Jack and Charlie’s Nursery: Part Two

Having twins meant I had to get creative with the furniture layout of the nursery. I had designed the footprint of this bedroom as part of the second floor addition and had only counted on fitting one crib.

Once we found out twins were on the way I knew I’d have to do away with any extraneous furniture. I bid farewell to the sizeable bookshelf I had been counting on and said hello to wall-mounted shelving from Pottery Barn Kids for display and book storage instead.

For safety reasons, cribs shouldn’t be situated in front of windows, so I had to keep that in mind when space planning. I ended up putting the two cribs on the longest side wall and set the dresser/change station in front of the window, with the glider and ottoman in the other corner. The room sports a decent sized closet so I chose a dresser with a combination of drawers and cubbies which made keeping items like swaddling blankets and bibs and burp cloths easily accessible. Selecting storage baskets from the Land of Nod in a bright blue added an extra dose of colour to the white furniture.

I chose the beautifully detailed Jack and Jill crib from Mother Hubbard’s, a local manufacturer. I liked that all of their pieces are made right here in Toronto using nontoxic lacquers and their line is highly customizable with a variety of finishes and hardware to choose from.  I chose a white painted finish for the furniture because it’s clean and classic. If money were no object, I may have tried a rich navy, but Canadian-made solid wood baby furniture isn’t cheap, so it’s better to invest in something neutral. The cribs have beautiful moulding details and look great set against the back wall.

Bedding is a funny thing when decorating a nursery, because technically you’re really only supposed to have one thing in the crib: a simple crib sheet. The gorgeous quilts and bumpers all the catalogues and stores show as a bedding set are a no-no these days due to SIDS concerns (they can cause suffocation and decrease the oxygen flow around the baby’s face). If you want another layer, you can add a decorative crib skirt like this graphic one from Serena and Lily that we used.

For the shoot, I layered in some extra quilts we use for snuggling on the glider for styling purposes, but these are not part of the boys’ sleeping routines. If you’re insistent on bumpers because your kids are head bangers (like ours!), you can use these breathable mesh crib bumpers which cushion the perimeter of the crib while still allowing for air flow.

The final piece of the nursery furniture puzzle is our glider, which admittedly was a head scratcher for me. When sourcing potential options I didn’t know whether I should get a ginormous extra wide one that I could breastfeed both babies on? If I should get a daybed or just a normal sized rocker? Did I need an ottoman? In the end, I chose the Rena swivel glider from Rooms To Grow. It is generously proportioned and I loved its clean lined track arms and pretty skirt. White contrast piping gives the glider a detailed yet crisp look.

Having closed the chapter on nursing and looking back, I would advise breastfeeding twin moms to stick with a normal sized glider and ottoman. The ottoman is essential for putting your feet up and balancing comforting two babes comfortably. If you have the space and plan on tandem feeding, a daybed or smaller sofa is a great thing to have, but if you don’t have space don’t sweat it. When I tandem fed, I just set up camp elsewhere (I used the guest room and our very deep sofa in the family room as my nursing quarters)

Finishing touches like the vintage chandelier that hung in my grandparents’ home for decades gives the room an eclectic and personal feel. Other sweet touches include the large Hansa stuffed deer from Advice from a Caterpillar, which was a  gift that the boys love playing with. I also like it because it’s a little less expected than the standard enormous giraffes you see in most magazines.

(Nursery photos by Donna Griffith for Style At Home)

Jack and Charlie’s Nursery: Part 1

Nurseries are one of the most popular and fun spaces to decorate (at least according to my pinterest feed), so where do you start when you’re a decorator and finally designing your very first baby room for your own littles? Now that the April issue of Style At Home is out on newsstands, I can finally share how I designed Jack and Charlie’s nursery.

In the days leading up to my first ultrasound, I let myself fantasize over the pretty fabric samples I had been hoarding over the years for my future little girl’s room. (As one of four girls, I was convinced I would be giving birth to at least one little lady down the line) When I found out I was having identical twin boys (what the what?) I had to throw out most of the ideas and start from scratch. Luckily there was one well-suited print  I had tucked away at the back of my mind.

