Disney themed Den idea I'm working on..

[Learic]

I've recently moved into a house and would now like to start decorating it. So far I've figured out that I want my den to be themed around DisneyWorld's Animal Kingdom Lodge. Has anyone else attempted this and successfully re-created an atmosphere that sort of takes you away from home and puts you back into an area of Disney? Pictures would be great for ideas. So far I found an area rug that might suit the theme but not much else. I don't want it to be too much "safari/africa" because I want the hint of Disney's Animal Kingdom. If I go too strong with the Africa accents people may not realize that it's Disneytized. The Den entrance has two wooden panel doors that fold so I figured I would create some of those african shields that disney has on the room doors and put those up to help with the Disney experience! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated as it is a work in progress and a collection of ideas to try and capture some of that Disney Animal Kingdom feel!

 

[janette]

My fireplace area is Africa / Animal Kingdom. Some of the things I have are a framed & matted print of the Tree of Life, a couple of large wood animals from Africa (it helps to have a niece living there). Some vases, Lion King snowglobes, Jungle Book Snowglobe, water fountains (one is the Tree of Life). I also have some Lion King ornaments & pins that I'm still working on a place for. Really not done yet but do like the items I have.

Check www.disneydirect.com , they have some Lion King things that are made more like the Broadway / African version. I have only the ornaments but the detail is much better than even shown on the screen, they aren't flat but a 3d type. I just have to work out how to display them now since I'd planned to put them against the wall.

 

[tcb2317]

One of my bathrooms is "Adventureland" themed. The shower curtain, toothbrush holder, and lotion dispenser are leopard print. Tiki style glasses hold other items (Qtips-etc.). Over the toilet is an 11x17 framed & matted Jungle Cruise litho. On a shelf under the print are Masai tribe wooden figurines (for xmas they even wore mini Mickey & Goofy Santa hats) and a votive candle holder from one of the shops. Under that shelf is a beautiful wooden carved Skull tribal mask bought at the Adventurer's Club when they sold merchandise. On another wall is a wooden tribal mask from Fiji (not exactly Disney, but I did get it on one of my journeys in CA to visit Disneyland ). Also have assorted other Jungle/tiki style pics & accessories.

 

[goofymom/pop]

While I understand your wanting to watch it doesnt get too African you may have a hard time I know I would....here are some ideas to make it disney like.

1: Add some hidden mickeys ....like cutting wooden mickey heads stained dark, add a post to the back and mounted next to any windows to be used as curtain tie backs....you sort of sling your curtain sideways over the mickey..gosh I hope this makes sense.

2. Add furniture that is chunky and dark. Remember the inexpensive couches and chairs everyone had in the early 80s that were totally wood with cushions. Look at local flea markets/ estate sales etc...for pieces and recover with bright colored batik looking prints.

3. Make a no sew fleece throw to match your room and furniture and have a mickey head embroidered in the corner.

4.Add pictures of the lodge/matted/framed around the room. Include family members in the pix so they have some homey feel.

5. Toss a safari Mic in the corner somewhere he is adorable

6. Sew a pillow in the mickey head shape to match your room, say green, brown, tan and toss them in the corners of furniture or on the floor as tv pillows.

7. Use Sticks for your curtain rods and make/buy tab curtains in a cool print to hang over them.

Well hope these get you started.....will post more as I think of them

have fun!!!

 

[goofymom/pop]

forgot part of the tab curtain one.....add felt mickey heads to everyother tab on the curtains in a matching color to keep them subtle but non the less visible if your looking.

 

[goofymom/pop]

Here is another one i thought of. Its something I have been dying to try but never had the room to do it in. Mind you this would take some time.

Print out on regular heavy duty computer paper pictures of your family at the AK or AK Lodge. Chalk a line around the room chair rail height (or wherever you choose) Cut your pics this way and that and place them inside the chalked off area to make a photo border using wall paper paste. You can choose full color, sepia or black and white (add color with transparent paint pens after border dries). If you like you could trim top and bottom of this in a rustic wood trim. I think this would be an awesome border and wow what a conversation piece.

If I were doing this I would practice first on a piece of drywall or small section of wall. And I would also put it at a height that would lesson the amount of space to cover (IE an area that would run through the windows/doors in room.)

I am having fun just thinking of ideas for you.

The lodge had lots of very heavy rocking chairs, rocks, wood floors, awesome lights that looking rather twiggy (check World Market, Pottery Barn and Pier I) Deep colors were on the walls, but bright colors on the furniture. Well hope this helps and keep us posted I can't wait to hear how it goes.

 

[jennz]

Wow goofymom/pop - what awesome ideas! I especially love the border idea...you are sooooooo creative! I'm trying to think of someplace in our house to it.

 

[ksjayhawks]

goofymom/pop

Those are great ideas--not just for her room, but several can be incorporated into any family room, rec room, etc.

Here's another (this came from an earlier thread on making a mickey head wreath for xmas)

Use grapevine wreaths to make a mckey head wreath for the room. Decorate with green vines and mini lights. The sizes of wreaths that you would use would depend on how big you want it and where you would display it. You could probably find some small animal/safari type things to put on it as well.

