Living with Little People

On my mind... have you voted yet?

2010-11-23T11:55:00.000+11:00

Voting is open in the Oh Dee Doh "Small Kids, Big Colour 2010" contest. There have been some great entries this year and I've picked up quite a bit of nursery inspiration should I (hopefully) need it next year.

In the end my vote went to an entry that was just so super awesome I couldn't look past it... even though it is not at all something I would do in my own home.

Which entry will get your vote?

Mum's Corner: Serenity

2010-11-22T16:46:00.000+11:00

Sometimes Mum's just need a few minutes to themselves. A little corner to slip into and regain your calm after the latest debate over "what is an appropriate breakfast food?" or "does bathtime really need to be a daily occurence?" This seems like a good place to take those few minutes.

Can you feel the serenity descending on you as you walk/float past the sunshine and white curtains? I can.

Image via 1.

On my mind... spoiling myself

2010-11-19T12:49:00.000+11:00

I haven't been able to get this photo out of my head for the past week...

It is just utterly perfect in every way. So today I am giving myself flowers.

And while I'm at it I might as well throw in some balloons to really spoil myself!

I hope I've made you smile too. Have a lovely weekend.

Images via 1. 2. 3. 4.

The colour of fun!

2010-11-17T15:12:00.001+11:00

One of my favourite bloggers, Maria Killam of Colour Me Happy, has posed the question what is your colour of fun? and I couldn't resist joining in her linky party.

It may come as no surprise that my colour of fun is vibrant, happy, attention-seeking yellow.

Whenever my day needs a pick-me-up I put on some yellow shoes. I have three pairs and they give me a feeling a little like this ...

Or if I'm ever feeling a little down I recite Wordsworth's "Daffodils" to myself... "And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils."

It has the same effect in homes and as you may remember is my colour of choice for the bedroom.

Yellow cushions and throw are in progress, but what I'd really love for the bedroom is this Rob Ryan artwork.

Why don't you join in too? What is your colour of fun?

Image via 1. 2. 3. 4.

Cash to Splash! Laura Mae Dooris

2010-11-17T07:23:00.009+11:00

I'm loving the vibrancy and joie de vivre captured in these prints by artist Laura Mae Dooris. The collection is appropriately titled "Whimsy".

Isn't she super talented?! I've gotta love Etsy and blogs for bringing beautiful art like this into my field of consciousness.

Love Your Work! Merewether Family Home

2010-11-16T13:12:00.000+11:00

I just discovered the (former) Sydney home of architect John Merewether through Come Over Sunday.

Built by the architect in 1959, it was home to his own family for more than 50 years before being sold last month. The home and decor are definitive proof that true style is timeless.

Love.

Love Your Work! Colourful family home

2010-11-14T07:22:00.002+11:00

I love the casualness and colour in this Swedish home. I imagine the family who live here to be always laughing and enjoying each other's company. It is very youthful.

Bean bags look so comfy and cozy in front of the fire and the television.

While there is a lot going on colour-wise in the home I don't find it overwhelming thanks to the simple shapes of the furniture and the white back drop.

These sliding doors actually link the master bedroom and the child's room. This would be an unusual feature in an Australian home ... I wonder if it is also unusual or more common in Sweden? It would be convenient when you had an infant, but less so as they grow up.

I found this colourful family home via Green is the New Black. You should definitely check it out as the blog owner, Sofia, also has a wonderful, modern scandinavian home that is teeming with colour and two beautiful little girls.

Affordable Alternatives... DIY

2010-11-12T23:09:00.002+11:00

So, owning genuine Lillipad Studio furniture is out of the question for me/the little person. I may be kidding myself, but I think we could have something very similar by doing it myself.

The Bekvam step stool from Ikea is a similar shape and only $14.99. I've been thinking of getting one anyway for helping with cooking projects. I was going to just paint it a solid colour, but it can't hurt for me to have a go at a more intricate design. At worst I'll just have to paint over it in a darker colour.

I've also been wanting a Rofylld rocking chair from Ikea for the little person. I think it would lend itself nicely to a similar treatment.

There are a long list of projects I'd like to do so we'll have to wait and see whether this progresses beyond the stage of "that's a good idea" before the little person outgrows the rocking chair.

Cash to Splash! Lillipad Studio

2010-11-12T13:08:00.000+11:00

Just in case you missed it on Oh Dee Doh this week (I almost did) I had to share the absolutely stunning handpainted furniture at Lillipad Studio.

I am beyond awed by the magnificence of these stools, tables and chairs. Just two things stand in the way of me/the little person owning one... they're based in the US and a stool costs $249. Otherwise I would absolutely be on board.

