When I was a child and my parents took us to open houses for fun, my sister and I always claimed the most intriguing room as “ours”: the one with the secret compartment, the room with the largest windows, the space with an odd nook that begged to be explored. If my sister and I toured Kristin’s home, I’m certain the attic she converted into a bedroom for her daughter Ella would win hands down. That attic, transformed with care and imagination, becomes a magical treetop retreat that would instantly spark competing “dibs.” Below is Kristin’s account of the renovation and the small, memorable discoveries that came with it.

Hi everyone! I’ve been debating which project to submit, and I finally chose our daughter Ella’s bedroom. There are a few reasons: a) the story involves dead pigeons — and what renovation story doesn’t have a strange little twist? b) it isn’t about the kitchen — our kitchen still needs work — and c) you seem to appreciate a child’s room designed for play, creativity, and adaptability. Here’s our story.

When we first saw the house, the mansard roof and the attic space immediately drew us in. The brick walls and wood showed signs of wear, and we discovered pigeon remains and water damage, but we could envision what the space could become. We imagined a bedroom tucked among the rooflines, a treetop room with character — and we were sold.

Demolition began. We removed rotted pine flooring and salvaged a single intact wall of tongue-and-groove pine. That reclaimed wall became a defining element of the room, adding warmth and texture and serving as a backdrop for play and display.

To maximize storage and conceal mechanicals, we designed built-in wardrobes. These were fabricated by a local millwork shop and installed to hide the ductwork that serves both the attic level and the floor below. With the structural essentials addressed, we covered exposed rafters and installed beadboard between them, creating a cozy, cohesive ceiling and enhancing the attic’s cottage-like atmosphere.

One of my favorite outcomes was how the old pine boards, placed on the front wall, became an ever-changing canvas for Ella. That wall functions as an activity and display area where art, maps, and small collections can be rotated in and out. The texture of the boards brings a tactile, lived-in quality to the room that paint alone couldn’t achieve.

There’s a dormer window in the room that frames views across the neighborhood, including the distant silhouette of the Gateway Arch and summer fireworks that look like icing on the cake during warm evenings. The dormer fills the space with light and provides a perfect reading nook or a place to watch the sky.

It’s worth noting the mansard roof itself was rebuilt — largely by my husband while I was pregnant and subsequently tending to a newborn. The mansard is integral to Ella’s room and, while it was an expensive necessity (slate and copper are not cheap), it created the unique roofline and the headroom that make the attic feel like a true bedroom. I joke that Ella has the most expensive nursery on the block, but our own time and labor made it possible.

Throughout the process we focused on function and flexibility: built-in storage to keep toys and clothes organized, a display wall to encourage creativity, and thoughtful finishes that make the space feel special without being precious. The result is a child’s room that supports play, adapts as she grows, and celebrates the history of the house through reclaimed materials.

For those who want to see more photos and read the full before-and-after details, Kristin shared her complete makeover on her blog with additional images and commentary. It’s a lovely documentation of both the challenges and the joys involved in turning a neglected attic into a bright, imaginative bedroom for a little girl.

Thank you, Kristin, for sharing this project. The attic’s transformation is a reminder that old houses often hide unexpected potential, and that careful restoration paired with creative design can create spaces that feel both personal and playful. Now, who wants to fight me for that attic room?