{lines we love} sustainable design

Today ‘sustainability’ and ‘organic’ are terms we hear often, but I remember it wasn’t that long ago when I didn’t understand a thing about what that meant. The first time I head the term ‘organic cotton’, I thought “Ummm…. isn’t all cotton organic? I’ve never heard of ‘synthetic cotton’ before, have you?” Of course I soon found out that the methods used to grow and process the cotton are what grant it an ‘organic’ label.

It’s a constant process trying to become a more responsible consumer and sometimes, it’s hard to sacrifice good fashion or a great deal in the name of sustainability. With that in mind, I have the best of both worlds to share with you today: organic & sustainable fashion & design at great prices from Zulily and Gilt!

STOPstart Global works to empower trafficked women and children. A member of the Fair Trade Organization, the group began in 2008 when friends from Australia made a visit to Cambodia and were inspired by the women they met there. STOPstart’s products are made by Cambodian women who are working for a new start and this particular collection is all from recycled rice bags. To learn more about STOPstart visit their website and shop them at Zulily for great savings!

American Apparel. Fashionable Basics. Sweatshop Free. Not only do they offer great fashion, but American Apparel is one of the few completely vertically integrated apparel companies in the US. What that means is that they take a hands-on approach to every element of their supply chain from growth of the cotton to the production of the fabric and finally the garment assembly. All of their production and factories are in the US and most importantly, they pay all employees from field to factory and beyond fair wages. Shop American Apparel at Zulily for some fabulous deals. (We love their stretchy cotton comfy pieces for styling a growing bump!)

Home-grown in Philadelphia, Frenchy Baby Organics offers a darling line of mix and match basics for infants and toddlers all made of organic cotton. An active member of their community, Frenchy Baby is involved with various local and national charities. Shop them at Zulily now!!!

The great diaper debate: cloth or disposable? Charlie Banana helps to make that decision a lot easier with their line of cloth diapers created out of a love for eco-friendliness, quality, and design. Last year Charlie Banana was nominated at Earth Champion for waste reduction. 1% of all sales is proudly donated to Operation Smile, a worldwide charity that changes the lives of children suffering from cleft lip, cleft palette, and other facial deformities.

Shop Charlie Banana at Zulily!

Last but certainly not least, Q Collection offers organic & eco-friendly nursery furniture and bedding. Their main goal is to eliminate all toxic chemicals that pollute indoor air quality – not to mention, it’s so adorable! Visit their website here for more on their mission + shop them at Gilt now for some fabulous savings.

 

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through the looking glass {nursery inspiration}

‘Alice – Larger than Life’ photograph ($20.13). ‘One-lump-or-two’ lamp ($198). Hot Air Balloon print ($5) on a page of ‘Through the Looking-Glass’.

Inspiration for this Wonderland nursery: The hot air balloon mobile (pictured below), the “toile” fabric from spoonflower.com composed of vintage Alice in Wonderland illustrations from the 1800s on a background of the book’s text, + this adorable topsy turvy tea service lamp from Anthropologie (above).

Taking cues from the whimsical and unexpected adventures of Alice through the looking glass, I wanted this room to be playful – inspiring creativity and imagination without feeling like a cartoon. The color palette keeps things sophisticated while the details make it fun.

Tuxedo Ruffle Curtains ($42). ‘Flying the Skies’ Mobile ($70). Custom fabrics for crib bedding here and here ($18/yd). Cottage Crib ($239.99). ‘Cabbage Rose’ Rug ($58). Dorel Rocking Chair ($159). Edland 2-drawer Dresser ($199).

For the focus wall (which is usually the wall that the crib is on) I love this ‘Woods Wallpaper’ in coral from Anthropologie. However – at $198 a roll it’s a bit of a splurge. Not to mention, wallpaper isn’t always the easiest medium to work with.

If you love the look, but want to do it without the hassle of the wallpaper + a lower overall cost, try this:

Paint the walls a pretty coral color (Behr ‘Powdered Petals’ or ‘Guava Jam’ both would be great choices). After the paint is dry, apply vinyl wall decals in the shapes of trees. Now you have a beautifully finished focus wall at a fraction of the cost, easier than applying the wall paper!

