Tag: australian nursery ideas

Australian nursery ideas: with Vivid Wall Decals

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date April 30, 2015
2 Comments on Australian nursery ideas: with Vivid Wall Decals

With a background in print design and production, it took the process of redecorating her daughter’s bedroom for Nicole Neeves to realise there was a gap in the market that she could definitely fill!

“I was struggling to find quality wall decals here in Australia; there were the usual packs of mass-produced printed wall stickers imported from overseas, but I’d tried them in my eldest daughter’s nursery and they continually peeled off and I didn’t like the shiny sticker look either. I wanted something which would appear as if painted on the wall and would actually stay there until I wanted to remove it.”

With graphic design skills from her previous career and a love of everything interiors, Nicole decided to take matters into her own hands, starting Vivid Wall Decals and making affordable, custom-made, removable decals.

Nicole’s most popular designs are her geometric shapes, perfect for a nursery, or in fact, any room! “Being made from removable vinyl, they’re the perfect wall decor item to either bring some colour into the room or use as faux wallpaper. Meaningful quotes from your favourite childhood stories also make a beautiful statement in a nursery, which can be easily removed when you want to update to a big kid room. And being made from materials specifically manufactured for indoor walls, they’re the perfect solution for renters as they remove cleanly with no damage to walls.”

As well as designing geometric shapes and quotes, a lot of her decals are brought about by customer demand. Meaning if you have an idea, there’s a good chance Nicole could bring it to life. “Lots of our designs are brought about from customer demand and making sure we have designs available which will work with all the beautiful decor items currently so popular for kids rooms. We also work closely with children’s interior designers in creating the exact look they’ve got planned for their clients’ designs, so we help them produce the decals to bring that idea to life.”

Recommending removable wall decals as an affordable and on trend way to style a nursery, Nicole also highlights funky book ledges, storage that can be opened with one-hand (“You’ll never realise how important it is to have things within easy reach until you have to try and do everything one-handed whilst carrying a baby!”) and furniture that can grow with your child. “Just because you’re decorating a nursery, doesn’t mean you have to stick to baby items and furniture. Look for items you can use as they grow. Repurpose a sturdy set of drawers – get your DIY on with a bit of paint, new handles and it’s a completely new item just for your new addition!”

Shop online.

Tags Australian kids room ideas, australian kids rooms, australian nursery ideas, interiors, kids room, kids rooms, nurseries, nursery, vivid wall decals, wall decals, wall stickers

Designers Furniture Homewares

Australian nursery ideas: Homely Creatures

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date March 25, 2015
No Comments on Australian nursery ideas: Homely Creatures

With a style that is: “contemporary but not cold, handmade but not old, Scandinavian inspired but with a language of its own,” Homely Creatures offer a range of cute products for nurseries and kids rooms.

Supporting handmade and fair trade without compromising on style, owner Emma Patterson designs everything herself, down to the very last detail. “It all starts with an idea that comes from nowhere or from a trend or from a hunch. Then I form the idea in my head, before creating a ‘spec’ for the product and often a physical sample too. It doesn’t take me long to get the idea out of my head once it has been formed. If I need to force it then most of the time the product fails to launch or doesn’t do very well if it does!”

Having worked as a product and graphic designer, Emma has a lot of experience when it comes to designing beautiful wares for the young, or young at heart! With a love of everything monochrome, pastel and textural, all her products fit perfectly into her dream (and on-trend) nursery. “I dream of a nursery with greys, off-whites, dusty pastels and lots of lovely soft textures. Thin black and white stripes here and there with light timber furniture and toys. Little personal details on shelves, and black triangle decals all in a row. Big windows for lots of sunshine and hanging plants, plus the perfect vintage or cane rocking chair.”

However, when it comes to turning her dream nursery into reality, Emma is quick to comment that it doesn’t have to be too costly. “Big ticket items like the cot and furniture can be bought from eBay or you can even head to Ikea for these. You could try your hand at making a teepee or cubby yourself, and once these key large items are in it won’t be hard to add final touches such as cushions, wall hangings and other decor without breaking the bank — especially if you have some treasured items saved from your own childhood.”

Shop online.

Tags australian nursery ideas, design, Emma Patterson, Homely Creatures, interiors, nursery, nursery decor, nursery design, nursery furniture, nursery ideas

Bedrooms Designers Interviews Kids Rooms

Australian nursery ideas: with Sunday Collector

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date March 9, 2015
No Comments on Australian nursery ideas: with Sunday Collector

Recently, we spoke to Briar Stanley, the blogger and interior decorator behind Sunday Collector. As a specialist in creating gorgeous rooms — especially for little people — we thought she would be the perfect person to share some tips on designing your nursery.

