Reply

  30. Rebecca @ the lil house that could says

    I totally predicted this prank almost exactly! This is my first April as a reader, but I was wondering if you guys would do a prank. I figured you’d come up with a crazy design and I was thinking of rooms you haven’t started yet. So I was like hm… wonder if they’ll come up with some crazy playroom!! Though I didn’t think of it as being Burger’s. Too funny, happy April guys! :)

    Reply

  31. Mindy M. says

    I was doubtful from the beginning (red, white & blue definitely don’t go with ‘Sue the Napkin’), but I knew for sure with the dog bed, then the outfit for Burger.
    That was a good one!

    Reply

  33. Stephanie says

    I was like, “they’ve lost their minds, they’ve really lost their minds!” until I came to the $260 dog bed and I knew something just wasn’t right! Love it!

    Reply

  36. Erin says

    It hit me right before I read the statement. Yes, it did take me that long. Yes, I am embarrassed. I was thinking that you were absolutely out of your minds!

    Reply

  38. amanda says

    hahahaha – wow, that was funny! the whole time i was thinking ‘red, white, and blue’ – woof!!!! i was really baffled by spending that much on a dog bed but i don’t think i truly realized it was a joke until the sailor outfit! (i’m not a morning person)

    Reply

  40. Katie A. says

    OH man you guys got me! I was totally thinking, since they got into this house , their style has really changed….hmmm interesting choices. Not my style, but whatever….glad it was a joke :)

    Reply

  41. Kate S. says

    You had me going…perhaps because my parents have a whole room in their house dedicated to the cats?! Hahaha. The $260 dog bed tipped me off, though :). Good one!

    Reply

  42. Shana C. says

    Awwwww maaan…I was getting so excited to see it when it was done. :( No really, I’m kinda sad now.

    I was really excited to see the curtains and I LOVE the bed. You should still get it!!!

    Reply

  48. Robin says

    what? I really though Burger would love that… right?!? okay haha not really. If you could pick a room for Burger what would it be – for reals?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      He just loves being with us, so we’d probably just make a little playroom or den that we’d hang out in as a family! If we weren’t in there he wouldn’t be either- so it would have to be fun for the whole fam. Haha.

      xo,
      s

  49. Tina says

    Yeah you totally got me. I was thinking, man what a waste of a room in such a cool house, the dog probably won’t ever go in there because he will want to be with you guys all the time!! The seagull mural? Yeah, I thought you were crazy! lol:) What fun is April Fools if you cant fool a few;)

    Reply

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