Retro Rooms for modern kids

Help needed for a family who is going through a tough time.

2011-03-21T18:55:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone, today I am appealing for help. I recently read a story in my local paper about a family who desperately needs some help.The link to the story is here. Liz Evans has multiple brain tumours and two young boys. The family has had to move out of their house and neighbourhood, to a house which needs a lot of work, in another part of Sydney. Her colleagues at the Pittwater RSL appealed for help renovating the house, and I put my hand up to try to make the kids' rooms brighter. So far we have had a car bed donated for one of the boy's rooms and I have a doona cover to donate for the younger boy in an airplane pattern. I now need decor items to match these- I'm thinking wall letters, wall stickers, art work, anything car or plane themed that could fit in. I will post a photo of the car bed (something I am sure will be the envy of little boys everywhere...) and the doona cover for the other boy's cot. Let me know if any of you can help!!!

Hugs and Inspiration

2011-02-06T17:35:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone- Happy New Year! I hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas break and is settling back into the daily grind. Now that my youngest has started school I am adapting to having a bit of extra time on my hands, but I am sure I won't have a problem filling up the days. My first post this year is about a lovely new company, Hugs and Inspiration. They do lovely artwork for children's rooms. The artwork is lovely and the beautiful frames are made from Australian hardwood. The website will be launched mid Feb, but in the meantime you can check out their stuff on their facebook page or buy it through Bubba Bling. Enjoy!

Lovely Lady Luck Lampshades

2010-11-10T17:14:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone - yet again I have been neglecting my blog, but hope to get things back on track very soon. Meanwhile, I was contacted by Irene from Lady Luck Lampshades about their great range of shades and thought I would share them with you. They have a fab children's range, and I'll show you a few photos of my favourites, but they do a great range for all rooms of the house.

My Top 5 storage tips for your child's room- for real children

2010-09-22T19:46:00.001-07:00

You may recall that in my last post I mentioned that I am doing a blogging course. I am finding it very inspiring and it is really making me think about how I want my blog to be and how I can make it more enjoyable for my readers. Hopefully in the next few months you will start to see the fruits of my labour in that course come into play here. Please let me know if you have any comments, criticisms or suggestions- and also if there is anything you'd like to see me cover.

As part of our homework this week, we have been asked to come up with a list of our top tips or suggestions in our area of expertise. I thought I would share my top 5 tips for storage in children's rooms, not just from an interior designer's perspective, but also from a mother's perspective. We have all had a quiet chuckle looking at beautiful photos of kids rooms and thought "yeah, but give it half an hour with my 5 year old then see what it looks like." Well, the chance of keeping it looking good is in direct proportion to how much storage you have. So, here are my top 5 mother tips to having a great looking kids room.

1) You don't have to use wardrobes for clothes. I used old school lockers in Jake's room for clothes storage.(see the picture above taken from his Shop 4 Kids shoot) As a boy he really doesn't have much to hang up so everything can be folded. I wouldn't recommend this for girls though because as soon as they can stand up they need hanging space for all those dresses! In my experience, girls seem to need about twice as much clothes storage as boys. I know, it's not fair, but they do. In Lola's room I have a huge chest of drawers and a small-ish wardrobe. You could also think about drawers under the bed (try Domayne's Charlie bed) , bookcases with pull out sections to use for clothes as well as open shelves for books and toys, like Ikea's Expedit System (see above). Just remember, whatever you choose needs to be accessible. You will hate any storage system that requires you to be a contortionist whenever you have to put the laundry away!

2)Put away clothes (and toys) you don't use. Store the out of season clothes in drawers under the bed, in the attic, in vacuum bags, anywhere but with the rest of the clothes,. It just makes life so much easier to keep them separate. If you can do this with toys too then that's great, but I find that the "rotate the toys" system really only works for very young children. Over about the age of 3, the minute you store one of their toys it will be required for immediate use and you'll be getting it out again,

3)Cull, cull, cull. Every time you change the clothes over for the season, get rid of the stuff that is too small, worn out or simply not likely to ever be worn again. If they didn't wear it this season, they are unlikely to ever wear it again, so give it away, sell it on ebay or donate it to charity. If you can convince your child to do the same with old toys, you are very lucky. I sometimes offer to buy a new small toy for every 10 old ones donated to charity (or to a younger friend.) I also point out to my kids that if Santa thinks you have too many old toys that you don't play with, he might not bring many new ones. Mean mummy, but it usually works for a pre-Christmas clean up.

