If you’ve been following our progress on this project, it’s time for The Fort reveal!
The Fort Renovation (Part 1) – Turning Our Kids Fort Into a Tiny Guest House article introduced you to our project. Then in the Fort Renovation (Part 2) – Remodel Construction article, we shared the construction steps we took for the remodel. Now, here in Part 3, we’ll take you on a tour of The Fort and share the decor. Come on in!
TIP: Click any photo to enlarge it.
The Decor
I wanted The Fort to be a relaxing escape. I wanted it to be quirky and fun with a bit of whimsy. I like the industrial look with a touch of boho – so I’ve blended in all the things I love to make this space what it is. My favorite colors are black and white, so I knew those colors needed to be used. When we first built the fort, my Mom gave my oldest son a bucket of blue paint and a bucket of orange paint (his favorite colors) so he could paint the inside of the fort. I decided to use orange as an accent color in the fort decor, in honor of my Mom. It makes me smile inside.
Here are some of the things we’ve done to decorate the fort (so far), along with why I made these choices. I’m sure we’ll be adding more quirky things as we continue to use the space.
Main Level
The main level of the fort has black walls with lots of large windows. The black walls were intentional, because when you sit on this level, your eyes are focused on the windows and what lies beyond – the walls just sort of disappear. This is the main space we use and it’s really a fun space to hang out in.
Greeted with Guest Slippers
When you first walk in the door, there is a black and white patterned rug with a wood crate next to it. I bought several pair of slippers in random sizes and put them in the crate. In the Winter, you can kick off your boots and put on a pair of slippers while hanging out in the fort. Fun!
Hanging Chair
One of the first things you notice is a unique furniture piece – a rope hammock hanging chair. The chair is a very fun item on it’s own, but the rail system it’s hanging from is what makes it unique and one-of-a-kind. We wanted the chair moveable but didn’t want to screw a bunch of hooks into the joists – or have to reach up and unhook and rehook it to move the chair. Instead, it’s mounted on a rail system that allows the chair to slide from one side of the room to the other! The rail is made from iron pipe and fittings, supported by iron straps my husband hand-forged, and through-bolted to the overhead joists. It’s an eclectic combination of industrial and boho, and the chair is so comfortable.
Convertible Couch
After months of searching, I finally found the perfect couch for The Fort! It’s a dark grey convertible couch. The back is split in two and those parts are adjustable. They also can be folded flat to turn into an extra full-size bed. The couch is very comfortable and is the perfect size for family game night, or for lounging with a movie.
Glass Table
I knew I wanted a coffee table for this space that we could use for family game nights. I knew the exact size and height I was looking for, and I wanted something with a thin black metal frame and clear glass for the table top so it wouldn’t overwhelm the space. The glass allows you to still see the flooring and the rug, and the thin frame makes the table seem like it’s not really even there. I searched local online marketplaces for a used table that I could repurpose but wasn’t finding the table I had envisioned. I finally decided to search online, and after months of searching, I finally found the perfect table. It even has a glass shelf under the table top – a place for displaying fun pieces – like the orange monkeys and the round orange tray I found.
A Runner Rug
With such beautiful flooring, I didn’t want a big rug to hide the floor, yet I wanted a rug in front of the couch to help keep our feet warm on cold days. I decided on a long narrow runner rug for this space. I love creating with doodles in black and white, so I knew at first glance this was the right choice! The rug is placed slightly under the couch and slightly under the coffee table – the perfect size.
Extra Seating
Since we plan on using The Fort for family game night, we wanted extra seating without adding too much furniture. I decided on banana leaf poufs. These poufs can be stacked for higher seating or used separately. They can be used as a side table or as a footstool, as well. I think they look great in this space. I also found a white rope knotted pouf that can be used as a seat around the coffee table, or can be used as a footstool when relaxing and watching movies. Because it’s made of white rope, it goes well with the hanging chair.
It’s a Jungle
Of course, there HAD to be plants in this space! Greenery makes the space look even more inviting and gives a fun jungle feel. But… we live in Minnesota. When we’re not using The Fort, the space heater is not turned on and it gets very cold in The Fort in the Winter. No plant would survive these kinds of temperatures, so I’ve opted for artificial plants. The 6′ palm tree was in our middle son’s tropical rainforest-themed bedroom when he was little. The large monstera plant was also from his childhood bedroom. I love having these plants in The Fort now – they look like they were meant to be there, and they’re reminders of when our son was little. I have other realistic looking artificial plants throughout the space, and will be adding more in the Spring. You can never have too many plants!