Cash to Splash! Wish boats

2010-11-11T22:45:00.002+11:00

I'm splurging a whole $19.95 on the little person today! I know, I know ... living the high life right? This boy will turn into a real brat if I keep spoiling him this way!

But seriously... these wish boats from Upon a Fold are so lovely I have to have them.

"Such a sweet idea – write your wish on one of these adorable little boats and hope for it to come true! Before you begin folding, give your boat a name and write your wish or personal message on the blank space provided."

I'm going to write my wishes for his future and hang them in his room, a la the image below.

My first wish for him?

I wish you find a pursuit in life that fills you with passion and joy.

They come as a set of eight so no shortage of wishes to make, but I think I'll borrow one to wish for a little sister or brother to come along soon.

Poppy Red

2010-11-11T09:31:00.000+11:00

In commemoration of Rememberance Day ...

... I'm remembering my Poppy George today.

Images via 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Love-Hate Relationship

2010-11-05T13:57:00.000+11:00

I love everything about these rooms ... except ...

That black pvc monstrosity in the foreground.

The oversized artwork is just too bland - I really want this space to have something bold.

The zebra head just creeps me out, surely there is a nice print out there that would fit this space.

I really want the wall colour to be tiffany blue or something similar. Definitely not this dark.

Do you ever wish you could just photoshop out something undesirable in an otherwise lovely room? Would you still have noticed the picture without that something?

Images found via 1. 2. 3. 4.

Random musings: Thanks!

2010-10-28T10:39:00.000+11:00

I've just spent too much time looking through the archives of new-to-me blog Thx Thx Thx. The premise for the blog is a daily thank you note to random objects, people and emotions the author encounters. Don't think I'll pop in everyday, but I did enjoy my visit. Here are my favourites:

And the most apt of all...

Here's one of my own...

Love Your Work! Swedish family home

2010-10-27T06:00:00.000+11:00

Spotted this chic family home for sale by Swedish real estate photographers se360 and had to share...

While the living room is a lot of brown I love the layout, the light fixtures, the fireplace and especially the barcelona chair.

The bedrooms are simple and tasteful. I would love to have parquetry floors in our home.

On my mind... the boy child.

2010-10-26T10:33:00.000+11:00

Last week Monica announced she is having a baby boy! This is awesome news for her family, but came as a bit of a shock at first because she was certain she would be having a daughter.

I have to admit that while pregnant with the little person I too was utterly convinced I would be having a girl. The timing of ovulation, the chinese calendar, the healthy skin and hair, the cravings ... pretty much all the old wives tales ... all indicated a girl. So when the radiographer announced it was a boy I was hit for six! The Man often reminds me that the first words out of my mouth were "A boy? What am I going to do with a boy?"

Of course I now know how awesome boys can be - especially my boy. These are some of the pretty ridiculous concerns I had about life with a boy child...

Would he still want to bake cakes with me? (Yes, boys like to cook too. And they love cake!)
Would he still want to draw and do craft with me? (Yes, but they must be drawings of planes and Lightning McQueen... occassionally a horse might be acceptable.)
Would I still be able to buy him cute outfits? (Yes, boys clothes are pretty cool these days too.)
Would he still play dress ups with me? (Yes, we just dress up as builders and fire fighters not ballerinas and fairies.)
Would everything have to be blue? (No, his favourite colour is currently pink - he always picks the pink cup, the pink crayon and when we're out for coffee he prefers pink milk.)

I'd still love to have a daughter, but another one like the little person would be just super too!

Gratuitous room shot via Decorpad

Mum's Corner: reading nook

2010-10-25T09:55:00.000+11:00

On Sunday the little person napped for a whole 2.5 hours! I spent the entire time lazing on the couch reading and listening to the rain outside. Such an indulgence for me these days!

On my mind... fill in the blanks

2010-10-24T15:37:00.000+11:00

I'm a little late, but I wanted to join in the "fill in the blanks Friday" linky party at The Little Things We Do.

1. I am excited that we got to use our new pool for the first time yesterday! Hooray!

2. I wish the sunshine had stuck around for the whole weekend - its back to jumper weather today.

3. I like seeing the delight the little person takes in new experiences.

4. I can see his confidence and water skills growing.

5. I hope summer starts for real soon so we can have more fun together in the pool.

6. I think summer is the best time of year - warm hugs from the sun, swimming, daylight savings, yummy fruit in season, bbqs, all the best bands come to Australia, open air cinema ... and of course Christmas!!!

7. I was too busy playing with the little person to take any pictures yesterday, so these photos are from swimming lessons last August (age 16 months.)

On my mind ... black in kids rooms

2010-10-22T06:00:00.014+11:00

I remember when I was a kid it was a show of rebellion to even ask your parents for a black bedroom.

the boo and the boy

Well, now all the cool kids and their parents are using black.