4) Give kids room to store their junk. My kids have several tubs with lids on that they can store all their own bits and pieces that I would be inclined to chuck out. McDonalds toys, broken hairclips, unidentified craft projects, you name it, they go in there. Then every 6 months or so they go through it and get rid of the things that aren't important anymore. What seems like junk to us can be very precious to small children- it's important to remember this, and give them somewhere to put it all where it won't drive you crazy.

5) Bulletin boards. My kids are not allowed to stick things on the wall, but my son in particular is a huge hoarder of every flier, party invitation, canteen menu, business card etc that he comes across (his favourite store is Officeworks- do I need to say any more?) We put up cork bulletin boards on the back of the kids doors and they can put whatever they want up on them. (Although I drew the line at the Jim Beam bumper sticker- I mean, he's 6!) And unless I am in their rooms with the doors closed, I don't have to look at them, and no-one knows they are there.
If you want to try to pretty them up, cover them in fabric to match the decor.

There you go- hope that helps! And remember, although it sometimes seems easier to let the kids rooms slide into disarray, the more you teach them to keep them tidy, the more likely it is to eventually sink in, and they will do it themselves. That's the thought that's keeping me going, anyway!

MIA

2010-09-05T20:02:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone- sorry I have been missing in action for so long! The last month has sort of gotten away from me, but hopefully I will be posting a lot more soon. I am about to start a blogging course with run by the fantastic Holly Becker from decor8. I am very excited about getting into this course- it seems like it will be amazing. Anyway, I think that will keep me a bit busy for the next 4 weeks but hopefully you will all notice a transformation of my blog by the time I've finished!

Tim Crawshaw's fabulous "arty farty" photographs.

2010-07-26T18:46:00.000-07:00

When a photographer releases a collection of prints called the "arty farty" package, it's a pretty safe bet that their work has a sense of humour about it. Tim Crawshaw's lovely photographs printed on canvas are vibrant and fun, and would look brilliant in a kid's room or playroom. Imagine how stunning the pink pipe and the clothes pegs would look in a white room, with cushions or furniture in co-ordinating colours. Teens would also love these pictures, and the website has lots more to choose from. Prices start at $795, so they are an investment piece, but your child will never out grow them, and they would look fabulous anywhere in the house. Check out the whole collection, plus packages like the "arty farty" collection at www.timcrawshaw.com.

Sleepi Spaces Moses Baskets

2010-07-20T17:05:00.000-07:00

Nothing satisfies that nesting instinct more than choosing your baby's first bed. What expectant mother has not spent many happy moments smoothing down the covers of that little bassinette or Moses basket, dreaming of the baby who would fill it. (Most of us are not dreaming about the many hours we will spend trying to get the baby to actually go to sleep in the bed but that's the beauty of hormones....)

Sleepi Spaces Moses Baskets launched in May of this year, and they make a lovely option for that all important first bed. They come with a babysafe mattress, mattress protector, fitted sheet, matching minky backed blanket and a large dust storage bag. You can choose from the classic fixed stand or the Sleepi Rocker, and both come in a choice of natural timber or ivory. Sets start from a very reasonable $340.

Vintage ballet room

2010-06-23T18:05:00.000-07:00

Firstly, I apologise for being missing in action. I seem to have been caught up in the details of everyday life and have been neglecting my blog. My bad.

One of the things I have been working on is a gorgeous vintage ballet room for a 7 year old girl. Have a look at a few of the things I have found. Makes me want to get out my tutu!

The beautiful black and white posters are from All Posters and the lampshade is made from Cath Kidston's ballet fabric- which seems to have been discontinued. Hmm- better start searching on Ebay.

Okay, I admit it, I want this for myself.

2010-05-11T17:58:00.000-07:00

Looking at an email from the fabulous kids product blog LMNOP this morning, this gorgeous MoMA Modern Play House jumped out at me. It comes from the Museum of Modern Art Store in New York, and includes 6 nesting boxes, 8 mix and match furniture pieces, 12 removable vinyl clings and as it says on their site "endless possibilities". There is a play family available too. Yes- just think of the fun I could have! The problem would be keeping my daughter away from it. I am a very selfish mother...

