Room Reveal: A Little Girls Bedroom She Can Grow Into
Ashley Frey is the interior designer behind Schoolside Design. She is currently renovating every room in her 1980's Connecticut-based home that she shares with her husband, three kids, and three dogs. We love Ashley's bright and airy classic coastal style and was excited to work with her for her first One Room Challenge project to transform her daughter's bedroom.
Tell us about yourself and HOW you got into designing?
I was born and raised in CT, and I went to UConn and majored in Molecular and Cell Biology with a minor in Physiology and Neurobiology. A far cry from the design world! However, my love for design stemmed from my parents. Growing up, they always renovated homes, and my mother always had a keen sense of design. It has always been a passion of mine.
Ashley's daughter's room needed a complete makeover. "I wanted her room to stand out and create a space that will grow with my daughter through the years. My inspiration was the Broche chandelier from Crystorama! It felt so classic, timeless, and feminine. I truly used that as my anchor for the design. When I added the molding to the design, it gave the room a touch of elegance and a space to showcase the wall sconces. My daughter is 4, so her only request was for there to be flowers and pink, that was easy", says Ashley.
What drew you to select the matte white Broche chandelier?
I loved the chandelier's feminine detail; I also felt it could easily be used in many different spaces. I've seen many use it in kitchens and bathrooms! I think the design is classic and won't go out of style as styles change over the years.
Light Featured: Broche
Space-Saving SconCes
I chose to do sconces to have more space on her nightstands for her dolls and her books. It's amazing how much room a lamp can take up. I also found it easier for them to be on a switch vs. a plugin. In my son's rooms, I added sconces as well, and I put those on an Alexa so that they didn't have to worry about switching them on and off.
Light Featured: Libby Langdon Sylvan Wall Sconce
Any design tips and budget-friendly advice on transitioning a baby's bedroom into a big kid room?
My biggest tip would be to make sure the main parts of the design (paint, furniture, lighting) can grow with the child. Meaning, I wouldn't paint characters on the wall that suits a baby's room, as once they become a toddler, you'll be needing to re-do the walls and paint all over. Look for transitional furniture pieces. This will help you save on a room revamp as the child gets older, as you won't need to purchase those pricey items. If you have to buy new pieces for a child's room, make sure that the child can use it for many years to come.
Any do's and don't’s on decorating a girl's room?
Don'ts: I tend to shy away from painting the walls a bright color. If your daughter loves one particular color, I would find a very light version of that color and add pops of the vibrant color with pillows, blankets, and even curtains.
Do: Let them take part in the design process and pick out different pieces for their space. Give them a couple of options and let them choose their favorite. That way, they can feel like they are getting a room that they love!
View Ashley’s LOVELY Bedroom Reveal Below.
