Tag: kids rooms

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Design Interviews Kids Rooms Styling

Botanical bedroom for a nature-loving tween

Rhiana in her room
Rhiana enjoying her room

When it comes to children’s interiors, it’s not often that we see something completely fresh. Home to a nature-obsessed nine-year-old, the space was originally supposed to have a tropical vibe but ended up becoming something far more inspiring. Aside from its lovely whimsical feel, I love how gender neutral the space is too.

Coco Rose Interiors - Rhiana's room

“Originally, I had planned to do a tropical room with bright elements however I completely changed direction after coming across a gorgeous a book called Botanicum, curated by Katie Scott and Kathy Willis. Rhiana has always had a love for nature from a very young age, so I wanted to design a room with elements that reflected her personality and created a unique style that hasn’t been seen before,” says Petria Leggo-Field, Rhiana’s mother and the owner of Coco Rose Interiors, an online emporium that specialises in handmade bohemian style furniture and décor.

Rhiana in her room
Rhiana enjoying her room

The hero of the space, the wallpaper (from Create a Wall) packs a strong visual punch and it formed the backdrop for the rest of the space. “I found a wallpaper with leaves, feathers and birdsnests that brought the book to life and set the scene perfectly for Rhiana’s room design. I love to style walls and was really happy to find a couple of doll house frames that I could wallpaper and carry the theme through the room.”

Rattan shelving
Rattan shelving from Coco Rose Interiors

Aesthetics aren’t the only driver behind the room – its botanical theme also has an ideological basis. “My husband and I really want to encourage nature-based play and education as our children grow. We love that we can bring the outdoors in and create a more natural and minimalistic way of living for our girls,” says Petria who confirms that all of the plants you see in the photographs live in the space permanently. “Part of Rhiana’s daily routine now is to water her plants. It gives her a further sense of responsibility and understanding that we need to look after the environment we all live in.” Indoor plants

The abundance of indoor plants keeps Rhiana busyAside from the abundance of green (both real and imagined), rattan is a key to this look and all the pieces are available from Petria’s online store. “We really love our rattan furniture range. All our furniture pieces feature the same teardrop diamond pattern, so that our customers can style our whole range as a complete set. This is just the very beginning and we are very excited for our next release, with designs the market hasn’t seen yet,” says Petria.

Rhiana's room

As for her favourite part of the room, Rhiana herself is very fond of the shell chandelier, which reminds her of collecting shells at the beach. “She really loves her room as she’s quite an active child and loves spending her days outdoors collecting treasures. It’s nice for her to come back to a space that she feels comfortable in but also has a calming feel for her to wind down from the day’s activities.”

Coco Rose Interiors wall details

Shop online | How to keep indoor plants alive

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Design House Tours Kitchens RENO ADDICT

This award-winning London home sprawls over seven levels!

While Aussie design talent is our focus here at Interiors Addict, occasionally a fabulous overseas project piques our interest. Located in Jen’s motherland, this award-winning London terrace renovation spreads over seven sensational storeys and we think you’ll love it as much as we do.

Kitchen – we’re loving that marble splash back

“The brief was to create a contemporary family home, not in a stark clinical sense, but rather, colourful and practical,” says LLI Design director Sam Lee, the firm responsible for the renovation. Said colour is scattered throughout the home, with a recurring blue theme and also in the form of the owners’ large collection of vintage travel posters.

The kitchen dining area features bespoke upholstered banquette seating

At 3500 square feet in size, and with generous rooms, the central renovation challenge revolved around changing the home’s flow. “Overall, the rooms seemed disconnected from each other without flow or relationship between them. The staircase and hallways were poorly lit and had a gloomy feel too,” says Sam who brought light into the staircase by adding extra skylights on the top floor and a floor-to-ceiling window on the third-floor landing. The seven levels are connected by a central core staircase.

Kitchen: A unique spot for a fireplace

The key to the overall success of the design was to re-think the dynamics of all the spaces and change the existing layouts to provide flow,” says Sam of the project that recently won an award in the ‘Interior Design London’ category of the United Kingdom Property Awards.

Bespoke joinery in one of the children’s bedrooms

And when it comes to fabulous design features, a standout space is one of the children’s bedrooms. “On the fourth floor, bedrooms two and three and the accompanying ensuite bathroom were redesigned as personal spaces for the family’s children. In bedroom two we designed a fun, mid-height bed unit with storage shelves to be used as steps up to the bed and a den underneath with sliding doors,” says Sam.

A fabulous reading nook is concealed beneath the bed

The fourth floor also contains the children’s ensuite complete with unique feature tiles and custom blue joinery. “We redesigned the bathroom with more storage and specified interesting feature tiles,” says Sam.

The children’s ensuite

The formal living room is an inviting space, the hero of which is the statement fireplace and log feature. “We removed the existing fireplace and designed and installed a contemporary bespoke Pietra Serena stone fireplace with clean confident lines,” says Sam who also designed bespoke storage and display units either side. “We also specified a large and very comfortable L shaped sofa and ottoman as well as some comfy armchairs with tables and lamps beside them,” says Sam.

Formal living room

“The utility room featured bespoke joinery units to accommodate an airing cupboard, washing machine and dryer. They were installed at waist height with washing baskets under so there was no need to bend down to change over the washing,” says Sam.  An unexpected feature wall of Cole & Son’s iconic Fornasetti “Clouds” wallpaper completes the space.

Laundry

For more from LLI Design | Check out our other house tours

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Kids Rooms

A baby girl’s nursery inspired by a dandelion art print

When former Interiors Addict journalist Lauren Ellis stumbled upon a watercolour print of Tillie – an adorable mouse with flower crown, wings and a dandelion double her size – she knew she had to have it for her future daughter’s nursery. Having grown up on acreage in northern NSW, some of Lauren’s fondest memories included collecting dandelions — just like Tillie — and blowing the seeds to make a wish. So it seemed only natural to replicate some of that childhood charm in her new home.