And yes, they ship internationally. Oh dear.

Oodles of great art at Nootles

2010-05-02T18:31:00.000-07:00

Sheridan from Nootles (so called because her son can't pronounce "Noodles") contacted me this morning to tell me all about her company. I visited her website and loved what I saw. What fresh, vibrant children's wall art! The thing I like most about it is that a lot of these pieces will be great as the kids grow up- or in a teenagers room now. They have a real "pop-art" feel about them- a bit Andy Warhol-esque but in a child friendly way. They would also look fab in a playroom, or even in grown up living spaces. They are printed on high quality canvas and have a fast turnaround, so you won't be waiting forever for your masterpiece. Check them out and start your gallery now!

Children's Lighting

2010-04-26T17:25:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for something to light up your little one's life, check out new online store Children's Lighting. They have some cute, original lights for kid's rooms- and that can be hard to find. I really like the flower ball and the ABC ball (it would be very cute in an alphabet themed room). And at these prices you can afford to change them later on when your child grows out of them.

Babiekins Magazine- featuring us!

2010-04-19T20:27:00.000-07:00

The lovely Priscila from Little Miss Heirlooms has just launched her online magazine "Babiekins". It features lots of great articles and lovely photography- and an article by me about making vintage decor work in a modern room. Check it out and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss an issue!

Boy do I want to hitch my little Red Wagon to this site!

2010-03-29T16:59:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had an email from Brooke from a company called Red Wagon, asking if I would be interested in having a look at some of their products. I clicked on the site and fell instantly in lust. Just look at this wallart! And if you love the pictures but don't have a spot to put them on your wall you can buy them as pendants and wear them around your neck! The range also has great bibs, toys, gorgeous felt food, cushion covers, wrapping paper, party invitations....I could go on and on but have a look for yourself. If you'd like to order anything, stockists are listed on the site or I can order the wall art for you- just drop me an email. Prepare to fall in love....

Something different for your walls- BaldiBearART

2010-03-08T19:12:00.000-08:00

I love it when I come across something competely original, don't you? Have a look at the lovely prints and stationary from BaldiBearArt. Justine Brentnall's new company specialises in quirky, unique nursery art and baby stationery. You can see more on her website here or check out her etsy store which can be accessed via her website. Fabulous!

The Owls are Hunting

2010-03-04T14:59:00.000-08:00

Ok, so the other morning I was going through my emails and like most other mornings, there was the daily update from Decor8. Now, I love Decor8, but most of the time I look through designers portfolios from all around the world, or read about a photographer from the US with a kind of detached admiration. But this particular morning I stopped and scrolled back. These gorgeous lampshades were calling out to me - "look at me, look at me". They are right up my alley (most of you already know that I have a thing for pom-poms) but I assumed they were from some little etsy shop out of the States and would be in the too hard basket for my Australian clients. Well, you can imagine my reaction when I saw that the company who creates them, The Owls are Hunting, is based in Canberra! Yay!

Jo Kent is the creative force and leading light behind The Owls are Hunting. She creates beautiful, handmade lamps and lampshades using vintage and new materials. She also restores the bases so you can buy the whole lamp from her. You can get more info from www.theowlsarehunting.com and purchase them on made it.

Little Nest Chairs & Tables- fabulous!

2010-02-25T18:13:00.000-08:00

Check out these fantastic children's chairs and tables from Little Nest! They are inspired by classic 20th century designs (you will recognize most of them) and they are simply gorgeous. If you are after a real statement piece for your child's room or play room, this is the site for you. The best thing about going with pieces like these? They're classics- they don't go out of style. They are available in Australia and the US. The Yolk is my favourite- what's yours?

My son is famous (well, he thinks so, anyway...)

2010-02-15T15:10:00.001-08:00

Some of you may remember back in November Shop 4 Kids did a shoot using my son Jake for their regular feature "In My Closet". I'm thrilled to say that the issue came out yesterday and the photos are sensational. He, of course, now thinks he's famous and is trying to convince his sister and I to wait on him hand and foot, but that's not going to happen. Even Maddox Jolie-Pitt has to do his homework.

For those of you who are not familiar with Shop 4 Kids, it's the children's version of Shop til you Drop, and is full of drool worthy clothes for babies and kids, as well as toys and decor products. It will be on the shelves for the next 6 months or so, so if you are in a newsagency pick up a copy.

