Augustine’s Room

Augustine started a conversation with me the day after Christmas about his bedtime, which was 730pm. He gave me multiple reasons as to why he thought he was ready for a later one. I was impressed. All of his reasoning was valid. 

I’d been thinking for a few weeks that a room of his own would have multiple benefits, and with a later bedtime than Lewis he would definitely need his own space. 

We decided he would swap rooms with Elias, but Elias’ room was atrocious. It was the room that needed the most work in the whole house, and luckily the smallest room too. Half the ceiling was unfinished, and half the floor was original hard wood covered by a carpet remnant...all due to a built in bed from the 70s that we ripped out on closing day last year. The walls were half old plaster covered in wallpaper, the other half wooden paneling which was also due to said built in. The curtains were too long for the window because it’s what I had to use on move in day, and we have plans to eventually get most of the carpeting out of the house and restore the gorgeous 1930s original hard wood floors. 

So naturally we would take off the wallpaper and paint everything to match, finish the ceiling (turns out that was driving Logan nuts and I had no idea he even noticed), buy new curtains that fit, and get the carpet out. 

Simple, right? Said no one ever about any house project big or small. 

After getting the wallpaper off we quickly realized that some of the plaster was in bad shape and not paintable. We decided to turn the project over to very able friends from our parish and happily pay them for their expertise. They did not disappoint.

They removed plaster from the exterior wall, and let our boys help. 

The big boys couldn’t have had more fun!

Lewis got the added bonus of 3-4 days a week for three weeks straight of play dates with his best friend because the friends we hired just happened to be her parents. 

Since the wall was down to the studs they added insulation. 

Then they drywalled the whole wall. 

They used a wood panel removed from the other wall to even out this wall instead of spending more on new materials...brilliant. They had a dozen money-saving ideas. 

Meanwhile, Augustine built his new drawers with a little bit of assistance from me. But only a little! 

They painted the room gray with white trim, adding some new trim for a nice clean finish. Meanwhile, Grandma Susan and Augustine sewed curtains and a matching throw pillow. 

Grandma Susan also helped me wood wash and oil the beautiful floors. 

After three weeks of hard work, we moved him in! There are still a few more wall hangings I’m working on, but otherwise it’s finished!



Grandma Kathleen crocheted the beautiful red throw blanket, which he sleeps under every night. I also bought him a weighted blanket...pure magic, people. 

Augustine received this crucifix for First Confession and it’s perfect in his room. 

We are all quite pleased with how it turned out, but most of all Augustine is very happy with his new room all his own. He was even granted his later bedtime...745pm. 😉