Tag: children

Nursery decor Australia: Eight fabulous finds!

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date October 3, 2019
No Comments on Nursery decor Australia: Eight fabulous finds!

Gone are the days when the options are ugly and few – the baby decor scene just keeps getting better and better. From a Ferm Living animal-themed (but not cheesy!) wallpaper to bargain cot sheets at Target and the latest from Incy Interiors, these are some of our favourite nursery finds.

Incy Interiors Maxwell range: Introduced earlier this year, the gender-neutral Maxwell cot ($999) and change table ($999) are available in both white and walnut finishes. Suckers for a subtle detail, we love the handwoven rattan side panels.

Ferm Living Katie Scott wallpaper: The work of the talented British illustrator Katie Scott, this stunning gender-neutral wallpaper features a menagerie of animals in all their glorious detail. It’s available in toffee and blue. From $195.

Livly night lights: These simple and modern star and heart-shaped lights work as subtle background lights, or bedtime lamps. $199 each.

Sage x Clare: One of our favourite homewares brands, Sage x Clare added a children’s range to their offering recently. Perfect for print-lovers, there’s cot sheets, baby blankets, storage baskets and play mats in the eclectic mix.

cuddle + kind dolls: These gorgeous hand-knitted dolls are not only beautiful but they give back too. For every doll sold, 10 meals are given to children in need and since 2015, the US brand has helped provide over 8 million meals. Available in two sizes, prices start from $79 each.

Pottery Barn Kids storage baskets: You can never have enough storage in a nursery and it’s even better if it’s cute. We love these whimsical rattan options. From $39.

Target bub. fitted cot sheets: We love the gorgeous animal illustrations on these 100 per cent cotton cot sheets. $12 for a pack of two.

Raja homewares: There’s plenty to choose from in this range but we really like the Summertime rattan bassinet ($475) and the Rattan change table ($500) for a splash of the bohemian.

Our top eight good-looking children’s play kitchens | A fun and vibrant children’s room

Tags baby, children, children's design, nursery

Design Kids Rooms Shopping

Kids’ room decor latest: Storage, wallpaper & more!

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date September 12, 2019
2 Comments on Kids’ room decor latest: Storage, wallpaper & more!

It’s been a while since we’ve ventured into the world of children’s interiors but our latest finds are some of our best yet. From rainbow wall hangings made by a talented US-based fibre artist to gorgeous new Aussie-designed jersey fitted cot sheets, these are some of our most coveted kids’ buys.

Go To Bed fitted cot sheets: The creation of talented stylist Magdalene Liacopoulos of The Bebe Style Co., these cot sheets tick all the right boxes. Made from soft cotton jersey fabric in delectable hues, we’ll take one of each please! $49.95.

Marmalade Lion: Stylish Australiana is always a winner in my book and these pieces by boutique Australian brand Marmalade Lion are no exception. The toddler couch cover, $69, comes in an array of stylish prints (perfect for updating your discount store original) and I adore the shelfie-worthy Australian bird nesting dolls too ($59).

Graham & Brown Superstar silver wallpaper: Chosen by Jen for her four-year-old Sebastian’s bedroom, this cleverly unisex wallpaper combines two of our favourite things – metallics and stars! It’s $60 per roll. “After more than two years, I felt it was time to give Seb’s room a refresh but I kept all the timeless furniture pieces (bought with longevity in mind) the same. The wallpaper really changed it visually and he was really excited about it. I feel like the design will last him several years without being too babyish.” She added: “I like to keep the boys’ bedrooms quite calm and neutral as all the mess and colour happens in the playroom at our house! The metallic sheen of the paper adds a bit of depth and interest though and stops it being too safe!”

Want to visualise it (or any of their other designs) in your home? You can use their free app for that!

Graham & Brown wallpaper — Seb’s gorgeous room

Mandi Smethells colourful fibre rainbow: I came across these gorgeous wall hangings on a late-night Instagram session when I should have been sleeping (sigh..) but aren’t they stunning? Available on etsy, they’re the work of US-based fibre artist Mandi Smethells. $296.04 (large)

Kmart: When it comes to storage options, there’s no denying Kmart does a very fine job of producing on-trend options at great prices. Available in blue and grey and pink and grey, this tufted hamper is a steal for $10 and the matching hanging storage, $6, is rather fab too.