“Decide on the piece you want to splurge on (maybe the cot that converts into a toddler bed) and then don’t be afraid to mix vintage pieces with new. Have fun trawling op shops for a day or check out Gumtree for cute timber bookshelves or change tables. Update these pieces with a coat of paint and you will end up with an original nursery that has loads of character. Places like IKEA, Cotton On and Target are also your friend when it comes to nurseries — mix in a few pieces from affordable shops here and there for a truly unique space.”

Briar also puts a lot of emphasis on the colour palette, recommending colour over its monochrome counterpart. “I’ve seen lots of black and white rooms lately, but I am happy to see colour is making a big comeback. I like the idea of kids growing up around the innocence of ‘happy’ colours. Cool painted wall murals are proving pretty popular, as is cute wallpaper.”

Alongside a beautiful looking room, for Briar functionality is also of the utmost importance. “A change table with handy storage close by for nappies and wipes is a good idea. You want to be prepared in those early months with a newborn. Sleep deprivation can make the simplest task (like finding a nappy in the middle of the night) impossible! Also, a dimmer for the ceiling light is always handy. You need to be able to see your hands without bright overhead lighting that may stimulate your baby from slumber.”

Having designed an array of nurseries, Briar can’t help but admit her favourite was her daughter, Sunday’s. “It was a true labour of love and a slow process of pulling together a space I imagined my daughter would like while I was pregnant. As luck would have it, I pretty much imagined her toddler personality (cheeky, funny, bold, artistic) perfectly. As a nearly three-year old, it’s a space she loves to play in and she’s always telling our visitors to, ‘Come see my room, now!'”

With Sunday now a toddler, Briar recently transitioned the nursery into a kids room, a process that wasn’t time-consuming or expensive! “If you’re like me with my daughter, transforming your nursery into a kids room could be as easy as replacing the cot with an appropriate toddler bed and some fresh bed linen. I also added a second bookshelf to deal with a huge over-supply of books, and updated a few things on her walls. I’ll often find a client has applied a nursery-themed wall decal before I’ve come on on the scene, so removing that and replacing it with some great art is a really easy way to update a nursery.”

For more information.

Tags australian nursery ideas, blogger, briar stanley, decorating nurseries, decoration, design, interior, interior decoration, interior decorator, kids rooms, nurseries, nursery, nursery ideas, styling, sunday collector

Bedrooms Designers Furniture Homewares Interviews Kids Rooms

Sisters collaborating on nursery furniture across the globe

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date March 5, 2015
No Comments on Sisters collaborating on nursery furniture across the globe

Desperate for a modern and stylish nursing chair for her newborn son, Chloe Brookman, along with her sister Olivia, decided to design one themselves. Made locally in England — where they both lived at the time — friends immediately started requesting one of their own, and so furniture business Olli Ella was born.

As soon as their nursery chairs hit the market, the whirlwind began, with them being stocked in Harrods within a matter of months! From there, they expanded into nursery furniture, baby bedding, rugs and much more, under the philosophy that just because something is made for a nursery, it needn’t look out-of-place elsewhere.

“We design pieces for your home with your growing family in mind,” explains Chloe. “We believe that our products should first and foremost be ethically produced, and secondly, able to work in any room in the home.”

With their products stocked globally, the team is also international, with Chloe now living in Sydney, and Olivia back in London. But that doesn’t mean they’re both not 100% involved, with the sisters Skyping each other daily and collaborating on all their designs.

“Olivia and I design all of our products with the exception of some of our wall art,” says Chloe. “We work in a collaborative way, we usually start with a conversation, which is followed by a moodboard and then a lot of sketches back and forth until we have our concept ready. We then go into the sample phase, which can take anywhere from one-to-four months and then, once all has been signed off on, we roll out the new product or collection.”

Growing up in typical traditional English nurseries, it was important to the duo that their products wouldn’t be anything like that! “Olli Ella’s style is playful yet sophisticated, with a decidedly global influence,” explains Chloe. “Our products are inspired by our adventures and our love of our homes; we are homebodies yet adventurers, mothers and designers. We hope that this is translated through our collection.”

With a dream nursery that is: “Full of love, uncluttered but lived in, handmade and vintage mixed with fresh and modern,” the sisters have many tips: “I think styling a nursery on a budget often brings about our favourite rooms because each element is so well thought out,” says Chloe. “Tips for styling on a budget are to go to flea markets — you can get so many amazing accessories such as toys, throws, pillows, mobiles — you name it. Welcome hand-me-downs on the big things like cots, changers and nursing chairs, that way you have extra wiggle room for other things. And remember, the nursery is a work in progress; your little one will be growing and changing and so the nursery can constantly be added to and changed, to reflect their personality and the love you have for them.”