Throw Pillows and Blankets
Throw pillows on the couch make it very cozy for movie nights, and the throw blankets keep you warm. But I didn’t want just any pillow or blankets. I searched for something more quirky and cool. One of the pillows is an orange slice. It’s really fun! Another pillow is made of grey loops and balls that look like an alien made it in outerspace – pretty cool. I also added our “Party of 5” pillow to the couch for our family of 5. The blankets are sherpa on one side and fluffy fur-like on the other side. They are super cozy and look pretty dramatic in the space.
Fun Framed Photos
I took photos of each family member (including myself) with one item that represented each of us. I made the photos black and white (my favorite type of photos), then colorized that one item in each photo. I had the photos printed and then framed them. I found these vintage frames at local thrift stores – they were gold plaster with very ornate patterns, which I wanted so when painted black, the texture of the frame would be the focal point. They turned out exactly as I envisioned them. These fun photos are hung above the couch and are one of the first things you see when you enter The Fort. These pictures really warm my heart! I have more vintage gold frames to finish, and more photos to add to The Fort – coming soon!
Customized Sign
Since we have always referred to this building as ‘The Fort’, I wanted to make a sign that simply said ‘The Fort’. I bought small paper mache letters and my husband painted them with a silver enamel paint. He then added small nails to give the look of rivets in metal. He mounted the letters to a piece of leftover trim board, and voilà! The sign is perfect, and sits on one of the windowsills so you see it when you first walk in to The Fort.
Say it in Style (and with flair)
Since we’re a creative bunch, I wanted to hang a type of whiteboard in the fort for people to draw on, or to use to keep score during game nights. I didn’t want a regular whiteboard, so instead, opted for an LED menu board with fluorescent chalk markers. The board is so cool! It lights up and makes whatever is written or drawn on it look like neon lights. With a remote control, the board can flash, fade, stay steady, or twinkle. And it can change colors, too. When the board is not turned on, it looks like a black glass board. It fits perfectly against the black painted walls – I love it!
Hanging Monkeys, Ladders, and Other Fun Game Items
When I was a kid, I loved anything to do with monkeys – and still do. I bought a vintage Barrel of Monkey’s game (the jumbo sized game) and then painted the monkeys bright orange. I hung several monkeys in the black grid wall behind the couch, and placed three of them on the glass shelf of the coffee table. You can’t help but giggle a little when you see these fun monkeys! Our boys and I also really like retro video games, like Super Mario and Donkey Kong. I found a bunch of orange ladders that are meant to be used in parrot bird cages and added them to the black grid wall. They make me think of the video games the boys and I used to play together. 😉 I also added a vintage orange bell from the game Pit, as well as an orange game sand timer. Fun!
Fun Signage
I love vintage signs and signage. I found an antique ‘For Rent’ sign in black and white, and placed that in the fort. I also found a black and white metal sign that says ‘PG = Parental Guidance Warning: Some material may not be suitable for adults. Exposure to silliness, strange annoying sounds, and the abundance of catchy songs played throughout the movie may cause insanity.’ Yep. Sounds like our family. There’s also a black and white volume knob (like one from an old radio) screwed into the wall to use as a coat hanger. I used one of the vintage frames I painted to make a sign that says ‘Escape’. I have more signs I’ll be adding to this space for even more fun.
Old-Time Radio (sort of)
Our family really loves listening to music, so I wanted to add a vintage black portable radio to the decor. I ended up finding one that is a replica of a vintage transistor radio that has AM and FM stations, and is also a Bluetooth device that you can stream music to from your phone. The radio is also a weather radio – something you need when you live in the country with no tornado sirens around. This radio is so much fun to use, has awesome sound, and great volume. It’s perfect in The Fort!
The Adjustable, Portable TV
We wanted to use The Fort to watch movies, stream our favorite Netflix programs, and play Playstation and retro Super Nintendo games, so we bought a 43″ flat screen television to use out there. We didn’t want the television mounted to the wall, and with all the large windows on the main level, we didn’t want it sitting on an entertainment stand because the television would block the windows. We also wanted it portable so we could carry it to the loft if we wanted to watch up there, and we wanted to bring the TV in the house when it wasn’t being used. I found adjustable TV stands online, but when I showed them to my creative husband, he said “I can build one of those much cheaper!”. He bought an adjustable height utility work light stand, and a TV wall mount, and built brackets to join them together. Now the television can be raised and lowered to the floor easily, or removed from the stand so it’s more portable. Genius!