Positioning it above the cot, from there everything fell into place, with the colour scheme of dusty pink, magenta, grey and mustard all being inspired by the Sailah Lane print. Yet to meet baby number two (she’s due in February), Lauren designed the room with growth in mind. What a forward-planner!

“Having already designed a boy’s room for my 2-year-old son Harvey, I was excited to create a feminine space for my baby girl. Two walls feature tiny dot decals from The Lovely Wall Co, which can easily be changed to create a whole new look without the need for paint. And instead of a change table, I opted for a classic chest of drawers with a removable rubber change mat from Leander.”

Inspired by Pinterest and Instagram, some of Lauren’s favourite pieces came from trawling the web. “I love supporting small businesses found on Instagram and I am head over heels for the origami balls from Titt-tei that hang inside her canopy. Their creator – Olga Kovgar from Norway – sent me the most beautiful handwritten note with the parcel saying she does a little‘happy dance with each order, so they feel really special.”

Her other favourite piece is the embroidered letter M (her daughter’s first initial but shhhh, the name is a secret!) handmade by Lauren herself: “It’s the first time I’ve tried cross-stich and it took two full days to finish! It’s far from perfect but that’s exactly what I love about it. I hope it becomes an heirloom she treasures.”

When it comes to decorating a nursery, Lauren recommends buying items that make you smile, shopping small where possible — “It gives the room a more personal feel” — and picking a colour scheme and sticking to it! And her biggest no no? Impulse buying! “I could have filled her room three times over with beautiful purchases found on Etsy and Instagram.”

More kids bedrooms we love

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Interviews Kids Rooms

The May Gibbs x Kip & Co collection is back for one final run!

Following on from the huge success of 2016’s May Gibbs X Kip & Co collection, the range’s best sellers are back for one final recut this month and we are rather excited! And with the first drop selling out in under a week, you’d best be keyboard-ready when this nostalgic line launches today.

“We were so thrilled at the response to our May Gibbs collection, which was huge! The range was so well received a year ago and we continually get people asking about it so we decided to do another release.  We had a good feeling that the Kip girl would love it.  We had mentioned it to a bunch of girlfriends and all of them were excited about it. There’s obviously immense childhood nostalgia associated with May’s illustrations and stories and people want to share that now with their children,” says Kip & Co’s Hayley Pannekoecke.

Initially created to celebrate the centenary of Australia’s beloved Gumnut Babies and Snugglepot & Cuddlepie, fans who missed out last time will be able to get their hands on kids’ and baby bedding, blankets, swaddles, cushions and play mats one final time. “The biggest sellouts last time were all the styles in the Wattle Babies print. It’s fresh and whimsical and we hope we have made enough this time so that nobody misses out. It sold out in under a week last time and this will be a second and final recut,” says Hayley.

The popular Wattle Babies print

Other top sellers included the quilted bedspreads, and they will also make a comeback. “The beautiful quilted bedspreads are a keepsake and were the second biggest seller last time. There is so much to explore in the big montages of May’s works,” says Hayley who notes the pea cushions (especially the Koala print) flew off the shelves too.

Pea cushion

Aside from the homewares offering, the limited-edition reprise also includes a couple of gorgeous new pieces including kids’ sweaters and track pants. “It’s a brand new offering for us at Kip & Co and we think it’s something that the Kip gal will be super excited about. They are so cute! We have created a new design called Blossom Babies for the sweater collection which is super feminine and a favourite of mine,” says Hayley of the blue and pink sweater that is at the top of my want-list too.

Blossom Babies sweater

Run, don’t walk!

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Bedrooms Kids Rooms Styling

4 kids’ bedrooms that blew my mind in 2017

Nicole Rosenberg from Little Liberty is the absolute queen of cool kids’ rooms. We first interviewed her in 2015 and her interiors just kept getting better. It’s safe to say they’ve now reached a whole other level! I think what I love most about her signature look (although no two designs are ever the same) is that they’re spaces kids and parents alike will love (oh and wallpaper, lots of amazing wallpaper!). Last year was no exception, with the former occupational therapist churning out room after stunning room. Here are four of our favourites.

This one is all about the wallpaper for me and the monochrome base with beautifully chosen accessories which pop but could also easily be changed up later. This room will definitely grow with its little person without looking dated or too young. I can easily see a teenager in here.

This room has a lot going on but somehow it’s still really calm, which I always think is important.

How’s this for another neutral room which is by no means dull? I love the feature wallpaper and the animal heads and marquee lights make it obviously a kids’ room. The design of these bunks is great and a little bit different, creating great use of space.

For older kids, somewhere to do homework in peace becomes really important if you have space.

Bunks aside, I know many grown-up girls who would love this next room with its fabulous marble-look ceiling!

Nicole’s taken all that was good about last year’s blush and grey craze and created a very pretty, but also sophisticated and restrained room.

I really love this homework nook.

Well, it takes some imagination to come up with a black nursery and some serious talent to execute it, but OMG, this is just brilliant! Nicole’s fans agreed, as it was her most liked project on insta in 2017. How good is the wallpaper?!

For all its wow factor, this space is really quite simple but every design choice is spot on.

It’s so refreshing to see something so different for a baby’s room but I also love how calm the space is.

Which is your favourite?

For more on Nicole and Little Liberty.

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Bedrooms Expert Tips Homewares Kids Rooms

How to: style a timeless kids’ bedroom they’ll still love

Deciding how to decorate your little darling’s bedroom is almost as difficult as writing a birth plan and pretending you’ll stick to it. With so many novelty items and lines of licensed merchandise on the market, it’s easy to become a nervous wreck at the mere thought of decking out a nursery or rumpus room.