Onyx & Smoke personalised velvet santa toy sack: Made from smooth, upholstery grade velvet, I can see these classic sacks becoming family heirlooms. Available in over 30 colours, you can customise them with three embroidered initials (or leave plain) but with orders closing on September 30th you’d better get in quick! $290.

‘SNOO’ Smart Baby Sleeper by Happiest Baby: Not only does it look stylish but this bassinet boasts technology that senses when a baby is unsettled and automatically responds with white noise and gentle rocking, essentially mimicking the rhythms of the womb. Wow! $1,925.

Freedom launch cute & classy kids’ range | Jen’s last round-up of stylish kid wares

Tags children, children room, design, furniture, homewares, interiors, kids, kids rooms, nursery

Homewares Kids Rooms

IKEA Australia releases new play range for Christmas

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date December 12, 2018
No Comments on IKEA Australia releases new play range for Christmas

Just in time for the Christmas holidays, IKEA has introduced a new collection of games, activities and associated accessories titled LUSTIGT following the 2017 IKEA Play Report that found 30,000 parents in 12 countries believe play encourages creativity and helps people lead healthier lives.

Interestingly, the study also found that games feel a little socially unacceptable in this digital age but IKEA are doing their best to challenge that!

Featuring 20 different games and activities, the LUSTIGT range aims to help early development, logical thinking and promote exercise too. There’s no doubt that play encourages family interaction also – a timely reminder with the holiday season imminent. Here are some of our favourites from the range.

LUSTIGT colouring paper roll, $9.99: Literally a 10 metre colouring book with endless possibilities.

LUSTIGT wall shelf, $9.99: The perfect spot to store all your child’s small play related accessories.

LUSTIGT skipping rope with LED, $14.99: Skipping illuminates the rope’s LED bulbs. A great one for wearing the kids out at night!

LUSTIGT arts and crafts storage, $19.99: The perfect way to organise all your small crafty bits and bobs.

LUSTIGT tag game with vest and balls, $24.99: A great one for the whole family. The first one to stick all of their balls to the opponent’s vest wins.

LUSTIGT building blocks, $29.99: These building blocks offer endless play possibilities and I love the illustrations that they’re emblazoned with.

LUSTIGT wheel of fortune game, $19.99: This wheel has a plethora of possibilities, allowing you to invent your own games and prizes.

LUSTIGT weaving set, $29.99: A fabulous way to explore hand weaving, this loom comes with four different ribbon colours but you can use any material you want with it. From the literal to the abstract, the creative potential is infinite.

Shop online | An IKEA before and after

Tags children, children's rooms, games, ikea, kids

Design Designers Kids Rooms Styling

The unisex nursery: A practical and timeless choice

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date June 11, 2018
3 Comments on The unisex nursery: A practical and timeless choice

I’ve always admired people who could wait to find out the gender of their baby. I’ve had three children and have found out every time – delayed gratification is certainly not my strong point. The nursery design prospects are just too alluring for me, however you can always eschew colour and embrace a neutral palette like this Melbourne family did before they knew they were having a baby boy – their first child, Harvey.

Unisex nursery — Harvey’s gender neutral nursery features an Olli Ella rug, wallpaper from Magic Wallpaper and prints from Printspace.

“My clients didn’t know if they were having a boy or girl so we designed the room to be gender neutral, with boy or girl elements that could be added later. The clients wanted a very classic, elegant and serene space. It’s a tiny room so we needed to be clever with fitting everything in without making it look too small,” says interior designer Belinda Nihill, creative director of Nest Design Studio.

The gorgeous details – the hand-stitched cushion is from Little Willow Vintage

Working with a Boori cot and change table that the clients had already purchased, Belinda was tasked with selecting all the other items to complement. A tonal mix of cream, grey and white, the space is an elegant and tranquil one.