Shop online.

Tags australian nursery ideas, baby bedding, Chloe and Olivia Brookman, Chloe Brookman, cots, decorating nurseries, design, harrods, homewares, interiors, nurseries, nursery, nursery furniture, nursing chairs, Olivia Brookman, olli ella, rugs

Bedrooms Interviews Kids Rooms

Australian kids room ideas: with Little Dwellings

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date March 4, 2015
No Comments on Australian kids room ideas: with Little Dwellings

Having designed her own home and helped her friends do the same; Kate Sparks found out very quickly that she had a passion for interior design.

An early childhood teacher and a mother herself, it seemed like a match made in heaven to begin her business Little Dwellings, a styling service primarily for children’s spaces.

With a range of styling packages from eBoard designs to full room instals, her most popular service is in-house styling, where she visits clients’ homes and goes through which products would best suit their space. And while Kate has now transitioned to also styling adults’ spaces, she will always have a soft spot for decorating nurseries and kids’ rooms.

“They are so much fun. Older kids can have an input as to what they want, whereas designing a nursery is so exciting as you watch the room come together and become a reality for the parents.”

When decorating a room for your little one, Kate has many tips: “When decorating on a budget, I’d recommend a lick of paint, DIY, and being minimalistic. Then change the bedding, update prints and gradually introduce more age appropriate accessories. In terms of budget friendly, on trend pieces, think wall decals or wallpaper, funky beds and linen, storage baskets (felt and wire), rugs and prints.”

While Kate’s personal style has a strong Scandinavian edge, she always puts her client’s taste first. “My house is very Scandinavian influenced, however Little Dwellings aims to provide a service that meets the needs and wants of each individual client. But in saying this, we always aims to be on trend.”

For more information.

Tags Australian kids room ideas, australian nursery ideas, bedroom design, bedrooms, design, interiors, kate sparks, kids bedrooms, kids rooms, kids spaces, Little Dwellings, nurseries, nursery

Furniture Homewares Interviews Kids Rooms

Australian nursery ideas: with Rockferry

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date February 26, 2015
No Comments on Australian nursery ideas: with Rockferry

Nurseries have come along way from the baby pink and powder blue rooms of the past. Now they are much more pared back and mature; think gorgeous pastels, metallics, monochrome, timber and concrete pieces. But how do you make sure your child’s room meets these trends us grown ups love the look of, but is still fun and kid-like? After all, the room is for a baby!

“A room that mum, dad and baby all love spending time in would be the perfect nursery to me,” explains Annabelle Adams, founder of Rockferry. “Our brands we stock could transition easily between little girls or little boys rooms — and even be moved into the adult rooms of the house. Our aesthetic is the perfect mix of quirky and classic pieces that are still full of personality.”

Stocking homewares for all ages by Australian and New Zealand designers, at the core of Rockferry is slow design, buying local and moving away from cheaply made, imported products. With a particular interest in supplying goodies for babies and kids, their homewares fit perfectly into current trends.

“Absolutely the trend is a move away from a typical kids room towards a pared back, monochrome or Scandinavian style with pops of colour, bold and often quirky prints and patterns, and clever storage options. Rockferry is focused on adding those accessories that complement a monochrome or Scandinavian base and bring the personality of the room to life.”

When it comes to Annabelle’s dream nursery, she would add personality to the space through gorgeous linens, soft furnishings, storage, lighting and art. And while that may sound like a lot of (expensive) stuff, she has lots of tips on how you can save some cash.

“Be creative! For low-cost art, frame up cute greeting cards or tea towels and display them in a group. For storage, buy some that looks great and you will tick two boxes — points of interest in the room and functionality — meaning you can spend less on purely decorative items. And re-organise often, change up soft furnishings and the position of display items to give the room a fresh look without having to spend a penny!”

However, if you’re a bit stuck on styling, Rockferry offer a free styling service for customers who are unsure on how to fill a particular space. Proving very popular, Annabelle is also in the process of developing a paid service for more detailed requests, where she’ll create full mood boards and recommend both Rockferry and other products. Watch this space!

Shop online.

