kids styling – The Interiors Addict

Design feat: A super stylish combined office & playroom

While it could be the stuff of nightmares, this gorgeous space manages to combine a home office with a little girl’s play room without compromising on style. The creation of Magdalene Liacopoulos of The Bebe Style Co., it’s shared by Courtney Bell, owner of kids’ decor brand Belle & Co. Living, and her daughter Macey.

“The brief was to put together a combined office and playroom – a space where Courtney was able to have a functional and inspiring work area while still being able to care for Macey and having a shared spot where she is stimulated and happy,” says Magdalene.

Children's play area — Macey’s play area features a velvet mini mattress for reading and sleeping alongside her mum’s beautiful storage cases

“Courtney’s interior style is modern and classic and we wanted the room to be an extension of the rest of the home. Being a girl’s area, we added a feminine touch with the hints of blush pink,” says Magdalene – the most notable of which is the feature wall of removable pink marble-look wallpaper from Loaded Visuals.

Removable wallpaper — The removable wallpaper is the hero of the space. I love this pink console from Adairs too.

“That was definitely a risk that paid off. We discussed wallpaper early in the design process and struggled to find a design that would tie in with all the furnishings and then I put forward the marble design and Courtney loved it! I think it finishes the room off beautifully and I couldn’t imagine the room without it.”

A large room to fill, this presented its own challenge but Magdalene rose to the occasion by sectioning the space into separate zones. “The biggest challenge was probably the size – a big space can be a blessing and a curse – as it does need a lot of furnishings to fill the space. We achieved this by creating dedicated zones to help fill every corner.”

The inevitable clutter that comes with children was another obstacle but one that Magdalene overcame with a variety of clever storage solutions including an Olli Ella ‘Pollie’ shelf where Macey stores her butcher’s paper. The lovely felt board above displays her creations. “Another challenge when working on a children’s playroom is finding a home for all their toys and we did this by ensuring there was plenty of concealed storage and baskets – as it can start to look overrun very quickly,” says Magdalene.

Macey’s play area also features a versatile Onyx & Smoke ‘Laysleepplay’ velvet mini mattress where she can read and rest and a gorgeous Incy Interiors velvet ‘Hugo’ settee that faces a large IKEA ‘Billy series’ shelving unit that features customised hardware from Anthropologie. Courtney’s IKEA Hemnes desk also features gorgeous custom knobs from the American brand as well as a West Elm upholstered dining chair.

Incy Interiors velvet settee — The Incy Interiors settee is a highlight of the space

Gorgeous storage cases from Courtney’s own homewares brand also feature. Made from powdercoated metal sheeting and available in five colours with three different hardware options, they make a great addition to a little girl’s space. “I started the business because I kept seeing similar cases popping up on European Instagram accounts and became frustrated that we didn’t have access to them in Australia – as with a lot of beautiful interior décor and furniture, and if companies did ship here it was ridiculously expensive! My goal is to make beautiful, practical and affordable homewares available to the growing Australian market of interior lovers and decorators,” says Courtney.

For more on Bebe Style Co. | Shop Belle & Co storage cases online | Nursery design 101

Photography: Sue Ferris

Australian nursery & kids room ideas: with Hello Little Birdie

As an interior stylist for little people, Mel Spurling of Hello Little Birdie always encourages her clients to get their kids involved. “When I first meet a client I encourage them to bring their children, as it is a great way to gauge their little personalities and incorporate a little of them into their newly designed bedroom. In fact, you could argue that the little person is my client and they have to bring their parents!”

Designing both nurseries and kids rooms, Mel is a lover of anything that is unique and original and pushes the boundaries. With an aim to design rooms that last a lifetime (or at least past the toddler years!) she believes creative thinking combined with clever shopping, can lead to rooms rich in detail and cheap to pull together. “It is definitely possible to put together a gorgeous nursery, which will work for many years to come. DIY should not be ignored; not everything has to have a dollar sign on it. You should always start with paint or wall decals; a new colour creates a whole new look. That means that you can spend the majority of your budget on furniture that can grow with your child, such as a high-quality dresser or side table, and save on items that they will quickly outgrow.”

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Mel also recommends places like eBay, Gumtree and garage sales for finding those cheap but good quality finds. “Take an outdated or damaged piece of furniture, give it a fresh coat of paint and all of a sudden you’ve given it a whole new life. You can finish off your entire new look by accessorising your room with inexpensive wall art. Try framing your little birdie’s artwork, or an image from a book, magazine or even greeting card!”

Originally working in IT as a business analyst (“I am part geek too!”), Mel’s love for interior design began as a young child when she shared a room with her grandmother and longed for a room of her own. “As a little girl, I’d spend endless hours imagining what my room would look like if I had my own little space. By the time I had grown up and had my very first baby, I swore she would have the most whimsical, stylish and dreamy room. One like no other! But once I started looking into children’s decor, I found that most items were boring at best, and horrible at worst. That’s when I realised that I could put all of my skills and experience together to start creating wonderful, imaginative and fun spaces for little people.”

With both online and on-site services, Mel designs for both boys and girls and in her opinion there are some key differences to remember: “We all know boys are boisterous and love to create clutter. Bearing this in mind, a boy’s room can’t go without storage. For boys, fresh white bedroom walls set a neutral backdrop that pair perfectly with any decorating style as tastes change. Add some bold prints and you are well on your way!”

And for girls? “Girl’s rooms are timeless and I always find decorating them with wallpaper will last for many years. We all know little girls like to call themselves little ladies, so I love creating rooms which incorporate on-trend furniture to give the room a more mature look. Once the foundations are set, adding a bunch of accessories and toys to the room, makes it come to life. I love adding lots of layers; quilts, throws and cushions.”

For more on Mel visit her website.