Well, take a deep breath and start taking notes while you’re at it because Julie Ramsay, founder of linen brand Bedtonic, has shared her top styling tips to create soothing spaces that are sure to whisk your wee ones off to lullaby land.

First of all, don’t follow fashion. Trends are not your friends in this department.

“Choose classic, gender-neutral colour schemes and a few high quality furnishings that will stand the test of time. It will save you money and headaches in the future, trust me,” Julie says.

“As I’m sure you know, today’s obsession with Dora the Explorer is likely to be replaced with Peppa Pig tomorrow – and your closets will soon overflow with all the matching merchandise you spent big on. By all means, buy your children the toys and accessories they love, but make sure they’re not permanent fixtures that are problematic or expensive to update.”

According to Julie, linen is proving popular with parents who want bedding that will feel good against their children’s skin, survive myriad washing machine cycles and co-ordinate perfectly with any colour scheme. “Linen is quite magical in that it keeps kids warm in winter and cool in summer,” she says. “It also envelopes your body, making your littles feel safe and secure. It’s a fabulous fabric to tuck tiny tikes into each night.”

Stacks of European pillows with ruffled pillowslips work well whether they’re propped up on a bed or used as scatter cushions during play dates. Linen’s durability means it will withstand all the wear and tear that any wee beastie can throw at it, making it a sound investment. It’s also stain resistant and quick to line dry, which is a godsend for those who are in the throes of toilet training.

Since linen lasts for years, consider pairing vintage sheets with new purchases to create eclectic looks. Your fitted and top sheets don’t have to match. In fact, beds can look even more inviting when covered in complementary colour combinations.

People who prefer to sleep straight under their doona covers without top sheets can still get plenty of use out of their spare flat sheets. Using them as table cloths, customising them into curtains (with a few strategically placed holes and some curtain rings) or cleverly draping them to create tents and tepees are all wonderful ways to put this versatile fabric to good use.

“Children love using sheets to create secret hideaways within the safety of their own rooms,” Julie says. “Linen also makes a great canvas. If you really want to be a cool parent, let your child personalise their space by giving them a sheet to paint or decorate with stickers, pictures, pompoms, buttons, bunting and bling of their choosing.”

Julie made a conscious effort to let her daughter, Mollie, explore her creative freedom in her own bedroom. “It’s important not to be too precious about your child’s room. Most of the furniture in Mollie’s bedroom has come from secondhand shops and verge pick-ups, but we’ve resurfaced it and let Mollie paint or repurpose it in ways that inspire her,” Julie says. “It was our priority to give our child an imaginative space that was uniquely hers and functional as well as good-looking.”

These days, layering multiple shades of her mum’s linen on the bed is one of Mollie’s favourite decorating techniques. Bedtonic’s children’s collection currently includes winter white and white and navy ticking stripe sheets. This summer, their kids’ collection will extend to reversible duvets with a move into pure linen for babies, including sheet sets, swaddle wraps and bespoke linen blankets with contrasting stitching for a touch of whimsy.

“The blanket looks gorgeous when combined with either of the children’s sheet sets,” Julie says. “It can also double as a picnic blanket, making it perfect for hosting teddy bear picnics and tea parties.”

See Bedtonic’s range.

All linen pictured from Bedtonic. Photography by Mel Tonkin, styling by Tess Beagley.

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House Tours Jen's reno Kids Rooms Parenting

Sebastian’s big boy bedroom reveal + win a $1000 voucher!

A collaboration with Pottery Barn Kids

As most of you know, we moved house a few months ago and shortly afterwards, headed to the UK for a month. So we decided it wasn’t worth reassembling Seb’s cot and that we would start his room from scratch as a “big boy room” with a single bed and try our luck.

Now, who better to collaborate with on this important room than my favourites, Pottery Barn Kids? When they asked if I’d like to work with them on Seb’s room, I couldn’t have said yes fast enough! Luckily, I was really clear what I wanted for him from the get-go: a timeless, classic, calm, comfortable space, loosely themed around his favourite things: anything transport! While I agree that kid’s rooms should be fun and about the kids, he is lucky enough to have his own playroom which is chock full of primary colours, toys, plastic and fun! So the idea for the bedroom was for it to be very calm and sleep-inducing (he has never excelled in the sleep department, much to our disappointment!). It was to be unashamedly low on toys and big on books! The other major factor was that this room could easily transition with him as he got older, with solid big ticket items which weren’t too babyish.

I am absolutely thrilled with what we created together and Seb transitioned to being in a bed amazingly well (okay, maybe because he was already jetlagged from our UK trip, but I’ll take it!). While he does all his playing in the playroom still, he loves choosing books for bedtime from his Madison Bookrack Tower. If you ask me, all kids should have one of this style of bookcase where the covers are facing out. It makes reading and choosing books so much more appealing, especially when they’re down at their level. Just make sure you anchor them, and any furniture for that matter, to the wall. Pottery Barn Kids furniture comes with anti-tip kits.

The starting point for the room was Haymes Greyology 4. I originally picked a green paint colour without first testing it on the walls (don’t do this, people!) and it turned out to be a “lime crime” so we swiftly changed that to this gorgeous grey, which we have in most of the rest of the house. We have also carpeted all our bedrooms in a nice mid grey and installed plantation shutters.

We went for grey for the main furniture items because it’s a bit different to white but still very timeless and the bedside, bed and dresser would look just as appropriate in a teenage boy’s room. They’re all from the Elliott range.