Keep it Toasty!
Since it’s virtually Winter here in Minnesota six months out of the year…. well, okay that’s a slight exaggeration – but it is cold here. A lot. We bought a retro-looking space heater to help keep The Fort warm and toasty when we’re using it. Just flip the Dr. Heater on, and it warms the space nicely. Preheating works best – someone just has to run out there to turn the heater on ahead of time.
Keep it Clean
Because you have to walk through our yard to get from the house to The Fort, I wanted to make sure there was a way for everyone to keep the space clean and tidy. I ended up finding an awesome upright vacuum to keep in The Fort – it’s just the right size! This vacuum was also helpful during construction, cleaning up sawdust and other debris.
Second Level
This level is used for storing games, puzzles, craft supplies, extra blankets, books, and other items we use in The Fort. It’s also a place to sit and enjoy a meal, or work on a craft or project – or even a place to work on… work. I love that you can see through the grid wall to the main level, and all the windows make it nice to enjoy the view.
Flexible Table
I wanted to have a table in this space, but didn’t want anything large or modern. I envisioned a vintage drop-leaf pedestal table – with leaves that could be raised a larger table is needed, or dropped down to take up as little space as possible. I kept checking local online marketplaces, hoping to find a table that matched what I pictured in my mind. It took a long time, but I finally found one! And, it was at a farmstead just a couple miles up the road. The table was in pretty bad shape, as it had been sitting out in a barn for a while. But it was solid oak hardwood, and we knew it could be transformed and restored. My husband sanded off the original clear coat down to bare wood, then refinished it with clear satin urethane. He tightened up the pedestal and made a few other adjustments, and now the table is like new. It’s a smaller sized drop-leaf table – maybe 40″ diameter – and it couldn’t be a more perfect table for this space. I love the unfinished wood and how the modern sleek chairs fit with the table. I feel so fortunate to have found this table!
Comfortable Chairs
I found a set of very modern commercial industrial stackable chairs that are super comfortable. These chairs are very heavy duty, yet are light-weight. They are small enough to not take up too much space, and easy enough to carry to the main level of the fort when we need extra seating for game nights. They really are a perfect pair!
Geometric Rug
Like I mentioned before, I wanted a rug to warm this space, but not hide too much of the beautiful floor. I wanted a long, narrow runner rug to use under the table and chairs. Something with bright orange, white, and grey, and something that would coordinate well with the flooring in the loft and on the other two levels. I spent hours and hours searching online for the perfect rug – and finally found it! The rug we have fits my vision perfectly! The geometric shapes in the rug are actually very similar to the arcs in the loft flooring, and the colors couldn’t be better.
Tower Bookcases with a Twist
Because we needed storage in the fort for games and other supplies, I decided tall, tower bookcases would be best. I wanted the bookcases to be white, but not boring. I found six different wallpaper rolls with black and white doodle designs on them, and wallpapered the back of the bookcases. Each shelf has a different backing, and together, all the different wallpaper designs look fantastic. These bookcases are anything but boring!
Orange Crates
These translucent orange plastic crates with lids slide easily into the tower bookcases. They provide another pop of color, and look awesome in the bookcases. With the snap on lids, they also stack nicely.
Old-Time Pennant (sort of)
To me, The Fort sort of feels like a special clubhouse. I felt like it needed to have its own pennant… so I made one. I wanted it to look old-fashioned, so I used antique white and black felt. I printed the reversed letters onto paper, then used a glue stick to adhere the paper to the antique white felt. I used scissors and cut the letters out by hand, removed the paper backing, and glued the letters to the black felt triangle pennant. The pennant spells out ‘Split Rock’ – the name we gave our property when we built our house. It looks vintage, and I love how great it looks hanging on the wall in The Fort!
Sign of the Times
I was very excited to have found an orange felt letterboard! The orange is perfect for this level, and it’s a lot of fun to change the sign from time to time. I currently have the sign sitting on a windowsill on the second level of The Fort, above the table, but I’ll hang it on the wall in the Spring after we finish clear coating the walls.
Fabric Bowl
I used leftover black and white upholstery fabric from a footstool redo and turned it into a fabric bowl. I just cut strips of fabric, then used Mod Podge to glue the fabric in multiple layers to a glass bowl “form” that I covered in plastic wrap. When the bowl was dry, I removed it from the glass bowl form and trimmed the edges. Now we can use this fabric bowl in The Fort to hold playing cards, dice, paper, and pens when we play games out there. It adds a personal touch to the space as well.
