Inspiration: The Well Traveled Child

So Restoration Hardware Baby & Child has done it again!  They released their Fall 2012 catalogue, and to be honest, I am not surprised with the caliber of products being offered.  Always right on the mark, RH Baby & Child have some of the most wonderful themes for decor, and their collections of furniture have left me breathless.

One of the themes that I want to showcase is what I call ‘The Well Traveled Child’ theme.  These items are perfect for that adventurous, free spirited child that needs to let their inner traveler loose.  Check out these awesome picks to complete your little traveler’s room.

These Landmark Sketches can be bought for $275 as a set of 3, or individually at $99 each

For bedding options the Atlas Print Duvet Cover for $139-$169 continues the traveler theme, and if you want to go with a more modern traveler decor element the European World Tour Percale Sheet Set $149-$214 is a great option.

This Earth Desk Globe $89 lights up to function as a lamp as well as an educational decor item.

The above Hand-Folded Vintage Map Dresses bring me great joy.  I love that Restoration Hardware is embracing the idea of the female adventurer by including the ‘Fashion Roadmap’.  This marriage of travel and fashion is ingenious, and it is available in the maps of Paris and Rome for $599 each.

Lay Lay’s Tips: 5 Reasons You Should Hire a Designer

While nurseries can be a ‘labour of love’ for many individuals who want to create it themselves, there are a number of reasons why hiring a designer to complete your little one’s room is a good idea…

1. Safe products – When creating spaces for children, our first concern is that we are providing products that are safe for them.  From low VOC paints to nursery furniture that meet the highest standards for safety.  Designers know what to look for – and what to avoid – when designing a nursery, child’s room or play space.

2. Quality of overall design – When completing any project, it is always a good idea to consult the experts.  Interiors are no different.  As interior design specialists, we understand the principles & elements of design, as well as functionality and space planning.  We are able to create original design schemes, or enhance the design ideas that you already have.  Designers eat, breathe and sleep design… we know what works, what doesn’t work, what products are out there, the current trends, the next big trend, the outdated trends… I could go on and on, but I won’t – you get my point.

3. Help to set and maintain a budget – Most people think that hiring a designer will be more expensive, than completing a project themselves.  The truth is that you are more likely to set a realistic budget (including the designer fee) – and stick to it – if you have a professional monitoring the cost of the job.  Problems arise on every project, but with a design professional you are better equipped to avoid mistakes that can be quite costly.

4. Extensive resources – Designers have access to a number of stores, products, and services that are not available to the general public.  By hiring a design professional you can gain access to these benefits, and in some cases, discounts to stores that you do have access to.

5. Stress Free – Problems arise.  This fact cannot be avoided in most design projects.  If you are creating a nursery or a child’s room, then you probably already have your hands full.  Hiring a designer helps to eliminate the stress involved in completing a project on time and within your budget.

Keep in mind that hiring a designer does not mean that you will lose all creative input.  Your design ideas can be enhanced if you already know the look and feel you want to achieve in your child’s space.  Just keep in mind that interior stylists, designers and decorators are there to help you achieve a harmoniously designed space that you and your child can enjoy.

Inspiration: From the Orient with Love…

I love Asian inspired decor for the nursery.  Whether you want to keep a traditional palette, or use Asian inspired items made specifically for the nursery, this can be a really fun theme for any child’s room.

The above pictures show how you can create an asian inspired child’s room with a childlike colour palette.  Blues, pinks, purples and yellows are great in this decor scheme because they incorporate Asian elements like Chinese paper lanterns, pagodas, Chinese birdcages and cherry blossom patterns that are typical of Asian decor.

The other option for an Asian inspired child’s nursery is to streamline the furniture and go with a more traditional Asian colour palette like black, gold and red.  This take on the Asian theme works well with wood elements too.  Check out the items below if you want to create a look of the Orient for your little one in a sophisticated way.

