After planning the space & painting the room, we hung the vintage map that I have been hoarding in my closet for two years! My son wanted to keep it on this map of the US, but he can also flip to a world map or a map of Alaska & Hawaii.
![DSC_0820 DSC_0820](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5uPVbevilew/VQncVft09dI/AAAAAAAAGC8/3YHAPGANuCs/DSC_0820_thumb%25255B13%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Since I am only using my monthly spending allowance (plus money I earned through selling things on Craigslist) I had to save up before I could buy a couple of Rast dressers from Ikea. I absolutely LOVE that these are so inexpensive, can be painted/stained to look great, & are a small size, with quite a bit of storage.
![DSC_0821 DSC_0821](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-43dWzkYFs_g/VQncXuoD6CI/AAAAAAAAGDM/7LdWZnpENF8/DSC_0821_thumb%25255B13%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Before assembling them, I stained the outside pieces (Early American by Minwax) & painted the drawer fronts white. I used the knobs that came with them for a while so I could save up to buy some ring knobs.
Then, one day I remembered this post from Sarah M. Dorsey Designs showing how she made her own ring knobs. (I also found this post helpful.) Around the same time I had this recollection, I also remembered that I had two bags of Ikea curtain rings. After assembling a cotter pin around the ring & inserting the cotter pin into a beveled washer, I spray painted them gold & followed up with a couple coats of clear acrylic sealer. Then, my husband pushed the cotter pin through the holes in the drawers & spread them apart with the help of pliers & a hammer (kind of like how you use brass fasteners for kid crafts). (The cotter pins were pretty tough stuff, so my husband had to do all the assembling & putting them in the drawers.) I would say I only spent about $8 for all twelve knobs! (Ignore the wonky one on the middle drawer, I should have straightened it out before taking the picture!)
![DSC_0824 DSC_0824](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-grVaQNCFqQI/VQncaGtIQcI/AAAAAAAAGDc/1CbZOHqVcGI/DSC_0824_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Next, I stained & polyurethaned two shelves, cut from an $8 board at Home Depot. We used some “L” brackets for easy shelf installation, which cost another $6 (total). Originally, I wanted three shelves, but it didn't end up working out, since we are planning on building a pull-down desk under the bottom shelf.
![DSC_0826 DSC_0826](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-kc9E6FZTX8I/VQncceXKddI/AAAAAAAAGDs/0YTN1iirkAI/DSC_0826_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
My son is a collector, so this gives him a nice place to display some of his rocks, shells, weathered glass, & buckeyes. I’m not sure what I’ll do when these collections grow, since we’re already running out of space!
![DSC_0819 DSC_0819](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-iwZyw0KgDJQ/VQncd0qqIyI/AAAAAAAAGD8/0ns8g1Sy38c/DSC_0819_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
So far the biggest expense for this makeover has been the bedding. Since we just upgraded Zeke to a full-sized bed, we needed new sheets, dust ruffle, comforter, & pillows.
![DSC_0827 DSC_0827](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-oFI1qez4JdI/VQncfUs0y8I/AAAAAAAAGEM/4zvP6phAdmU/DSC_0827_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
I wanted to upgrade Zeke’s director’s chair to a more comfortable chair he could read or hang out in. I was able to get this one on Craigslist for $75. It is in great condition & is very comfortable.
Here is a look at most of the things that we still have to do in the room. Oh, shoot… forgot to add headboard in there… We have to do that too!
![Z room Z room](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-giOzWidbDrM/VQncg9_NYiI/AAAAAAAAGEc/UflMcHoAuGw/Z%252520room_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
We also need to build a pull-out desk & bench below the bookshelves, but PicMonkey was giving me a hard time, so I’m not going to bother labeling another picture!
![DSC_0830 DSC_0830](http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ZaUMGEF0Jao/VQnci-wPfOI/AAAAAAAAGEs/EWfMtyykJmk/DSC_0830_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
So, slowly, but surely we are getting things accomplished in this room. I’m hoping that we can work on a few things this weekend. I would love to have this room finished in the next couple of weeks so I can get started on my daughter’s. (I'm picking up something for her space tomorrow, which has me excited about her room makeover!)