the blog

Archive for 2013

dream nursery: lynn

romantic baby girl's nursery

This sweet baby girl’s nursery belongs to Lynn, she’s just over two months old. Lynn’s room first caught my eye because it feels so calm, pretty and together. When I found out it was decorated by her grandmother Karin, I decided to find out a bit more.

How did this nursery come about? When Lynn was born, I wanted to give her a room of her own in our house, rather than a cot in a spare room for when she’s visiting.

What was your goal for the room’s decor? I wanted to create a sweet and cosy nursery that was a little bit different.

What is your favourite part of the room? I love the tree and how everything goes together. From the sheets to the accessories, I’ve put everything together to try and create a a room that feels ‘whole’.

Anything you would do differently next time? No, I don’t think so… I am really happy how it has all turned out.

Your best tips for decorating a nursery? Follow your own taste. If you’re not sure what your taste is, try and find inspiration by looking around for styles and colour combinations that you feel attracted to.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

If you like Karin’s style, take a tour of Karin’s home here for vintage French country style inspiration (called “brocante” in the Netherlands, after the French flea markets). In her online shop Brocaatje, you’ll find brocante style home decor, as well as accessories made by Karin herself. Since the arrival of her first granddaughter Lynn, she’s added two nursery collections which she blogs about here. (If you don’t speak Dutch, try the ‘translate’ button in your browser ; )

(images: brocaatje)

wonderlamps for kids’ rooms

bloesen toverlamp childrens lightingRemember Dutch lighting designers Hartendief? I wrote about their wonderful range of children’s lighting a while ago. Founder Hylkia got in touch to let me know they have added three new magic designs – and they are lovely! As with the previous lamps,  the lamp changes appearance when the light is switched on at night, revealing a magic scene.

forest wonderlamp hartendief childrens lighting

I often find kids’ lighting a bit too themed and overbearing, adding yet another element that draws the eye in rooms that have so much going on already. The beauty of Hartendief’s magic lights is that they are mostly white with a simple motif when they are switched off during the day, and only come to life at night. The perfect solution!

Do you remember your bedroom light? Mine had different forest animals all around it, and I never tired of examining the colours, shapes and story it told. What did yours look like?

(images: hartendief)

into the wild: woodland themed wallpaper from hibou home

hibou home into the wild kids wallpaper

hibou home into the wild childrens wallpaper

Every once in a while a new wallpaper design comes around that makes you go a little bit gooey. Hibou Home‘s new Into the Wild is one of them. Available in two colourways, I just love the stone and white version because it’s so versatile and easy to use in a nursery or woodland themed kid’s room. The quality is simply gorgeous too. Beautiful wallpaper for beautiful homes as the folk at Hibou say – I couldn’t agree more. You can check out the entire new collection here.

(images: hibou home)

nordic and paris decor ideas for kids’ rooms

paris decor ideas for kids' rooms

If, like me, you’re a little addicted to the kids’ decor books from Edition Paumes, you’ll be happy to hear that they have released two new titles: Nordic Deco Ideas for Kids’ Rooms and Paris Deco Ideas for Kids’ Rooms.

nordic-decor-ideas-for-kids-rooms

Like their predecessors, Children’s Rooms London, Stockholm, Paris, Copenhagen and Finland, these books are pure eye candy. There’s very little text – and what text there is, is mostly in Japanese – but the pictures speak for themselves.

I was curious to find out if they were just rehashes of the previous books, and although there are some images that have featured before, there’s lots of fresh material to get you inspired and create a gorgeous little room for your child. There are sections with ideas for walls, beds, colour, textiles, fashion, desks, decoration, books, storage, prints, lights, vintage, and even your garden.

I bought my copies in a fabulous new shop I recently discovered – The Pippa and Ike Show. It’s run by a fellow Dutch girl, and she stocks many of my favourite Dutch kids’ decor brands too. Happy days.

(images: edition paumes)

my room: liv

eclectic girls bedroom with custom built-in bed

This gorgeous girl’s bedroom belongs to Liv who is seven years old. She lives with her family in a converted farm in The Netherlands in the countryside between Utrecht and Amsterdam.

Liv’s room was designed by her mum Larissa, who is an interior designer at design studio Viva Vida. The room features a custom made built-in cabin bed, a bit like the Dutch cupboard beds of days of old.

Larissa’s advice for designing your children’s rooms is to consider their character, listen to their wishes, and to translate this to your interior style.

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

Time to find out a bit more about Liv now! Tell us Liv…

♥ What is your favourite food? Spaghetti with ketchup and cheese, chips.