Sourcing:

1. Lantern Festival Bedding (toddler set), Kukunest $95

2. Round Paper Lanterns, FavorsPlus $3.50 each

3. Pagoda Fabric, Pixie Dust Decor $19/yard

4. ‘Asian Birdies’ Canvas Wall Art, Oopsy Daisy $119

5. Pink Pagoda Pillow, Posh Tots $79

6. Its A Small World – Japanese Boy Nightlight, Oopsy Daisy $25

7. Shinto Nesting Tables, Serena and Lily

8. Pagoda Beaded Pendant Lantern, Posh Tots $592

9 & 10. Hanami Accent Pillows, Posh Tots $123

11. Regal Three Drawer Chest, Posh Tots $1,390

12. Patterson Cradle by Green Frog Art, Lux Baby $390

Runway to Nursery: All That Glitters…

 

As the design industry continues to take cues  from fashion – and vice versa – one of the main trends that we are seeing right now in both arenas is metallic gold.  Marchesa’s Fall/Winter 2012 collection showcases how gold is being worked on runways this season, and while I don’t think I have the guts to rock this number personally – I’m inspired by the boldness of it all.

Whether gold, silver, or bronze, metallics are making a huge debut in nursery decor.  If you want to add a little golden bling to your child’s space check out these nuggets for inspiration.

-Lay Lay

 

Sourcing:

1. Elephant – Gold, Dwell Studio $50

2. Small Gilt Wall Crown, RH Baby & Child $99

3. Moroccan Pouf in Gold, Jennifer Delonge $250

4. Gold Piggy Bank, Jonathan Adler $168

5. Worlds Away Shelby Gold Leaf Mirror, Layla Grace $623

6. Modern Clip Lamp in Gold, Land of Nod $49

 

Colour Wednesday: Analogous Harmony

When thinking about colour schemes we often take our cues from nature.  An analogous scheme is made up of colours that are located beside each other on the colour wheel.  These colour palettes appear in nature quite often – think of a field of sunflowers amidst green blades of grass with a backdrop of a vibrant blue sky.  Or the yellow, orange and red hues that can be found in a single flame.  Analogous colour sequences work quite well together and can transform children’s rooms, nurseries and play spaces into harmonious havens.  One of my favourite analogous schemes is the yellow-green-blue sequence.  If the right hues are chosen in this combo it can be quite stunning.  Check out my picks for an analogous themed kid’s space.

-Lay Lay

Sourcing:

1. Yacht Stripe Fabric, Pixie Dust Decor $19/yd

2. Sea Turtle Hook Pillow, Rosenberry Rooms $58

3. Serena Chandelier (small), Currey and Company $2042

4. Lemon Elephant Bookshelf by Dwell Studio, Rosenberry Rooms $124

5. Great Outdoors Number Poster, Land of Nod $99

6. Pondicherry Bed with nailheads in leaf diamond fabric, Serena and Lily $1850 (twin)

7. Moroccan Painted Lamp on green base, Oopsy Daisy $138

Inspiration: Fabric Wall Decals… Simply Amazing!

Elephant & Monkey Trio by Meghann O’Hara

I love wall stickers, but these fabric wall decals from Oopsy Daisy are simply amazing!  What a fun way to let a child get involved with decorating and personalizing their space.  These Fabric Wall decals are made from products that are good for the environment, non-toxic and phthalate free.  Priced at $129 per set these removable and repositionable fabric based wall stickers include a full number and alphabet set for personalization.  The other thing I really love about Oopsy Daisy is they give each of their artists credit, and include a mini profile on them too.  Kudos!

i Gumball Tree Wall Decal by Gale Kaseguma

Once Upon a Time Wall Decal by Jill McDonald

License Plate USA wall decal by Aaron Foster

J’aime Paris wall decal by Shelly Kennedy

Lay Lay’s Picks: One Desk Three Ways – Back to School in Style!

As the summer comes to a close and the kids go back to school, we really owe it to our children to provide a comfortable and well lit study space so they can do their homework.  Today’s post highlights Pottery Barn’s Hampton Classic Desk ($499) and shows how you can use the same piece in 3 different ways:

This combination uses frills and ornate framing to keep the look ultra feminine.

1. Napa Chair and Ruffled Slipcover Pottery Barn, $64 – $199

2.  Hampton Classic Desk Pottery Barn Teen, $499

3. Vintage Hand Carved Chalkboard RH Baby and Child, $110

This look pairs the Pottery Barn Hampton Desk with industrial materials like metals and recycled elements to give the space a masculine feel.  You can also add rustic pieces to this scheme to enhance the vintage aspect.