We picked the Elliott bed for many reasons. Firstly, it has two height settings, so while he’s little it can be lower and therefore easier for him to hop in and out on his own (which he does). Second, on the higher setting, you can put a trundle underneath (perfect for sleepovers when he is older). And third, it’s just a really lovely classic shape that will again look perfectly fine in an older kid’s bedroom. The quality of this furniture pretty much wowed me and it’s made of solid timber and MDF with traditional carpentry techniques. It’s better than what we have in our own bedroom, I think! The dresser and bedside come fully assembled and the bed is straightforward to put together (although you can pay extra for Pottery Barn Kids to do this for you when they deliver). I read up on mattresses and the importance of kids having something supportive while their little bodies are still growing. We chose the Sealy Posturepedic Dusk from Forty Winks in medium firmness.

We bought this Moomin print for our future child while on honeymoon in Tokyo before we were even pregnant or planning to be!

Onto the more fun stuff, the ride-on train went down a storm and is rarely in the bedroom but rather being tripped over elsewhere in the house! Damian is totally jealous and wishes he’d had one when he was a kid. Months later, Seb still comments on his “toot-toot sheets” (Organic Train Sheet Set) which we combined with more neutral linen like the gorgeous Vintage Yarn Dye Reversible Quilt (which I may yet steal for myself!).

Don’t expect toddlers to smile in photoshoots when it’s past their nap time…

You can never have too many Anywhere Chairs (out of shot) to sit on (this is his second). I recommend them to everyone with kids. the Collector’s Shelves are a great way to display favourite books and toys and add colour and interest. We now change them around regularly. And another favourite piece is the the Rowan Lamp (it comes in brass or nickel) which is a first of its kind in that it also has a nightlight in the base. We also put a super cool neon ‘Sebastian’ light on the wall from Neon Poodle which sadly arrived after the photoshoot. It’s a real wow piece.

The whole process of putting this room together was so fun. Pottery Barn Kids interior designer Ebony Quaid was an awesome help; so passionate about her job. From putting together a concept board based on my wants to providing advice and helping style the finished space, it was great working with her.

Jen with PBK’s Ebony Quaid

Since the shoot, we have unpacked properly and added a lot more art and accessories to this room but it is still a very calm and simple space. I’m thinking about doing one wall with wallpaper. What do you think?

Did you know Pottery Barn Kids offer free design services to all their customers (not just bloggers like me!)? Here’s a little video of Ebony and I discussing the room:

 

Do you have a little one (or one on the way) whose room needs a makeover? One lucky person will win a $1000 voucher to spend on whatever they like at Pottery Barn Kids!

Simply fill out the form below or pick one up in store. Entries close at 11.59pm AEST on 31 August 2017.

[gravityform id=”42″ title=”false” description=”false”]

For full terms and conditions.

Photography by Jacqui Turk.

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Kids Rooms

Our top eight good looking children’s play kitchens

Until recently, the Aussie toy kitchen market offered pretty slim pickings for design lovers. I should know as I was shopping for a play kitchen around two years ago and was left feeling wholly uninspired by what was on offer — think loud colours and a plethora of plastic. But it seems that all of that has changed and many of the latest iterations would give the real thing a run for their money.

i.Life Kids’ wooden eight piece kitchen play set: It’s the simple design and retro green that gets me with this one. $164.

 

Kidkraft White vintage wooden kitchen: I can vouch for this retro-styled number as I have one. Interestingly, the toy phone gets a workout! $259.95

Mocka Mezzi kitchen: This one is great for small spaces as it’s on the diminutive side. The colours and mid-century styling are lovely too. $129.95

IKEA DUKTIG play kitchen: This used to be the only non-garish toy kitchen that was readily available thus it’s become something of a modern classic. $129.

Hip Kids Retro kids toy kitchen: Perhaps it’s the red but I can see this in a little boy’s room. $199.95.

i.Life 7 piece wooden kitchen set: Positively girly, this kitchen comes with a range of cooking accessories too. $114.

Hip Kids White gourmet toy kitchen set: A more modern take, this set includes a standalone fridge. $289.95.

Le Toy Van Honeybake kitchen: Evoking America’s deep south, this retro number is cute as a button. $289.95.

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Art Kids Rooms

Urban Road’s new poster collection has a fresh, young vibe

Arguably its most contemporary collection yet, Urban Road’s new poster collection landed in our inbox this week and we are rather taken. From photography to graphic design and painting, the collection includes nature scenes, plants, flowers, abstracts, animals, typography and the female form and it’s priced from a very affordable $34!

Blush-hued gallery wall posters – we love!

“We wanted to collate pieces that were edgy, fun, graphic and playful. The collection is really versatile and suits a lot of different on-trend decors such as minimalism, Scandi, coastal or the Hamptons,” says Urban Road’s creative director Suzie Atkin.

Botanical-themed posters reflect Pantone’s colour of the year ‘Greenery’

The colours are very on-trend too with black, white, grey, blush pink, soft blue and leafy green in the mix. In addition, the posters can be purchased unframed or framed in white, black or natural solid wood, and they come ready to hang. Premium shatterproof acrylic protects the poster prints too.

These super sweet animal art posters are ideal for a girl’s nursery

“There are gorgeous animal art posters and inspirational, comforting typography prints which would look amazing in either a nursery or an older tween’s bedroom,” says Suzie who thinks the collection is perfect for younger family members.

Geometric themed gallery wall posters

A departure for the brand that is known for its canvas artworks, the posters are giclée printed with archival inks on high-quality cotton rag, natural white, matte art paper and they come in eight sizes, ranging from small (20 x 25cm) to larger scale prints (75 x 100cm).

Peachy hues abound on this gallery wall

A self-taught artist and illustrator, Suzie established Urban Road in 2010 when she noticed a gap in the market for original, affordable canvas art prints. The range has since expanded to include complementary cushions and rugs which take the guesswork out of styling your home.

The prints are available from Monday. Shop online

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Interviews Kids Rooms Styling

Meet the design-savvy grandmother with 46k Insta followers!

