Books As Decor

I headed over straight to Amazon to purchase these Clothbound Penguin Classic Children's books after reading about them on Simplified Bee last week. They are the perfect addition to my daughter's nursery-in-progress. Yes I will not be reading these to her for a few more years but they will look stunning on her gilt pagoda bookshelf.

The collection of cloth covered Penguin Classics is quite large and all of the covers are stunning. I even purchased a few for my son's room and my personal bookshelf. You can purchase the entire collection from Juniper Books for $240. Anthropologie carries a few on their site and in their stores too if you want to see them in person.

Now Juniper Books (introduced to me by Elements of Style) is another wonderful source to help beautify your library. They can design and print you custom jackets and covers for the books in your library from your children's rooms to your more formal den. Here are some examples:

Different books with different heights, but they created a common theme for the new jackets to create a new design.

An interior designer commissioned this job for a little girl's room. She loves Nancy Drew but they wanted the jackets to be pink instead of yellow.

I like this grouping for a teenage boy's room. The title and author are written very small in the large letters. Cool right!?

This peach variation is not very practical since you can't see the title but still pretty if you are just going for the strict decorative look.

This last example works in any decor, preferably in a living room or bedroom I think.

Now off to find some bookends...

Parisian Cafe Playhouse

For those of you looking to fill some extra space in your oversized playroom, media room or even child's room - take a look at this cardboard French Cafe from Little Play Spaces.

A nice size so that even an adult can fit inside comfortably and play cafe. My son loves to pull out his sketch pad and ask me "mommy what do you want order". Since he is having a sister next I think one of these would be great for them to share.

Better yet, the structure easy to assemble and take down and is made of recycled cardboard in the USA. At $79 plus $10 shipping, it is a bargain buy for the holidays!

Personalizing Your Bed

If you get Martha Stewart Living Magazine you may have noticed this clever stencil design by 2 Sweet Sisters on a Newport Cottages Hampton Twin Bed in their September issue. Such a clever and relatively easy solution to add a more modern monogram to personalize a space.

Here is the link to the tutorial to DIY with a simple stencil and wood veneers.

Camping Essentials - by Sheridan French

Today we have a lovely post from one of our monthly contributors Sheridan French! ::

School may be starting but that does not mean summer has to end! Let your kiddos camp out in the backyard to keep the fun going. FYI: no need to worry about the pj's...you know they won't be sleeping. Here are some great essentials, and don't forget the s'mores!

(1) Striped Teepee (2) Yellow T-Shirt (3) Red Camp Shorts (4) Grey Toms (5) Pink T-Shirt (6) Patterned Shorts (7) Red Natives (8) Sleeping Bags (9) First Aid Kit (10) Rucksack (11) The Very Lonely Firefly (12) Cowboy Bandaids (13) S'Mores Kit (14) Melamine Plates (15) Big Foot Mints

www.sheridanfrench.com

The Southern Eclectic

Bunk Room Friday - Andrika King Design

Today I'm sharing a room I just added to my portfolio featuring a bunk bed. This client has a beautiful modern house in Manhattan Beach. She already owned all the artwork and we just spruced up the room with new furniture, bedding, and a splash of color on one wall.

The bunkbeds are the new Perch design by Oeuf. Since they have a low profile, they are perfect for rooms with low ceilings. I also think the price tag of $1490 is very reasonable for bunk beds.

For more photos of the room visit my site Andrika King Design.

photography taken by Life Iz Photography

Panton Junior Chairs

The Panton Chair has been a classic in modern decor for over 35 years. Vitra has now introduced a child's version available in red, light blue, light pink, lime, orange and white. Dimensions are 24.75" x 14.75" x 17.5" making it suitable for preschool and lower school children. $129 each at Magedman Modern

High vs Low - Iron Canopy Bed

Canopy beds are a classical timeless design. They work in adult rooms as well as children's rooms, especially if your space is in need of some upward visual interest.

The Italian Canopy Campaign Bed - by Anthropologie (pictured in the photos above) - is by no means a true high at $1250 for a twin but as far as children's beds go, that is on the higher side.

For a cheaper alternative open up a PB Teen Catalog.

The Maison Canopy Bed is on sale now for $499 for a twin. A steal if you ask me.

Some fun ways to dress up a bed like this include custom drapery around the metal frame as shown in the Isabel set from Serena & Lily below.

It even works in a more masculine room, Grant K Gibson used the Pottery Barn version and added a headboard for comfort and style.

I personally love canopy beds and can't wait to get one for my daughter someday as I always wanted one. I think girls long for canopy beds and boys for bunk beds. What did you always want growing up in your room?

Room for Six

I'm sure very few of you have 6+ children but if you have 2-3 you do know that sometimes you need six places for your kids to sit with their friends to eat and play so that everyone isn't fighting over the "kids" chairs. Well this large table by Marcel Wanders for Magis is your stylish solution. The Piano Little Flare Table is made from polymeric-covered MDF which is scratch-resistant.

If this table seems too large they also sell a smaller version to seat four. The chairs come in an assortment of colors and are durable enough for indoor or outdoor use. Now I just need a room big enough to hold a table like this.

Unique Wall Mural Idea

Leave it to the Dutch to think of this unique wall mural idea using cross stitch techniques. Cute and seems relatively doable right?