Belinda’s clients had already purchased the Boori change table and cot

“I think neutral nurseries are, in general, very elegant. They can be timeless and are a great option for parents who aren’t finding out which sex they are having. To have a room that is beautiful as is, and then being able to add some simple boy or girl touches once baby arrives to add some additional design elements to the room is ideal,” says Belinda.

One of the room’s hero pieces is the rocking chair that sits in the corner. “I think the beautiful Pottery Barn Kids Chair and shelving really make the room. That little corner, complete with beautiful custom cushion, marble detailing and grey velvet is just perfection,” says Belinda.

The tranquil feeding area is Belinda's favourite part of the room — This tranquil feeding area is Belinda’s favourite part of the room

Belinda is a big fan of the wallpaper too – a simple, neutral choice, it could potentially see Harvey through to his teenage years. “I love the wallpaper as it’s a design that is really versatile.”

Photography: Rachel Winton

For more | Nursery design 101

Tags children, children's rooms, cushions, design, interior, interior design, interior designer, interiors, kids rooms, melbourne, Nest Design Studio, nursery, nursery design, pottery barn kids, styling, wallpaper

Appliances Bedrooms Homewares

Tech news: From Google Home to high-tech baby monitors

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date July 31, 2017
No Comments on Tech news: From Google Home to high-tech baby monitors

Unlike my fellow millennials technology doesn’t get my blood pumping… but I do make some exceptions. Enter Google Home.

After taking over The States, the voice-activated speaker has landed Down Under. Just say “Ok Google” and a distinctly Aussie voice will make everyday life that much easier.

Need to solve a problem? Ask questions, translate phrases, run maths calculations and get definitions. Too busy to stay on top of the news? Ask and you shall receive from the likes of ABC NEWS, The Australian and Huffington Post. Need a helping hand in the kitchen? Get substitutes, nutritional information and unit conversions without having to wash your flour covered fingers. Or ready to party? Play songs, playlists, artists, and albums from your favourite music subscription services.

Up to six people can connect their account to one Google Home, so if you ask your Assistant to tell you about your day, it can distinguish your voice from other people in your family and give you personalised answers.

Google Home is available now for $199 via The Google Store, JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, Officeworks, The Good Guys, Telstra, Optus and Qantas Store.

And in other tech news (which admittedly Jen’s more excited by than me!) NETGEAR has launched its new, smart baby monitor solution, Arlo Baby. Coming in three super cute designs — a puppy, kitty and bunny — it has a range of innovative features such as a music player, ambient sensors for monitoring air quality, temperature and humidity, plus a built-in multi-coloured night light. In terms of its actual monitoring capabilities, it goes above and beyond too. Not only can you access the video remotely and live stream and record, you can listen and talk with two-way audio.

The Arlo Baby Smart HD Monitoring Camera will be available in August for $399 from major retailers in store and online.

More technology news

Tags activated speakers, baby monitor, children, design, google, google home, interiors, netgear, smart technology, speakers, technology

Bedrooms Designers Interviews Kids Rooms

Leanne Abrahams finally follows her interiors calling after 3 kids

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date October 22, 2015
2 Comments on Leanne Abrahams finally follows her interiors calling after 3 kids

Motherhood is what led interior designer, Leanne Abrahams to embrace her undying passion for interiors and turn it into a career. A former copywriter with a media degree, Leanne sunk her teeth into her own renovation projects on the side, completely redesigning each of her three homes with gorgeous results.

“My builder suggested that I consider a career interior design, but I never thought about it seriously.” Leanne’s eye for detail and passion for interiors soon became evident, and she began giving renovation and colour advice to friends and family on their own projects. It wasn’t until she was pregnant with her third baby that the penny finally dropped. “I have never been as passionate about anything as I am about motherhood and raising my kids. I want to be present from the minute they wake up to the minute they go to bed. Having my three kids ignited an undeniable passion in me, and I couldn’t imagine doing anything without feeling that same passion. I liked writing but I wasn’t crazy mad about doing it every day. Whereas my own design projects gave me such immense joy that becoming an interior designer was all I could think about. And I knew I’d discovered my calling.”

