Aye, Matey... from shipwreck to ship shape ...

My 5 year old grandson was going away for the summer and before he left, he said, "Gramma, will you build me a big boy bed?"... and of course I said SURE THING!

Since he wanted to keep his room in a pirate theme, I designed a bed for him and my husband (Bruce) and I rolled up our sleeves and got started. While Bruce started on the bed frame, I painted the walls in two contrasting colors... which then became waves, and before I knew it, each thought inspired me and my first mural took on a shape of it's own. The carpeting was removed and I installed a simulated wood floating floor made out of vinyl planking.

In doing the mural, I purchased some already painted wooden theme accents from a craft store and they became part of the artwork. Things such as a mermaid, ships, parrots, treasure chest, crab, octopus, whale, sun, gator, sea snake and palm trees were glued in the mural. An artificial palm frawn and a bamboo rod became a palm tree and was secured to the wall using butterfly anchors. For added shimmer, glitter glue was used on the waves and in the water.

The sail on the wall was made using a broadcloth fabric. A liner was made from plain cotton cloth and stuffed with quilt batting and then placed behind the sail to give it the appearance of wind behind it. To secure it to the wall, snaps typically used in boating applications was used. For easy removal if washing became necessary, the sail was snapped to the wall. (Just in case my little bucaneer put his peanut butter and jelly fingers on it)

A wooden dowel and a finial became the "mast" for the sail. The final touches on the headboard, side rails and footboard are tied into the theme with galley railing, finials and trimmed in rope molding. The top row of drawers were designed with pulls made from dowel pieces and routered pine pieces. These became the ship's cannons and were recessed into the drawer fronts for added dimension and on the bottom is a "walk the plank" which pulls out as a step for climbing into bed.

Hand painted/stained moldings became part of the decor and a simple white roller window shade covered in fabric became a pirate flag. The closet was then designed to accomodate a 5 year olds clothing and special things, an anchor with chain hang on the footboard, and a ships wheel with a modified fixture became the ceiling lighting. The solid color contrasting wall contains a framed map with a shelf above it containing a collection of lanterns, a Pirateology Book and other themed items.

Started as a "labor of love", this one of a kind bedroom is seaworthy for any little pirate captain.