After moving into a new home in 2015, Perth’s Jen Farr relished the opportunity to create her ultimate pad, and built a significant Instagram following as a result. “I had never built before so it was a dream come true to be able to do a custom design to suit us and to choose all our own fixtures and fittings. Also, it was a great opportunity to purchase all new furniture and homewares, including art to fit the space,” says Jen who started her Instagram account @designdevotee throughout the process.

The glamorous Jen Farr

Jen had some initial help from an interior designer at pre-start (primarily with bathroom tile and cupboard laminate selections), and she also had some professional styling help too. “When it came closer to furnishing the house, I contacted Jane Ledger from Spacecrush who I found on Instagram to help pull everything together and steer me in the right direction. Working with Jane was such a wonderful experience and I learnt a lot from her,” says Jen.

Bedroom

But as for her Instagram following (46k and growing), Jen puts it down to the exposure that her home has gotten in print media. “My home was photographed for Adore magazine in January 2016, and featured in the homes section of a Perth weekend paper in September 2016. My grandkids’ room was on the front cover of Minty Magazine in December last year too,” says Jen. And what a bedroom it is!

The grandchildren’s room. What a lucky bunch!

“The grandkids’ room was designed as a fun space for my six grandkids to spend time whenever they come over. It is still a work in progress as I am planning on buying a new floor rug for the area as well as another piece of art. And now that the kids are getting older, I will need to add new books, games and Lego to keep them entertained. They all love this room and whenever they are here, it is the first place that they run to,” says Jen.

The grandchildren’s room

“My favourite thing in the room is the wallpaper. I love the feel that it adds to the room.  As the wallpaper, carpet and wall colour are all neutral, this room can slowly be changed from a girly room to a more gender-neutral one as the kids grow up. Originally it was for my four granddaughters and one grandson, but now with a grandson born in 2015 and another one due later this year I think perhaps it’s time for the pink to be toned down!” says Jen.

Lounge room

As for Jen’s following, unsurprisingly it has led to many requests for product promotion and her decorating advice is highly sought after too. “I receive many free items from Instagram businesses.  I have also found that many people want decorating advice including furniture selection and I have recently been helping a woman in Ecuador redecorate. I am also working with a woman in Sydney who has just moved into a new home and wants help with furniture, rugs, artwork and décor items – so pretty much everything,” says Jen who is managing both jobs entirely through Instagram’s direct messaging service.

Kitchen

It’s pretty impressive for a woman with no formal training, who used to construct her own interiors as a child. “Ever since I was in primary school I would make my own doll houses by joining empty shoe boxes together and then I would sew curtains for them and make all the furniture,” says Jen.

Dining room

Photography: Tarina Lyell & Hannah Blackmore

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Kids Rooms

The latest interior finds for little people

Children’s furniture and homewares just keep getting better and better with an increasing number of gorgeous things hitting our inbox on an almost daily basis. From a retro toy kitchen to Leander’s latest cot and Australia’s first white chalkboard, these are our latest finds.

Violet Eyes ‘Bilby Boy’ print: The Victorian illustrator is back with another native animal and this time it’s for the boys. $65.

White Moose resin unicorn head: While we may be in the midst of unicorn overload I still have a soft spot for them and this whimsical statement piece would look amazing on a nursery wall. $149.

Leander Linea cot: After the huge success of the brand’s curved range, this new collection is a design departure that boasts much more angular, architectural lines. $899.95

Little Louli personalised baby bassinet sheet: This custom hand-printed cotton number is the perfect gift for a newborn. $49.

Love Mae Australiana 5-piece dinner set: Mae nails it again and this time she’s all over the Australiana trend. We love! $37.95.

Little Red Industries white chalkboard: The first-ever white chalkboard to hit Australia, it makes a nice departure from traditional black. $395.

Donkey products Spoonimals kids’ bamboo spoons: When you’re out of options to get the tiny tyrants to eat, these gorgeous spoons might be just the ticket. $7.95.

Mocka Mezzi kitchen: With its cute retro styling, gender-neutral colour scheme and great price, this wooden toy kitchen is a winner. $129.95.

Categories
Kids Rooms Styling

Artist Madeleine Stamer shares her daughter’s bohemian bedroom

When Melbourne artist Madeline Stamer converted her roof space into an attic recently, her eldest daughter moved upstairs making way for a room makeover for her youngest child, Ada. “Since the move, Ada has gained more space which has enabled her to have more freedom and be more active. She’s able to stretch out, dance, roll around, spread out her toys and have ownership of the space which can be challenging when sharing with a sibling,” says Madeleine.

The room features an original cast iron bed frame (a nod to the home’s late Victorian/Edwardian style) plus plenty of period elements including a ceiling rose, floorboards and skirting boards.

“We’ve freshened up the space with contemporary lighting, textiles and quirky elements,” says Madeleine though the space features plenty of older items too. “I love the old pieces of furniture that we’ve salvaged over time that add character and a sense of nostalgia,” says Madeleine.

Unsurprisingly, for the home of an artist, there’s plenty of colour on display and the room acts as a gallery space for Ada’s constant stream of artwork. “The room is never static and evolves constantly with the arrival of new school projects and art work that Ada’s made. As an artist and art educator I totally embrace the importance of celebrating the children’s artistic endeavours. Of course, there’s always a limit to how much you can accommodate so we often rotate old art that the kids have made and replace with new work,” says Madeleine.

“Ada adores her room but every now and then she admits that she misses sharing with her older sister. They’re in close proximity though via the pull-down ladder that leads up to Wilhelmina’s attic room. They often chat to each other at night and the cat wanders in and out visiting them both. It brings us so much joy to watch her jumping off her bed onto the floor and rolling around doing general happy kid stuff,” says Madeleine.