As a design editor at a decorating magazine, I received media releases about new fabric and wallpaper collections almost every week. As soon as the press package for Osborne and Little’s Penguin Library wallpaper crossed my desk I knew I would be using it some day down the line in a project. It was just so me. The bright colour covers mixed with the black and white penguin branding makes for serious eye candy and I couldn’t resist the sense of retro nostalgia it evoked.

The wallpaper appealed to me for the nursery for a number of reasons. I loved the idea of fostering a love of books with my boys right from the start and I thought it was a safe investment to choose something gender neutral with such a wide array of colours to work with. I pulled out navy, sky blue, periwinkle and orange as my main palette but the room could suit a little girl if ever need be in the future with a few easy changes, such as a new purple small area rug, or hot pink bedding and accessories. The paper is also sophisticated enough that the room could become our office one day - book themed wallpaper is fairly academic after all!

Playing on the penguin theme, I ordered cutie pie felted mobiles from needlenerd. I found Bonnie’s work on etsy and was delighted to discover she lived right here in Toronto. She was kind enough to match the colours of the hearts in the mobile to the colours seen in the wallpaper so they coordinate perfectly. A fun fact is newborns only see in black white the first few weeks as their eyes develop, so the boys were madly in love with gazing up at the black and white penguins!

The other main print in the room is the fabulous splatter embroidered drapery fabric, Skittles, from Lulu DK children’s collection for Schumacher. The sky blue has a purplish undertone so it doesn’t scream “little boys only” and the print is youthful while still being chic and timeless. Investing in black out lined drapery was imperative to maintaining a good nap schedule- good window treatments (with brackets to keep dangling cords out of harm’s way) is one area of nursery decor that you should not skimp on! 

In a perfect world I’d have added extra embellishment with navy pom fringe on the leading edge of the drapery panels, like these ready-made panels from PB Teen, and the perimeter of the roman shade, but I had to exercise restraint for budget sake. Budget also meant I couldn’t paint out the ceiling in a soft sky blue- something I was also was keen on doing to punch up the white envelope of the room.

To balance out the strong patterns of the drapery and accent wallpaper behind the crib, I decided to go bold with the framing of my artwork on either side of the window. I chose navy frames with periwinkle mats from PI Fine Art for the lovely watercolours I purchased from Mary’s Flower Garden on etsy. Both my husband and I are major animal lovers and so we welcomes the idea of adding more fauna into the existing penguin mix.

This snapshot also shows a separate little watercolour we purchased of two baby elephants together. We framed these twin babies without the blue mat,  but added an orange filler to the frame to tie in our accent colour. The shelf also shows off whimsical letters made out of old library books from Anthropologie  that serve as another extension of the book theme.

The last literary nod comes courtesy of the artwork on the other side of the cribs by Olive and Birch, another etsy artist. They feature favourite quotes from two of my top children’s books, Peter Pan and Goodnight Moon. What a sweet send off into slumber!

For details on the furniture and accessories stay tuned for part two!

(Top photo and baby blocks  photos by Donna Griffith, Family shot with mobiles by Scarlett O’Neill)

Buzzing Like Neon

While in Miami I’ve had a chance to poke my nose into some of my favourite boutiques in the design district. One of my top finds was spotted at Threadcount, a fabulous linen shop I love browsing in that carries luxury lines like Pratesi as well as some gorgeous tabletop and bathroom accessories.

I fainted over one of their model beds  in the window dressed in the  neon Athena sheets by Yves Delorme. I’m so used to seeing hotel-style linens in black or navy but this bright neon yellow is so fresh and edgy.

I know neon isn’t anything new, but seeing the trend interpreted in such an unexpected way definitely caught my eye! I’d pair this set with a black and white scheme for a bold bedroom that oozed punk-tinged luxury.

Gift Guide Picks

The holidays are upon us which means it’s time to shop for the ones you love and get them a little something something that will make them smile. This year I’m only highlighting things I’d truly buy myself, so don’t be surprised when you notice they’re mostly black, white and gold!