♥ What are you into right now? Crafting, playing in my tree house, and playing games on my mum’s old phone.

♥ What is your favourite colour? Pink.

♥ What is your favourite animal? My cat Zonnestraaltje [Sunbeam].

♥ Your favourite book? I have two: Otje by Annie MG Schmidt and The BFG by Roald Dahl.

♥ Dresses and skirts or trousers? Dresses and skirts.

♥ What do you want to be when you grow up? An artist.

♥ What would you take to a desert island? My toy horse.

♥ What is your favourite thing in your room? My cabin bed – it has a secret cupboard.

♥ What do love doing in your room? Dressing up with my friends and crafting at my desk.

♥ Which is your favourite duvet cover? The one with the red and pink hearts.

Thank you Liv, it was great to meet you!

(images: Henny van Belkom and Jean – Marc Wullschleger)

pale & interesting: wallpaper for a white nursery

wallpaper for a white nursery

All-white nurseries are as popular as ever and look even more stunning with the merest hint of colour. Introducing a feature wall is the perfect way to do this. I’ve listed some of my favourite wallpapers over on My Baba – now all you have to do is choose!

rosie’s room in goodhomes

12 May, 2013 in in the press

goodhomes june 2013

Rosie's Green Nursery in GoodHomes June 2013

I’m very very happy that Rosie’s nursery is featured in GoodHomes’ June edition as part of an article about my clients’ house renovation. You can read the full article and more about the inspiration for her green room on my Press page here.

(images: goodhomes)

playroom: diy cardboard playhouses

diy play houses for a playroom

diy playhouses with vintage wallaper

Wouldn’t these DIY cardboard playhouses be the cutest addition to your child’s playroom? I came across this wonderful tutorial by the talented Elsie and Emma over on their  blog A Beautiful Mess. Love the tile detail and vintage wallpaper… Have fun!

(images: a beautiful mess)

seven tips to create a stylish room for your child

26 April, 2013 in kids room design

seven tips to create a stylish kids room

I’ve been very busy working on some lovely projects these past few weeks, so I haven’t been posting as often as I’d like. I did find some time however to write a piece with kids room design tips for my friend Alex over at Eden Private Staff. Hop on over if you’d like to read seven tips to create a stylish room for your child.

PS.: Spot a trend in the images above? Green is hot news again for kids rooms – one of my favourite colours for nurseries and children’s rooms, and so right for the spring weather we’ve been having of late!

(images: Skeppsholmen, Room Seven, Smam, Flexa)

my room: floor

boys bedroom in red, grey and white: floor

This cool boy’s bedroom belongs to Floor who is six years old. He lives with his mum, sister and brother in a lovely and light new-built house in Zutphen, The Netherlands. Puk the cat, Daan the dog and Chocolat the rabbit also share the house with them.

Floor’s room was decorated by his mum Carla, who is the owner of the wonderful Met Melk & Suiker blog and a self-confessed Pinterest and Instagram addict. Carla’s blog feels beautifully serene with lots of interiors inspiration, unusual angles and peeks into her family’s life. Having run an online kids’ and home accessories store for 2 years, she currently works part-time in HR.

Carla’s best interior design advice for kids’ rooms is to combine a calm base with original accessories and let the room develop from there – a room needs to grow. Because of her interest in interiors and styling, she’s always changing things around at home, including in her children’s bedrooms. She suggests looking for inspiration on Pinterest and in magazines to create a moodboard with your child.

Time now to find out a bit more about Floor! Tell us Floor…

♥ What is your favourite food? Anything that starts with a “P” – pasta, pizza, pancakes, poffertjes and patates frites – but I also love brie and olives : )

♥ What are you into right now? I love playing football outside (and on Wii ; ). I also like playing with my friends and my sister Pip – with my Lego train and Cars cars for example.

♥ What is your favourite colour? Orange and blue.

♥ What is your favourite animal? Dinosaur.

♥ Your favourite book? Football books!

♥ Where would you like to go one day? I’d like to travel around the world.

♥ What do you want to be when you grow up? A goal keeper.

♥ What is your favourite thing in your room? My bed!

♥ Which is your favourite duvet cover? The one with the wolf in the pictures.

♥ Which are your favourite pyjamas?  My mum wanted to buy me pyjamas with moustaches from H&M, but I prefer to sleep in my jogging bottoms.

♥ Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about your room? I love my birdhouse and toadstool lights because I can switch them on to read before I go to sleep. The toadstool light always stays on at night – ever since I was a baby.

Thank you Floor, it was super to meet you!

(images: met melk & suiker)