While my girls stayed in Texas with their grandparents for a week, being spoiled day in and day out, I relished the quiet of home-and the opportunity to properly clean out their rooms! I am not a stickler for a perfectly tidy home. Far from it actually (ask my hubby).  But occasionally these things need to be done. SoooOOOooo, one fine summer day a couple of weeks ago I turned the music on, pulled out the trash bin and set to work.  And while they were clean I snapped a few pics to share–plus I thought I’d share some of my favorite etsy scores.

First off–the teenager’s room….

My 13 (almost 14 yr old!) loves anything and everything Japanese. Knowing this, a sweet friend  gave us a beautiful kimono which inspired the color scheme of her room-orange, pink, and yellow.  Her room always looks as though the sun is shining-even on cloudy days. (isn’t that a line from a song??)

This is the Ikea Hemnes dresser-but she had lots of fun gussying it up with hand painted knobs. I let her have free reign here-and I think they came out so cute. I really cannot emphasize this enough–its so great for kids to be involved in the creation of their special spaces. I wanted both of my girls to feel that their rooms were their very own magical spaces-a safe haven from the world.

This girl loves her jewelry–here’s how she stores some of it.

sweet little Origami Japanese paper doll purchased from Ume Origami on etsy. I put it in a clear frame from the craft store.

Chair from Ikea, and pillows from Urban Outfitters.  Curtains are from Ikea too! Thank God for Ikea, seriously. And that little pink puppy propped up here?  She made him herself! Moo is his name. (and she “loves him with all of her heart”-almost as much as One Direction)

She loves her little sushi pillows from Think Geek.  Bed is Ikea (but we got it 11 years ago!) Bedding is from good ‘ol JC Penneys. I love that fortune cookie pillow too-it came with a little strip of paper in it to write a little message.

She loves her Momiji dolls~

We like to use vintage pieces when we can-so that’s an old McCoy vase filled with bric-a-brac…otherwise known as junk.  Except for those sewing labels-those are NOT junk.  ”made with love” in Japanese–via Sublime Stitching.

See?! We love Sublime Stitching! She embroidered these pillowcases herself!! This is the Sushi Bar pattern.

We found a little old telephone table that I spruced up with bright orange paint.  Add the mirror and the little organizers from Ikea-and you’ve got yourself a little vanity!

I painted this for her….

The parasol we picked up in Chinatown and the print is a Mary Engelbreit from the magazine Home Companion….that I miss terribly!

Thank you Jessica Swift for this sweet print!

She bought that cat bank in NYC at Pearl River. Have you been there? It will blow your mind!

Ok this was my attempt at appliqué! Its a fun project to try-I framed it in an embroidery hoop.

See I did leave some messy-ness…I really think a bulletin board is an essential in kids rooms.  To cut down a little bit on the visual clutter I painted hers the same color as the wall.

And even though she’s thirteen-going-on-fourteen she still loves her panda pillow pet and blankie.  What a sweetie. Thanks Bella for letting me share your room! (I most definitely asked permission first!)

And finally what Japanese room would be complete without Totoro, hmm?