Decorpad

I imagine these are far more stylish and pared back interpretations then my generation hoped for back in the day. (Or was it just me?)

odi et amo

Still, the use of black makes the space feel somewhat less "childish" which I think was the point of my desire for it.

living etc

A child's room with black walls continues to be quite rare, but there are examples out there of how to do it well.

via Accord Design Decor Staging

Did you go through this phase? How did your parents respond to this clash in decorating styles?

Great advice on living with little people (not from me)

2010-10-21T13:14:00.000+11:00

This week Kirsten Krason of 6th Street Design School has been featuring a series called "Good Design, Kids in Mind." Kirsten has asked a selection of designers with kids to comment on important questions such as:

Can kids and nice things coexist?
How do you kid-proof your house?
What are the best fabrics and finishes to use with kids?
How do you incorporate kids "tacky" stuff in your home?

Its been great reading, with lots of useful tips and reassurance that you aren't the only one facing these dilemmas.

It has also introduced me to a new blog that I'm looking forward to following...

All Courtney's contributions to the discussions this week have been thought provoking and helpful, but it was the following quote that made me click through to find out more about her.

Relax and accept the fact that your idea of great design may have to be altered a bit. Not given up. Just altered. I still believe that every space can be beautiful and have incredible design. But I also have accepted that some spaces need to be kid zones. And that is the new beautiful. I had to change the way I looked at the mess! Once I began to see that it represents a beautiful life, I was able to let go of some things.

Such a perfect summation of my own feelings.

Courtney's gorgeous little people

One of her great ideas in action

Love Your Work! Homework station

2010-10-21T06:00:00.001+11:00

I was super impressed with this homework station submitted for the Workspace of the Week at Unclutterer Daily - a blog with advice to help you organise pretty much every aspect of your life.

Here's the low down in the words of the Mum/genius who created it...
"We converted a toy room that my children were quickly outgrowing into a homework and craft room. The large table seats three and allows me to pull up a small stool to work with each child."

"All components were sold separately at Ikea and allowed us to customize the desk for three boys. We added a glass tabletop from a local shop for $200. Lots of space to spread out and work on homework. We keep a laptop on a separate corner desk and it is often brought over to the large table when a computer is needed."

"I found that my children often needed to be in my craft room for school projects. Therefore, I combined both rooms and it's working out great."

Such a fantastic family space! If you want to see more views of it click here.

Mum's Corner

2010-10-20T06:00:00.002+11:00

via Brabourne Farm

On my mind... selling on your own

2010-10-19T13:27:00.002+11:00

I've noticed a mini-trend in blog land to skip the realtor and sell your own home. First I read that Sherry and John from Young House Love were doing it and now the lovely Leah from House Obsession has put hers on the market. I guess it makes sense when you've put so much of yourself physically, emotionally and creatively into renovating, decorating and blogging to want to control the sales process too.

When we were searching for our house we visited three homes that were "for sale by owner". As a buyer it was a very different experience to be shown around the home by the current owner. I'd have to say it was a positive one.

While none of them ended up being "the one" for us, we really enjoyed hearing how loved the homes were. How well they functioned for the families that lived there and their own unfulfilled dreams of how it could be improved upon. It made the homes more personal and easier to imagine ourselves in. In one case it almost convinced us to buy despite the home missing a feature on our "must-have" list.

Yet despite the fact we liked the idea of buying without an agent and had a positive experience at viewings, these homes were always less visited than others we saw either by appointment or at open homes. In two out of three cases we saw them re-listed a month later with agents. I hope these two bloggers have greater success with their sales because they've both created stunning homes.

I suppose I can't personally recommend buying or selling without an agent as we didn't end up doing it ourselves, but I really think its worth considering.

All photos of Leah's house in Atlanta... you know in case you want to relocate and give it some love.

On my mind... suburban snobbery

2010-10-15T09:53:00.000+11:00

I found this post by Thrifty Decor Chick via Style-ing with Children and it resonated with me so much I had to share it here too.

To paraphrase Sarah, there is a word many television decorators/designers use as something of an insult when critiqueing a space. That word is suburban. They use it to imply that a design is average…just like the next one...normal.

She responds "What’s wrong with normal?" and "to me, more than anything... suburban means A FAMILY LIVES HERE. Why is that so horrible?"

Well I whole heartedly agree with her. Embrace who you are - what you are. I am a suburban mother. My style has changed - evolved - since becoming a mother. It is now more confident, focused, comfortable ... authentic.

I still want my home to be beautiful, but I am not concerned with a lot of the BS that I once was.

FACT - We have stuff. The little person has alot of stuff. He doesn't always put it away. I can do my best with attractive storage solutions, but in the end minimalism is not for our family.