Meanwhile, let's hope it doesn't go to Jake's head....

Custom artwork for your little Pipsqueek.

2010-02-04T21:20:00.000-08:00

This lovely wall art is brought to you by Pipsqueek. Jayne Davis makes custom artwork for kid's rooms- and very cute it is, too. She uses a combination of elements including felt, ribbon, lace, buttons and fabric, and she will work with you to make something to fit into your existing theme or help you create a theme to build your room design around. You can see a selection of her work on her Facebook page or buy it online at madeit.com.au/pipsqueek. She will also be at the Norwood Market for Child and Baby in SA from April. You will need to allow around 5 weeks for an original creation, or she can make a reproduction of one of her existing pieces in around 3 weeks. Well worth checking out. Thanks for sharing this with us Jayne!

The Little Kidz Closet- Jacob and Bonomi bedlinen

2010-01-28T10:00:00.000-08:00

Check out this lovely bedlinen by Jacob and Bonomi which is now available from The Little Kidz Closet. The Little Kidz Closet is an online boutique store with a unique product collection for the modern child. They carry a large range from fashion to furniture, exclusive bedding and decor, unique keepsakes and more. I'm coveting the kid's size Eames chair!

Throw a tantrum about Lulu!

2010-01-24T15:40:00.000-08:00

Ok, I know this blog is usually about kid's decor, but I couldn't resist sharing these cute kids' accessories from the Tantrum range by Lulu Australia. They make lots of cute kids things, from lunchboxes, bibs, sleepover bags and backpacks. Check out their website here- very sweet.

Soft Earth Art- how amazing!

2010-01-19T14:32:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone- this week I wanted to show you something that was totally new to me. Marie is New Zealand based needle felt artist who makes really unusual artwork which would be great for children's rooms.She's only been needle felting for 3 years but has already had exhibitions of her work. Look at these amazing pieces! Marie has an etsy store so check out her shop for other examples of her work.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-11T15:19:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone! Hope you all had a great holiday season. It's hard to motivate myself to get back to work- especially with one child still at home, but I have so many gorgeous things to show you all that I thought I'd better get started!

This first post is to introduce you to the delights of MiniMi which was founded by Steph from Melbourne when she was on maternity leave with her second child. What started out as a quest to find cute artwork to decorate her child's nursery has turned into a business. I love the freshness of these cute prints- I think they are perfect for a baby shower gift or for adding that personal touch to your child's room. Children love to see their own name in print- I always try to incorporate a child's name into their room decor in some way- and I'm sure I will be recommending MiniMi to my clients.

Don't forget to check the blog over the next few weeks- I have got lots of cool things to show you. And if any of you out there have some cool kid's decor items that I haven't featured, feel free to send them in to me at carmen@retrorooms.com.au

Kiddie Coupons- a great site for Australian followers.

2009-11-29T17:55:00.000-08:00

I'm still in the middle of the move, but thought I'd let you Australian followers know about this great site I've recently come across. It's not really decor related but it is a big help for all of us Mum's trying to save a bit of money during this very expensive time of year!

As their website says:

Kiddie Coupons - www.kiddiecoupons.com.au - Australia's premier online directory of discount coupons for parents.

Kiddie Coupons has been designed to benefit children, parents, and caregivers of children by providing savings coupons for everyday goods and services from the time a precious baby is expected, right through to their teenage years.

With big discounts available from well-known businesses supplying everything from baby goods, sporting goods, clothing, food, entertainment, and much much more, bringing up children has become a little bit easier, a little more fun, a little more adventurous and now, more affordable. Have a look through our catalogue of suppliers to see just how much you can save.

And the good news is, that until the 31st of December, followers of my blog can join for 12 months for free. Just use the promotional code JOY.

Hope you find it useful, and I will be back posting once we have settled into the new house in the next few weeks.

Travel & Transit room- out of this world!

2009-11-23T17:33:00.000-08:00

I have just finished a gorgeous on-line room design for a lovely client who wanted a travel and transit theme for her little boy's room. We found lots of fantastic items, so I thought I'd share a few with you. The gorgeous vintage travel poster is from a great American site called All Posters (and yes, they ship internationally.) They have an amazing selection of vintage posters featuring all kinds of subjects. The mobile is from a company called Tail Winds and the fabric is Michael Miller's "In Transit". I can't wait to see how the room looks when it's all put together- I think it's going to look fantastic.