Vinyl Decals from Surface Inspired ($65) + sample vinyl colors (bottom left). Behr Paint Samples for wall color.

Grand Total for the Room: $1,063

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fresh summer {shower}

Even though warm, breezy summer days are quite a ways off (at least here in the Pacific Northwest), all of the cold and rain has me longing for just that.

Using elements like gingham tablecloths, rustic stoneware, straw baskets, and lots of flowers are the perfect decor for this fresh summer shower. Serve cupcakes with berries, fresh squeezed lemonade, and light appetizers for a perfect picnic of a party sure to delight all of your guests – most importantly – the mama-to-be!

candy buffet table labels. fresh cherries in favor bags. pitcher of lemonade.

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{gilt picks} sunday fun

Happy Sunday all! Here are just a few of my favorite Gilt picks for the littles to share with you this weekend.

American Apparel striped pull-over ($13). Primigi ‘Jarvis’ Driving Moc ($45 – $55). American Apparel Infant Onesie ($8). Zachary Zebra Rocker ($90).

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{real rooms} cool blues

One of my favorite places to find design inspiration is in beautiful rooms others have created. Lately, I seem to be finding spaces in all shades of blue for both boys and girls. On this fabulous Friday I thought I’d share a few of my recent favorites!

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{planning your nursery} 4th edition

It’s been a little while since we began walking through the steps to planning your nursery so in case you’ve forgotten (or haven’t had the chance to see them), here is a little review:

1st edition – choosing the space and deciding on the general style.

2nd edition – planning the room.

3rd edition – the budget.

photo via HGTV.com

You now have the space picked and a general style in mind, the room has a tentative layout + measurements have been taken and your budget it set.

What’s next? Shopping! I don’t know about you, but that certainly gets me excited! This step is all about picking the pieces an accessories for your room.

– Start with the elements that are most important to you and choose those first. This could be anything from paint color, furniture, bedding, or a crazy vintage lamp you found that just had to be in the room.

– From there, build on the initial pieces you have chosen to complete the space. Think of it like completing a painting or a cake – you’re simply layering on element after element until you have your final product, making sure they balance each other out along the way.

– Do a little research to ensure the items you have chosen meet saftey standards and are recall-free. Shopping for some of these items second-hand is a great way to save money as long as you have done your research. Also – do a little competitive shopping (online is a great resource) to make sure you’re getting the best prices.

If you get stuck along the way, stop, take a breath, and just think about what is most important. In the end you want all these pieces to add up to something that is a space you and baby can enjoy together. Also – don’t be afraid to enlist the help of creative family or friends. They are fabulous resources to take advantage of!

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{nursery inspiration} parisian carnival

What inspired me: Paris circa 1900, La Boheme, Moulin Rouge, vintage circuses & carnivals (I just read ‘Water for Elephants’ the other day) mustard yellow velvet, and the beautiful multi-colored glass chandelier featured below.

Frustratingly, I couldn’t find a good mustard velvet chair or settee anywhere aside from this image (no idea where to purchase it) so I settled for velvet curtains instead.

The three photographs from etsy helped set the tone – even though the ferris wheel is actually from the Navy Pier in Chicago, still very ‘Parisian inspired’. Find the prints here, here & here.

Viceroy Velvet Curtains (anthropologie, $108 ea.) Elephant Print (etsy, $8) Gypsy Multicolor Chandelier ($65) Button Tufted Chaise in Peacock (Target, $449.99) Birds Fitted Crib Sheet (etsy, $22) Custom Fabric (Spoonflower, $18/yd) Bohemian Floral Rug (Urban Outfitters, $48) Jenny Lind Crib in Cherry (Amazon.com, $159) Balmain Throw Pillow (etsy, $60) Left Bank Chest in Distressed Turquoise ($259)

Total (excluding chaise): $963

Total w/chaise: $1413

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