1. Industrial Era Task Lamp RH Baby & Child, $159

2. Chalkboard Globe The Well Appointed House $342

3. Hampton Classic Desk Pottery Barn Teen, $499

4. Vintage Stool RH Baby & Child, $139

5. Upcycled Desk Accessories in Black/Gray Pottery Barn Teen $7.50 – $31

This look is fun and energetic.  It works well with any bold hue as the accent colour, but since I have a thing for yellow right now, I chose to incorporate it into this look.

1. Graphic Words Pin-It Pinboard Pottery Barn Teen, $61

2. Now Clip it, Clip it Good Lamp in Yellow Land of Nod, $29

3. Hampton Classic Desk Pottery Barn Teen, $499

4. Balloon Animal Bookend Land of Nod, $42

5. Stripe Ooh La La Armchair in Black Pottery Barn Teen $436

Colour Wednesday: Complement me!

Colour can play such an important role in any design scheme, and when it comes to designing a nursery or child’s room colour is often a key element of the design.  The colour wheel was created in 1666 by Sir Isaac Newton, and since then it is often referred to when trying to create harmonious colour schemes.  Today we are going to focus on complementary colours.

This colour combination pulls opposite hues on the colour wheel.  One of my favourite combos in the complementary chord is purple and yellow.  When done right, this colour palette can be quite stunning.

Sourcing:

1. Lemon Gumdrop Pendant $29.99 Serena and Lily

2. Lilac Diamond Quilt Euro Sham $34.99 & Marni Euro Sham $78, Both Serena and Lily

3. Dorm Trunk $199, PB Teen

4. Faux Leather Seat in Purple $79, Land of Nod

5. Brocade Orchid Crib Set $380, Annette Tatum

6. Benjamin Moore Paints in Spring Lilac (1388) and Hay Stack (317), Available in Natura Paint

Inspiration: Up, Up and Away…

One of the themes that I am loving right now is the hot air balloon theme.  I am currently working on a project for a little girl who is as much spirited as she is passionate – making this the perfect theme for her (stay tuned for the pics).  Hot air balloons can be used as a unisex theme that not only screams adventure, but can also be tweaked to have a vintage feel as well.  Check out some of these hot air balloon items for some inspiration!

-Lay Lay

Sourcing:

1. Pink Hot Air Balloon Kids Rug (also available in blue), Rosenberry Rooms $104

2. American Byways – Air Balloons, Oopsy Daisy $119

3. Vintage Metal Hot Air Balloon Money Box, Baby & Child Restoration Hardware $39

4. Vintage Hot Air Balloon Art, Baby & Child Restoration Hardware $99.99

5. Hot Air Balloon Mobile, Baby & Child Restoration Hardware $38.99

6. Hot Air Balloon Toy Chest, Art for Kids

7. Antique Balloon Penguin by Art Fronckowiak, Oopsy Daisy Fine Art for Kids $119

8. Antique Balloon Elephant by Art Fronckowiak, Oopsy Daisy Fine Art for Kids $119

9. Antique Balloon Unicorn by Art Fronckowiak, Oopsy Daisy Fine Art for Kids $119

10. Hermes Hand Painted Hot Air Balloon Decorative Pillow with Flange, Posh Tots $242

11. Hermes Hand Painted Hot Air Balloon Decorative Pillow with Cording, Posh Tots $172

Runway to Nursery: Shakespeare in Love

Although I’m still clinging to the summer months I couldn’t help but discuss this ultra romantic theme that is popping up in fashion and decor for the fall season.  A perfect example of this style can be found in Dolce and Gabanna’s Fall 2012 collection that seems to have a sixteenth century European flair to it.  Some of the key elements of this theme are luxurious fabrics like velvet, lace and satin, in addition to heavy embroidery with golds and silvers.  Floral elements also play a major role in this style making it extremely feminine and flirty.  Below I have shared some pieces for a nursery that I think work well within this theme.  Enjoy.

-Lay Lay

Sourcing:

1. ‘Collette’ Crib Bumper in Satin Jacquard by Bella Notte, $431 Layla Grace

2. Upholstered Cradle, Art for Kids

3. Embroidered Lace Ruffled Chandelier Shade, $28 each Layla Grace

4. Lacework Moss Wallpaper by Amy Butler, $85/roll Graham & Brown

5. Floret Glass Knob with Gold Post, Art for Kids

6. Berkeley in Blue Velvet Embroidered Pillow, $74 Rosenberry Rooms

7. Chelsea Iron Lifetime Crib in Antique Silver, $1,299 Bratt Decor