Posted in Home on September 19, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
via tadcarpenter.com
I ordered this print last week and it just arrived. I think I’m going to hang it over the desk in my office for a daily reminder of what’s important.
It’s easy to get caught up in all the things I want for my house, but my home would be nothing without my family. I am well aware that this print is yet another thing I purchased for my house, but hey, I’m only human (wink).
Do you have any favorite quotes that keep you grounded?
Posted in Home, tagged kids dinnerware on August 23, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
via Sarah + Abraham
via My Retro Baby
Another series I like are the plates, cups and bowls by Emily Green. She uses big, vibrant, child-like illustrations that are appealing to both parent and child. The 10” plates are bigger than most children’s plates, the bowls are low and wide, and the cups are perfectly child-sized. These have also held up beautifully to many washings in my house.
Emily Green via Amazon
In my post on Finn’s Robot Party, I mentioned our favorite French Bull robot cups. These also come in monsters, superheroes, and princesses, and are available with matching 8” plates and 6” bowls.
French Bull via Amazon
If you have kids who are super picky about one food not touching another, then compartmentalized dishes are probably for you. I love these Baby Cie dinner trays, which come in many themes—all labeled with their French descriptors. Baby Cie also features these themes in cups, bowls, 9” plates, placemats, silverware, bibs, placemats, and water bottles.
Baby Cie via Frenchy Bee
And don’t forget about Target, which always has a rotating selection of melamine plates and bowls. I especially love what they put out for various holidays.
As much as I long for the day when we all use the same plates and we don’t have to have a separate cabinet for all of the kids’ items, I will miss these brightly colored additions to our dinner table. Do you have any favorite kids’ dishes?
Posted in Home, tagged decor, kids on August 18, 2011 | 3 Comments »
We put together my daughter Lucy’s room several years ago and it hasn’t changed too much in that time, but it’s still my favorite room in the house. It’s bright and cheerful and yet serene. When I tuck her in bed at night, I feel good knowing she will wake up to such sweet and calm surroundings.
For those of you who love seeing room decor, here’s a peek…
The Argington bookcase keeps books hidden and gives her stuffed animals a place to perch. The lantern-style floor lamp is just her size.
The picture above the bookcase is a vintage-style nod to Lucy’s obsession with shoes at age two.
We installed built-in closet organizers, which ultimately led us to remove the closet doors completely—creating an easily-accessible nook for clothes and shoes.
A tree decal on the wall perched over a corner seat creates a cozy reading corner.
The Argington bed keeps her snug at night.
Resources:
Posted in Home, tagged art, playroom on July 25, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Last week, I showed you pictures of our new playroom. Today, I thought I would share a little about the artwork in the room.
I’ve always loved this Alison Jay canvas print, so when I spotted it at the Land of Nod outlet for 60% off, I scooped it up. It lends a whimsical touch to the room and is a fun accompaniment to the gingham tent hanging from the ceiling.
via Land of Nod
The rest of the art came from Etsy.com, my favorite source for homemade goods. Lily Gene customized this bus roll-style art for us and I love the balance it strikes between serious and fun.
via Lily Gene
This bright and cheery print comes from The Little Red Owl, a Melbourne, Australia-based shop. I love the colors, which are a perfect accent to the neutral grey walls.
via The Little Red Owl
via Studio Mela
via Studio Mela
What are your favorite sources for children’s art?
Posted in Home, tagged playroom on July 20, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Continuing from yesterday’s post, here are some more pictures of the playroom:
Arts and Crafts Cabinet
Lots of storage!
Office Space
(This list includes new things purchased, as well as what we already owned, so some items may no longer be available.)
It’s still a work in progress. I’m on the hunt for a bright and cheery accent pillow for the chair and artwork for the office wall, but it’s been wonderful having the kids’ toys so contained and they love their new playroom! Tomorrow, I’ll share more on the artwork used in the room…
Posted in Home, tagged playroom on July 19, 2011 | 3 Comments »
We recently created a playroom in our top floor bonus room—a room previously used for an office. We had been using our living room as a makeshift playroom and we were anxious to move the toys (and constant clutter) upstairs. Once the kids were old enough, we set to work.In our existing play space, the furniture was white, so I stuck with that as a consistent shade for the new room. I chose a silvery grey paint for the walls to keep things gender-neutral and tried to use bright colors in the textiles and artwork to keep things cheery. I was on a tight budget for this project, so I hunted for deals at my local Land of Nod Outlet, Target, and IKEA, and searched for art on Etsy. Any new furniture I bought was at least 75% off!