Convex Mirror
I have always loved the look of a convex mirror. There’s just something so cool about getting that wide-angle view! I wanted this type of mirror for The Fort to hang between levels, opening the view even more. I found the coolest industrial metal and glass convex mirror! My husband modified the hanging bracket on the back of the mirror, and we hung the mirror on the wall by the floating steps. When you’re on any level of The Fort, you can see a glimpse of all the other levels with this mirror. It’s so cool!
Custom Beverage Coasters
Collage art is one of my most favorite art forms. I find it extremely relaxing. It’s fun to repurpose old magazines by paging through them, searching for just the right letters, words, or phrases that fit whatever project I’m working on. I decided to make a set of custom beverage coasters for The Fort, using this art medium.
The coasters are made from 4″ ceramic wall tile. I’ve just used a glue stick to adhere the text to the tiles, then sealed them with a waterproof sealer.
The first two coasters are all about The Fort. The third and fourth coasters are just for fun. The fifth coaster is one to get you talking, and the last coaster just reminds me of my three boys. Bottom’s up!
Mini Footstool
I found a mini footstool at a local thrift store and thought it would be perfect for resting your feet on when sitting in the hanging chair. While I liked the original upholstery, I knew I wanted something that would fit better with the other things in The Fort. I literally spent hours and hours searching online for ‘the perfect fabric’. I knew I would know the right piece when I saw it. After many hours of search, I finally found it! This is just the coolest fabric! I ordered it online and waited a couple weeks for it to arrive. As soon as it did, I recovered the footstool and painted the original legs of the stool. I’m so pleased with how this project turned out!
Loft
The loft is a space for resting and relaxing with a book. I wanted this space to feel like you were sleeping in a cloud – something very cozy, fresh, and uncluttered. I haven’t painted the walls in the loft yet, but will paint them white in the Spring. I want this space to have mostly white for the decor so you really do feel like you’re up in a cloud.
Cozy Nights Sleep
I found a full size bed frame at a local thrift store. It’s going to work very well in the loft. My husband will build a wood pedestal style support around the frame. I haven’t purchased the mattress yet, but it will likely be a memory foam mattress that comes rolled in a box. This will allow us to get the mattress up into the loft easily, and will provide a very comfortable place to sleep. I’m also going to design a simple headboard for the bed and have my husband make the frame for it, then I’ll cover it in padding and fabric. This is a project for the Spring.
Repurposed Cloud Lamp
When our youngest son was a baby, we had a lamp in his ocean-themed bedroom that had a white shade that looked like the waves of the ocean. The plastic shade shattered over time, but we hung on to the chrome lamp base. It was the perfect lamp base to repurpose into the cloud lamp! My husband made a bracket for a cloud shade we had that was made for a hanging lamp, and we used that on the table lamp. It turned out perfect and adds an airy feel to the room.
Antique Nightstand
When my Mom was a teenager, the farmer that lived near them made her a dresser and a nightstand with two drawers. When I was a baby, Mom gave me that nightstand, and I used it in my bedroom until I moved out of my parents’ house. I took it with me, and still have it. I painted it white many years ago and we used it in our youngest son’s bedroom when he was small. I gave that nightstand a fresh coat of white paint, and now it will be used in the loft as a bedside table. The cloud lamp looks perfect on it, and the drawers will work great for storing bed linens.
LED Cloud Wall Sconce
I couldn’t resist this cloud light! I realize it’s made for a child’s room, but hey… I’m just a kid at heart! I love the look of this light in the loft. We hung it above one of the windows and it looks like it was made to be there. I should have turned it on for this photo – oops!
Marquee Cloud Light
And… I couldn’t resist this cloud light either! I know, you might think it looks cheap or cheesy, but trust me, it looks awesome in the loft! I have another side table I’m going to refinish and put on the other side of the bed. This cloud light will sit on that table. It’s the perfect piece of whimsey for this room.
Faux Fur Round Chair
I wanted to find a comfortable chair that you could sink into and enjoy reading a book. Something large and encompassing. I found the perfect chair – this white fluffy chair is like sitting in a cloud! The chair is really comfortable and cozy. It’s extra large and extra deep, so you really do feel like you’re sinking into it. It couldn’t be better for this space. And, this chair is positioned next to what we call the ‘porthole window’. We added this window when we built the fort so the boys could use a rope and pulley to raise and lower things into the fort. It’s the only window in the fort without a screen. We made the window small enough so that one of our kids couldn’t fall through it, so that’s why we call it a porthole. It’s fun to open that window and stick your head outside once in a while, so having the chair next to it makes it even more fun.
