Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

| By | | 636 Comments

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

  1. lisa says

    ok, i feel like an idiot now…haha. i did not think it was a joke, until i read people’s comments and i was like “huh?” (since i only previously skimmed through your post and didn’t catch it.) hahahaha. that’s funny.

    Reply

  3. Jill says

    this post totally made me laugh out loud in my office, and now my coworkers are probably wondering what the heck I’m doing! I realized it was a joke when you mentioned the nautical theme ;)

    Reply

  4. Christina Henggeler says

    I first read your blog on the April Fool that you posted about the gi-normous fountain and have checked in regularly ever since. Still, I forgot about today being April Fools Day, and I do have a dog room, but I was thinking: Seriously?!

    Ya got me.

    Reply

  5. Tammy says

    That was so funny. I too thought you had lost your minds but that somehow you would incorporate the nautical theme with Sue the napkin till the bed/outfit…I thought, no way.

    Thanks for the laugh!

    Reply

  6. Rachel says

    Whew, I thought y’all had gone off the deep end for a minute there. I know Burger is a special member of the family but $260 for a dog bed, man!

    <3

    Reply

  7. Letty says

    This is the first year where I was close to being fooled! At first, I thought, wow, that’s a new trend to start… and then it hit me– doh! Haha… good one!!

    Reply

  8. Lindsey says

    Haha! As a new reader, I was really confused reading this post! Maybe confused and a bit concerned as well :) That made my morning..you totally got me.

    Reply

  9. Amanda says

    lol! I totally fell for it, even when I knew it was April Fools!

    I would totally give my cats their own playroom so it didn’t seem too crazy to me!

    lol Love it!

    Reply

    • KathyG says

      Got me! – but…

      We have a ‘dog room’ – it’s actually a sun room or morning room, but I turned it into the dog room. I have 3 big 60# beasts, and that room is connected with doggie doors to the yard. It just helps keep the hair and dirty feet contained. We tend to hang with them in their room or outside (I live in AZ, we don’t have weather), instead of letting them all over our house. Remember – they are 60# each, so that’s 180# of dogs…how many Burgers would it take to make one of mine? ;-)

      It’s a very nice room, they have couches (goodwill), a stereo playing music (garage sale) and a waterfall (gift from a friend)! I enjoy it as much as they do. HA

  11. Alissa says

    Lucky for me I remembered your previous foolery so was not suckered in at all. I <3 me a good prank. Thanks for the homage to one of my favorite "holidays"!

    Reply

  12. Marci says

    Totally got me! I thought to myself that it was a total waste of space but couldn’t wait to see it, regardless : )

    Reply

  13. Samantha says

    I guessed it was an April Fool’s joke, simply because it doesn’t fit into your Sue the Napkin color scheme. LOL

    Reply

  14. Dawn H says

    You totally got me! And I totally should have seen it coming, because there is no way you two would spend that much on a room…especially when the dog bed is more than a people-sized bed!

    Reply

  15. karen says

    The whole time I was like there’s no way they would buy that expensive dog bed. I don’t even think the new green rug was that much!!

    Reply

  18. sharron says

    man, i thought to myself, “these people are turning into an SNL skit.” glad that is not the case ;)

    Reply

  19. Brenda says

    The dog bed tipped me off. Plus, after mentioning the $33 sea gull mobile, you didn’t say, “But we’re going to try to make it out of Styrofoam and card stock.”

    Reply

  21. Kristin says

    I started to wonder at “nautical themed.” And “sea faring fun.” Bigger hint next with “the right environment to really set him at ease.” ‘Cause, you know, he always looks so tense burrowed under your duvet or lounging in a spot o’ sun.

    The mood board left no doubt.

    Fantastic post, you guys. Extremely well-written, energetic, and entertaining.

    Please tell me that the website to which you linked for the seagull mobile is an elaborate April Fool’s joke as well. Though if not, I may have to buy myself the $49 lacquer statue ‘Emotional Iguana.’

    Reply

  22. Candice says

    I fell for it hook, line and sinker. Thank goodness we have more to look forward to in your playroom than a nautical theme. I guess the part about bump watch was a joke too?!

    Reply

  23. Christa M says

    Hahaha! I was going to leave a comment on Facebook saying something along the lines of “OK, waiting to see what you’ll post for us this April Fool’s day” but I didn’t want to ruin the fun for the newbies.
    Had I not already been expecting such a post – the $260 pet bed would have tipped me off…we all know that The Burgermeister would never give up his spot in Ed the bed ;)

    Have to say I was kinda hoping for something hideous photoshopped real well into one of your spaces, but this worked just as well, with the mood board and all.

    Happy April YHL!

