kids rooms

The Friday Foursome

February 12, 2016

Maybe it’s the feeling of being all cooped up this winter – but I find myself going back to this Texas – area Home Builder’s portfolio often just to daydream. Not only are the interiors stunning, but the outdoor spaces have me wishing I lived in a warmer climate. I couldn’t choose one photo so here are a couple more.

I already knew that Amazon sells just about everything … but wow – they REALLY sell everything … including super chic industrial lights like this one and this one …. and you won’t BELIEVE the price!

Try these wooden frames for a more casual, rustic way to hang art.

Target is debuting a new home collection just for kids called Pillow Fort on February 21. You can get a sneak peak here.

Shopping, Champagne and Chandeliers … oh my!

January 19, 2016

Have you been to the new Restoration Hardware in the city yet? (Technically it’s called RH Chicago, The Gallery at the Three Arts Club). Judging by the steady flow of people mingling around the place with drinks in hand this past Saturday afternoon I would guess that there are quite a few of you who have! Did you love it as much as I did?

Tip: If you’re planning to dine in this lovely glass-roof atrium, (and I highly recommend you do!) put your name in for a table immediately upon entering. We were quoted a 1 hour 15 minute wait, which ended up being about an hour. But that’s okay – grab a coffee … or a Bellini (!) at the 3 Arts Cafe counter and start your own tour through this amazing store – all 5 floors of it!

The restaurant and loungey areas are take up most of the first floor. The 2nd floor is set up as a series of to-die-for bedrooms and bathrooms, all decked out in RH’s signature rustic elegance.

(I would move into this bedroom/bathroom/sitting room combo tomorrow!)

I’m putting this rolling ladder shelf on my Wish List.

The 3rd floor is Baby, Child and Teen – they were honestly some of the most fun and creative rooms.

In my fantasy world – this would be my daughter’s room. (I would also need a daughter, ha! I did say this was fantasy.)

Who am I kidding – I could live in this room just fine by myself.

Love this subtle wall treatment –

How about the entrance to this “hang-out” room. Heavy metal chains hung in the doorway. It’s very Brady Bunch meets Keeping up With the Kardashians …

Of course, there were some very cool boys rooms too – I love their use of dark colors, leathers and vintage pieces to make these rooms feel cozy but cool.

Love these bookshelves …

And the nurseries … so sweet and perfect for boy or girl. I just love the map wallpaper.

And here’s a precious idea to steal – photographs of animal babies hung over the crib:

Is it weird that Dan and I stood there for several minutes oooing and aaahing over how cute the baby animals were?

They continued the use of rope in a cool ceiling treatment too –

On up to the 4th Floor which was RH Modern and Artwork. Definitely a different vibe –

This gives new meaning to the word “bar-cart” –

Finally up one more flight of stairs – (there’s an elevator too – but you don’t want to miss this staircase)

And the view is worth the walk up …

A lovely rooftop to showcase their Outdoor Collection – I ‘d love to throw a party up here, wouldn’t you?

At this point you hope you’re receiving a text that says your table’s ready. But if not, just head back down stairs, lounge a little on the comfy sofas and enjoy the view.

(I really want to figure out how to do those uplit wine racks in my house.)

And finally – Voila!

Such a cozy spot on a cold winter’s day. Are you ready to plan your visit?

Creating a Boy’s room … for a real boy.

February 6, 2015

When we moved into our house and first decorated the boys’ rooms, Kyle was 4. Now he’s almost 11! How did that happen? Last fall we decided to move him over to our Guest Room, which has it’s own bathroom, so that my husband could have his own home office. (The first floor office works well for me, but he needs something a little more secluded … and sound-proof!) It seemed like a good time to give Kyle an update. Time to say good-bye to the bunk beds and hello to a Queen-size bed.

If you don’t have boys … you may think that a 10 year old boy wouldn’t care very much about what his room looks like. Sure, he wants his … STUFF … but he may not care how his STUFF looks. Well, this 10 year old boy DID care … and I know there are other boys out there who do too.