We need to see pics when this is done!!

 

[goofymom/pop]

I certainly hope she can use some of the ideas. Its easy to think of things for someone else, but when its your own room.....empty grey matter up top if you know what I mean...

 

[Learic]

Thanks for all of the awesome ideas and I'll sure put alot of them to work! I just ordered some things to help with the decorations of the room! I'll take pictures of them as soon as I get the items in! Keep the ideas coming cause they are all great and I will definitely put them to good use!

 

[jennz]

I'm going to use some of these ideas to decorate our hobby room (a spare bedroom)...

 

[MommyBoo!]

I've seen this animal kingdom clock listed on ebay a lot.

Animal Kingdom Clock

or a photo frame:

Frame

There are other frames and figurines. Also, you could frame some pins or postcards from the park.

 

[MrsCinderella]

I'd love to see some pictures

 

[piratesmate]

I don't know how I missed this thread before! What a cool idea!

If you're looking to purchase decorative items, there is an awesome store near us called Ten Thousand Villages. You have to dig around their site, but you might get some ideas by looking here. http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/ DS loves giraffes & we'd gotten him a wooden carving of 2 giraffes with their necks entwined - very cool!

What about making/painting lampshades on the order of the ones in the lobby? You can get plain fabirc shades & then paint with acrylic paints. Draw shields on them & then fill in. (I love the idea of putting shields on the folding doors BTW!)

We like the BBC version of Trading Spaces. It's the original & called Changing Rooms. If you get BBC America you might want to check it out some time. They've done rooms several times that have that flavor - well, not the Disney version but you could modify aspects of it.

One thing that comes to mind was a gorgeous round mirror they did. They mounted the glass on a disk that had about a 3" rim around it & hot glued dowels cut it various sizes around the mirror. Does that make sense? You could either stain it or leave it natural. I think the designer may have been going for a sunburst look, but DH & I both thought AKL when we saw it.

Pictures would be great for ideas.

Did you mean to use on the walls, or pix of AKL to use for ideas? I've found some photo galleries online that have great collections of AKL pix. Here are a couple:
http://www.magictrips.com/resorts/photos/aklodge.shtml
http://www.disneypix.com/Resorts/AKLodge/Resort-AKLodge.htm

 

[Learic]

I don't know how I missed this thread before! What a cool idea!

Did you mean to use on the walls, or pix of AKL to use for ideas? I've found some photo galleries online that have great collections of AKL pix. Here are a couple:
http://www.magictrips.com/resorts/photos/aklodge.shtml
http://www.disneypix.com/Resorts/AKLodge/Resort-AKLodge.htm

Thanks for those links! They give a little more than the ones I was trying to use! I received some of the items I ordered to use in the room so hopefully this week I'll be able to take some pictures of each of them and post them here! I haven't figured out the layout yet that I'm going to use because I will have a BIG SCREEN TV in the room and a fireplace but it looks like it will all come together! Thanks for the great ideas in these replies everyone and keep the ideas coming as it will be a work in progress!

 

[Learic]

A couple of other crafting ideas I have that I will be working on are the following.

Below is a link to the Animal Kingdom lodge signage that I'm going to rec-create on a floormat that will be placed before the entrance to my den.

http://www.themeparks.com/library-06/wdw/lodge/lodge005.htm

The den also has dark wood-stained folding panel doors at the entrance that I keep closed when I'm inside. Because of this, I'm going to take advantage of another item I saw that is a shield. I can place these on the door panels so when they are closed, people can see the shields and the doormat before entering! I found a picture of the shield at the same site I found the signage and the direct link to the shield is below! These items I will be crafting myself from these photos for my own private use so wish me luck!

http://www.themeparks.com/library-06/wdw/lodge/akl-inside14.htm

 

[piratesmate]

I sent you an email with a link to pix of the giraffe statues, but I was having trouble with the site. I don't know whether it's down or they removed the pix.

I could still see it at: http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/photos/product/41/4140100W0.jpg

And the elephant table I mentioned is at:
http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/photos/product/12/1210240W0.jpg

 

[piratesmate]

I missed your reply on this page when I responded earlier. Are you going to hook a rug with the AKL logo? I never would have thought of that! How interesting!

I'd be interested in hearing how you plan to do the shield. That sounds so cool!

I thought of another project that shouldn't be too hard if you're interested. Do you remember the lights at Boma?

We made a light to hang over our table out of a tin punch candle blind last year. You either use a large can (food service size) or see if there's a candle thing you like. The bottom would just be stringing amber/orange beads on wired & attaching around the lower rim. I love this idea. I may have to do one for myself!

 

[MerryPoppins]

I liked the idea for the mirror with pieces of dowels around the outside. Just thought I'd add that small pieces of bamboo could be used instead. Might be an interesting look.

 

[Disney Ontario]

Hi All good ideas. I am trying to design my scrapbooking room into a Disney theme. My first buy yesterday was a red fleece 50" by 60" blanket, might add black fringe to. I want to now hit Home Depot and get thier Disney colour swatches. I will take them and place on a mat and frame to match the room. Whats next is my question. I know I realy need a "Clean Sweep"first.