FACT - The little persons toys are not all hand carved wooden beauties. Some are, but he loves anything with a Pixar character on it. They're his toys he's the one who needs to be happy with them.

FACT - We have a television. A big one. We watch it everyday. So what? In all honesty who doesn't??? I used to have a small one in an armoire that I could close the doors and hide, but I never really bothered to anyway. Now it is large, loud and proud in the family room.

I could go on, but the point is this: To me the most important thing about our home is that our whole family can feel relaxed and comfortable here. That it is a place we can truly be ourselves.

That is the sentiment I took from Sarah's post and it made me feel good to know that I am not the only one who thinks authenticity outshines trendy.

All the pictures today are from Sarah's beautiful, suburban home.

Love Your Work! The perfect home?

2010-10-14T21:48:00.000+11:00

Well actually no. The following pictures are all from the portfolio of designer Lee Ann Thornton. If you put every room together in the one home it would be as close as possible to my idea of perfection.

The perfect light fixture, flower arrangement and stairs.

Down the hall to the perfect bedroom.

Which uses the perfect colour combination of turquoise, blush and gold.

A perfectly feminine bathroom. (The ensuite is the one room in our home I'm going all out girly decor).

The perfect mix of formality and comfort.

The perfect kitchen cabinets stretching all the way to the stamped metal ceiling and perfect island bench.

The perfect proportions.

A perfectly fun ladder accompanying a perfectly displayed collection. (I have two of those candelabras in my dining room!)

Definitely check out her portfolio and ofcourse she has a blog too - all the best people do ;o)

Love Your Work! Pretty Princess Room

2010-10-08T11:55:00.000+11:00

How is this for pretty princess decor? I would have died to have this bedroom growing up. Died!

via Decorica

Love the use of the cot as a daybed and the fabulous armoire. But, lets face it the true fantasy element is the canopy and fairy lights. Nothing says princess like a bed canopy.

Random musings

2010-10-06T15:39:00.000+11:00

I just read this quote and I couldn't resist posting it...

"I guess you get to a point at 30 or somewhere and you say, 'What I am, is what I am and that's what I'm going to be and that's all good. I don't need to be anything else.' And that's kind of how I feel."

Jake Gyllenhaal

I imagine it's pretty easy to adopt that attitude when you're a ridiculously good looking movie star who spends his time travelling the world and dating other ridiculously good looking movie stars. But actually, I have to admit I've reached that stage in life too. It feels pretty good to just accept myself and leave behind my neurotic twenties and laugh at the now distant memories of awkward teenage years.

Just in case you wondered... here's Jake in his cute but awkward pre-teen years.

And some more gratuitous shots cause I just can't resist his smile...

Cash To Splash! Mia Linnman

2010-10-05T10:05:00.005+11:00

The photos of the home in my previous post were taken by artist Mia Linnman of the blog Solid Frog. Delving deeper into her blog I came across her original artwork and my heart skipped a beat.

If I had the cash to splash I think I'd choose this one...

Though they're all amazing.

So, so talented. I just keep scrolling up and down to look at them again and again.

Love Your Work! Princess and the pea

2010-10-04T21:59:00.000+11:00

How cool is this Princess and the Pea bed that Katrin created for her daughter?

In fact their whole home is pretty darn cool!

I like the subtelty of the elephant print cushions.

And what a nice message for your little people to receive every day...

On a whole its a happy balance of grown up chic and child-friendly fun.

via Solid Frog

Cash to Splash! Mattress

2010-10-02T08:15:00.005+10:00

If there's anything you're going to splurge on for your little person I reckon their mattress is a really good place to start. He or she will be sleeping on this mattress for the next ten plus years so you want to be sure it will be comfortable and supportive for their growing bodies.

via with two cats

While we had already decided this before hitting the shops, we were convinced further by the sales pitch which included these pearls of wisdom:

from Domino

1) A lot of single bed mattresses don’t have the same side support as larger ones, as it is thought children are not heavy enough to crush the sides. However, where do you sit when reading them a bedtime story or comforting them after a nightmare?

via Oh Dee Doh

2) As it is thought parents want to pay less for a child’s bed manufacturers save costs on a lot of single bed mattresses by reducing the amount of padding in them. The mattress feels firm to parents, but to a child (who at our little person’s age weighed less than 13kg) it feels about as soft as lying on the floor.

via The Boo and The Boy

Anyway, I just thought those were interesting facts to share.

My how they grow! Big boy bed

2010-10-01T10:15:00.004+10:00

While we're talking about the big boy bed, I thought I'd ask...

How old was your little person when they started sleeping in a big kid bed?

We have friends whose daughter has always been petite (premmie) and slept in her cot until she outgrew it at 4 years old. We have other friends whose daughter moved out of the cot at around 20 months to make way for her little sister. The impetus for our little person to make the change (25 months) was becoming a little too independent and wanting to set his own bedtime.