Photography by Armelle Habib | Styling by Aimee Tarulli

Tags australian nursery ideas, decorating kids rooms, decorating nurseries, design, homewares, interiors, kids rooms, kids rooms ideas, nurseries, nursery, rockferry

Interviews Kids Rooms Styling

Australian nursery ideas: with Little Liberty

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date February 23, 2015
No Comments on Australian nursery ideas: with Little Liberty

Originally an occupational therapist, it took having children for Nicole Rosenberg to start obsessing over interiors. “Once I had children, I started becoming infatuated with how my children’s rooms looked and perfected the art of creating a space for each individual child’s personality — they were very varied! A few friends of mine asked if I could do their children’s rooms after seeing what I had created for my own and then it was like a snowball effect!”

Starting up her own interior decorating company, Little Liberty, Nicole specialises in transforming rooms for kids of all ages. With a distinct style that is “modern, fresh and fun with a Scandinavian twist,” we particularly love her nurseries that are both on trend and gender neutral. “The black and white scandi trend is often used for both boys and girls. But at the same time people are really steering away from the more traditional colours such as pink and blue. Yellow is a hot colour for boys and peach is big for girls! The copper trend is also huge at the moment as is light wood kids furniture, which gives the room an instant contemporary feel.”

With a variety of decorating and styling services available, including on site full service consultations, e-design and a baby room registry, Nicole knows a few tricks of the trade when it comes to styling a nursery on a budget. “Places like H&M Home, Cotton on KIDS and even K-mart and Target are great places to hunt for cheap room products. Also, scouring the internet for cheaper furniture and soft furnishings can be a great way to save money.”

While all nurseries differ, Nicole believes every nursery must have five specific products and the rest is up to personal taste. “My must-buys are a cot, change table, book stand, rug and artwork.” And while they take up the bulk of Nicole’s dream nursery, what else would it include? “I really love Scandinavian rooms so it would have to be filled with greys, white, hints of black and copper!”

For more on Nicole visit her website.

Tags australian nursery ideas, decorating, decorating kids rooms, decorating nurseries, kids room, kids rooms ideas, Little Liberty, Nicole Rosenberg, nursery, nursery ideas, nuseries

Homewares Interviews Kids Rooms

Australian nursery ideas: with La De Dah Kids

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date February 2, 2015
No Comments on Australian nursery ideas: with La De Dah Kids

When her son was born with skin allergies, Rebecca Meyer realised how hard it was to find well-designed cotton toys without synthetic yarn. Sparking an idea, she decided to begin La De Dah Kids, an affordable and high quality lifestyle brand, with a penchant for crochet!

“I love everything about crochet as a medium,” says Rebecca. “The colour, texture, strength and practicality. Sometimes when you are limited to one medium the options to be creative are endless. I also love that it is an old traditional craft that can be re-invented time and time again.”

With the majority of La De Dah Kids’ homewares and toys being made from crochet, all their designs are quirky and unusual, and handmade ethically by a team of 180 passionate women in China.

With a style that is a mishmash of everything (there’s a little Scandinavian in there and a little retro!), their products are a perfect addition to any nursery or kids room. They are also ideal for those on a tight budget, with their toys, storage baskets and floor rugs perfect for parents wanting to decorate beautifully without breaking the bank. “You don’t need a huge budget to make an amazing nursery,” explains Rebecca. “Some of my tips are using toys and books as decorative art on open shelves to make a feature. You also don’t need to fill a nursery with bulky storage items; you can use great storage baskets for all the bits and bobs. This way it makes items portable and keeps things organised and practical. Furthermore, I would recommend buying a floor rug that is practical and can grow with your baby.”

Other tips Rebecca has for decorating on a budget include using paint to create a feature wall, repurposing and painting old furniture and investing only in pieces that will last and grow with your child. “Choose items that your child can grow with. Don’t just search kids sections; there are some great adult homewares that look lovely in kids rooms too. Have fun this really can be a fun project! And if your child is old enough include them in the process.”

With La De Dah Kids having just launched their latest collection, all their products perfectly suit the current trends of black and white and pastel nurseries. “This year’s go-to colour combo for a baby’s room is black and white. The classic, back-to-basics colours makes a great unisex base that you can then add pops of colour to as your child grows. Also these years the must have for any little girls room is a soft pastel palette. Think Gelato ice cream of all shades.”

Shop online.

Photography by Eve Wilson | Styling by Paige Anderson

Tags australian nursery ideas, crochet, crochet toys, decorating nurseries, kids rooms, la de dah kids, nurseries, nursery, rebecca meyer

Kids Rooms Styling

Australian nursery ideas: with The Affordable Style Files

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date January 29, 2015
No Comments on Australian nursery ideas: with The Affordable Style Files

With her lifestyle blog and styling business of the same name, The Affordable Style Files, Hong Henwood is passionate about making beautiful interiors a reality for everyone, no matter the budget.

