eclectic glam {gray & pink nursery}

Posted on May 24, 2011 by cara

When I originally started this design board, I had my heart set on doing an all-white nursery based around this fabulous Eames lounge. But – then I found some amazing throw pillows (pink velvet, sequins, rich embroidery) and the direction took a turn to this beautifully eclectic gray & pink room with a touch of high-style glam! Perfect for a tiny little budding fashionista.

Curtains: Urban Outfitters ‘Waterfall Ruffle’ $79. Mobile: Flensted ‘Circular Bunnies’ $33.50. Mirror: Anthropologie ‘Vine Gardener’ $498. Crib: Babyletto ‘Modo’ $350. Pillows: Urban Outfitters ‘Velvet Ruffle’ $28 ‘Sequin Swirls’ $32 ‘Embroidered Patchwork Elephant’ $36. Rug: Pink Chevron $650. Chair: Herman Miller ‘Eames Leather Lounge & Ottoman’ $4,499

 

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{small space living} freshening up for spring

Posted on May 24, 2011 by cara

Hi all! I apologize for the blogging silence lately. To be honest, I was feeling like I was in a bit of a rut and needed a little hiatus to refocus and get reinspired. That – plus – Z was out of town for work the past week and I took advantage of that time to freshen up the house for Spring (and yes, I know that summer is less than a month away but here in the PNW, it barely even feels like we’ve gotten Spring!).

Zack works from home most of the time so our tiny bedroom is also his full-time office. The biggest challenge we face is storage space. My philosophy is to keep things simple; minimal clutter and solid neutral pieces that I can freshen up with a few accessories as the mood strikes. My two favorite things about our place: the location (walking distance to anywhere downtown) and the hustle and bustle of traffic on the river.

So – excuse the quality (& lighting) of the pics – I just snapped them quickly on the iphone but wanted to share the progress.

The patio was power-washed, furniture & BBQ cleaned, veggies & herbs planted in pots. I added some solar-powered hanging lights from IKEA and Moroccan Lanterns that we originally used at our wedding reception.

In progress: building a gallery-wall behind the sofa. Haven’t gotten to re-covering the throw pillows quite yet but pleased with the direction it’s going.

The bedroom/office. It is a really dark room so keeping everything light and bright with clean lines was very important. My favorite pieces in the room are the framed original photographs above the bed. There is also a SUPER yummy sheepskin rug at the foot that you can’t see in this photo but trust me, it’s ah-mazing!

 

Coming later this week: a {real rooms} nursery feature, mama style, and new nursery inspiration {pink & gray}.

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{DIY} colorful zebra rug

Posted on May 18, 2011 by cara

It’s no secret that I’m a bit obsessed with animal prints – both in fashion and home decor – so when I saw this amazing DIY zebra rug, I couldn’t wait to share it! One of the best things about it (aside from the fact that it is SUPER easy and can be done on a dime!) is that you can completely change the colors depending on your room decor.

Although the project itself originally came from the book Dorm Decor, it would be perfect in a space like a nursery or playroom as well. If you get a chance to check this book out – definitely take a peek. It is full of crafty and creative ways to make any small space more beautiful!

How to Make a No-Sew Felt Zebra Rug:

You’ll Need:

Zebra rug template (download here)
2 yards (72″ wide) gray felt
2 yards (72″ wide) orange felt
4 yards (72″ wide) cream felt
6′ x 2′ piece of 2″ grid pattern paper
Carbon paper and tracing wheel
Pencil
Scissors
Fabric Glue

Make the pattern.
1. Using the zebra rug template (download here), draw the zebra rug pattern onto the 2″ grid pattern paper. Draw a 2″ border around the edges and cut out the template around the outer edges.

Cut out the pieces.
2. Fold the gray felt in half lengthwise and lay it on the floor. Lay the template on the felt with the template’s straight edge even with the fold in the fabric. Following the instructions on the carbon paper, trace the design onto the felt with the tracing wheel.

3. Remove the template and carbon paper. Pin the layers of felt together and cut out the design.

4. Repeat for the orange felt.

Assemble the rug.
5. Lay the cream felt out flat on the floor. Unfold the gray felt piece and lay it flat on top of the cream felt. Pin in place.

6. Cut the cream layer to the same size as the outer edge of the gray felt. Glue the layers together with fabric glue and let the glue dry.

7. Place the rug over the cream felt again and cut out another layer. Glue the layers together with fabric glue and let dry.

8. Flip the rug over and place the orange piece in place, matching the raw edges. Pin the layers in place and glue them together.

