Tag: nursery design

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Bedrooms Expert Tips Kids Rooms

Nursery design: five ideas for today’s smart nursery

Preparing for a new baby is both a challenging and exciting time. When it comes to designing your baby’s nursery, there are a number of key considerations you want to take into account to ensure the transition is as seamless (and stylish) as possible.

Image: Three Birds Renovations/Luxaflex

Developing a design plan is a must, as it not only allows you to cover off those non-negotiable nursery items and create a special, unique theme, but also keeps you aligned with your budget. With so much room for creativity, here are five key things to consider when designing your baby’s nursery.

PICK A THEME
Establishing a theme is usually the first point of call when it comes to designing any room, and often one of the most overwhelming. It is important to find a balance between practicality and trend. One of the easiest ways to do this is to choose a gender-neutral colour for your walls – something that we are seeing more often in nursery decor.

Oversized murals and feature walls are fast-emerging, reflected through colour pops pulled from them and echoed across the room. Floral and natural prints, such as leaves and trees, are a favourite, bringing in a hint of the outside.

Image: Luxaflex

Many people are becoming bolder with their blind choices, choosing patterned and textured blinds when styling rooms. Monochrome continues to be a popular choice, such as the striking black and white Luxaflex zebra print, available in both blockout and translucent opacities.

GO DARK
Being able to mimic the nighttime at any time in a baby’s room is crucial. The Three Birds Renovations trio recently completed their first new-build in the stunning Byron Bay Hinterland, including a gorgeous, soft, organic nursery.

“Anyone with a baby knows how important it is to have control of the light in a nursery,” says co-founder Lana Taylor. “Luxaflex Duette Shades in blockout opacity provides maximum room darkening and zero view-through when closed, creating the ideal environment for a baby to sleep – even for naps during the day. The pleated fabric design also means they can be stacked tightly up into the head rail to allow light through when open. It’s the perfect balance of light and privacy, and well insulated from heat and noise.”

Newly-launched Luxaflex Duette LightLock Shades deliver the next level in ultimate room darkening capabilities. Outsmarting the sun by blocking the exterior light from entering the room through common window covering light gaps, side channels overlap the front and back of Duette Blockout Shades, achieving unparalleled darkness.

GAMECHANGE: THE WORKSTATION
Not something you would usually think of, however installing a fridge in your baby’s room is a gamechanger. Opt to create a mini workstation, including bottle steriliser and warmer, fridge, bottle stash etc. Ideal for those latenight feeds or emergencies, by having an easily-accessible feeding area, you’ll need fewer trips to the kitchen, resulting in more relaxed, well-rested Mum and happy baby.

SAFETY FIRST
Safety in your baby’s room is a number one priority. By designing a safe space from the get-go, you can factor in things like trip hazards, sharp corners and cupboard locks, right through to ensuring your window coverings are child safe and cord-free.

Image: Luxaflex

“All of our window coverings are compliant with the latest ACCC Child Safety Regulations,” says Vera Meharg of Luxaflex Window Fashions. “From cordless alternatives to motorised operation systems, there are many innovative lifting systems that combine safety, convenience and style.”

Motorised blinds are becoming increasingly popular. A cordless solution that combines safety, style and complete convenience, choose for rooms to operate independently, or work together for whole-house synchronisation.

ALL AT ARM’S LENGTH
One of the key things to take into account when planning your nursery is keeping everything easily accessible from one central point. Nappies, wipes, clothes, change table covers, bin, dummy, bub’s favourite teddy – it all needs to be at arm’s length.

As home automation becomes more commonly integrated through gadgets like Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit and Amazon Alexa, families are simplifying daily tasks through voice technology. Shades that incorporate Luxaflex Powerview Motorisation are a fantastic choice for babies and children’s rooms, compatible with smart assistants, meaning you can tell them to open or close on demand, or set more specific scenes for ‘nap time’ and ‘wake up’. Better yet, if bub is already asleep, or you’re in a different room, shades can also be controlled via smartphone or tablet on the PowerView App.

For further information, visit www.luxaflex.com.au

Jen’s nursery for baby Charlie

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Design Designers Kids Rooms Styling

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 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.

Boori change table
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.

Pottery Barn shelves
Pottery Barn shelves

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.”

Wallpaper
The artwork is from Printspace

Photography: Rachel Winton

For more | Nursery design 101

 

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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
Bedrooms Kids Rooms

Interiors Addict’s Lauren Ellis shares her beautiful nursery

Lauren Ellis, our fabulous Interiors Addict TV presenter, is eagerly awaiting the arrival of her first child later this month. In this post, she shares the nursery she has lovingly designed for him. 

lauren ellis nursery portrait

Designing a nursery for my first child, a baby boy I’m yet to meet, was always going to be the most magical and rewarding challenge. With each kick and every brush stroke, I thought of him sleeping in his cot or playing with the elephants that now adorn his room.

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I’m a huge craft and DIY fan (my first ‘job’ was designing and selling gift cards to local businesses) so from the outset I knew the nursery would be full of homemade pieces. It also features pops of navy, my favourite colour, which being a minimalist I’ve paired with grey, tan and white.

The starting point for the nursery was the large inbuilt bookcase, which I lined with cardboard, covered in striking navy and grey material. It’s the first section of the room the eye is drawn to along with the sloped, high ceiling and window. I also considered painting the back of the bookcase or lining it with wallpaper but loved how easily the cardboard cutouts could be removed as my little boy grows and his room evolves.

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On each shelf – along with white Ikea boxes with DIY tan leather handles – are books and trinkets that all have a story to tell. Most are gifts from family and friends (it’s incredible how generous people are when you’re pregnant) along with my husband’s and my first teddy bears, Peter Rabbit plates and a vase from our wedding.