And when it comes to a child’s bedroom, Madeleine believes there are a few essential items. “A warm snuggly bed with favourite toys, good storage, a book nook, plants, personal drawings and artwork and a little work table or enough floor space to stretch out is usually perfect,” says Madeleine.

For more on Madeleine

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Art Interviews

Meet the two Aussie illustrators exploring the animal kingdom

While very different in style, these two Aussie illustrators piqued our interest recently with their gorgeous take on wildlife – one focusses mostly on native Australian wildlife while the other embraces the full spectrum of the animal kingdom.

Emu & Owl’s gorgeous work

“I actually studied photography. I did a bit of art at school, but it wasn’t until about four years ago that I realised I was okay at drawing! It all started with my boys, I drew the animals for the letters of their names. That was it and I just kept going and drew the whole alphabet,” says the artist Emma Lees of Emu & Owl. Using primarily a pointillist technique, Emma’s work is full of detail, achieved simply with black pen and good quality paper. Quite amazing really!

Emu & Owl’s alphabet letters – where it all began.

With animals and plants the main fodder for her work, Emma draws plenty of inspiration from her home in south-west Western Australia. “I do really love animals and plants, living near the ocean. I also get a lot of inspiration from the UK as I love William Morris and his wallpapers plus House of Hackney and Timorous Beasties,” says Emma.

Emu & Owl Mirror dory with shells illustration

“I have started drawing plants and have also started combining my photography into my drawings and merging the two on the computer which is bringing some colour into my work.  But I have to say I think my favourite thing to draw are fish. I recently drew a gurnard fish and he has a lot of character and turned out great. Fish are fun to draw – the weirder the better. Scales, fins, wings, gills!” says Emma.

Emu & Owl octopus tote bag

In contrast, artist Aleta Lederwasch’s work, under the banner of Animals and Botanicals, gave me a real nostalgia kick as it reminds me of May Gibbs’ iconic output. “I initially began this collection of Australian fauna illustrations to inspire and nurture my daughter Elke’s interest in nature. It has been a most beautiful experience to spark and share a love of nature and wildlife with Elke through art. With the release of these print collections I now hope to inspire and nurture a love and appreciation of Australia’s unique flora and fauna amongst many more,” says Aleta of her work that is produced with pencil, water colour, gouache paint and cotton archival paper.

“I love everything about animals. I am humbled by animals – watching animals living wild and free in their natural habitats grounds and inspires me at the same time. I feel connected to them and to the land and resources that we share we with them. Animals remind us of how incredibly adapted we are to the natural environment that surrounds us and how full of diverse beauty every living thing is. The seemingly infinite patterns and textures that coat our scaly, furry and feathery friends, and the incredible spectrum of colours that paint them,” says Aleta who is open to custom animal requests too.

Largely self-taught, Aleta attended Ron Hartree’s Art School in Newcastle, an experience she describes as more nurturing than instructive. “I would describe that environment as one which nurtured and inspired my creativity, rather than one of teaching. Ron provided incredible materials including oil paints to children and a wonderful space to create. When I turned eleven Ron invited me to his life drawing classes. There were guides there but I liked to do my own thing, so they usually just left me alone,” says Aleta.

I can see Aleta’s work looking very much at home in a nursery, and Emma’s too. “They are adorable pieces to enjoy in a child or baby’s room. They will bring colour, cuteness and character and at the same time may inspire and nurture a love and appreciation of Australia’s unique and beautiful wildlife amongst the little ones in your life,” says Aleta.

Shop Emu & Owl | Shop Animals and Botanicals

Categories
Kids Rooms

Rebecca Judd releases her first nursery range for Adairs

The seemingly tireless Australian media personality and model Rebecca Judd has just added another string to her impressively long bow with the launch of her first nursery collection for Adairs. Given she is a mother to four children including newish twin boys Darcy and Tom, she was well placed to design the range.

Rebecca Judd with her twin boys Darcy and Tom

“The aim of the range was to create a nursery space that looks effortlessly chic, where everything fits perfectly into place. When designing the collection, I drew inspiration from Scandinavian interiors and designs,” says Rebecca.

Jersey quilted pink swan cot quilt cover set, $129.99 and Framed wall art pink swan print, $29.99 (on wall)

An antidote to the often garish colour palettes found in children’s design, the limited edition collection features pastel blue, soft grey and peach. There’s fully reversible quilted bed linen designed with a sweet origami animal motif plus sheet sets and wall art too.

“What I really love about the new range is that you can easily find that perfect balance between serenity, style and personality. The colours aren’t overbearing with the inclusion of the lovely pastel pink and blue hues creating a relaxing neutral backdrop. This collection represents what I was looking for when styling my children’s nurseries,” says Rebecca.

Bamboo wraps pink swan (pack of two), $49.99

Designed to complement the bed linen, the collection also features bamboo swaddle wraps. Bamboo, in particular, is a fabulous material for babies given it’s not only soft and 100 per cent natural but it’s breathable too.

Jersey quilted blue bear cot quilt cover set, $129.99 and Framed wall art blue bear print, $29.99 (on wall)

Nursery walls won’t go unadorned either as the range also features two cute framed animal wall art pieces – a bear in Breton strips and a swan wearing a gold crown.

Shop online

Categories
Kids Rooms Styling

Nursery design 101: The first-timer’s guide

There’s no doubt that one of the most exciting parts of preparing for a new baby is designing the little one’s nursery. From safety considerations to matters of style and comfort, there’s plenty to consider which is why we consulted an expert on this one – Pottery Barn Kids Australia’s field visual manager Ebony Quaid. We’ve also included some of our favourite sweet nursery buys!

“All parents can do with a helping hand creating the best bedrooms and play spaces for their children, but for new parents it can be especially overwhelming. Everything is unfamiliar, from cots that convert to changing tables that adapt and even nappy bags and swaddling cloths – these are things you’ve never had to think about buying before,” says Ebony.