While he had been physically capable for quite some time the first the little person decided to climb out of the cot was at 22 months. One night he was throwing a tantrum over going to bed and Dad shut his bedroom door to drown out the noise. Little person got out of the cot and opened said door to prove a point. (Must be his mother’s son!)

A few weeks later we had guests for dinner. Little person was put to bed, only to rejoin the party 5 minutes later. After a second attempt to put him to bed with the same result we decided the safer option was to let him stay up. (The party animal comes from his Dad’s side of the family.)

A couple weeks later again I found him climbing into the cot for an afternoon nap. That sealed the deal.

I'd love for you to share your stories.

On my mind... final project for the week

2010-09-30T13:51:00.000+10:00

The little person is very blessed with a Nanna who loves to make things for him. My Mum is super talented at every crafty, creative project she sets her mind to. (And she's given almost everything a go from lead lighting to upholstery to teddy bears.) All my girl cousins and I have porcelain dolls she cast and painted for us in the 80s which are still very treasured. I have major regrets now that I didn't put more effort into learning from her when I was a teenager living at home.

Her latest passion is quilting. Here is the one the Little Person received last Christmas. (She did all the patchwork and applique by hand and then used a machine for the quilting.)

His big boy bed was actually mine from ages 8-18. I still remember our trip to buy it (we lived 1.5hrs from the nearest regional centre) and how proud I was. While I'm happy to be able to share pieces of my childhood with the Little Person, its not really in the style I'd pick for him today. It needs an update and as it happens I have a plan to turn it into something like this...

via With Two Cats

Hopefully posting this will spur me to get out the paint sooner rather than later.

On my mind... another project

2010-09-29T11:27:00.000+10:00

On the day we signed the contracts for the house I ordered this print from the lovely Heather at Senter Studios.

I'd been admiring her work for some time and was waiting til we found "the one" to place my order so I didn't jinx the search. I can't tell you how excited I was to receive it in the mail and have it framed ready for moving day.

Seeing it as I walk through the front door everyday continues to make me smile and reminds me how lucky I am to have found such a wonderful home for my family.

The small table it sits on is handed down from my parents home. I know there are a lot of people out there who want to paint everything gloss white, but I love it just the way it is.

What I do want to spruce up is the hat stand I've paired with it to create a "landing strip" - a place to collect all the mail, jackets, hats, handbags, etc.. that used to inhabit our dining table.

I think black is the best way to go, but wondered if anyone had another suggestion?

I'd also like to get rid of the striped wall, but I promised The Man some time off from painting after all the work we did on our old house.

On my mind... let's share

2010-09-28T15:39:00.000+10:00

Okay, so as promised I'm sharing some pics from my own home this week. Its kind of scary for me, but whats the point even having a blog if I'm not going to let you a little bit into my life?

So I'm starting small today with some "before" pictures of a project I have in mind. This is our dining room buffet and hutch.

Like a lot of our furniture its made from recycled oregon, so has an orange tone to it. I've decided the best way to marry this to the pale grey tiles throughout our living areas is to use blue for soft furnishings and accessories, combined with metallics such as silver and copper.

So far I've style the shelves with practical and/or sentimental items from around the house that fit this scheme.

The project side of things is to line the back of the hutch with a printed fabric or wallpaper which I hope will lift the accessories to give them more prominence. I'd like to find something like the following locally to use, though I'm fickle and will probably jump at something else entirely.

via Hancock Fabrics

I'm hoping the transformation will look something like this...

Before & After via Making it Lovely

The other project is to get much better at taking photos. Guess I'll have to re-read this post.

More work-in-progress pictures tomorrow...

On my mind... party decorations

2010-09-24T16:00:00.000+10:00

While I'd love to go all out with a theme party I frankly just don't have the time and energy for anything elaborate. Instead, I will be aiming somewhere in the realm of a rustic, country look. Here is my party inspiration...

via Heather Bullard

via The Brass Petal

I am going to try my hand at this cake decoration tonight though. Looks pretty easy - I just hope looks aren't deceiving.

via Twirling Betty

Who doesn't love sprinkles??? Have a fantabulous weekend everyone!

On my mind... party time!

2010-09-23T16:40:00.000+10:00

The new house is getting its first public airing this weekend. A massive combo of the man’s 40^th, his mother’s 60^th and his brother’s long awaited return from Cairns with two new sons (one just three weeks old!) I’m really looking forward to seeing the extended family and excited to show off our home, but at the same time I’m anxious.

Having dreamed of this house and the life we will live in it for so long I have very high expectations.

Having lived in it for five weeks now I’ve had time to visualise and plan and scheme about the home I want to create (it's spectacular in my mind).