I'm up to my ears organising my move so it may be a week or so before I post again, so have a lovely week everyone!

Come on people! Free lighting up for grabs!

2009-11-10T16:23:00.000-08:00

Our fabulous lighting competition ends on Monday and so far we have NO entries! See all the details in the last post, but enter now for your chance to win $90 worth of lighting products. Don't miss out!

Great lighting competition!

2009-10-28T04:20:00.000-07:00

Lighting is one of the most important yet overlooked elements of room design. Many people spend a fortune decorating their homes only to put little or no thought into the lighting. Lighting is especially important in children's rooms, which need to serve many purposes. You need some bright overhead task lighting (preferably on a dimmer) and a bedside lamp for nightime story telling and middle of the light visits. You might also need a nightlight for younger children and a desk light for older children. Think about the lighting in your child's bedroom- could it do with a re-vamp? Our friends at buysterlighting.com.au are offering a $90 voucher to be used in their online store to one of our followers. All you have to do is visit their site, find your favourite light or lamp, and leave a comment here telling us which one you like and where you'd use (you can let your imagination run wild here- you don't have to stick to it if you win!) Don't forget to leave your email address on your comment. This competition is only open to Australian residents and you need to register as a follower of our site to be eligible. Buysterlighting will contact the winner directly and organise redemption of the prize. One entry per person, please! A winner will be drawn at random on Monday November 16th. Good luck everyone!

My house is for sale- want a peek?

2009-10-25T05:07:00.000-07:00

I thought you might be interested in seeing pictures of my home. It is currently on the market and has never looked so good! Now the weekly challenge is getting it up to scratch every weekend for the open houses, especially with two young children in the house. Suffice to say, we are spending most of our Friday nights going out to dinner with the kids so there are no sticky fingerprints anywhere. If anyone is interested in buying it, you can see more details here. In the meantime, wish me luck- the auction is the on 7th of November!

Farmyard Themed Bedroom

2009-10-18T02:40:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd show you a few photos from a room I just finished for a little girl with a love for farmyard animals. Her mum had a few items she wanted to incorporate into the room, including a picture of some ducks, so we decided to work the room around green and yellow and incorporate as many farmyard influences as possible. Here are some of the cuter items I found! The cow is from Kids Central, the play mat from Ekidna kids & the bedlinen is from The Linen Store in the UK (but they ship internationally).

Fantastic DIY blog- have a look at this!

2009-10-12T21:36:00.000-07:00

This blog is just adorable. It is called Prudent Baby and it run by two US based mums Jaime and Jacinda. They blog about all sorts of DIY projects for your baby and their nursery- and provide step by step instructions to follow. What caught my eye initially was their cute pom pom pillow (see the pictures above). Having a bit of a thing for pom poms myself (if you haven't seen my Paperdoll Room, it features a lot of them) I popped over to have a look. Well, that was it for hours- I was absorbed! Check it out -I've sure you'll love it too!

My new website is finally done!

2009-10-08T00:00:00.001-07:00

For the last few months I have been working on getting my new website up and running- and it's finally finished! It was designed by the lovely Andrea from Design and PR Girl and I think she has done a fab job. Hope you agree. I've also changed the layout of the blog and news page to match the new logo and website. Please pop over and have a look-I'd love to know what you think.

Woodland Animals Theme Room

2009-10-05T04:06:00.000-07:00

It's been ages since my last post- the last month has been taken up with getting my house ready to put on the market and being busy doing several online room designs for new clients. One of the room designs themes I've been working on is an Woodland Animals theme. I thought I'd share some of the cute items I've found along this theme. Such a nice idea for an animal loving little girl! The beanbag and the height chart are from Cocoon Couture and distributed by Bubba Bling and the bedlinen is from Treehouse. I'll share some of my other great finds very soon!

Babybites Magazine features us in their Spring Interiors Edition!

2009-09-02T00:12:00.000-07:00

If you haven't discovered the fabulous NZ online mag Babybites, make sure you check out the Spring Interiors edition, out now. It has some gorgeous features in it including a fab racing car room and lots of other gorgeous rooms, tips and tricks. They have also included us in the feature, and they made us look so good! Make sure you subscribe so that you don't miss any issue- they are always great.