One of Leanne's recent projects — One of Leanne’s recent projects

Heavily pregnant, Leanne started a Diploma of Interior Design online and continued to study and complete assessments well after her son was born. “I studied while Bailey slept and when the girls were at school. I handed in assessments at night after the kids went to sleep, and literally did my readings at any free minute I had, and there weren’t many!” After almost two years of juggling and studying, Leanne was qualified. “It was a feeling of a huge relief and mass excitement when I held my diploma in my hands. I had achieved my greatest dream and unleashed a passion that had been burning inside me since I was a young girl. It felt amazing!”

Earlier this year, she launched her business Lily Rose Interiors and it’s no surprise that her business is named after the middle names of her daughters, Sienna and Tyler. “They’re the reason I followed my dream. The passion I felt for them as a mother made me want to discover that passion in my career. I could never do anything I wasn’t in love with. It just wasn’t possible anymore.”

Lily Rose Interiors specialises in children’s interiors and is based on Sydney’s North Shore. Leanne focuses entirely on her little clients’ interests, personality and favourite things to bring to life gorgeous, vibrant, beautiful and functional spaces that ooze style. “My little Sienna is such a playful, fun, energetic little girl with an adoration for the colour green. This led me to create a vibrant space that completely reflected her personality and that she would absolutely love. My daughter Tyler on the other hand, is a very girly, sweet, soft princess and her room is just that.”

Daughter Tyler's room — Daughter Tyler’s room

Leanne believes that a child’s room should be more than just a place to rest. It should be a space that sparks imaginative play, harnesses creativity and encourages little minds to explore. And it should change as your kids go from baby, to a toddler, to child, to a teenager. “I’ve recently changed my son’s nursery into a toddler room. It has shelves to display his trains with tracks that clip on to transform it into an instant play space. I just love coming up with creative ideas that tap into a child’s interest.”

But the buck definitely does not stop at children’s interiors. Leanne extends her love for interior design into every room in the house, and has just completed a project redesigning a modern apartment in the Gazebo in Sydney. “I just love creating spaces that are unique and meaningful. It gives me great pleasure to take a project from concept to set-up, and see the amazing results come to life. And I especially see my lovely clients’ smiling faces. It’s an absolute joy.”

Now that the passion for Leanne’s interior design career has been fully ignited, it is apparent that this creative road was always going to find her, it just took her three kids to show her the way.

Tags children, interior design, kids rooms, leanne abrahams, lily rose interiors, motherhood

Bedrooms Kids Rooms

Danish kids’ interior brand Done by Deer now in Australia

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date July 27, 2015
No Comments on Danish kids’ interior brand Done by Deer now in Australia

A new concept in children’s interiors is arriving in Australia that promises to broaden our idea of room coordinates. Done by Deer is founded on a strong belief that family life is about creating living spaces where kids’ gear no longer feels like a foreign invasion, but more like a natural part of the home. The extensive collection ranges from tableware to backpacks and toys to storage solutions and shelving, all coordinated in striking Scandinavian graphics and designs that spark the imagination of kids and satisfy the adults’ desire for function and style.

[contextly_sidebar id=”JsYlKOPMm0MSA1eZ2g1tOscyHBferkCq”]Done by Deer is brought to Australia by Danish by Design. Managing director Nigel Rose says: “We are so excited to finally have Done by Deer ready to launch. We have been speaking with them for several years, waiting for them to be ready to service overseas markets and now the time has come. The company is innovative and quality focused and is a great match to our other lines. We hope Australian parents will be as excited as us to see Done by Deer in the shops.”

The collection is based around six main animal characters. They appear in various forms throughout the range in the printed design or as actual soft toys. They all have their individual personalities with a view to the relationship between the characters and the child being very strong. The designs, fabrics, and the colours are carefully selected and combined to stimulate and develop children’s senses.

The range is loosely categorised into Eating, Playing and Living. Eating comprises all the melamine tableware, Playing is the category for soft toys and other play items and Living covers all storage boxes, shelving and other décor. Done by Deer offers lots of ideas and inspiration on how to combine life with kids with a love of beautiful design.

With prices from $5.95 to $129.95. For more information.