What I haven’t had is time to implement these dreams and schemes. I know in my head that it will take years to get everything just so - and by then I will want something completely different - but my heart is aching for it to be perfect right now.

Anyways... after breaking the ice with the family on the weekend I intend to finally post some pictures next week of how the house looks now with some narrative on how I would like it to look (eventually).

All images of Emily Henderson's apartment via Rue magazine. I am totally taking inspiration from her for my dining room... you'll see Monday!

Love Your Work! Making me happy

2010-09-21T14:32:00.005+10:00

via Nuevo Estilo

The vibrant blue, the books, the whimsy... everything about this image is making me happy today.

I hope you're feeling happy too!

On my mind... "unisex"

2010-09-16T14:38:00.000+10:00

Our little shopping incident reminded me of an anecdote told by a friend of a friend a few months ago.

She was shopping with her three year old daughter who needed new sandals. She was pressed for time and the daughter really wanted Thomas the Tank Engine sandals. She thought to herself "do I care if she wears boys shoes? what harm will it do? do I care more about having a happy child or having a girly girl to dress up in pretty pink things?" So rather than having that particular battle she bought the Thomas shoes.

When I heard the anecdote I thought her decision was fair enough. I really couldn't see anything wrong with Thomas shoes for a girl. However, when I was placed in the same situation I couldn't bring myself to buy girls shoes for my boy.

On the same shopping trip the Little Person made a beeline for a coral hoodie. I wondered if it was too feminine, but it was in the boys section so I got it for him. When he wore it for the first time I was still a little uncomfortable with it, but he was very proud.

It made me think of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's daughter Shiloh who likes to wear boys clothes. Again, I don't see any problem with that. She should wear what makes her happy and I think its great her parents embrace that.

Am I a total hypocrite? Or is it a societal thing that its acceptable for girls to push the gender boundaries, but not boys?

Cash to Splash! Kids shoes

2010-09-15T16:22:00.000+10:00

We took the Little Person shoe shopping last weekend. He fell in love with a gorgeous pair of sparkly aqua joggers with white flowers. I could totally understand – they were cute as ... for a girl.

Something like these Reeboks but even more shiny and with small white flowers.

When he wasn’t allowed to try them on the world’s biggest tantrum ensued and we had to leave the store. Real, heart-felt tears over a pair of shoes – pity he’s not old enough to watch Sex and The City. I think he’d totally identify with Carrie in the old woman who lived in her shoes episode.

Anyway, we went home later that afternoon with a pair of joggers that were less cute and much more masculine. He seems happy with them and has probably forgotten all about his brief love affair with aqua. However, when I saw these today on Gelati Art I couldn’t click through to buy them fast enough.

Masculine with a fun pop of aqua. A perfect compromise … apart from the price tag that is - $95.00.

Who spends that much on shoes for a toddler? A boy toddler no less. Clearly there is someone out there who does. If you’re that someone go ahead and buy them for your little person. I’m sure they’ll love them… I know mine would.

Bedroom inspiration... gold throw

2010-09-12T07:12:00.001+10:00

I've noticed a recurring item in my inspiration pics for the bedroom...

via escapade

via room envy

via the diversion project

posted previously here

Weekend plans - gardening

2010-09-10T13:53:00.001+10:00

I'm hoping for some lovely sunshine this weekend so we can get outdoors and enjoy our garden. It will be part work and all fun!

All images courtesy Anna Kern, my new favourite photographer. (discovered via A Room Somewhere.)

On my mind... pool safety

2010-09-06T10:05:00.000+10:00

On the (very) long term wish-list for the new house is frameless glass pool fencing such as in the images below.

On the more immediate priority list is the installation of our new pool alarm. Supposedly it is set off when an object/person weighing more than 8kg breaks the surface of the water.

We decided the alarm was necessary this past weekend when we sprung the Little Person standing on his tricycle trying to open the pool gate. He is 2 years and 4 months old! WTF!

Perhaps I shouldn't be so surprised... one of our friends was found on the roof of the house at age 2. He'd taken advantage of a ladder his Dad had earlier been using to clean the gutters. But seriously?! Who knew 2 year olds were so resourceful?

The pool gate does actually have a lock too, which we will now be using religiously.

What dangerous situations has your adventurous toddler found themselves in?

On my mind... spring has sprung

2010-09-02T13:48:00.000+10:00

Gosh, I can't believe I let the first day of spring go unheralded yesterday! I love, love, love that it is going to be getting warmer now and the daylight is already lasting longer. In belated celebration of this turning of the seasons here are some outdoor spaces I would love to spend time in this spring.

via Desire to Inspire

via Room Envy

via The Decorista

The Decorista again

via Lydia Lyons Designs

Perhaps not in the pool just yet, though.