    Reply

  25. Amanda K says

    I totally fell for it, but I am so relieved! I’ve only been reading your blog for a few weeks, so I wasn’t prepared to be fooled, but chances are good that you’ll probably get me again next year. Keep up the good work!

    Reply

  27. Christina says

    THAT IS HILARIOUS!! I completely bought it and I was like, “A dog playroom! Really?!” I got totally judgey there and am laughing at myself. I JUST read another blog two seconds ago that reminded me it was April Fool´s! Too funny you guys.

    Reply

  28. Kristi says

    Oh, and also, as a member of a chihuahua household, I’m guessing Burger’s not planning on spending any time in a room by himself–except, perhaps, for the few moments of the day when that might be the only place with a patch of sunlight he can soak up.

    Reply

  29. Bryn says

    You’re the second one to get me today and its only 7am local time!! What a sucker! I think I’m going to burrow somewhere until lunch. hahaha.. but this was a good one! I was sucked right in!

    Reply

  31. Angela Cannon says

    Best April fools day prank ever! I didn’t actually read the description of the things that would go in the room because I think entire decorated room for a dog is incredibly dumb. I like you guys even more!

    Reply

  32. Susan says

    You got me! I kept thinking, this is SO not them, but I had some much faith in your style, I was thinking, you know if anyone can do a classy nautical dog room, it’s YHL! But the mural was TOO much. I was thinking, I should comment and just say like whoa, you usually have me, but this is over the line, but I was picturing the comment disclaimer about being nice… it was a hard moment in my YHL life. It’s like when a friend gets a bad haircut. SO glad it was a joke, great job :)

    Reply

  35. Snickrsnack Katie says

    You know, I thought it seemed really weird, but I was thinking “Wow, how awesome that they love their dog that much even after having a baby, because some people forget their dogs”. LOL. Seriously, that was pretty funny, and you got me good. Even after I was already gotten good this morning. On my way to work, I kept hearing a freaking CAT meowing and was convinced that a cat was stuck in my car engine. Turns out the radio station I was listening to kept playing a cat meowing and half of Houston was pulling over to look under their engines to see if there was a cat stuck in there. Best April Fools joke ever.

    Reply

  36. Lisa G. says

    Hilarious!!! I’m sure my son Richard would have loved to come over and hang out with his new buddy Burger and the Nautical Dog Room! Love it :) BTW- I made “fried eggs” out of marshmallows and apricots this morning and Richard cried before he found out it was fake b/c he HATES eggs. Ha- mean mommy here :)

    Reply

  37. Christy A says

    The second I saw your mood board, I was seriously concerned for your sanity. I kept reading going no, no! Who Am I going to look to for inspiration?!. Thank goodness. good one J and S… good one. I like to see how your April fools posts have developed!

    Reply

  38. Holly says

    I love that you posted this! I believed the whole “untraditional” room part, until I read that it was a nautical theme. I thought, how does this play in with Sue the napkin? It didn’t even register to me that it was a room for your dog.

    Reply

  39. Catherine says

    AHHHH! I was SERIOUSLY reading this post and really REALLY trying to get into the Burger play room vibe… I totally was not feeling it, that was until I realized it was for April Fools.

    Thank you so much for the laugh this morning, I totally needed that!

    Reply

  40. LauraC says

    Sorry, didn’t get me! (But I’ve been around here awhile and remember your cat one.) Happy April Fools Day!

    Reply

  41. Holly says

    Ahhh you totally got me!!! I am doing my sons room in nautical/fisherman theme! More of a colors theme with navy and lime green and some fun nautical things thrown in! So I got excited we were doing the same thing darnit!

    I am also using the rustic wooden touches! His headboard is THE COOLEST thing I can’t wait to finish the room and show it off!

    Reply

  42. Victoria says

    Ha ha! You got me (again). I actually said this out loud, “Uh-unh, this is where YHL jumped the shark.” So relieved to see you guys haven’t lost your minds. Whew!

    Reply

  43. heartartz says

    I just felt it was an April Fools Joke.
    You gave it away when nothing in the room went with Sue the Napkin! Just wasn’t feeling it.
    But great idea for AF Joke.
    Sorry to hear you have to wait 2 years for a baby bump…but healthy Mommy = healthy baby.
    You 2 are fabulous parents and Clara well…FABULOUS
    OK Burger is Fab too)

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Nope, that’s the real deal. But we know people will still think I’m prego every day anyway. Haha. Feel free to keep that bump watch going!

      xo,
      s

  50. Arden says

    As a new reader, of y’alls blog, I was totally caught off guard. In fact, I was getting a little disappointed. I thought, they are normally so price concious. A $260 dog bed, seriously?!?!?

    Y’all totally had me! I love a good April Fool’s Day trick!!! Thanks for starting my day out right!!!

    Reply

Stuff We Love

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *