Kids Room Crazy

It’s one thing to decorate and plan a kids room. It’s another thing to lay out a showroom. It’s actually crazy.  I watch HGTV and many other design shows. You know how they always show the cute little design boutique that a designer is working out of.  I have news, the camera’s only capture the staged areas. The areas that the cameras will sweep are sensational and magnificent.  Then there is the other story. HGTV please tell me there is another story?  The new showroom is looking lovely and camera ready.  The behind the scenes stuff, not so true.  Trying to put together a very small boutique, not more than the size of three bedroom has had me going kids room crazy.  I admit that each time I finish a little area I have to instagram that finished little area.  How about instagramming the mess before.  The hours of looking for bunk bed hardware, or that one twisty thing on a lamp that I twisted the wrong way and it rolled away.  I am only showing the sensational and magnificent parts of my daily projects.  I think I am the one slowly going kids room crazy. Now scouring all my vendors for more cute things to bring into the showroom and then the project of updating this website too.    We have a huge warehouse we will be opening up in the next six months.  I am glad we did not put that project into this month or next month, because it really has been a busy challenge that I admit I love.  If you don’t have instagram, the pictures through this post are what I have been posting this past month.  I guess it is safe to say that I am Kids Room Crazy.

Hung Out To Buy-Kids Room Design Profile

Hung Out To Buy is a full service designer/retail showroom/website.  We offer a vast selection of fine products to decorate the most creative, fun, conservative and outrageous clients.  Visiting our showroom creates ideas and dreams for a child’s room from infant to teen and all the children in between.  That is what makes our showroom & website so much fun.   At Hung Out To Buy you get one on one full service.  We can schedule an appointment to accommodate your busy schedule and offer an in home design consultation as well as full design services.  We ask you to contact us through our email service, if you are shopping from our website.  As designers who specialize in kid’s rooms, we can assist with all the decisions is creating that special space and place for your child.

Designing a child’s room starts with our client, no matter how young, how old and often times not even born.   I am very good at listening and discerning what look the client is wanting for their child’s room.  Working with a client often begins with building on something that inspires the client.  It can be a color pallet, a picture, an old family heirloom, a scrap of fabric that has been carried around for months.  My job as your kids room designer is to offer direction and guidance on design elements that work with your inspiration piece to create that special room.  During the process it’s very easy to learn about my client, their personality and the objectives of the room being designed.

Once we have established that which inspires, the fun begins.  I sit down with my client and begin to layout the concepts for the room.  We then sit and brainstorm all the wonderful things that could make this a special room.  I admit that I never discuss budget at this part of the design process.  Why?  I can work with many different budgets.  It’s important to design an over the top room that my clients will love.  It’s important that my client trust the process and know that if we have to cut costs and at times corner the outcome will still be the same.  So I always say, “lets plan with all the bells and whistles so I know exactly what you want, and if we have to trim a few bells we can do that.”

Recently I had a customer come  needing help with two of her girl’s rooms.  One room, we chose bedding that was well above her expectation of price, however she loved the look.  She has an entire house to decorate and wanted to be a bit more conservative in price with the kids rooms.  Knowing, now what look we are trying to create made it very easy for me to choose similar colors, and prints that created the look we were trying to accomplish.  And with the money we were saving, we were able to spend more on accessorizing her daughter’s room and other area’s of the house.

Is it time to hire a Kids Room Designer?

We have many fine catalogs, books, magazines, and rooms for our customer’s to come, sit down in a nice warm setting to browse and find inspirations.  Elliot just might put a freshly brewed coffee in your hand, while you browse and look for ideas.  While browsing I had a client find the finish work at the bottom of a window treatment that she wanted to be sure would be on her own window treatment.  Although her window treatment was completely different, my sewer was able to give the finish look.  Pictures  inspire and often launch a new set of ideas inclusive to just that one special child’s room.

Often with my older clients I invite mom to drop their child off at our showroom, so I can work directly with the young tween/teen.  This removes a mommy dynamic that my moms love.  Allowing their child to open up and feel UN-inhibited because you know….moms and teenagers…One of my young clients  came in with her mom.  Mom ran out for about an hour while we brainstormed all the fun things for her room.  She and her mom get along great away from Hung Out To Buy, but it was so fun to work with such a creative spirit and a mom who embraced her daughters own style.  Later the next week when her room was painted I got this call from my young client excited about the colors we chose. She loved her room already and it was an empty shell with paint.  I loved that mom agreed with the creative twist her tweener made in colors.  I just gently guided and mom trusted I could do that.

Color is very important with kids’ rooms.  Another older client name Lauren said that “I love coming into my room, because it gets me out of a grumpy mood”.  We chose an electric lime green for her room.  Color is chosen simply by sitting and looking at paint options here at Hung Out To Buy.  We have over a 100 of colors to choose from, and narrowing down our favorites happen very quickly.  LOVE it, it’s the color, and if you have to think about it and convince yourself that you love it…well then it’s not a good match.  The minute I see eyes light up I know this is a color to use.

The process for a room can take up to twelve weeks once we begin the designing process.  We offer a lot of custom options because I truly do not want my clients to spend the time and money for a special room, only to walk into their friends house and see the same room design.  We truly create an original room defined by the family we are working with.  It’s important to listen to the needs and gently guide to a room that is spectacular.   If we can’t find something, then we will design and build it ourselves.  We have handyman resources for custom work.

The real fun begins when product starts arriving. It’s hard to not put the room together piece by piece but we wait for everything to arrive and then spend an afternoon putting everything in place.  It goes so fast, and the magic of the room comes together in one afternoon.  I love watching a child jump onto their bed, watching mom cringe for a moment, and then relaxing as the enthusiasm and excitement are let go in shrill and screams.

With younger kids it’s about having practical and functional space for playthings, for creating art, for dolls, for trucks, for books and ample clothes storage.  Often clients feel overwhelmed by wanting so much for such a small space only to discover that space does not always limit the fun and function of a room.  Designing a room that transitions is also important, therefore many furniture pieces are chosen with transition in mind.  Let’s face it you can design a fabulous infant or toddler room and eventually the butterflies, fairies, and trucks go bye-bye.  However the investment of furniture remains stable through the transitions, the accessories will change over time if we have done a great job even those will remain.

As my design career has unfolded I have had the joy of watching new family members added, infants that are now teens and the relationships of those customer’s who refer me to their family and friends.  I choose to work with kid’s rooms, however, often the case is working first with the kids’ rooms and then adding rooms in other places of the home.

Hung Out To Buy is proud to have a mother and son team  working on behalf of our clients.  Elizabeth studied at the Seattle Art Institute in the late 80’s.  She had developed her design career and has expanded as a retail consultant, working with companies to help develop their own independent look and design for retail.  Elizabeth had been featured in many Portland Street of Dreams, Better Homes and Gardens, and was featured in Kids Room magazine.  Elizabeth has been represented in the Portland Tour of Remodeled Homes and featured in  Oregon Home Magazine.  Elliot grew up in this business.  When he hit the teen years, he often traveled as an assistant with Elizabeth to client’s homes, and major projects around the U.S.  Elliot graduated from South Eastern University with a major in Business Admin & Management.  He works not only on the showroom floor, managing the Hung Out To Buy website, and Social Media, but you can find him riding his bike through the streets of Portland engaging and investing in relationships with the community.

As you begin to connect with Hung Out To Buy, you will find that long before we are selling or designing we are investing in the relationships and friendships of those whom we get to know.  Hung Out To Buy looks forward to getting to know you, and assisting you in your kid’s room design. Located in the heart of Portland, OR and nationwide through our website. We are adding new products each week to both our showroom and website, so check back often and say hello. 

 

Proud Mom Moments from your local Kids Room Designer

As a kid’s room designer my first job is being a mom.  Every mom, has the moments of over the top proud, honored and blessed by one of their children. My children bless me daily.  Today’s daily blessing came in the way of link posted on my Facebook wall by one of the national directors of creative design for Jockey.  A couple of months back this gal, from jockey contacted my daughter Emily.  She has heard Emily sing in various gigs, and thought Emily might want to take a crack at a jingle.  She did and Jockey loved it.  My only personal and selfish regret is that it was not written into the contract, “The mother of Emily will receive a complete set of this new 10 piece clothing line.” Is it to late to add an addendum to the contract?  In proud mama fashion here is the link.  Take a moment and listen here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53CrX5EqlnA&feature=player_embedded

30Secondmom Feauture-Kids Room Design

I know it’s kind of cheesy when you see your name in print and start dancing and singing.  Especially if you are eating a cheese sandwich or spraying cheese on a Ritz cracker. No matter how you slice it. I did just that.  Wow!!!  Thank you 30secondmom.com for featuring me on your blog this week. I am truly grateful.  As a contributing writer I promise to always bring your readers my best in kid’s room design.  I also promise to limit the cheesy factor to my own blog pages.  This is a straight cut and paste, no cheesier way to post this.

30Second Kids Room Design Tips with @ElizOnTheGo!

Posted on July 17, 2012 by elisa
Twitter

The wonderful Elizabeth Traub is a 30Second Mom contributor who is a kids’ room designer with a website and a Portland-based showroom that are filled with bright ideas for kids’ rooms. Her simple, functional and stylish suggestions make it easy for any mom to turn a basic room into a space her child won’t want to leave. Check out some of the thoughts Elizabeth shared with us at 30Second Mom!

Q) How did you end up getting involved with interior design, particularly for kids’ rooms?

Elizabeth Traub

A) At 14, my parents let me decorate my own room. I like decorating kids’ rooms because they yield lots of fun and color! I then sewed my linens for my college dorm room. My influencers noticed I had a gift, which led to a future in design.

Q) When deciding on a design for a child’s space, it’s hard to know where to start! What do you turn to for inspiration?

A) When designing kids’ spaces, I ask my clients questions about their kids, including their personalities and their two favorite colors in the world. This provides plenty of inspiration!

Q) What are some easy ways to add design elements to your kids’ rooms without breaking the bank?

A) Accent pillows, wall shelves, picture frames – these all spruce up kids’ rooms. You can buy new or do it yourself (DIY).

Q) What are common frustrations when designing kids’ rooms and how do you overcome them?

“Simply Sabrina” from http://www.HungOuttoBuy.com

A) It’s very common for parents to have purchased the wrong size of furniturethat limit space and function. It’s frustrating to have to start over or relocate a kid’s room into another room, yet it happens a lot.Q) What tips do you have for how can we make our kids’ rooms a fun yet functional space?

A) Allow room for your kids to be creative. Desk/play-tables and bookcases offer so much function and creativity. I also like allowing a wall just for framing your kid’s art for inexpensive and meaningful design.

Q) What are your absolute must-have furniture pieces for every child’s room?

A) A twin bed – sizing up takes up much-needed space for later. Also, a chest of drawers can double as a nightstand if space is limited.

Thank you for these great tips! For more from Elizabeth, follow her on Twitter and read her blog!

Twitter

About elisa

Elisa is the founder of http://www.30secondmom.com and mom to three cool kids.

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Porltand Kid’s Room

You have heard of the “news room”, the “class room”, the “green room”, the “powder room”, the “tact room”,  and now we are introducing the “Portland Kid’s Room”.

Each month we are going to feature a local kids’ room here in Portland, OR.  A room that we thought would light of the streets of Portland, give great ideas and insights that go beyond our own design skills.  Just today a lovely pregnant mama and her husband came into the our showroom. She shared what she was doing in her nursery. Sharing how she is bringing all kinds of color, and design elements. As she shared, her face lit up.   I asked if she would like to be  our first feature for “Portland Kid’s Room”, and guess what she said YES!

What exactly will the Hung Out To Buy team, Elizabeth & Elliot, be doing?  Grabbing one of our favorite photographers, grabbing a video camera and step into reality at it’s finest.  We are going to step into a Portland Kid’s Room, take pictures, talk to the parents, and meet the kids who live in these rooms.  Who needs to hire an actress, wait our first Portland Kid’s Room feature is an actress here in Portland.  We will tell you more about her later.

If you live in and around the Portland, OR area and think you have a room worthy to be featured in our “Portland Kid’s Room” monthly segment we want to hear from you.  Contact us and let us know who you are and tell us about your room. You never know, you just may find yourself, your kid’s room, and your amazing decorating featured here on our website and linked to our youtube channel.

Contact us here:

“Boutique Culture In The Alphabet Historical District” by Elliot Otteson

“Boutique Culture In The Alphabet Historical District”

From fusion chefs, to specialty galleries and alternative fashion boutiques, Portlanders require their fine home decor the way they experience their specialty coffees. Enjoying notes of eclectic new concepts paired with the heritage legacy, communities here don’t see need to impress as much as they value coming through one’s own stroke of personal creativity and comfort.

Furthermore, through unconventional artists, music, and emerging design, more Portlanders are discovering the treasure of personal innovation through nonpareil decor as veritable as the materials composed.  Respectively, located in the Alphabet Historic District of NW Portland’s specialty boutique community, we at Hung Out To Buy are serving to compliment our family of friends with a complimentary philosophy of native couture from household to household.

Serving up Kids Room Design through the front doors of a renovated warehouse, with fashion flair and fun.  Portlanders  will experience  that intimate experience of one on one, face to face, hand shake to baby hand offs. ( Elizabeth loves to hold the babies while a mama rests her arms and wanders.)  You can sip  your coffee down the street, walk in to Hung Out To Buy, and then head out for an early lunch all within walking distance.   It’s a Boutique Culture in NW Portland and we invite you to come in and visit as you pass through the streets of the Alphabet Historical District.

Elliot

Trending in Kids Room Design

This past week I have spent a great deal of time in my warehouse Trending In Kids Room Design.  Covered in hues of oranges, aqua’s pinks, whites and some blue and green are still waiting to be opened.  Painting a lot of accent furniture pieces.  I was asked, “how do you know what colors to be painting?  What is Trending in Kids Room Design?”  I have  a secret.  Okay, lean in a little closer. Look to your left, and then your right. Make sure no one is reading over shoulder.  I know what’s trending in kids room design.  I have known for over 20 years.  Now I am going to share this secret with you. Here it is.  Whatever you love and what raises your excitement level is what is trending in kids room design.

I found this old wooden desk. Layers of paint from years of the past. I had to sand it down to beautiful raw wood, and then I painted it a beautiful crisp white.  And then a new trend hit me.  New?  Is anything really new?  Or is it an old idea being reinvented into something more interesting for today’s culture.  I have never ever followed a trend.  I do not pour through magazines and follow suit.  Nor should you.  It takes some boldness, confidence and a love for a color to step out into your own trend and guess what?  There lies the secret to what’s trending in kids room design. A darling Aqua Striped desk.  I had so much fun painting this. Color is what is trending in the back of my warehouse.  This piece made it onto the showroom floor and I love it.  It’s what trending in kids room design.

Do you love this?  What is trending in your kids room design?

Trending In Kids Room Design
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