Tags children, childrens, danish, danish my design, done by deer, interiors, kids, scandi, scandinavian

Bedrooms Designers Homewares Kids Rooms

Browse 10 styled rooms with the best in kids stuff to buy

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date July 22, 2015
No Comments on Browse 10 styled rooms with the best in kids stuff to buy

Visitors will be able to browse beautifully curated spaces showcasing the best in interior styling ideas for children at the TiniTrader Pop-Up Marketplace, with products from more than 200 retailers.

From 30 July to 2 August, everything on display will be available for sale — from clothing, prams, bunkbeds and everything in between. In short, see it, love it, buy it!

The virtual marketplace’s CEO and co-founder Kerri Turner, is looking forward to introducing TiniTrader and its associated brands to the masses in physical form for the first time: “TiniTrader has always been about bringing together the best in children’s products and we wanted the concept of the pop-up event to reflect this. Working with some amazing stylists and brands, our intention is to create aspirational spaces for kids utilising many of the products available on our website.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”HuRka7Iulp0T2f1VEDYP0bpvqE89vg3y”]The TiniTrader virtual marketplace offers a one-stop-shop for busy parents, with more than 30,000 baby and kids products available from hundreds of retail stores. The Melbourne event will give people the chance to see and shop the range in real time within a stunning gallery space. The pop-up will also play host to a number of activities planned over the four days including: a champagne bar on Friday evening for those in need of some cheeky indulgence; well-known children’s interior designer Jacinda Malloy from Hide & Sleep sharing her styling tips on Saturday; and baby sleep expert Tizzie Hall providing tips for settling little ones on Sunday.

The TiniTrader Pop-Up Marketplace has been developed in conjunction with sponsors including Bugaboo, Gro Company, Lilly & Lolly and Maggie Beer. Pre-register at tinitrader.com.au to go into the draw for some great prizes and secure a deluxe gift bag packed with samples and special offers.

What: TiniTrader Melbourne Pop-Up Marketplace

When: Thursday 30 July – Sunday 2 August 2015

Where: 51 Victoria Street, Fitzroy

Trading Hours: Thursday 10am – 6pm | Friday 10am – 9pm | Saturday 10am – 4pm | Sunday 10am – 4pm.

Tags babies, Bugaboo, children, design, hide and sleep, interiors, jacinda malloy, kids, kids rooms, melbourne, nurseries, popup, tinitrader, tizzie hall

Bathrooms Homewares

Così: super-sized, colourful bath towels for stylish bambini

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date June 30, 2015
No Comments on Così: super-sized, colourful bath towels for stylish bambini

The by-product of a lawyer, an industrial chemist turned marketing manager and four children under five (eek!), new brand Così have created a range of 100% cotton, delightfully soft and irresistible to touch bath towels for children.

Designed by Melbourne-based Italian sisters Tina and Jo Randello, each towel is full-sized despite being for little ones. “Our research with children and parents told us size really does matter with towels,” explains Tina. “They have to be large enough to cocoon the smallest baby to the biggest kid. That’s why we call our Così towels children’s bath sheets.” And if they’re full-sized they’re perfect for adults too… just saying!

Fresh and contemporary, all four designs boast an exotic colour scheme in shades that reflect what kids love, but also tap into mum’s sense of style. ‘The collection captures an empowering richness and opulence that is fun for children of all ages and will give instant glamour to an adult’s bathroom,’ says Jo. “You won’t be blamed for wanting to drape your Così towel over the back of your kid’s bedroom door or in the bathroom all day.”

Setting the benchmark for intelligent design that will stand the test of time, the towels are made from 500gsm pure cotton and feature a pattered side in sheered velour and a block grey side in absorbent looped terry. All towels are machine washable and have been subject to a rigorous testing regime before being released.

Così towels can now be pre-ordered online for a September delivery and will also be exhibited at Life Instyle, Melbourne next month.

Tags bathroom, children, children towels, children's homewares, cosi, cosi towels, design, homewares, interiors, kids homewares, life instyle, towels

Homewares

What to expect at Sydney’s Life Instyle 2015

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date January 30, 2015
No Comments on What to expect at Sydney’s Life Instyle 2015

Happening next month, Sydney’s annual Life Instyle trade show will see 350 industry leading exhibitors come together at the Royal Hall of Industries and Hordern Pavilion.