Overcoming the tyranny of distance

2010-08-26T06:34:00.002+10:00

I've discovered a fabulous family home in Argentina via an equally fabulous blog in Poland, whose author discovered it on a blog in the UK, who originally sourced the images through a great website in Sweden - and there the trail runs cold.

Did you keep up with me there? Well, no matter. The important thing is this is a wonderful family home.

Enjoy.

Affordable Alternatives... sneaky midweek wine ;o)

2010-08-25T00:01:00.000+10:00

I have to admit to being a little judgemental in the past of a certain friend who had a "Mum's Reward" glass of wine (or three) every night when the kids went to bed. These days as I sit here searching for pictures with a Sauvignon Blanc in hand I am much more understanding.

Here are a few personal bars I wouldn't mind visiting.

I have to end this post with a disclaimer: I am not an alcoholic!

Cash To Splash... or at least some time

2010-08-24T23:01:00.000+10:00

You know those nights when there's a gazillion things to get done? The Little Person recognises them ... and he always seems to take the opportunity of being especially needy. And of course his Daddy was working late at the office tonight.

Anyway, I'm not looking for sympathy. Just a night off. Back in the pre-Mummy days my favourite place for a night out with the girls was The Argyle in Sydney's Rocks district.

Australia's oldest surviving commercial building has seen many transformations in its long life. From warehouse to customs house to an antiques market, art & craft fair and now nightspot.

There is something a bit special about sipping cocktails in a heritage listed building.

Cheers to all of you!

Love Your Work! Anthropologie

2010-08-24T06:37:00.003+10:00

While we're talking blackboards - have you seen this campaign for Anthropologie homewares?

Such great backdrops! I love the simplicity of it and how the rustic feel works so well with the product.

On My Mind... blackboards

2010-08-23T06:37:00.003+10:00

I have often admired homes in magazines with whole walls of blackboards. I had several pictures in my inspiration file for when the little person was old enough to understand the difference between the blackboard wall and the rest of the walls in the house.

from Oh Dee Doh

from Velvet Palette

Then my Little Person was given a blackboard and easel last Christmas. We set it up in the kitchen/diner for the first couple of weeks, but I soon realised that chalk dust is an insidious thing that invades your home very quickly. By the start of the new year the easel became strictly an outside toy and was moved to the back deck. There it has enjoyed much love and attention and I have enjoyed a dust free kitchen.

from Style Files

Until now. Our new home has a blackboard on the side of the pantry. So far, the Little Person has been preoccupied with all the other newness around him and hasn't asked to draw on it but the time is coming. I think the pleasure he'll take in it will far outweigh any chalk dust issues.

2010-08-20T23:21:00.000+10:00

At least one family in Australia will be getting not one, but two new houses this weekend.

In Sydney...

And Canberra...

I'd like the opportunity to poke around in either of these properties.

Love Your Work! Eddie Ross

2010-08-20T12:05:00.001+10:00

Did anyone else watch the first season of Top Design a couple of years ago? My favourite contestant was Eddie Ross and this year I rediscovered him through his blog.

Eddie leans towards traditional, country stylings and has a great eye for flea market finds. Recently he featured a before and after that I thought was just fabulous.

I would love to have:
a) this bench on my new front porch
b) the time to search through second hand markets
c) the time and skill to refurbish my finds
d) all of the above

How are your DIY skills? Do you have pieces in your home that you've breathed new life into? I have several projects in mind for the coming months, but for now they are still more shabby than chic.

On My Mind... a little remorse

2010-08-19T13:34:00.001+10:00

I'm writing this post for two reasons.

I feel I owe our old house a bit of an apology and this is my way of saying "even though I wasn't always so nice to you I do love you and appreciate you."
Considering I'm planning to share our new home I felt a little background on where we've come from was appropriate.

Since I moved in with the man four years ago I really only ever saw this house as a holding space. While I had a miriad of ideas for improving it, we wanted something bigger and both had the attitude "why waste money and effort on this house when we plan to move anyway." We made it comfortable for our life together, but we didn't go the extra mile to make it special.

Here are the two rooms I was allowed to redecorate in my time there... only because we deemed the bathroom and lounge room carpet too old and unsanitary for our new little person.

It's a little bare as we'd already started packing when the real estate photos were taken, but it demonstrates my preference for clean, fresh spaces.

And here are some samples of the salmon pink that took over the rest of the house during an early nineties makeover.

High ceilings, large windows, polished floorboards ... it really has a lot going for it. So house, I want you to know that you are beautiful in your own way. Thank you for providing us with so many happy memories. I hope the family we have chosen to live in you treat you with the kindness and respect that you deserve.

