I am always thinking about creative storage in classrooms, so when I noticed dog bowls at Dollar Tree, I instantly pictured them sitting on desks filled with crayons and other school supplies. That started the wheels turning! I began planning a dreamy dog themed classroom for the next school year!
Well, since I no longer have a classroom, I needed a teacher to let me come in and transform their room. I didn’t want all of my supplies, baskets, and décor to go to waste! I had spent several months collecting everything I needed to re-decorate my own classroom.
I chose Diana Chisholm from Myers Elementary in Grand Blanc, MI. Diana was so easy to work with and very agreeable to anything I wanted to do!
When I walked into Diana’s classroom for the first time, I noticed how old and outdated everything looked. Her cabinets were dingy and big chunks of wood were missing from them. She had a hodge podge of old inherited furniture and everything looked TIRED. I started to worry. I knew I only had a few days to transform the space and it needed a complete overhaul. In Diana’s defense, she went out on maternity leave last year and didn’t pack her room. She was also one of the only teachers in the building who didn’t have her cupboards, shelves, and countertops replaced.
My first peek at Diana’s room…
Are you ready for the transformation?
After three LONG days, Diana had the classroom of her dreams!
TA-DA!!!
Make sure you stop by tomorrow night to read my post about the details of this room. See you tomorrow!
Dog Collection Shopping Guide
Schoolgirl Style: Colorful hanging lanterns, pennant banner, nameplates, bones, dog bowls, dog tags, table signs, dog silhouettes, balls, chevron paper, labels, colorful picture frames, chevron alphabet, locker numbers, book basket tags and numbers, CAFÉ sign, and word wall.
E.C. Campbell Photography: E’lisa Campbell form E.C. Campbell Photography took the beautiful photos. Her business is located in Rochester Hills, MI.
Creative Teaching Press: Paw print cut-outs # 1190, paw print border #2034, Dot-to-Dot Uppercase letters #1889, trees #4042, paw print mini cut-outs #5930
Dollar Tree: Dog bowls, black dish pans for storage, desk flowers, journals
Pacon: Black/Turquoise scalloped Bordette, black fadeless bulletin board paper, sky fadeless bulletin board paper
Dollar General: Black utility baskets
Michaels: ribbon
Hobby Lobby: Grass in showcase
*My husband built the doghouse
Sigh….colors and dogs…I am off to shop as this is my whole theme and yet couldn’t find what I needed:) LOVE IT……..PS I have a washer and dryer in mine and 22 computers ……oh and the wall in crumbling….hers looks great compared to mine….but now you have given me ideas…..3 weeks and NOTHING done…now I have ideas thank you……
I have been so inspired with your ideas. After 39 years of teaching it’s great to see and learn new things. Any time you want to do a very small and I mean small classroom I can show you several here in the deserts of Az. You have rejuvinated my sytyle and decor but there is room for so much more!! Thank you for your inspiration
I love the way you placed your creation in a REAL classroom instead of a room in your home. It is so much more realistic and I now I can envision it in my own classroom. GREAT JOB! You have also blessed another teacher in the process. Keep up the good work.
I agree with Barbara! What a great idea! Then the supplies are going to a great use as well! I bet she was thrilled with the transformation! Live how you took a theme like dogs and modernized it!
OH MY GOSH – I love your new collection! Love how the black makes all the other colors pop. What a fun, fresh new theme. Thank you for the inspriation!
I love how you transformed this room. Your talent is so amazing! I love the dog theme!
This is so cute. I love the chevron. I just started teaching 3 year old preschool after being home with my kids for 14 years. You are inspiring me!
This collection rocks! Good job!
Melanie, I am in LOVE. Seriously. This is so cute! I’m a huge dog person and this might be the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.
Sharing on my room setup page… again.
Love this! You did an amazing job! Great job Matt with the dog house, I love it!!
You truly have a God given talent. I am constantly amazed at the work you do and the transformations that you create. Love, love, LOVE, your work!
How lucky is Diana??? What a transformation! I Absolutely love this room! Brianne is right! You truly have a gift!! Thank you for letting us be a part of it!