 

Easy, right?! Get creative and choose colors that work for your space. If you have a great DIY project for a nursery or playroom, we’d love to hear from you! Also – please take a minute to VOTE for us over at Top Baby Blogs… it only takes two clicks. Thanks so much!

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madmen meets safari {real rooms}

Posted on May 13, 2011 by cara

If you haven’t had the chance to check out the 2011 ‘Smaller Cooler’ contest on ohdeedoh, you are missing out on some fabulous design! Not only are the rooms featured fresh, original, and functional – all of them conquer the challenge of great design in small spaces. To qualify for the contest, the room needs to be under 75 square feet for one child or under 100 square feet for two.

Miles’ room (featured below) is one of my favorites to date – a cool mid-century vibe, described by his mama as “madmen meets safari“.

The inspiration: This awesome vintage scarf with the cowboy sillhouette framed above his bed.

The pieces: all repurposed except for the crib (Babyletto Mercer) and rocker (here).

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{nursery inspiration} bold patterns in orange & gray

Posted on May 12, 2011 by cara

Curtains – Anthropologie (from $108). Flensted Olephant Mobile – Amazon ($42). Storytime Rocker – Nurseryworks ($650). Alphabet Prints – Etsy ($12 ea). Switchback Rug – CB2 ($269). Babyletto Modo Crib – Amazon ($379).

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{do not disturb} shhh… baby is sleeping

Posted on May 9, 2011 by cara

One of the many challenges facing new parents is navigating the waves of people all wanting to come and visit, see the new baby, help where they can… and sometimes… overstay their welcome!

The question is, when and how do you want your loved ones to visit the new baby and how can you best communicate this with everyone?

Do you prefer short scheduled visits? Are you more the type to want your visitors to kick off their shoes and stay awhile? Or – would you prefer everyone stay away at the beginning all together (perhaps only stopping by if they’re bringing food)? Regardless of how you want baby’s early visits to go, the constant challenge is how to best communicate your preferences.

Here are a few ideas to help you get your message across politely, clearly, and with a firm hand.

Thanks to Etsy (among others), there are an absolute multitude of darling handmade signs with messages ranging from “knock softly” to “do not disturb”. By choosing the wording on a door sign, you already are indicating to potential visitors whether or not you prefer company at the moment.

Two of my favs can be found here and here!

If you don’t want any visitors at all (especially unannounced), say so! Post a sign at the door with any necessary info and keep it fun. One great idea I read suggested a message like, “The baby would love to see you, but her parents really need a nap, a feeding, and a time out. Call for an appointment. Preference will be given to visitors bearing meals.”

One last creative solution – try a whiteboard at the door. Post a time for “visiting hours”, and encourage people to leave a note on the whiteboard to let you know they stopped by. Plus – this allows you to change your message easily and as often as you like as your preferences for visits change.

Most importantly – just tell your friends and family what you prefer. Odds are, most people will respect that and try to keep things as easy as possible for you!

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cinco de mayo! {nursery inspiration}

Posted on May 5, 2011 by cara

fabric for curtains. crib bedding. frame. frame. crib. rug. rug. kids rocker. rocker.

In honor of Cinco de Mayo, today’s nursery began with the Serena & Lily ‘Marlo’ crib bedding inspired by Mexican folk art. I love gray as a backdrop for any room because the color is chic, sophisticated, contemporary and warm all at once. One of the biggest misconceptions in designing a room for a child (especially a nursery) is that the design has to be ‘dumbed down’. In reality, balancing a sophisticated room with the playful aspects of childhood serve to create a much more beautiful finished space. You’ll rarely find baby animals or alphabet motifs in one of my rooms but if you do, rest assured they wont be used traditionally!

A constant theme in rooms I love comes from mixing handmade artisinal and ethnic pieces from the world over with clean, unfussy elements (currently I am completely pre-occupied with mid-century modern). A pop of yellow against a gray backdrop mixing a variety of textures and patterns strikes perfect balance with the contemporary lines of the furniture (like the Oeuf Sparrow Crib, a current favorite in the nursery design community).

Some of my favorite inspirations can be found in the homes of my grandparents who have circled the globe in their travels more than a dozen times, each return bringing another fabulous treasure from a far-off place. Every carving, statue, woven textile, and piece of art is a story – not only about the place from which it came, but the memories of the travels that brought it home. Designing a space isn’t simply about the pieces that fill the room, it is also about telling the story of your family – where you’ve been, where you’re going, and the unique experiences along the way.

 

 


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