Sweet dreams

Dr. Krissy Joels called decorator Debbie Coppinger with a triple challenge in bedroom design.

In her daughters' bedrooms, the Missionary Ridge homeowner had bought bedding but needed inspiration on how to finish those rooms. The third bedroom she wanted to convert into a guest room that could do double duty as her daughters' playroom; yet it had to be masculine enough that her husband, Dr. Charles Joels, wouldn't feel out of place relaxing there with the girls.

The result is three rooms that are fun, friendly and capture the whimsey of childhood. Yet all three can "mature" as the children age with just a few decorating changes.

The Joels family has lived in the circa-1924 home for two years. They are the third owners in its 85 years.

Mrs. Joels said the couple loved the home's original mahogany doors (many with beveled mirror or inset glass panels), hardwood floors throughout, original chandeliers and deep mahogany moldings and trimwork.

"We love this house. We don't plan on ever leaving," she said.

THE NURSERY

Infant Matilda's nursery is a far cry from the dreary study it formerly was.

"With the dark wood trim and dark hardwood floors, it was gloomy," Mrs. Joels said.

Using the lavender-striped crib bedding and the lovely crewel-embroidered baby bumpers as her inspiration, Ms. Coppinger added a chair rail, then painted the wall above it lavender and the space below lime green.

Next she called on the creativity of her friend, artist Lydia Reynolds, to create a mural of ballerina monkeys for the room's focal point. Five monkeys in tutus swing from branches and piroette en pointe. Among the branches are floral-shaped pegs perfect for hanging jackets or diaper bags.

To further brighten the room, Ms. Coppinger opened the windows with double Roman shades to allow as much natural light as possible. A white twill shade piped in purple tops a lavender-striped Roman shade that lowers for privacy.

The decorator installed a matching striped shade over the glass panel in the bedroom door, which may be pulled down during naps.

Tying the look together: Ms. Reynolds painted three canvases with monkeys humorously depicting the "see no evil evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" proverb; a child's bench was decorated with purple and green flowers and a cushion made of coordinating fabric.

THE PRESCHOOLER'S ROOM

Across the upstairs landing, daughter Talia's bedroom is a candy-colored confection of pastel yellow and bayberry pink.

Three-year-old Talia chose the color scheme for her room and helped pick the embroidered yellow comforter topped by layers of pink-and-yellow floral shams.

Encircling the top of the pink walls is a white script border that Ms. Reynolds applied freehand that reads "Busy, busy bumblebee, just a rumbling and a stumbling all around me." Entwined with the lettering is a pattern of bees, vines and flowers that Ms. Reynolds designed to mimic the comforter's embroidery.

Tying the look together: Ms. Coppinger ordered extra sheeting from the bedding company, from which she made coordinating Roman shades. These were mounted above white panels that Mrs. Joels had already purchased. Ms. Coppinger found a heavy pink-and-yellow braiding to trim the white panels.

Finishing touches were a vanity seat and old toy chest, both recovered in yellow fabric piped in pink.

THE PLAYROOM

The launching point for the first-floor playroom/guest room was a pair of pastel pink panels that Mrs. Joels had purchased for that room's windows. Although Talia loved the idea of a pink room, Mrs. Joels said her husband vetoed an all-pink room. They compromised with a combination of pink and chocolate brown.

The 11-foot walls were painted chocolate up to the picture railing, which was painted a contrasting hot pink. A softer pink was added above the picture railing, on which Ms. Reynolds handpainted multicolored dots to make a border.

The dots coordinate with the chocolate brown fabric used to upholster the white daybed. The sleigh bed styling of the daybed makes it comfortable when used as a couch, but its pull-out trundle allows the daybed to sleep two guests.

A wall of shelving was built to add storage for the girls' toys and a place for the TV. A dozen cloth baskets in green or pink are inserted in the shelves to hold small pieces, keeping the room clutter-free. Drawers are built into the bottom of the wall unit for further storage.

Tying the look together: Since Ms. Coppinger kept the chandelier original to the room, she purchased two sconces for a side wall, painting them white and adding crystals to match the chandelier.

To adapt Mrs. Joel's 8-foot pink panels to fit the 11-foot walls, Ms. Coppinger banded the top of each panel with the same dotted fabric used on the daybed. For visual interest, she accented the border with a strip of the stripe used on the daybed's throw pillows.