Love this ideas! Thank you for sharing.
Love this idea! Thank you for sharing.
Melanie
You keep rolling out awesome work. I LOVE it and I’m not even a huge dog fan. It’s simply beautiful.
http://www.missnelsonsgotthecamera.blogspot.com/2012/09/help-giveaway.html
Kuddos to your hubby – what a guy! It looks fabulous. You continually raise your own bar. Not only are the “dog” items adorable, the simple things such as border around the doors, really brighten and pull everything together.
I am in love! This year “Bee Theme” next year, DOGS! My dog is the center of my world… why didn’t I think to do this??
ADORABLE!!!!! If you ever find yourself in Georgia, I would hire you to make my classroom just as cute!!! I tried, but just couldn’t get mine to be as adorable as this!
Jessica
The Polka-dotted Teacher
Cute design! I love the chevron. I was hoping you would design a theme with it. I would love to see you create a cute pig theme/design!
I am LOVING the blue and black borders! I’m not a dog person, but I REALLY like this room. Once again, you did an amazing job Melanie!
Congratulations Melanie! This is a fantastic design! I can’t wait to see your other designs this year! Let the inspiration begin for my classroom next year!
Oh my goodness! This is fabulous! I can’t wait to update my dog themed classroom with so much of your cuteness! I can definitely use the dog silhouettes for my groups….I am currently using clipart that I googled and it’s probably illegal…shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh….I’ll be buying your things shortly! And I love the black, too! My favorite color!!! (I know weird, right?)
Wow!!!! This is amazing!!! I love it and you know I really love dogs. So bright and creative.
Melanie,
I ordered a ton of your owl theme for my third grade classroom and just found out that Im going to kinder! I find that your newest Dog theme is perfect for the little ones and want to decorate my new room with this theme! I found some cute dog bowls already and am ready to move into my new room tomorrow! But I can’t find your dog themed stuff on your shop! Can you put me together a package? PLEASE!!!!!! I would love you forever! 
I am one of your biggest fans
When will the Dog theme items be ready to purchase?
Love it I am totally going to do that
I love this theme, I am totally speechless. You did an amazing job in your classroom. I would love to wake up each day and come to school if I was a student. You have truly inspired me to decorate my room.
I adore your themes!!! I would love it if you came in and revamped my classroom!! I started working on mine this year with colorful polka dots but didn’t get too far with it. I also have 2 classrooms to decorate this year so it made it even more difficult.
You do wonderful work!!!!!
Melanie,
I am already dreaming of next year and starting to trace the dogs on the overhead so I can enlarge them to make a big display. Can you tell me where to find the dog that looks like it is kneeling down to hit the ball. I don’t seem to have him in what I have purchased already. Also, I didn’t see the Chevron ABC’s in the shop. Did I miss them or are they from Creative Teaching Press?!
Thanks,
Shelley
I cannot find the Chevron ABCs in your shop? Already planning for next year!
Thanks,
Laurie
Hi Laurie!
That was on my “to do” list. I will get that done today!
Is the primary accent color in this collection teal, or turquoise? Getting ready to get some border and I’d like to match it up if possible.
Thanks!
Turquoise!
I have been unable to find the large dog silhouettes in your shop. Can you please let me know where to locate them, I would love to be able to purchase them.
Hi Nicole! Here you go! http://shopschoolgirlstyle.com/item_266/Dog-Dayz-5×7-Dog-Silhouettes.htm
I have purchased the dog silhouettes in your shop, but am wondering where I can find the large dog that is lying on his front legs with the tennis ball?
Love the dog theme! Is the Bordette Scalloped border color, Azure? I can’t find an exact turquoise on Pacon.
Yes…it’s azure!
Can you do the chevron letters in cursive? I am thinking of doing a sports theme, but with these colors. These colors are perfect with the brown to tie in football accents. There is a sign that I found on Pinterest that says “Learning is not a spectator sport, so let’s play” (and it’s in these bright colors) that was my inspiration. Your themes are amazing and I have had such a hard time choosing!
Yes, we can do custom orders!