Pottery Barn Kids Reese convertible cot, $799

Room prep
From walls to floors and lighting, there are plenty of bare basics to consider before you even set about purchasing any furniture or accessories. “Prep your nursery room before ordering any furniture – this could be as simple as a thorough clean or as extensive as a re-paint and re-carpet or re-polish of the flooring. Be mindful of you and your baby’s health when arranging any painting or polishing work. Also, ensure the room’s electricals are safe and functional and any pendants are well out of reach of the cot and change table,” says Ebony.

Little Louli personalised ‘Sweet Dreams’ cot sheet, $69

Climate control
“Whether you require heating or cooling or both, ensure it’s sorted well in advance of your baby’s arrival. Consider the placement of the cot or bassinet too as it should be well away from windows or any air conditioning vents,” says Ebony.

Sound and light
This is obviously a big one as, aside from feeding, getting a baby to sleep is arguably the primary concern for most new parents. “Help make sleep time as peaceful as possible. Choose window treatments that block out the light and help diffuse outside sounds. Position the cot away from the door too,” says Ebony.

Pottery Barn Kids Kendall extra wide dresser, $1199 and changing table topper, $229

Furniture
When it comes to furniture, new babies don’t actually need that much – if the budget is tight just stick to the essentials. “The key items are a bassinet, cot, change table, storage and seating,” says Ebony.

Incy x Hobbe rocker, $1299

Accessories
“Don’t forget your friends and family will be keen to shower you with gifts – a registry filled with the smaller essentials can be a great way to get everyone involved,” says Ebony who recommends Pottery Barn’s handy registry checklist to get you organised.

Little Rae Elephant Star Jacket print, $30

Shop smart
From a cot that converts to a toddler bed, a changing table with removable topper (that will function as drawers long after you last baby is out of nappies) to a rocking chair that can be moved to another part of the house when feeding time is over, there are lots of savvy ways to deck out your nursery.

“The smartest financial choice you can make when choosing nursery furniture is to go for pieces built to last, rigorously tested for safety, and designed to grow and adapt alongside your baby. It makes sense to choose timeless, gender-neutral furniture that will continue to look great with any future babies too,” says Ebony.

The Timba Trend book shelves, $32 each

 Add your style
“It goes without saying that your nursery aesthetic should reflect or complement the style of your home, your family, and eventually your little one. But don’t feel pressured or rushed – this is the fun part, after all! Even the most neutral, unassuming room and classic, simple furniture can instantly take on a vibrant and colourful personality with the simple additions of a rug, gorgeous bedding, wall art, a mobile, a lamp, an accent cushion, a stroller blanket that doubles as a throw, open shelving for decorative and sentimental objects, and of course some gorgeous toys and plush animals,” says Ebony.

Clocksicle Sailor wall clock, $69
Categories
Designers Homewares Kids Rooms

We interview Margherita Missoni on her Pottery Barn Kids range

Given her grandparents founded the iconic Italian fashion house Missoni, it’s safe to assume that Margherita Missoni grew up immersed in creativity. A darling of the fashion world, Margherita has not only has spent time as a Missoni brand ambassador and designer, but she’s also launched a successful children’s line (Margherita Kids) and now, a rather covetable children’s homeware line available in Australia through Pottery Barn Kids.

We’re loving the daisy mirror, side table, daisy pom pom quilt and accessories!

Whimsical and colourful yet sophisticated (a tough balance to strike), the range includes home décor for the nursery, bedroom, and playroom with the daisy a recurring motif. It’s rather fitting really given Margherita’s name means ‘daisy’ in Italian and her personal aesthetic has always had something of the flowerchild about it.

Change table

“Collaborating with Pottery Barn Kids was such a joy and a natural fit for me, as it brought together playful design and quality craftsmanship to create a beautiful collection for kids and baby. The collection is comfortable, colourful, and it evokes the same sense of freedom I feel when dressing myself and my children – mixing, matching and creating something that is unique to your own sense of style. I wanted to create a line of homewares that would inspire and empower kids to be imaginative and inventive,” says Margherita.

“Margherita means daisy in Italian, so it’s really my namesake flower. It’s also such a cheerful motif,” says Margherita. Pictured is the daisy pouf.

Becoming a mother in 2013 (she has two young sons, Otto and Augusto) has informed the collection too, meaning it’s both beautiful and practical. “As a mother, I’m always thinking about the needs of my children first and foremost. For the collaboration with Pottery Barn Kids, I thought about the needs children and parents have when it comes to home furnishings. There’s lots of child-sized furniture, as I strongly believe that it’s important for children to be surrounded by furniture that’s both approachable and size-appropriate.”  She is a big fan of the storage pieces in the collection – for both children and adults alike. “They’re perfect for stowing away your kids’ toys and for staying organised, which is essential when you’re a busy parent,” says Margherita.

Gorgeous woven storage

And with the success of her childrenswear line Margherita Kids, the collaboration seems like a natural progression. “When Margherita launched in 2015, I already had a whole world for children in mind – not just clothing, but lifestyle products, too. I knew I would eventually want to create everything from accessories to bedding to furniture, but, of course, it takes time to expand into new categories. When Pottery Barn Kids approached me to create this collection, I was so excited. I want this collection, like the Margherita clothing line, to inspire kids to imagine, create and play.”

As for her favourite pieces from the range, the designer has quite a few. “The colour blocked rugs, the whimsical daisy chair and the lullaby embroidered linens are my favourite pieces for sure. I can’t wait to incorporate them into my boys’ nurseries.” And with prices ranging from $29 to $299, the range is sure to fly off shelves.

Lullaby embroidered linen

The collection is available in store and online from today (Friday).

Shop online.