Bibitty- The ABC of decorating your child's room

2009-08-28T04:58:00.000-07:00

Check out this lovely little Etsy store! It's called Bibitty and they specialise in alphabet related wall art. I would love to use these cute flashcards in a nursery of child's room. You could hang them on a wall or prop them on a mantle. Absolutely divine!

Baby Universe and Retro Rooms competition!

2009-08-09T21:40:00.000-07:00

We are running a fabulous competition in conjunction with Baby Universe, and the prize is a fabulous online room make-over from us! You can see all the details here as well as checking out all the other great competitions and news in on their site. The competition is only open to Australian residents. Let us know if you have entered, and we will announce the winner once the competition has ended on September the 14th. Good luck everyone!

Down on the floor!

2009-08-05T16:55:00.000-07:00

I've never been a huge fan of play mats- you know, the ones you see used in pre-schools and play rooms all the time, and they generally just look tacky. These fantastic rugs have made me change my mind though! From Danish by Design, they are really cool. What little girl wouldn't adore the doll's house rug and the road rug is the best I've ever seen.

The rule to remember though is - don't use them decoration! Roll them up and put them away when the kids are finished playing and you don't run the risk of your house looking like the local kindy. (Although I could almost be convinced that the road rug could fit in with a "car" themed bedroom...)

Bubba Bling- such a cool online shop

2009-07-27T18:28:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone- I can't believe it's been so long since my last post! Got a bit sidetracked with school holidays. We spent a week at the Hiton in Fiji. For a fantastic holiday with children, I cannot recommend this place highly enough. The website is here for those of you who are interested. I think we'll be going back next July holidays- it does make getting through winter so much easier!

Anyway, back to the real world.... While I was away, the lovely Marnie from Bubba Bling contacted me to tell me all about her shop, Bubba Bling. What a cool site she has! Check it out here. Bubba Bling is an e-boutique specialising in almost everything you need for your child's room. They have bed linen, wall art, furniture and other bits and pieces. I especially love the cowboy blanket backed with faux "pony fur" and the Cot Couture pink damask cot linen. I also really like the "World in Pink" bed linen from Boodalee. Have a browse through the site, there's heaps of other great stuff too.

Anyway, now that the kids are safely back at school and pre-school I will be posting more often, so look out for a few exciting things over the next few weeks. In the meantime, if any of you have anything you would like to see featured or think our readers might like to see, please email me the details at carmen@retrorooms.com.au.

Have a good week everyone!

Highchair or piece of art? Check this out...

2009-07-06T19:42:00.000-07:00

How incredibly gorgeous is this highchair? I saw it this morning on the Babyology website and had to share it with you! It's called the Calla chair and it's designed by Yves Behar for Fleurville. It's not on the market yet, so I can't tell you how much it will cost, but isn't it beautiful? You can sign up to the website to find out when it's available (and to find out all the practical stuff, like safety features) or just to drool over the photos. I want one!

Mathilda's Markets in Sydney this Sunday! Yay!

2009-06-29T04:27:00.000-07:00

For those of you who have not discovered Mathilda's Markets yet- you are in for a treat. The Sydney markets are on this Sunday from 9am-1pm at St Ignatius College RIverview, Tambourine Bay Road, Lane Cove. There will be almost 70 stalls, all selling unique children's and babies products. There will be food and drinks and face painting for the kids. It really is worth a look. You can check out their website here. Enjoy!

Go ahead and write on the walls- it's ok!

2009-06-21T17:08:00.000-07:00

Check out these cute chalkboard wall stickers from Giggle Smile Designs! I can see a huge range of uses for them in the bedroom, playroom, home office or kitchen. I'm sitting here trying to work out where I can fit one in my house! They are removable, affordable and easy to apply. Perfect! Giggle Smile also have a huge range of other wall stickers, wall art, wooden and acrylic wall lettters and much, much more. Check out their website at www.gigglesmiledesigns.com.

I Just love that fabric!