Here are some pictures of the new room. I’ll share more tomorrow, as well as a full list of resources.
The end result
Reading Corner
A place for dress-up, toys, and going to the market
A place for cooking... and hiding out
Posted in Home on July 18, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
via Amazon
Am I the last to know of the amazing Mr. Clean Magic Eraser? It has transformed my walls. Scuff marks? Gone. Crayon? Like it was never there. Handprints? See ya. Footprints? Why exactly were those on my wall to begin with? But yes, gone without a trace.
For anyone else not previously in the know, the magic eraser is a simple sponge that you get wet, ring out, and then use on anything that might need to be “erased”. It is suitable for walls, tile, appliances, patio furniture, gym shoes, and even car wheels (whoa).
I bought mine in a pack of 8 from Amazon, and each sponge can tackle quite a few jobs before it needs to be thrown away.
Have you discovered this already? What other “magic” products do you recommend?
Posted in Home, tagged chalkboard furniture on July 14, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
via CB2
Every so often I see something in a non-kids’ catalog that would be perfect in a playroom or child’s bedroom. Recently, I spotted this chalkboard architect desk at CB2. It’s probably a bit too high off the ground for young children, but wouldn’t it make a cool desk for an older child who loves to draw?
For those looking for a chalkboard table for younger kids or something more budget-conscious, here are a few alternatives:
This Peekaboo Chalkboard Table & Benches from Land of Nod is adorable. It’s a great deal at $89.95 for the whole set and the chalkboard top is removable, allowing space for storage underneath.
This Offi Chalkboard Table is beautiful, but definitely pricey. Why not try a DIY version using a hacked IKEA Poang table?
There are also some amazing DIY chalkboard dining tables here and here. What do you think: Would you like to eat your meals at a chalkboard table?
Posted in Home, tagged modern children's furniture on July 9, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
When I first started looking for furniture for Lucy’s “big girl” room, I had a really hard time finding what I wanted. I wanted something modern, without being cold and sterile. I wanted something with clean lines that would adapt to any style I (or eventually, she) chose. I also really wanted her to have a trundle under the bed for eventual sleepovers. Oh, and it had to be affordable! Did you get all that?
I lucked out when I found Argington. Their Ayres twin bed and trundle in all white is exactly right. It’s a platform style, with extended sides, which make the bed feel wider and take the place of a bedside table. The trundle can serve as an underbed storage drawer, or it can hold a mattress for overnight guests. You can also purchase matching wooden bed rails, which install right to the bed—eliminating the need for bulky mesh rails.
When it came time to buy Finn a twin bed, I knew this was the one. Instead of all white, we chose a combination white & cherry, which kept things bright but added a masculine touch. And we lucked out with our timing, because they were discontinuing that color combination and we snagged all of his furniture at a huge discount!
And the bookcase… oh, how I love the bookcase. The Eiffel bookcase is a rectangular cabinet that is short enough so the kids can reach everything in it and on top of it, but wide enough to hold lots and lots of books—and even some toys. The open middle is a perfect place for displaying stuffed animals (or “stuffies”, as Lucy calls them). But the best part is the doors. No matter how hastily the kids (or I) may put books away, everything looks as clean as can be when you close those doors. Genius! This was one of the only bookcases I could find with doors and, again, this was a no-brainer when it came time to buy a bookcase for Finn (see his white/cherry version below).
All of Argington’s furniture is made from renewable, sustainable wood with zero emissions, and all glues, stains and finishes are HAP free, 100% non-toxic and low VOC. And, right now, if you use the code AYRES at Argington, you can get the Ayres twin bed (in White or Ebony) for 40% off with free shipping! That’s an amazing deal!
Have you shopped for children’s furniture lately? What was your criteria?