“I started The Affordable Style Files because I wanted to show people that you can style your home on any budget,” explains Hong. “I use both affordable and secondhand pieces, as well as some designer products, to create looks that make your house a home in accordance with your taste. I love mixing vintage with modern.”

Providing an e-design service, interior styling for the home and styling products for small businesses, mother of two Hong has her children Charlie and Miya to thank for getting her into interior design. “After living in Tokyo, working in a corporate job and working long hours, I decided that it wasn’t for me. I had a baby and things changed! I wanted to do something that would let me stay at home, explore my creative side and also allow me to spend time with my baby. So I decided on interior design and decoration.”

Since then, Hong has gone on to style many gorgeous rooms, but it is her nurseries in particular that have caught our eye. With a style that is a mix of: “Vintage, modern, splashes of Ikea and products that are timeless and never date,” she creates one-of-a-kind baby rooms at affordable prices. Which of course, we love!

So what are Hong’s tips for nursery styling on a budget? “Mixing secondhand pieces that you can paint and make look new again are great for nurseries. Annie Sloan Chalk Paint is perfect for these types of projects. I just love a good DIY! I find Ikea have great shelving that is affordable and can make a room stand out. And online marketplaces like Etsy are also a good source for finding little pieces such as cushions, garlands, prints, soft toys and blankets for your little one.”

However, according to Hong, some things are worth splurging on, especially items that will grow with your child like a beautiful lamp, armchair or painting. “I think it’s important that your nursery should be able to be changed into a toddler room without too much fuss and expense.”

With the current nursery trends seeing a strong Nordic influence, alongside pastel colours and modern additions like Miffy lamps, stylish linen and string and floating shelving, Hong’s dream nursery is a mix of this and a little bit of The Affordable Style Files quirk! “I love nurseries to be bright, quirky and most importantly, a space that everything can be used and is comfortable! I would have an amazing armchair, beautiful vintage cot, gorgeous prints and lots of bright pieces. And a colourful armoire filled with beautiful blankets, toys and clothes.”

For more information.

Tags australian nursery ideas, design, hong henwood, interiors, kids rooms, nurseries, nursery, nursery design, nursery ideas, nursery inspiration, nursery interiors, The Affordable Style Files

Bedrooms Homewares Kids Rooms

Australian nursery ideas: with Bramwell Designs

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date January 6, 2015
3 Comments on Australian nursery ideas: with Bramwell Designs

It was only a matter of time before I started posting more about nursery decor since being pregnant. Don’t say I didn’t warn you! Today, I’m kicking off a new weekly feature on nursery ideas and products from all-Aussie brands. There are so many out there, I couldn’t believe it. I’ve also come to realise that a nursery is one of the most fun rooms you’ll ever decorate. Not to mention how exciting it is, coupled with the anticipation of the arrival of your baby, especially if it’s your first. So, introducing startup Bramwell Designs, who are making a name for themselves with their organic and stylish baby and kid’s room linen.

[contextly_sidebar id=”7MCPl0IZrebdcsb0nnJxN3MbPmbYf1wC”]”Everything is created in our studio by the sea on the Sunshine Coast,” says founder Emma Bramwell, who was inspired to start the business after becoming a mum to two little boys. “My designs are inspired by my childhood and the children in my life; how their little faces brighten up to the most simple things and their appreciation for their natural surroundings. We all need to remind ourselves to simplify our lives, appreciate the little things and take time to play and have some fun.”

Bramwell Designs use soft, luxurious organic cotton for the bedding and organic canvas for the accessories. Many items are one-offs, however if clients love something they have seen, they’re happy to work on custom design bedding for them.

She adds: “We are a young company growing steadily, but enjoying the ride and not taking anything too seriously. The journey is better than the destination, that’s for sure.”

As a mum, designer and business owner, Emma is super busy. “I try my best to be super organised and allocate time for my designs and custom bedding orders, and when I’m with my boys, I’m 100% devoted to them. My bedding collection is an extension of them, being free spirits, having fun on the journey and taking some risks. My passion for business and design drives me to continue and always will.”

Trademark touches of fun fluro feature throughout the range and probably always will, according to Emma! Bassinet sheets cost from $40, pillowcases from $45 and cot doona covers from $130.

Emma’s latest product is a fun kindy sheet set, with the option of hand printed name badges. But there are plenty of new and exciting things planned for this year so watch this space! If you’re a grown up who loves these designs, don’t worry, they go up to king size in some cases! And they cater for kids of all ages too, not just babies.

Shop online.

See all our kid’s room posts.

Styling by Simone Barter | Photography by Elisabeth Harvey