Sheepskin Rug
This sheepskin rug is like walking on a cloud! And, it’s shape actually sort of looks like a cloud. Right now, the rug is laid out over by the chair, but once we get the bed in place, the rug will be the first thing you step on when you get out of bed in the morning. Ah….. heavenly!
Cloud Pillow
Okay. I admit. I was a bit disappointed when the cloud pillow I ordered arrived. It was much smaller than I envisioned and was also pretty flat. But, it’s cute and it is in the shape of a cloud. I’ll just add more stuffing to make it fluffier and it will work out well. I was originally going to put this pillow on the bed (which will have a fluffy white comforter and pillows on it), but we’ve been using it now in the cloud chair, and I think it’s going to stay there.
Northern Lights Nightlight
My husband bought this night light for me as a Christmas gift. He knows how much I enjoy watching the Northern Lights. This nightlight lights up at night, projecting the aurora borealis onto the ceiling of The Fort. This light makes you feel like the ceiling has disappeared, and that you’re sleeping under the sky. It’s really cool! (Thanks, baby!)
Chinese Lanterns
For added fun, I twisted a string of Chinese lanterns onto the post and railing in the loft. These lights can be turned on to provide a soft glow in this space – nice mood lighting.
From Our Photo Album
This remodel has been such a fun project – something my husband and I both enjoyed. Everyone in our house loves spending time in The Fort, and our boys friends think it’s pretty cool, too. I have no doubt The Fort will continue to be a popular hang-out space for years to come. Here are more photos of The Fort – I hope you enjoy them!
Going Forward…
We have a few more plans for The Fort that we’ll tackle in the Spring.
Floor Insulation – Insulating the floors from under The Fort will be one project we’ll start with. This will really help to keep the temperature of the space warmer in the cold months, and cooler in the warm months.
Deck Awning – We’ll add an awning to the front of The Fort to at least partially shade the deck from the bright sunshine. The vintage deck bench will also need to be refinished. The deck is a nice place to sit and relax when playing volleyball or other activities in the yard.
Paint the Loft – I want to make the loft a bright space, so will paint the walls white. I’m also thinking about painting a very faint cloud mural on the headboard wall. We’ll see how ambitious I feel in the Spring.
Clear Coat the Second Level – The second level wood walls will be clear coated with a matte finish. This will keep the wood look, but make the walls more durable.
Main Level Ceiling – Right now, the ceiling on the main level is open, exposed beams from the floor joists above. I love the exposed beams, but am considering painting the underlayment portion of the ceiling with matte black paint. Having a black ceiling (with exposed raw wood beams) will make the ceiling appear much higher. If I do this, I’ll also add tiny dots of glow-in-the-dark paint to make the ceiling look like a starry night at night (invisible by day).
Loft Bedframe and Headboard – I’m looking forward to designing the bed frame and headboard for the loft bed! This will be a fun project.
Wall Decor – I have more vintage frames that I’ve already painted black. I’ll use these frames for a few more photos I want to add, as well as for a couple of mirrors. I’ll also make at least one more sign and frame it. And who knows what other fun things I find to display on the walls!
Fun and Games – I’m currently working on a custom chess set to keep out in The Fort. I don’t want to spoil the surprise, but let’s just say – it’s going to be a really unique chess set and will be a perfect addition to the space. I’m also working on creating a custom deck of playing cards to keep out there. The cards will be unique to our family and will be made in black, white, and orange.
The Comforts of Home – We have a mini-refrigerator that we’ll move out to the second level of The Fort in the Spring. This will be nice for keeping cold beverages handy when we’re out working or playing in the yard. And, because it can get very hot here in the Summer, we’ll also be adding a small portable air conditioner to help keep things cool and comfortable. We also have a regular-size portable toilet and self-contained sink that can be used on the loft, surrounded by a three-panel room divider for privacy. This will make it more convenient for people who stay overnight in The Fort.
Potential Future Project – I would absolutely love to add a skylight (or two) to the roof of The Fort – one over the loft and one over the second level. Even though there are plenty of windows already, having skylights would create even more light and make it fun to watch the sky at night.
… I’m sure we’ll come up with other fun things for The Fort as the year progresses.
Thanks for following our project. We’d love to hear from you – leave a comment below!
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