The chest of draws on the opposite side of the nursery (a hand-me-down from my mother-in-law) was in desperate need of a makeover. I painted the timber drawers white, lined the inside with wallpaper and made the DIY leather handles with a touch of gold, to match the boxes in the bookcase. Above, Ikea wall hooks are spray-painted navy to balance the colour scheme. The cloud coat hangers (so adorable!) are from Talo Interiors, while the wall hanging is another DIY addition.

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Given the room’s unusual shape, I knew the cot and rocking chair had to take centre stage. I fell in love with the white, Scandinavian cot with its rounded corners as soon as I saw it. The grey rocking chair and linen is from Adairs, the navy throw rugs from Pottery Barn Kids and my mum found the gorgeous giraffe in a little boutique store close to home.

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The first items I purchased for the room were the stunning giraffe, elephant and zebra prints from The Animal Print shop, displayed above the change table. I found the prints on Instagram and had my eye on them long before I fell pregnant. To dress up the picture frames I sprayed little brackets gold and super glued them to each corner. The bunting is made from Christmas baubles, re-threaded with thin, gold rope.

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To complete the room I added a white rug (which we already owned) to soften the timber floors. On its own, the cotton rug wasn’t quite enough so to balance the look I made a grey cloud to place in the corner.

Styling my little boy’s nursery has been a labor of love that’s brought me so much joy. I hope my son, who is due in two weeks’ time, loves the room as much as his mum. Now all it needs is him.

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Thanks so much for sharing, Lauren. We wish you all the very best for your baby’s safe delivery and cannot not mention how gorgeous you look! Jen

Categories
Designers Furniture Homewares

Australian nursery ideas: Homely Creatures

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

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

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

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

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Shop online.

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Kids Rooms Styling

Australian nursery ideas: with The Affordable Style Files

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

The Affordable Style Files Interiors Addict 2

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

The Affordable Style Files Interiors Addict 1

The Affordable Style Files Interiors Addict 1

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

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

The Affordable Style Files Interiors Addict 3

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

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

The Affordable Style Files Interiors Addict

The Affordable Style Files Interiors Addict 3

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

For more information.

Categories
Bedrooms Kids Rooms

Nursery décor: it’s all for the parents, not the baby!

Photo: Bramwell Designs. Styling by Simone Barter, photography by Elisabeth Harvey

(And that’s okay!)

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, as I start pulling together design ideas for our unborn child’s nursery. It’s a deliciously self-indulgent pass time really. Kids’ rooms are really good fun and can be beautiful, cute, dreamy, whimsical, soothing and many more lovely adjectives. But will baby benefit? Not so much. It’s all about the parents. And when I say parents, I mostly mean the mums (not to say some dads aren’t also interested in the wallpaper choices for their newborn!).

Photo: Bramwell Designs. Styling by Simone Barter, photography by Elisabeth Harvey
Photo: Bramwell Designs. Styling by Simone Barter, photography by Elisabeth Harvey

Will the baby care about that carefully chosen wall art with cute inspirational quotes or the wallpaper pattern, the carefully picked colour scheme, decorative accents or coordinating linen? Um, no. They just want a comfortable cot mattress, a dark, quiet room at the correct temperature and someone to attend to their every cry. It will be months before they can work out what’s going on with that designer mobile hanging above them or are even capable of clearly seeing it. It’s even more ironic and amusing when you consider many people’s babies won’t even sleep in these perfectly prepared sanctuaries for months after their arrival as they snooze in the bassinet in your room first!

I have my eye on the Pottery Barn Kids Emerson cot in navy
I have my eye on the Pottery Barn Kids Emerson cot in navy

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No, nursery décor is definitely all about the parents!

And there’s absolutely nothing wrong in that if you ask me. As I prepare to spend many hours in that room feeding my child, damn straight I want a comfortable chair and some pretty things to look at. And practically, yes, I need sufficient storage for all those nappies, clothes and seemingly endless baby paraphernalia.

And designing kids’ rooms is so much fun, it really is (I remember interior designer Greg Natale once telling me the very same thing). It’s nothing like designing a grown up room. And, especially when it’s your first, working on it really adds to the anticipation and excitement.

A child's room by interior designer Greg Natale
A child’s room by interior designer Greg Natale

Of course, later on, when your child’s a bit older, they’ll appreciate the bright/soothing colours and interesting textures you’ve lovingly chosen for their room. But you can bet your bottom dollar it will be something garish and plastic which keeps their attention longest. Or, like my friend’s baby girl Audrey, it will be the energy rating sticker on the fridge which they can’t stop looking at!

In a future post, we’ll talk about the practical and safety elements of designing a nursery (no, you can’t have the cot under the window, even if it looks better there, damn it!). Later on, as it comes together, I’ll be sharing the work in progress that is Baby Interiors Addict’s nursery too. Watch this space!

If there’s a serious point to make in this post it’s that while gorgeous nurseries are fun and enjoyable to decorate, what babies really need most is love, care and attention. And nappies. And milk. Lots of that.

Find all our kids room latest in this section.

Categories
Bedrooms

Goo Collection children’s linen is a family affair

It’s always a good sign when you see something designed for kids and think “I wish that came in adult size!”

Whale Time Doona w Boy LRE

I think that can certainly be said for some of Goo Collection’s new children’s bed linen.

Oh Deer Doona w Girl LRE

Goo started as Olive’s Tree in 2009 when Lisa Nicol failed to find a dribble bib which was absorbent enough or she was happy to have her daughter, Olive, wear. Leveraging her mother’s knowledge of sewing and fabric, she created something that was both fashionable and functional and together they hand made bibs and sold them online and at markets. They then branched out into patchwork quilts, putting a modern spin on them.

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