With everything on offer from homewares to giftware to lifestyle and children’s products, Life Instyle Sydney fuses together business and design to recognise and celebrate the very best.

Promising retailers and buyers a place to hunt for the latest trends and coveted brands, the event will also see the return of premium educational and design features including the popular Style Lab, a radical interactive photo shoot display using exhibitors’ products and the Conversation Series presented by key brand visionaries, experts and stylists.

Running alongside Life Instyle is Kids Instyle, an exhibition that showcases a beautiful collection of babies and children’s fashion, accessories and homewares.

Life Instyle and Kids Instyle run from Thursday 19 to Sunday 22 February. This is a trade only event. For more information.

Tags business, children, children's products, Conversation Series, design, giftware, homewares, Hordern Pavilion, interiors, kids instyle, life instyle, Life Instyle 2015, Life Instyle Sydney, Life Instyle Sydney 2015, lifestyle, Royal Hall of Industries, style lab

Interiors Addict

Addicted to the memory of Christmas: one reader’s story

Post author By Guest Poster
Post date December 22, 2014
No Comments on Addicted to the memory of Christmas: one reader’s story

By Kate Korber

It may sound completely clichéd, but Christmas is truly my favourite time of year. Each Christmas is like a new chapter in a story, a place where new memories are written and a time when we can reflect on the wonderful times we’ve had in the past. Decorating my home at Christmas is all about celebrating these wonderful times. From my childhood, to getting married, teaching children over the years and then having my own. You could say that I am addicted to celebrating the memory of Christmas.

Whether you are a fan of decorating your home or not, Christmas truly comes to life if you embellish your home with ornaments and knick knacks that have meaning. It’s not about spending a great deal of money, or having the latest ‘on trend’ style. For me, a home comes to life at Christmas when you bring out the things that remind you of happy times gone by and the people you love. Filling my home with these wonderful keepsakes makes me feel eternally grateful for the blessings in my life, for the people around me, and for those who are no longer with us.

The focal point of my home at Christmas is (surprise, surprise), the tree. We always get a real tree as there is nothing like the smell of pine to warm your heart. Each year, I bring out my collection of baubles, stars and ornaments that remind me of great adventures, cherished moments and people who have been in my life. Whether it be handmade stars from Bryant Park in New York, purchased on our honeymoon, glass birds from my late Granny’s tree or ornaments given to me by students I have taught, they all mean something and bring so much joy. A sentimental favourite would have to be a silver baby carriage, given to me by a parent to celebrate the impending birth of my daughter Ella two years ago. Some people might think it’s tacky, but the handmade ornaments made by my daughter sit proudly on the shelf, and I hope they do for many years to come.

This year will by my son Hudson’s first Christmas. To celebrate, a personalised stocking has been made to hang on our new mantle, along with the rest of our family (including our dog, Lloyd). When I was young, I made stockings for my entire family that still hang on my parents’ mantle today. Each time I look at these stockings, I remember what it was like to find them filled with presents as a child on Christmas morning. I can’t wait for my own children to do the same.

Recently, my Nanna gave me her vintage nativity set, one that she has had since the 1960s. It will be the first year that it sits underneath my tree, but it will forever remind me of the many years it stood under hers. Advent calendars adorn the walls for my children to open each day in December, a flashback to my own childhood when we would argue over whose turn it was to open the paper door. A tin Santa sits on my side table, a present from my sister and a reminder of the time when I first moved out of home and decorated my own home for the first time.

Many find it overwhelming to choose a theme, colour and style for their home at Christmas. I prefer to keep it simple. Fresh flowers and lit candles bring the house alive. Each year, I bring out the old and sentimental decorations, but also add a few new friends to the collection. This year, Ella helped me choose a few new ornaments to hang on our tree. Each element, whether old or new, has meaning. For me, this is a simple way to bring love into my home and keep the Christmas memory alive, especially as our children get older and learn about this joyous time of year. There is nothing like a home filled with wonderful reminders of happy times past and Christmas for me is my chance to do just that.

–Kate Korber is a primary school teacher and mum of two who blogs at Happy Ella After.