2009-06-17T18:09:00.000-07:00

The aptly named "I just love that fabric"is a great online fabric store that has lots of fantastic fabrics and oilcloths for kids (as well as cool fabrics for adults and home decor). Susie also makes canvas wall art for children's and babies rooms as well as aprons, bunting, cushions and book bags. How cute is the cowboy apron? And the red dots are very, very similar to the ones I used in the Paperdoll Room. You can check out the full range of fabric on their website www.ijustlovethatfabric.com.au and Susie also has a fun blog that you can find here www.ijustlovethatfabric.blogspot.com. I bet you will just love it too!

Artazon Wall Letters- make your child's room their own

2009-06-16T20:07:00.000-07:00

I love to use wall letters to spell out my client's children's names- it instantly personalises their space and gives them ownership of their rooms (although it gets tricky when you child goes through one of those "I hate my name" stages and wants to be known as Princess Anneliese....). These cool letters come from NZ based company called Artazon. They make customised letters and wall art from a variety of different materials (wood, mirror and acrylic) and have a large range of fonts and also have a stainless steel range. You can check out their website here Their creator, Lisa, also has a blog, lisasarahartist.blogspot.com. They ship worldwide.

Finally- an alternative to the Barbie beanbag!!!!

2009-06-14T20:30:00.000-07:00

If you are like me and the idea of a living room full of Barbie couches and Thomas the Tank Engine bean bags makes you want to cry- here is the solution.

Lelbys Little Living www.lelbys.com designs and produces contemporary children’s bean bag chairs, toy boxes, teddys, cushions and throw rugs to match the colour palate of most living rooms. The faux suede ones even have matching throw rugs and teddy bears! The range is designed to enhance the interior of adult living spaces, to suit the style of most modern parents. Australian mum of 2, Lesley Gordon (nicnamed Lelby by her husband) firmly believes that choosing a chair for your child is just as important as choosing your own sofa, it should be stylish, comfy and compliment your home. They ship internationally and are very reasonably priced. The best bit is you won't feel like you are living in a pre-school!

Kenzie's nursery- simply gorgeous.

2009-06-10T00:47:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I stumbled across the gorgeous nursery Rachelle created for her baby daughter Kenzie on Rachelle's fantastic blog KenziePoo. I absolutely love this nursery. It epitomises my favourite design rule- decorate your nursery for the child your baby will become, and your child will grow with the nursery (for more on this subject, see the article I wrote for Connect2Mums). I adore the Lulu ghost chair and the fab Eames rocker. I also love the colour scheme- it is so feminine but not PINK! I asked Rachelle to tell us about the nursery and how it came about and here is what she had to say.

"My name is Rachelle and I reside in the US (Idaho) and I love all things baby. After having my little girl Kenzie I was so inspired to start a blog called Kenziepoo. The blog is all about baby from clothes to Nursery, featuring great finds, fab baby sites, giveaways etc...I also have a fun Etsy shop that I do for fun on the side.

Inspiration: After searching through magazine after magazine I couldn’t decide on what I wanted to do for the nursery until…One day I was registering for my baby shower at Target, and they gave me a booklet of things you could register for. While flipping through that book I found a picture of a room that I absolutely fell in love with! Yellows and whites with lovely wall decals. And that was it!

Favorite Element: I would have to say my favorite items in Kenzie's room are the ABC print with the beautiful frame I found at an antique store, and the beautiful bedding that my good friend made (she is an amazing seamstress).

Biggest Challenge: My biggest challenge was putting the light up….We ended up having to call a friend and have her rewire it!!

  What Friends Say: What a blessed baby!

Proudest DIY: I am definitely not an artist, so I was pretty proud of myself when I made the silhouette of Kenzie on her wall.

Biggest Indulgence: Probably my biggest splurge in the room was the crib and the amazing Eames rocker.

Best advice: My best advice is to go homemade.

Dream source: I would love to eventually buy Kenzie a Madeline Weinrib Atelier rug."

Resources:

1. I got the great decals from my brother & sister-in-law's shop: Custom Vinyl Decals 

2. Crib from Pottery Barn Kids 

3. Eames Rocker: Hive Modern 

4. Lou Lou Ghost chair: All Modern 

5. ABC Print: Made by Girl; I also bought some fabric and put the fabric in embroidery hoops. 

6. Mobile: Kikkerland 

7. Elephant Pillow: Dwell Studio 

8. Russian Cross Stitch Rug: Urban Outfitters 

9. Chandelier: Pottery Barn Kids 

10. Other Pillows: Hettle & Dedeetsy shop,  

11. Vintage Banner: Jump Up and Down 

12. Sheepskin Rug: Costco 

13. Fabrics & Embroidery hoops: JoAnn 

14.Fabric for Blanket: Mod Green Pod

I am guest author on the Skout Trade Fair blog!