Every household needs a solid pair of scissors, so add some sparkle to the mundane with this shiny gold pair of shears from Nate Berkus’ Target collection. Target, $16.99

These glass water bottles by bkr are coated in a stylish silicone sleeve that protect from breakage while looking adorable all the way to your 8-glasses-a-day goal. Neiman Marcus, $30-35 each

 

This Tory Burch kerrington applique wristlet is kind of bizarre but also kind of fabulous with its creamy violet leather and amusing symbolism. It would be a great spot to stash your personal essentials in a larger diaper bag or tote. Tory Burch, $175

For your stylish gourmand, these black and white striped marble accessories up the chic factor of any kitchen counter. I particularly adore the cheeseboard and citrus press. Anthropologie, $24-98

This earthy yet smoky scent from Diptyque is perfect for snuggly winter nights and a luxury item you’d be hard pressed to buy for yourself, but be totally psyched to see under the christmas tree (or hanukkah bush). Holt Renfrew, $72

For the hostess with the mostess, the large white pedestal cake plate and glass dome from Rosanna is a perfect spot to display sweets and homemade treats while keeping them fresh. Red Letter, $44.95-72.95 

Who doesn’t love receiving chocolate as a gift? These handcrafted bars in exotic flavous like dark chocolate gold leaf take it to a whole other level with packaging designed by none other than Kelly Wearstler. I’d frame them they are so pretty! Kelly Wearstler, $13 each

Fans of Scalamandre’s classic zebra print will love this small tray from Lenox, which looks stunning sitting pretty on a console or used as a catchall for keys or change. William Ashley, $61.

For the art lover, this antique gold metal 3-D piece adds serious personality to your walls with an iconic mantra spelled out in all of its gilded splendour. ELTE Market, $95

 

For your friend who could always use some help in the organization department, this cheeky sticky note set has sayings that were ripped right from my and my friends’ daily diction, including a personal fave, “literally can’t.” Plus there is a bowtie involved - as the note says, “so cute!” Indigo, $12.95

Exotic Cats with Pattern Play: Wardrobe or Wallpaper?

I’m loving the likeness of Thibaut’s Cheetah wallpaper to this Joe Fresh silk blouse.  Both items have playful exotic cats layered on top of a pattern for a fresh yet fierce look.

Thibaut’s celebrated paper could be skewed as over the top when looking at it up close, but once it’s applied to the walls, the cheetahs recede and form an abstract pattern, like in this beautiful bedroom by Michelle Smith as featured in Lonny. How tongue in “chic”!

This silk blouse is a great way to add a playful element to your look and at only $59, it’s not something you’ll cry over if you only wear it a handful of times.

If you’re wondering which item I’d pick, then wonder no further. My answer would be an unequivocal yes to both as I am a proud supporter or all exotic cat prints whether on your clothes or on your walls! Meow!

(Room image by Genevieve Garruppo via Lonny)

My Master Bath Before and After

The latest bookazine from Style At Home is all about makeovers and it's a goodie! Chock full of dramatic before and afters, there is page after page of inspirational images that will get your creative juices flowing and ready to tackle your next project.

My master ensuite, which we worked on as part of our big reno last year, is featured and it shows how we transformed a tiny cramped bath into a sophisticated and relaxing retreat.

Categorizing it as a makeover is an understatement because literally nothing remains from the original space. The bathroom was teensy and poorly laid out with a wee wall-mounted sink, toilet and narrow tub/shower. Thanks to walls that jutted out awkwardly to accommodate two separate closets on each end, it was a very weird shape and there was no way the bathroom could be used comfortably for more than one person at a time.

We opened up and lengthened the space into a long rectangle by demolishing the two closets and borrowing some extra feet from a nearby bedroom. The plumbing was reconfigured to accommodate a double vanity, large shower and separate bath tub for a luxurious master ensuite retreat.

I wanted the space to feel like a properly appointed salon and not a regular old bathroom, so I brought in details you’d see in a living room, including textured wallpaper, a chair rail, and herringbone floors for a richer atmosphere. I reinterpreted these elements in bathroom-friendly materials, such as Philip Jeffries’ vinyl glam grass for the wallpaper from Crown Wallpaper, marble for the chair rail, and porcelain tiles for the floor.

I used a timeless palette of whites and cream stones from Marble Granite Depot, paired with the rich walnut tones of the faux-wood tiles from Stone Tile. All these colours are seen in the roman shade fabric, a small scale embroidered pattern from Crown Wallpaper & Fabrics that ties it all together beautifully.

