Converting your loft space. 

Converting your loft space. 

When we found out we were expecting our third child we quickly realised our previous home, that we had brought some 7 months earlier was not really going to cut it. So the hunt began for the next house, the house that could accommodate our growing family and provide us with enough space for our children to grow into. As luck would have it we did find our ‘dream home’. It wasn’t perfect and needed a some attention here and there but it was essentially everything we were looking for. The move was unbelievably stressful, so much so the new baby who initiated said move was born exactly a week after we moved in, some two months early – I have no medicine in my corner but I do believe the impact of the move contributed to his early arrival.

Anyway one of the pulls to this house was the loft space it had the potential to make our 4 bed into a 5. It is a fantastic space, that has an exposed brick wall and original wooden beams and view over the garden. Mr TM and I wanted it for ourselves it is however at the top of some very steep space saver steps that would make the night shift particularly hard to navigate without resulting in a broken bone, that and the teenager L had her eye on it. The room is on its own in the loft (obviously) and is away from the midnight noise of the babies and the watchful eye of her father. So it was easy decision, the converted loft room would be the teenage den.

As mentioned, short of redesigning the entire upstairs of our house (and re-mortgaging in the process) in order to access the loft room we have had to have space saver stairs, they are steep and not ideal but for an agile 14 year old they don’t possess so much of a problem. It does however mean that the room cannot legitimately be a room (for the purposes of a sale) due as the stairs not meeting certain planning requirements.

Space saver steps

We also cordoned off part of the room for storage – the Christmas tree has to go somewhere. So we have two decent size storage rooms, for old baby clothes, crimbo decks and general junk.

Storage
Storage space
Once making it safe and habitable, L had decided she wanted a floral vintage theme, fitting really given the original brick wall (which she has subsequently stuck Apple stickers on…vintage). So firsts thing firsts, the walls, she chose a Brilliant White and Johnson’s Ballet Pink. It sounds gross but actually it’s lovely shade that really brightens the room, making it feel spacious and airy.

We then hit IKEA for the furniture, this was also her choice. She choose a lovely metal bed that fits perfectly with her her theme, coupled with a pink and red floral bedding, also from IKEA – it really sets the tone of the room. She also opted for a traditional dressing table with the contemporary (IKEA) style about it. I must say I love this dressing table, which comes complete with mirror (stool sold separately).

bedroom furniture
Top left: Hemnes dressing table IKEA Top right: Hemnes Daybed IKEA Bottom left: Leirvik double bed IKEA Bottom right: Scroll Sheval Freestanding mirror, Argos
Given the loft space is essentially the local teenage hang out it was only right that they had somewhere to sit (and sleep) so she was treated to a fabulous day bed from the Hemnes range. I love the Hemnes range it is stylish and affordable. It is also a good quality that feels sturdy and dependable. You can view the whole bedroom range here. The day bed is in keeping with the theme and can be a sofa by day and double bed by night. I have also been pining after one for our spare room, come office, come wardrobe (which is a single room) as I think they are an aesthetically pleasing single bed that should you require a double for two guests it easily becomes a one. Pretty and practical, fabulous combination.

image
Yes, those are the apple stickers, really makes the vintage theme huh.
One thing I must confess that didn’t get a lot love was the carpet. We didn’t go all out and purchase a plush pretty carpet as it didn’t seem the smartest of moves for le teenage den. Amongst the hair straightener burns, spilt coke, fake tan and god knows what else I have seen ingrained in the carpet it was a wise choice.

Now without doubt the hardest part of a room make over is the windows and therefore blinds/curtains, this is always my biggest challenge when decorating a room. I just do not get curtain types, blind specifications, measurements, poles, tracks. I hate it. This was made worse by the fact the room doesn’t host your average window, rather a sky light. The window needs something that will allow for as much visible window space in the day as possible to ensure maximum natural light (given its size natural light is essential) but also something that can shut out the light at stupid o’clock in the morning.

windows

 

Well people, there is an answer and an easy one at that – VELUX. They have loads of blind options in a all sorts of sizes, designs, fabrics, non fabric, different opening and closing mechanisms. Importantly you can also choose your transparency, which includes black out. One thing that stuck out for me was the 2 in 1 blind, it allows you to get a full black out and/or the required light adjustment if you do not want a full closed blind, which is ideal for the teenage den as they block out the sun (without blacking out the room), or rather the glare in the mirror when trying to apply copious amounts of foundation… Lighting is key you know.

velux blinds
The 2 in 1 one blind.
For more information on the blinds available you can visit the VELUX blind shop. 