So how do you put together a room that satisfies the Mom AND the Boy? Now, I’ll be honest … if I was given that blank slate of a room to create a Boy’s Room all by myself – I could make it totally magazine-worthy … and it probably would not look exactly like this. But really, I’d be designing for a fake boy, wouldn’t I? Sometimes when I see Boy rooms on Pinterest or in a magazine, I feel kind of sorry for the kid. Where’s all his stuff? His trophies? His rock collection? His blue ribbons and his sports logos?

If you want a good chuckle, read this post Warped Childhood, Restoration Hardware Style.

As Kyle and I started to make plans for his room, he had several requirements.

1. He wanted to have a lot of “basketball stuff.” Like many boys his age, he is a huge Sports-buff. But specifically – Basketball is his sport. He wanted me to see if I could find any Chicago Bulls bedding. Hmmm – I’ll admit, I cringed a little. Thank goodness for Pottery Barn Teen that created a cute line of bedding with NBA, NHL, and NFL logos on it that is not too garish and actually kind of cute. Now, truth be told – I suggested getting either the logo quilt OR the logo sheets … but nope … “They are so cool, Mom! I want both!” Okay, Okay … but what about getting some different pillow shams to break it up a bit? “No, no – I like the ones that match the quilt!” Ok – I guess I should just be happy that he’s willing to have pillow shams. 🙂

We were able to incorporate other “basketball stuff” in his room too – I found the Home & Visitors sign with a net to hold all his basketballs at Pottery Barn Teen as well. We added the little vintage chalkboards on either side.

I found some basketball-inspired art at Art.com and let him pick his favorite.

I kind of love the one he picked.

(Please excuse the frog tank that needs to be cleaned!)

2. Another requirement … “a relaxing color.” He liked the pale blue he had in his last room …Serena & Lily’s Chambray Blue , but wanted something a little different. I suggested we go with more of a Blue-Gray. You should have seen all the color swatches we painted on the wall! (I forgot to snap a picture.) He was VERY interested in finding the perfect color. Finally, a choice was made … Benjamin Moore’s Harbor Gray.

3. Lights that he could easily turn off from his bed. This guy is an avid reader and often reads late into the night. Rather than putting a lamp on his nightstand, I suggested we hang two sconces right next to his bed. I had been swooning over these industrial looking ones at Ikea for awhile and knew they would be perfect for him. “They’re awesome!” he said.

I even love how the little cord has a neat black and white rope detail.

4. Finally … a desk. With the impending doom of Middle-School-Homework coming next year, he wanted to have a good desk in his room. We looked at lots and lots of desks … and this boy had expensive taste! One weekend I suggested we might find a cool vintage desk at the Randolph Antiques Market. “I don’t want somebody’s old desk!” he said.

Ha! It was a beautiful weekend and we dragged the boys into the city anyway. Voila! Within 5 minutes of walking into the Market, we bumped into this.

He loved it! It is from the 1930’s, so we had fun imagining the many places it’s lived.

It is sturdy and already has some cool nicks, scratches and markings on it –

so a few more won’t hurt.

Okay … back to the fifth requirement.

5. A place to display all his “stuff.” If we back up and look at this desk photo again you will see one of my solutions.

A magnetic bulletin board. Yes, I could have taken a bunch of things off (like the No Farting sign, for example) and styled it for this photo – but this is real life … and this is a real boy! Instead of taping random things all over the wall, he just sticks them on his bulletin board. (Makes me happy.) We also included some artwork that is personal to him … A caricature we had done on vacation … the Pluto sketch he loved learning to draw at Hollywood Studios in Florida, his favorite “masterpiece” from Art class at school and an aerial shot of NYC he bought this summer on his trip there with Dad.

Does this wall look like something you’d see on Pinterest or a Restoration Hardware catalog? Nope. But it looks very Kyle. (And I am just realizing that I need to straighten some of those frames — must be all of the Nerf-basketball-playing.)