 

Categories
Designers Interviews Kids Rooms

Interior designer creates mini version of her own home!

Many of you may be familiar with Maven Dolls, the whimsical French-ragdoll-inspired handmade dolls that have amassed what can only be described as a cult Insta-following since their launch almost three years ago. Created by interior architect and designer Lee Talbot, many fans follow Lee’s feed to see the latest from her family and gorgeous home too. Based on the NSW south coast, she resides in what is affectionately referred to as the ‘Maven Dolls doll house’ — a home that she recently recreated in miniature for her daughter’s third birthday.

The amazing Mini Maven Dolls doll house

“I think people are really loving my doll house because I’ve attempted to replicate my own home which I use as part of my Maven Dolls branding and narrative on my social media platforms. It was also recently featured on the cover of the Christmas issue of Inside Out magazine which made it instantly appealing and recognisable.” Lee made almost all of the wares that can be found inside the doll house herself.

One of the many gorgeous interiors found in the doll house

“Apart from a few pieces I purchased from some amazing Australian miniature specialists such as the fridge, the mantlepieces and iconic chairs including the Bentwoods and the Eames Rocker RAR, I sourced all of my own materials and tools and handcrafted all of the furniture, décor and artwork myself. It took me back to my university architecture days and the very long days and nights I spent slaving away model making. And that certainly made it all the more rewarding. Putting my mind in ‘miniature mode’ gives me such a rush and made for endless possibilities, unlike in the real renovation world!”

Lee with her three children in their lounge room at Christmas

From concept to completion, the doll house took around 10 weeks to finish after Lee remodelled the original doll house kit prior to assembly making it more modern and open plan. “It took a while because I was designing and making it from scratch as a gift for my daughter for Christmas, so all the work had to be completed either off site or after my three children were in bed of an evening. I enjoyed every minute of it,” says Lee, who graduated with a Bachelor of Interior Architecture from UNSW in 2004 before commencing her interior design career.

One of Lee’s children playing with the doll house

“I was lucky enough to begin my career in interiors with a wonderful undergraduate position at the renowned interior architecture firm Geyer, based in Sydney in 2002. Then I continued to work in commercial interiors for various firms and brand agencies until I had my first baby in 2011. I spent time designing everything from high-end residential, hotels, boutique hotels, bars and restaurants in Sydney, LA and London before returning home to get married and start a family,” says Lee, who has a few residential projects in the works at the moment too. “I still practice my design and architecture in between juggling Maven Dolls and my children.”

One of Lee’s famed Maven Dolls

Photography: Maree Homer & Lee Talbot

Check out more from the maven doll house | Shop Maven Dolls online

Love the designer dollhouse trend? Check out this one and our miniature furniture roundup.

Categories
Designers Homewares Interviews Kids Rooms

Alphabet Monkey put a modern spin on patchwork for kids’ rooms

You could perhaps trace it back to the birth of Etsy but there’s no doubt that crafting has enjoyed a monumental rise over the last decade, paving the way for once-forgotten arts such as patchwork quilting to emerge with a new, on-trend aesthetic. Eschewing the intricate design and ‘more is more’ approach of traditional quilting, Alphabet Monkey stands out in the marketplace for its modern take on the ancient art.

Alphabet Monkey’s Nicole Nicol and her daughter with her mother Denise Griffiths

“I think the essence of a quilt and especially a patchwork quilt is a feeling of being special – through history they are traditionally made by a family member for special occasions and  I think it’s important to keep that handmade touch. All our current ranges feature hand cut and hand stitched felt motifs,” says Alphabet Monkey’s Nicole Nicol who produces the range together with an ethical sewing studio in Bali. “I love the creative process so some of the items such as our teether and custom name cushions are made here in my own studio.”

A trained interior designer, Nicole worked as a visual merchandiser at Domayne before having children and learning to sew. But it was the birth of her son that inspired her to create her own range of quilts and launch Alphabet Monkey. “My mum thought the sewing gene had skipped me. I only learnt to use a sewing machine after having my son in 2010, to make baby quilts and cushions to fulfil my creative need. I was ready for a change from my previous job and started Alphabet Monkey soon after,].”

She attributes her technical skills to her mother, Denise Griffiths. “Mum’s highly intricate art quilts in bold colours and textures have won prizes and been exhibited all over the world. She taught me everything I know about sewing and encouraged a creative entrepreneurial spirit, however I think my background in interiors allowed me to experiment and create more freely,” says Nicole.

The range also features bunting, cushions and more

Denise works as a contractor to her daughter, helping to finish quilt bindings and sew patches together. “It gives her pocket money for her many overseas trips and she also looks after the shipping or sewing urgent orders when I’m away. And now that I have a daughter I think it’s really special to see her and my mum at the sewing machine together.  I don’t think the sewing gene will skip her,” says Nicole.

Nicole also has a particular interest in creating stylish interior options for boys, an interest that was piqued after the birth of her son. “Everyone was saying how hard it was to find choices for boys back then but it’s interesting to see how much the market has changed since 2010. There was never the same variety as there was for girls. Also, the market was looking for less traditional approaches to boys’ fashion and bedding with monochrome starting its rise.” Nicole who has introduced her first girls’ range this year but intends to primarily target the boys/unisex market.

Another aspect that sets the range apart is its exclusive fabrics, made in small-batch runs in Indonesia. “I was always frustrated that I couldn’t find what I had in mind, there were hardly any options to get your own designs printed back then and they were expensive. After a holiday to Bali, I had heard about a lot of Aussies getting products produced in low quantities and thought I’d see if I could get some of my own fabrics printed. I found someone who could assist me with production so I was very excited to be able to create our own unique patterns and prints to offer something truly our own.” Nicole who works exclusively with ethical, environmentally-conscious manufacturers.

Hand stitched felt motifs feature throughout the range

Shop online.