Tags baubles, children, christmas, christmas memories, christmas tree, decorating, decorations, festive, mantle, memories, nostaligia, stockings

Bedrooms Homewares Kids Rooms

Exclusive first look at Kip & Co’s new kids bedding

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date April 9, 2014
1 Comment on Exclusive first look at Kip & Co’s new kids bedding

As Kip & Co co-owner Kate Heppell puts it: “We’re not trying to be the sophisticated kids bedding company, or even the cute or the pretty, we just want to make a spunky fun kids bedding range.” And boy, do they nail that brief.

Kate, along with her sister Hayley Pannekoecke and her best friend Alex van der Sluys, make up the Kip & Co team. Founded in 2012 they also design bold and beautiful adults bedding, but it’s their new kids range, that we got an exclusive first look at, that has really got our attention.

A particular favourite is the scribble print, “the kids version of the polka dot,” which was drawn by Hayley’s then four-year-old daughter, Chloe.

“We had kind of tried a scribble print before but we had never thought to say to a child can you have a little play for us,” explains Kate. “So Chloe did all these scribbles for us and we just ended up doing this big repeat of them. We didn’t want it to be age specific, just fun and colourful.”

It is this type of collaboration that sees Kate favour designing for kids over adults, and having a child herself and Hayley having three, means there’s always a little person to bounce ideas off.

“We definitely do a lot of testing with our kids,” says Kate. “Showing them drawings and prints throughout the design process. Chloe in particular is definitely our inspiration, she is a great sounding board.”

Other kids prints featured in the range include a reversible bedspread with a pizza print on one side and a psychedelic candystripe on the other, as well some deep coloured velvets with cotton backings.

And if you’re wishing you could turn back the clock so you too could enjoy the lovely bedding, no need, the kids prints are also available for adults!

The new designs launch today. To shop online and get a list of local stockists visit Kip & Co here.

Tags alex van der sluyf, bedding, children, design, featured, hayley pannekoecke, interiors, kate heppell, kids bedding, kip & co

Bedrooms Homewares Kids Rooms

Cotton On Kids branch into homewares with first kids bed linen and room range

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date April 3, 2014
5 Comments on Cotton On Kids branch into homewares with first kids bed linen and room range

Cotton on Kids will launch one of its most exciting product categories yet on Monday — its first children’s bed linen and room range.

The 100% cotton bed linen is available in a range of designs suitable for single, double and queen size beds, ensuring there is something for toddlers to teens, and even the big kids in the house who share the same passion for fun, bright, fashion-driven prints!

The collection includes a range of stylish and fun sheet sets, reversible quilt covers and cushions, printed paper lanterns, removable chalkboards and other decorative accessories. All styles are designed to be mixed and matched, inviting kids and parents to explore their creative side and transform any bedroom into a space to dream, play, sleep, invent and, most importantly, have fun.

The concept for the new range was born after Cotton On Kids design duo, Peta Baldacchino and Sarah Lawrence, discovered they shared a common frustration about the lack of affordable, fun and stylish homewares in the kids market. “The aim was to steer away from traditional girl and boy bedding options to ensure there was a combination of bright colours, fun patterns and most importantly, a collection that kids and parents will both love,” Sarah says.

The pair were inspired by simple Scandinavian children’s designs, and then added the Cotton On Kids touch by adding a pop of colour here, there and everywhere.

The range launches online and in store on Monday 7 April 2014. Prices start at $19.95 for a single fitted sheet through to $69.95 for a queen doona cover.

Tags bedroom, children, cotton on, cotton on kids, design, homewares, interiors, kids, kids bedding, kids bedrooms

Furniture Kids Rooms

Antique-inspired children’s furniture

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date March 28, 2014

Incy Interiors have travelled back in time for their latest collection of kids’ furniture.

The classic spindle design, which was first seen in the 1800s, has been given a new lease of life, with the new range featuring a bed, cot, side table, change table and bookcase.

Crafted from the highest quality New Zealand pine, the pieces come in a distressed white finish. But if white’s not your thing, you can pick a custom colour over 4,000 Dulux shades. Now that’s a lot of choices!

For stockists and to shop online.