Joanna Goddard, Cup of JoIf you cross your fingers, tap your red shoes together three times, throw coins in fountains, and wish on shooting stars and birthday candles, then Ez from Creature Comforts might one day make over your room. The design blogger, artist and Nesting contributor has a knack for creating warm spaces and making budget decor look fabulous. She recently made over her daughter's bedroom, as a 10th birthday present, and the results were eye-popping. (The before shot is above.) Let's take a peek at the room now...
Happy 10th birthday to your daughter! What's she like?
Ten is such a great age, and it's a delight to see all the wonderful ways she's learning about herself and life. My daughter is very passionate about animals and nature. She's also naturally athletic (unlike me) and has an innate talent for anything artistic. Oh, and she's hilarious!

Does she have any nicknames?
Oh, man, does she ever! We go a little overboard with nicknames in our house. The main ones are "Little Wonder" and "Beepy," and others are improvised to fit any (and every) situation.
The vintage fabric flower garland is from Sparkle Power.
Did you work together on the bedroom makeover?
Yes, we sanded, primed, painted and moved furniture together. I wanted my daughter's room to be all about her. I'm a bit of a perfectionist so this was a great growing experience for me. This was strictly a weekend project, but I was ill during the process, so it took a month!

Her bed looks like a hideaway!
Finding the Ikea curtains was the launching pad for the entire room. So far we've used her bed for craft projects, board games, card games, reading, a hair salon, drawing and sleeping (of course). It's actually even better than I had imagined.
What does your daughter want to be when she grows up?
Much like most 10 year olds, this is constantly changing. Currently she is hoping to become a hair stylist or a model. Last week she was planning on becoming a zoo keeper.

Where do you guys you live?
We live in a geodesic dome (affectionately named "the igloo"), in the itty-bitty town of Santa Margarita, California. Our town isn't terribly glamorous (you could blink and miss it), but we're surrounded by beautiful nature, so we spend lots of time outside taking photographic adventure walks and playing with our dogs, Stellaluna and Orey.
You found amazing artwork for the room. Where do you buy art?
Art was a huge inspiration for my daughter's space, and I'm passionate about supporting independent artists, so it was fun to find and display all of these lovingly created works of art. Some of my favorite pieces in the room came from: Hadley Hutton, Holli, Studio Violet, Lab Partners, My Folk Lover and Heidi Burton. And I got the wall graphics from Nouvelles Images (also available on Amazon) and Decoylab.

What advice would you give for decorating a child's room on a budget?
First, paint is the most affordable way to change the look of a space. We chose Behr lemon drops. Second, functionality is key. I would have loved the look of a giant floor rug, but it would have been a wreck before too long. So, instead, I purchased five small throw rugs (all machine washable) that she can lay down and arrange exactly as she wants. Third, come up with new uses for old things. Nails, cotton twine, and wooden clothespins were all that was needed to hang an entire wall of art in my daughter's room. Imagine the cost of standard frames for all of those pieces!
What are your daughter's final words on her new and improved room?
She says it's "the best room in the whole world."

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