The artwork and handmade pattern designs of Eline Pellinkhof, a Netherlands-based craft material and fabric pattern freelance designer. She has designed stencil templates that can help anyone create a similar design in their home. Visit Freshome for more information and a tutorial video.

Now for those who don't like to paint, I wonder if some decal companies will copy the concept of the idea?

Decorating with Oars

Looking to add some nautical summer accessories to your children's decor?

Hop on over to Project Nursery to see my post on decorating with oars.

Henry Daybed by Jennifer Delonge

Almost everyone loves Jennifer Delonge's nursery above. Well now you can have your very own custom daybed like hers - the Henry. Available in an assortment of fabrics or you can send in your own. This puppy is not cheap, it runs $2150 - $2450, but I love it just the same.

dimensions: 87" wide x 32" hight x 38" deep

Bunk Room Friday - Sally Markham

It is all about the details in this bunk room designed by Sally Markham. The focal point of this bunk room is the railing custom trellis with the trim painted in turquoise. I'm hoping to use a similar design in a bunk room I'm designing for a client who is building a custom house here in Manhattan Beach.

For more photos of this fabulous beach house, visit House of Turquoise or look back at your June 2011 issue of House Beautiful. Photography by Thomas Loof.

I'll take a great room like this. Don't you love the patchwork cowhide rug? When my kids stop spilling (in 10 years) I'm getting myself one of these!

Pixie Dust Decor Tote Winner!

The lucky winner of our matching mother/daughter totes from Pixie Dust Decor is Laren, entry #6! You will be contacted by a representative from Pixie Dust in the next few days.

Congrats and thanks again to Pixie Dust for sponsoring the giveaway!

Ninna Rocker

Hmm, if I didn't already have a glider for the new baby, I think I would consider this Ninna Rocker from Cisco Home. There are so many things that I love about it - a rustic yet traditional vibe, made out of sustainable materials, high back, nailhead trim, can transfer to almost anywhere in your home...

Ninna Rocker, 23w x 37h x 34d

The only downside is that there are barely any arms so not the best place for breastfeeding. But practicality aside...

And for an ottoman, you have to love these tufted poufs, 26w x 18h, upholstered in a bright linen

Available at your local Cisco Home

The Glow

A friend of mine sent me a link to the site "The Glow" this week and I was inspired in so many ways. The website not only features talented and creative moms, but the photography is superb and captures intimate "real" mother/child moments as well as beautiful interior shots of the children's rooms. Take notice how almost all of the shots have this almost ethereal "glow" somewhere in the photo. The site title is a fun play on words, "glow" coming from the light and "glow" which women have when being pregnant and having children.

The stunning mother and daughter above are Jeanann & little Ruby Williams. Jeanann is the creative director of True Religion in their house in Montauk, NY. Isn't little Ruby's room below just so comfortably eclectic and chic?

Lynn Ban & her son Sabastian live a sophisticated and activity packed life in NYC. Lynn designs for and owns a successful jewelry company and I'm obsessed with her apartment.

When designing her son's room she wanted something timeless which she would not have to change in 5 years. Many of the accessory pieces were found on eBay.

Jenne Lombardo's photos make me want to have three kids. It seems like she can do it all and makes it look so easy! Her company The Terminal Presents is a brand-builing consultant firm.

This "large" family (for NYC standards), lives in a modern rock star inspired apartment filled with bold color & vintage off beat finds.

If you have some time, take a look through the site. All of the photos and information summarized above and on the site are taken & edited by the talented Kelly Stuart & Violet Gaynor. Girls I think we need a West Coast version!

Texan Elegance

Here is a special look into a reader's nursery in Fort Worth, Texas. The gender neutral nursery is a romantic and glamorous take on traditional design. I am so happy to share this fabulous with you this week. Thank you Christy for all of your insight through your design process.

When we first moved into our home, I knew this particular room would become the nursery. The one thing I chose to do in our home was to keep with a style that would not show its age. Our house is very period throughout, and has very little decorating "trends". The original color in this room was darker green when we moved in, but we changed it to a softer greenish baby feel. We also utilized the silk striped window treatments that were original to the room. My vision for this was to stay with a neutral pallet to allow for a boy or girl to enjoy.

I started with the crib from Posh Tots; very French and very neutral. The glider and silk bassinet are also from Post Tots. We added two scalloped cornices to the top of the windows and had our 1st son's initials hand painted in the middle of each one. At that time, I also purchased extra fabric to do the same thing for a second baby down the road.

The canopy above the crib is something that I had always envisioned! For years I looked for the perfect gilt wood baldacchino in the right size, price and style. With no luck, I settled on this custom silk one...which frankly I like much better. The trundle daybed is the Afton from Ballard Designs upholstered with custom fabric. I found the antique wall consoles at one of my favorite auction houses in New Orleans, and then later topped them with beautiful light green & white marble.

There are six original serigraph (3-D) silkscreen James Rizzi prints handing above the consoles in the nursery which my parents gave to me as a birthday gift years ago. It is a series of recreated classic famous paintings. I loved these as I was an Art History Major at Southern Methodist University. The idea of hand sewn silk bow-ribbons came from my late maternal grandmother. I thought it would be a perfect way to "tie" them all together.

Images take by Sommer Photography