There are still a few finishing touches to be made, I am told fairy lights are required, and a bedside table that remains in the flat packed box but all in all L is pleased with her room and I think we have kept the space bright and airy and contemporary yet in keeping with her theme, but being a girly girl I love the colours and theme so perhaps I am biased.

What do you think? Have you recently renovated a loft space? Or tackled blinds and flat packed furniture? I’d love to hear from you.

A Mum Track Mind
Keep Calm and Carry On Linking Sunday
Mummuddlingthrough
Diary of an imperfect mum

25 thoughts on “Converting your loft space. ”

  • Lovely! We have just been refused planning permission for a conversion in our loft so I am a little bit sad but it’s great to see what a fab job you managed! (Hope the spilt coke doesn’t completely mess up the carpets :)) #fortheloveofblog

    • Oh that is a shame. Can you appeal? In hindsight wooden flooring might have been a better idea, easier to clean!! Thanks for your comment lovey xx

  • Oh I love it! We’re still recovering from a kitchen extension & knock through but loft conversion is looking very tempting!! #fortheloveofBLOG

    • Oh it’s hard work isn’t it… But once it’s finished it’s tempting to forget them stress. I’m working in our kitchen extension come knock through but think we might need to recuperate from the loft first! Thanks for your comment xx

  • It looks gorgeous! I love that you managed to retain some storage space too. I wish we had an attic, it would solve so many problems of where to put all our junk! 🙂 #KCACOLS

    • Haha thank you, yes I must say it was a god send! Thank you for your lovely comment xx

  • Oh I LOVE loft conversions and that is the plan for the next house. Get a house that requires work and extend into the loft. Well I can dream 🙂 #KCACOLS

  • It is brilliant if you can utilise a space out of the way for teenagers, In our current house I converted the garage and that is my eldest bedroom and in the house we are moving too, it is a 3 storey house and the boys are having the top floor so will both be out of the way with lots of doors in-between!

  • Looks superb! I love the hemnes range too. We are struggling a bit with space but we can’t afford to move – I really wish we could convert our loft but it just isn’t big enough! #KCACOLS

  • I love loft conversions. We chose the Hemnes daybed for our teens bedroom and the desk and bedside table. It looks very classy for her French style room. We completed a found floor kitchen/living/dining extension last year and it has made such a difference. You must be delighted with the finished room. #kcacols

  • I LOVE room conversions! Making areas that aren’t really rooms, into rooms is so much fun and really unleashes your creative spark. I bet L is absolutely loving her new space, I know I would be! Our house just has a gross old attic that I refuse to go in-LOL! Thanks for sharing <3 #KCACOLS

  • This is lovely! Perfect space for a teenager to get away from the rest of the house a little bit! I love the Hemnes day bed (in fact, I love all of the hemnes range – we have lots of it in our house!) – and I agree, I think fairy lights are definitely required! They’d look fab against that brickwork! #KCACOLS

  • You’ve done a great job from what you’ve said and the photos I can see. I bet your teenager is chuffed to bits. Blackout blinds are a great addition and really worth it.

    Mainy
    #kcacols

  • She is one lucky teen! I love the chosen furniture and bedding especially the day bed (I also want this one in my spare room!) I have to agree with her that the fairy lights are an essential. The only thing that I disagree with are the apple stickers! A poster of latest crush would look better and make the teenage den complete 😉

  • That is the perfect teenage den! Love the style she went for as it works really well. I currently have a beautiful dressing table sat in our spare room because the cot is still in our bedroom! It’s a shame you can’t officially call it a bedroom but it works for your family which is most important. #KCACOLS

  • Wow you’ve done a great job, it’s so pretty!! We had a loft conversion at the old house and it was lovely, so light and airy and amazing views from the top of the house. We are converting our garage at the minute, there’s always something to be done! #KCACOLS

  • Lovely job of a loft conversion! I love the bits that you have picked out too. We have our teens up in our loft conversion too – it’s good for us and for them to have space away from everyone else I think! Thanks for sharing on #fortheloveofBLOG

  • Looks lovely – I love the exposed brick wall! We got refused planning permission to convert our old flat’s loft so we ended up moving house…such a lot to do when you’ve got a baby on the way! We might convert our current house’s loft at some stage and this is great inspiration for that #KCACOLS

  • We had windows like that in our room as kids and my mum just made the blinds herself 🙂 I agree that the stress probably caused the baby’s early birth.
    #kcacols

  • I love it!!I always wanted a loft bedroom when I was a teenager, I love the vintage theme. It looks great, bet your daughter is thrilled with it #blogginggoodtime xx

  • Oh it looks so lovely! And your teenager has some serious style! Those stairs though Eeeeek! #KCACOLS xx

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