The plumbing fixtures are classic and refined with cross handle details. I mixed Brizo’s Tresa lavatory faucet for the vanities with the luxurious Raincan shower head and Charlotte slide bar with shower. Having the relaxing large rain shower head is a real treat, but having a removable shower head is just as key when it comes to ease of cleaning so I am loving the combo of the two!

Brizo doesn’t make a deck mounted telephone style tub filler, but Rubinet has a wonderful selection of tub fillers, so I chose their Raven design which complements the other faucets nicely. The various fixtures are united in a warm polished nickel finish which plays off the rich tones of the floor tile and colours in the roman shade. I was even able to order the legs of the Cheviott clawfoot tub from Vintage Tub & Bath in polished nickel as well for a truly cohesive look.

I love how the refined vintage vibe of the bathroom is an extension of the rest of my home’s décor. The dramatic clawfoot tub, framed antique prints and pleated shades on the beautiful Payson sconces from Circa Lighting reinforce a warm and glamorous mood that makes getting ready in the morning a pleasure.

Seeing the bathroom come together on the page is very rewarding considering it was probably one of the most complicated spaces to deal with during the entire reno. So much can go wrong in any given project, but this bathroom took us to a whole other level of insanity!  There were extreme variations in the natural stone mosaic I selected for the shower which meant that part of the shower walls had to be ripped out and new tile sourced at the eleventh hour, the tub filler ended up being too deep for the tub and had to be shortened which took weeks, two separate parts of the tub were missing and caused delays until each one was received and could be hooked up, a wallpaper mix-up, the list goes on…you name it and it probably went wrong or delayed us! I’m justso happy it’s done and that I get to enjoy it every day!

(after photos by Donna Griffith)

A Glam Patch of Pumpkins

Halloween is just a couple of days away so here are some of my favourite no-carve pumpkin decorating projects I’ve seen online this year:

Nicole of So Haute splattered this gold and ivory beauty, which results in a shimmery Cy Twombly meets Kelly Wearstler effect. These would look right at home in a bowl on my kitchen island!

Over on Design Sponge, Hank and Hunt turned the humble gourd into a malachite masterpiece! Their deep emerald swirls are so unexpected and bold.

This etsy seller went the decoupage route with these fierce leopard print pumpkin forms that you could enjoy any time of year. Meow!

Golden Nursery Finds

It’s so marvellous to see that pretty much every major shelter retailer is having a golden moment right now. It doesn’t take very long to spot something gold or brass when walking the showroom floor or browsing a catalogue or website.

The love for the warm metals has even crept into nurseries and kids spaces, a  place usually reserved for more cutesy and less sophisticated details. This is shown to fabulous effect in the nursery above, designed by Rachelle Belle as seen on the Animal Print Shop blog. In celebration of this golden age, here are some of my favourite ways to add some golden glam into your nursery or kid space:

The Don’t Grow Up (It’s a Trap) Gold Foil Print by Penny Paper Co is the perfect tongue in chic piece to add to a graphic gallery wall above a modern crib. At $27 it won’t break the bank and it is sized to fit IKEA’s ribba for easy and affordable framing.

I love reimaging a vintage dresser as a change table in a nursery (add a change topper and ta da!), and these gilded swirled geode knobs from anthropologie would make for a seriously stunning hardware choice. They’re $18 each and would add an ethereal element to a kid’s bedroom that is fresh and unexpected.

The Emily & Meritt Chandelier Table Lamp by PB Teen would make for a whimsical and welcome light to read bedtime stories by in a feminine and pretty little girl’s room. The beaded arms and delicate flowers would look right at home with a floral wallpaper accent wall. (I’m talking about you Rose Decay)

 

Last but not least for a boho baby’s lair, the global-looking Tangier Bronze Stool from West Elm would be a perfect choice to sit next to your glider. The stool, $299, is versatile and adult-enough that it can be moved into your living room once your glider days are gone.

Personalizing your baby’s space with their initials is always a nice touch and these $10 gilded letters from Indigo add some shimmery glamour to the wall. Spell out a quirky saying or their full name for a maximalist approach.

(Nursery photo by Joe Schmelzer for The Animal Print Shop)