The Reading Nook is Done!

 I had been searching online over a year ago for closet organizers when I came across a closet reading nook. It was a closet that had been turned into a cozy area for a child to hide away and read.

I fell in love with the idea. 

The closet that my middle two children share was driving me crazy. It was underused, and yet, it was always a mess. The idea of having a cute place to read sounded like a much better use of space. Plus, I knew the kids would use it for more than just reading.

It's an inside joke at our house that I come up with the ideas and Chris has to figure out how to make them happen. It's his own fault that I have complete faith in him- he always manages to pull through for me. He'll tell you the playhouse he built the kids in the backyard was really for me. (And maybe it was-- I'm waiting for the kids to be done with it so I can turn it into an adorable potting shed.) In the end, he always admits that they were great ideas.

For over a year, I asked Chris to redo the closet. He thought the idea was a little crazy at first. "Would the kids really use it, would they still have closet space, would it look out of place?" I assured him it would be cute and the kids would really use it. 

Finally, he gave in and went to work. And he came up with the perfect reading nook for the kids' room.

I wanted to keep part of the closet for it's traditional function of hanging clothes and storage. In the other part, I wanted a space big enough that a child could comfortable settle in to read. I also wanted it big enough that the space could double for playing. The design that Chris came up with was big enough to fit a parent and a child or two. Plus it included the book shelf, which was perfect for a place to set a cup of coffee when I'm reading to the kids.

The kids love it. My 12 year old is jealous and would love her own reading nook. I'd love to make her one, but alas, her closet is too small. She said she'd settle for a chair that hangs from the ceiling. I'll get Chris on that....

*Chris has detailed images of the Reading Nook in progress. If there is interest, I can have him detail it out.