Some Window Shopping at Anthropologie

November 19, 2011 //
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Ever since Anthropologie built a store five minutes from my home it’s been one of my favorite places for collecting ideas and getting lost in the scenery. While they don’t cater specifically to children’s decor, I’m always finding things that would work brilliantly in future room designs.

I adore this lampshade. It’s girly without relying on predictable pink. It’s folksy and craftsy and elegant all at once. This would make an excellent statement piece in a simpler room with soft, uncomplicated bedding and restrained feminine details.
(Rose Landscape Shade from Anthropologie, $98)

Another lamp, but quite different – a quaint rabbit figure by day, glowing companion at night! I love that this little guy has such a sweet and comforting secret double life.
(Hippity-Hop Lamp from Anthropologie, $88)

I love that this circular rug can work in both grownup and youthful spaces. It’s bright and cheerful without falling into twee, and can either grow up with a child’s room or find a new home elsewhere in a house. The lemon-and-cream combination is a great way to introduce a larger-scale pattern into a space without overwhelming the eye.
(Whorled Trapunto Rug from Anthropologie, $498-$998)

Canopy Beds Without the Frill

November 17, 2011 //
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(Cabana Canopy Bed by DucDuc – $1,865 twin)

As a child I had a canopy bed that i loved. It was a safe little haven. A cozy cocoon. I love the idea of a designated space-within-a-space that divides a room in a way that doesn’t sacrifice light or functionality. It simply says, ‘this space is special’.

(Edland four-poster bed frame by Ikea – $279 full)

Now that my youngest is nearly ready to move into a ‘big girl’ bed, I’m starting to suss out what her room should look like. So far I’m pretty enthralled with the current crop of modern canopy beds with clean lines and no frills. They strike a nice balance between traditional furniture and new, allowing all sorts of eclectic accompanying pieces to be brought in the room to live peacefully together.

a wee scarecrow

October 8, 2011 //
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Fairport Scarecrow Festival 2011

This week I whipped up a little friend for the local Scarecrow Festival. To stick with the theme, I made up some burlap linens for a hay bale bed, and coffee-dyed some cheesecloth as a gossamer canopy. I finally had the perfect use for the remnant of nubby ikat-print fabric I’ve been hoarding!

It was a ton of fun to come up with and construct something so out-of-the-ordinary. I love a good excuse to make something.

magnificent mini

October 7, 2011 //
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During the summer I do a tremendous amount of garage and estate sale treasure hunting. Occasionally you find an item so special, so unique – but it slips from your grasp. Such was the case with a tiny, gorgeous chair upholstered in a soft pink and cream toile. It couldn’t be farther from the style of my daughter’s room, but I couldn’t help fantasizing about remaking her space completely around this chair.

Alas, I passed on it, with regrets. My Mom was kind enough to go back the next day to snag it, but it was snapped up right in front of her. Fortunately, she jotted down the name of the manufacturer – PAMA Furniture. Now that I’ve seen the amazing modern fabrics they have available, I’m even more smitten. It’s the perfect compromise.

Looking for Spring

April 26, 2011 //
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As we emerge from this cold, grey winter I’ve been obsessing over even the tiniest signs of spring – the first crocus peering out of the dirt, the fresh green buds of the hydrangea – and I went in search of artwork that captures the soft, fresh color of those moments.

Papermoth’s Etsy shop fits the bill nicely. There are a wide variety of prints available from this Kentucky-based artist, and many of the pieces are available in alternate colorways to suit multiple rooms.

Art Prints from Papermoth on Etsy, from $18

Looking toward ICFF with iglooplay

February 8, 2011 //
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I’m beginning to plan for ICFF this year, and peeked at the exhibitor list to see what I have to look forward to. I can’t wait to visit the iglooplay booth and see these pieces in person. Designer Lisa Albin uses sustainably-sourced materials to create her pint-sized playful line. Her choice of colors is both cheerful and soothing, and the organic forms are friendly additions to a child’s space.

craft/work, throwing stones, and toy/chaise by iglooplay

Bouncing Off The Walls

February 7, 2011 //
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It’s February in Upstate New York. Month after month of dark and snowy days have us housebound and stir-crazy. My own children spent the evening running from one end of the house to the other, collapsing into two bored heaps on the sofa.
Needless to say, on days like this I fantasize about having some nifty climbing equipment in the playroom to keep them from destroying the furniture (and each other).

It’s not easy to find a stylish way to introduce a slide indoors, but this option from Whitney Bros. is clean and uncluttered, and integrates into a modern playroom better than the usual plastic slides.

Toddler Slide from Whitney Bros., $399

Now let’s bring in some color. For a softer structure that’s friendly to the bounciest of toddlers, this soft slide-and-tunnel combo is bright, but appealingly geometric.

Tunnel Mountain Slide from The Children’s Factory, $989.95

Ok, admittedly I’d like one of these in grown-up size for my room. Guidecraft makes quite a few great pieces for both home and school/daycare environments, but this has to be their Mercedes of indoor climbing furniture – or at least close to it. With a carpeted loft area and stairs, built-in market stall, and a twee striped awning, this would surely keep my kids busy for hours a day. Of course, this kind of peace and quiet doesn’t come terribly cheap, but with every February day that passes, I’m assigning it more and more value. You know what I’m talking about, parents.

Market Loft by Guidecraft, $3,300

Dreaming in Color

January 15, 2011 //
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We tend to think of cribs as being fairly standardized – white, or select shades of wood finish – and in a small assortment of basic shapes. While not common, there are some interesting cribs out there available for purchase that bring in pops of color.

The Caravan crib from Kalon comes in five bright colors (and a neutral wood finish), made with sustainable maple, and are painted with low-VOC, HAPS (Hazardous Air Pollutants)-free paint.

Caravan Crib from Kalon, $695

Gift Guide 2010 – Natural Baby

November 28, 2010 //
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I stopped by the Second Storie Indie Market today and fell in love with dozens of things. At the bookhou design table the soft linen storage boxes were simply gorgeous in person, and would be a great way to organize a nursery. Among their many shop offerings I came across some charming plush printed animals and organic cotton onesies that would make excellent gifts for the littlest ones on your list.

The Organic Quilt Company makes organic cotton bedding, burp cloths, infant hats, and bibs in a variety of soft, modern prints.

Out of the woods of South Carolina come some of the cutest knit friends I’ve seen, from Pogoshop. Made from upcycled wool sweaters and bamboo fiber filling, they’re not just friendly, they’re eco-friendly. My favorite part? The little knit hats.

My son had a paper crane mobile in his room as a toddler. It was cheerful and sweet, but I wish I had seen these mobiles from Spare Bedroom Studio back then. Made from repurposed paper (here, maps and book pages), they’re both elegant and eco-friendly.

A Frenzy of Color

November 28, 2010 //
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As I plan my own daughter’s eventual ‘big girl’ room I’m desperate to incorporate Hudson’s colorful chalkboard paint into something unexpected, like the drawer-fronts of a renovated dresser or the sides of a reclaimed bookshelf. I may also use a bright shade to liven up the dreary back corner of the playroom, which also serves as the art corner – a perfect place to draw on the walls!

Chalkboard paint in a myriad of colors, Hudson Paint, $24.99/qt

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