My second solution for all the “stuff” is a big ol’ bookshelf.

Again, I could have removed 2/3rds of the stuff and styled this really cute … but this is how it really looks. Trophies, baseballs, little figurines and Bobbleheads … and books, books, books that he does not want to give away. I smile when I look at this shelf because I know it’s all the stuff he loves.

So what were my additions … the things he didn’t care about?

The shaggy rug … my way of adding a little style and pattern on the floor. (Although he does admit it’s nice and soft to step on when he gets out of bed.)

Drapes. (I mean, what male really does care about drapes?)

His only stipulation was that he wanted “no light to come in when they are closed.”

So I picked out the mix of creamy white and gray linen I liked. I had them installed while he was at school and his reaction upon seeing them was “Wow, they are better than I expected.” (Not sure what he was expecting.)

I also found this cute little nightstand on One Kings Lane.

He’s typically got 2 or 3 books going at once, so I wanted to find something where he could keep them all beside his bed.

Finally, I found this on Etsy.

And I know he will …

Two of my latest and favorite budget finds …

March 25, 2014

So we recently upgraded my son Braden to a full-size bed and I’ve been on the hunt for bedside tables and lamps to flank it.

I’m pretty excited by what I settled on … not only for how they look, but also the price!

The rope lamps I snagged at Home Goods for $29.99 each. They remind me of these versions that I’ve always liked ….

Pottery Barn Rope Table Lamp (Base only) $150

Land of Nod Tug O Lamp $99

The nightstands are from Target and I love the campaign style hardware.

At $79 it’s similar to these pricier versions …

Pottery Barn Devon Campaign Bedside Table $249

Bungalow 5 Tansu 2-Drawer Navy Side Table $990

I always love being able to pull of a Look-For-Less, don’t you?

(Especially in a 7 year old boy’s room!)

We still haven’t found quite the right headboard … but in the meantime, I hung this vintage flag I found on Etsy over his bed. What do you think?

Be sure to share you Look-For-Less finds with me!

A new addiction … Spoonflower Fabrics

September 6, 2011

I have a new addiction and it’s called Spoonflower Fabrics.

It’s an amazing site where you can actually design and print your own fabrics! Hmmm … I would love to try this out if I ever had a spare minute to sit down and sketch some ideas. But in the meantime, there are many other fabulous independent designers who have uploaded their designs to share.

There are literally so many wonderful prints, it has got me wanting to make all new pillows, window treatments, and bedding in every room of my house. (Dan, if you’re reading, take a deep breath … I’m only kidding … kind of.) I could not possibly even come close to featuring all of my favorites here, but I’ll give you a small sampling.

My favorite designer is Holli Zollinger.

Circle Leaf Linen

Kelly Lined Mosaic

Line Paisley Lavender

Tree Hearts Yellow

And she has some wonderfully whimsical ones that would be so fun in kids’ rooms …

Elephant and Umbrella Coral

Flight School Aircraft

Whales and Waves

Here’s another Alice-In-Wonderland inspired print that would be so sweet in a little girl’s room, wouldn’t it?

Alice Vintage Text and Toile

Some more prints that make me swoon …

Gray Cream Ikat

Connect the Blocks Ebony

I love the nature-inspired fabrics by Golly Bard.

Golly Bard - Woodland Collection -Yellowthroats

Yellow Throats – Woodland Collection

Golly Bard - Woodland Collection - Feathers

Feathers – Woodland Collection

And there are even some totally out-there designs for wherever your inspiration takes you …

Vintage Bingo Cards

Afro Text

I love that any of the prints can be done on various kinds of fabrics … cotton, cotton sateen, knit, twill, linen cotton canvas, silk crepe de chine, cotton voile or cotton silk. And the prices range from $18/yard to $38 which I think is a great deal.

What do you think? Time for a Spoonflower fix?