2009-06-08T18:49:00.000-07:00

A week or so ago I was asked by the lovely Louise from Skout Trade Fair to be the guest author on her blog. She asked me to pick 5 things I loved for mums, kids and babies. Not all of them are decor related, but I really enjoyed putting the article together. I've posted the pix of the five things I chose, but to read the whole article, check it out here.

Little Home- Beautiful cushions!

2009-06-02T04:13:00.000-07:00

I have been a fan of Little Home for a while now- their cushions are so beautiful and feminine. They are Australian made to the highest standard from 100% cotton. You can buy them by clicking on stockists on their website. They have a new range coming out soon so if you don't fall madly in love with what they have in stock already, there are more gorgeous cushions to come. I think they would work beautifully in a little girl's room but also in a lounge room or adult's bedroom. Just devine.

Connect2Mums just published my article!

2009-06-01T06:17:00.000-07:00

The lovely Paula at Connect2Mums has just published an article I wrote called "Choosing Decor to Grow with your Child". To see the whole thing click here.

For those of you who have not discovered it yet, Connect2Mums is a brilliant networking site for Mums and Mumpreneurs. There are forums, competitions, groups and giveaways. Check it out here.

Gorgeous, gorgeous bunting from Festoon- how cute is this?

2009-06-01T05:04:00.000-07:00

How gorgeous is this fabulous bunting from Festoon? I particularly love the cowboy bunting ( I can help thinking that it would look fantastic in our cowboy room). Festoon is a family owned company specialising in the creation of beautiful handmade bunting. They would look so gorgeous strung up in a bedroom. playroom or a cubby house, or they are so reasonably priced you could use them as decorations for a birthday party.

They have lots of gorgeous designs in their store with more coming in every day (I can't wait to see the Japanese dolls- I am imagining that they would have gone brilliantly with our china doll room. This company really is close to my own heart!) They also do custom orders.

Check out their gorgeous website on www.festoon.com.au. I'm sure you will love them as much as I do!

Jujube- Distributors of Blik Wall Graphics

2009-05-27T19:56:00.000-07:00

Continuing the theme of wall art, check out these fantastic wall graphics. JuJube is an import and distribution company based in NZ who import these fabulous wall graphics from Blik. They ship all over the world for very reasonable rates.

Blik is an I.D. Magazine award-winning* line of surface graphics created by and for people who like to change their mind. These self-adhesive wall decals (think stickers for grown-ups) allow you to easily transform the look of a living or office space in minutes. Affix blik to any smooth, flat surface such as a wall, window, mirror, ceiling, tabletop or floor.

Choose your space, plan the design you'd like to make, and literally, just peel and stick. And when you're tired of your design, say after years, a month, maybe a day - the decals are removable. They are an inexpensive way to decorate and offer sophisticated designs for adults and babies alike.

Blik have teamed up with fabulous designers such as Keith Haring, Nintendo, Ilan Dei, Charles & Ray Eames to produce a well-priced range of sophisticated wall stickers for both children and adults alike.

Don't you just love the racetrack for a boy's bedroom or playroom? These really are a great way to decorate a child's room without making a permanent commitment- perfect for rental properties.

To see more, visit their website at www.jujube.co.nz

Kim T Designs- Great wallart and cushion covers

2009-05-25T20:59:00.000-07:00

I have recently discovered a wonderful company called Kim T Designs wallart. Kim is an Australia based mother of two who imports fantastic fabric from the UK and has it made into wall art and matching cushion covers. Some of her fabrics have a vintage feel and some are more contemporary. She will also create custom pieces so it's worth checking out her website here. She is expecting lots of new fabrics from Europe any day now and will accept pre-orders if you get in quick! You can also email her on kimtdesigns@aapt.net.au.

Welcome to the Retro Rooms Blog!

2009-05-18T05:44:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Retro Rooms blog! I am so excited to be able to share ideas and images which inspire me. Most of them will be about children's decor but I'm sure other things will sneak in from time to time. I look forward to sharing them with you.