Rug Envy

2010-08-18T09:13:00.000+10:00

I'm hooked on house hunting! Even though we've just moved into our new house I can't help but browse the real estate websites. Yesterday while flicking through Domain in the Sydney Morning Herald I fell in love. Not with a whole house (thank goodness!) but with this rug.

And just because I love it so much here it is from another angle.

It's magnificent.

We're in... sort of, nearly.

2010-08-17T14:04:00.000+10:00

Well, I'm happy to report the move went well. After a mad flurry of packing 99% of our stuff was transferred to our new house last Friday with no breakages, spills or panic attacks. Thank God!

We had great removalists who got the whole job done by 2pm, which I thought was very impressive. I wanted to make it my mission to have the Little Person's room set up by the time he arrived home - you know to make the transition as smooth as possible for him. Unfortunately, at 2.30pm we got a call from his daycare centre to say he had conjunctivitis could we please come get him. So, after an afternoon waiting at the medical centre and pharmacy he came home to a room full of boxes and his bed in pieces on the floor...

He loved it! We had kept his tools aside so he got to "help" Daddy put the bed together. Then he took absolute joy in pulling all his toys and books out of the boxes and spreading them over the house. Sometimes when things happen by accident they turn out for the best.

We then spent the weekend painting and cleaning the old house ready for our new tenants, so apart from making beds and finding enough crockery to eat off pretty much nothing has been done at the new house. We're back at work today so I guess it will be slowly, slowly setting things up. I'm choosing to see it as an opportunity to get to know the house and come up with the right layout for us.

Anyway, the whole experience has provided lots of fodder for blog posts that I can't wait to start sharing.

I have the keys!

2010-08-10T14:45:00.003+10:00

Couldn't resist popping in to say I just picked up the keys to our NEW HOUSE!!!

Let the fun begin!

Unlucky for some...hopefully very lucky for me.

2010-08-05T20:52:00.000+10:00

Our move is only a week away now. We pick up the keys next Tuesday and actually move next Friday the 13th. I'm really not the superstitious type myself, so I don't see anything wrong with that. A few people have raised their eyebrows when I tell them, though.

Sorry I haven't had the energy for any proper posting and commenting this week. It'll probably be quiet from me for a little longer, but I'm really looking forward to sharing some meaningful personal posts very soon.

For now, here are some pics I'm taking inspiration from at the moment...

Any guesses the colour combo I'm loving right now?

I'm also loving the idea of disguising the television among some framed beauties.

Cash to Splash! On my wish list

2010-08-02T21:47:00.000+10:00

I actually got to browse through some furniture and homewares stores this past weekend. I picked up a few new things for the soon-to-be house and a lot more ideas...

... for inside ...

from Domayne

In white from Oz Design

... and out ...

from here

I'd like to say I brought these home with me, but alas they are on the wish list. What's on your wish list at the moment?

Love Your Work! Its in the details

2010-07-31T06:34:00.002+10:00

I couldn't resist sharing some more details from one of the nurseries I featured yesterday. It so darn cute!

I can't make up my mind if this little elephant is my favourite accessory...

... or the crocheted bunny rug

Which do you like the best? Or is it something else completely?

Love Your Work!

2010-07-30T09:03:00.000+10:00

Here is an illustration of great photography at work. In the first photo of this nursery lots of natural light and the angles from which the photo was taken give me the impression that the room is very spacious.

via Oh Dee Doh

When you go to these next shots however, you realize it’s quite a standard to small sized bedroom.

A wonderfully decorated and expertly photographed bedroom, but not a large one.

Affordable Alternatives - Bloggers' photography tips

2010-07-29T06:34:00.001+10:00

While I wait for the right opportunity to attend a course, I can always rely on my bloggy friends to help me improve my photography skills.

Ofcourse I mentioned on Tuesday that Ashley shares photography tips on her blog Under the Sycamore. These are interspersed throughout the blog as readers ask questions about which lens she used in certain photos and how to use back focus for self timer shots.

Earlier this year Ishtar Olivera featured a four part photography tutorial on her blog, which included lots of helpful advice for styling still life shots and vignettes, when I get around to this for the blog.

I also read a blog post earlier this year about positioning yourself to capture natural shots of children at play, but I didn't bookmark it at the time. While I was trying to google it I came across this YouTube video with much the same advice.

How are you at taking photos of your kids? Do you capture the everyday moments, or only get the camera out for special occassions? Are you happy with the results or could you use some serious help like me?

Cash To Splash - Photography class

2010-07-28T12:55:00.000+10:00

I aspire to be like Ashley and capture my little person's everyday life with such clarity and colour. We have a DSLR, but it is totally wasted on me I'm afraid. I have no idea how to use it as anything other than a point and shoot.

I'd like to remedy that situation by attending a digital photography course. The one I have in mind is an introductory course run by Focus10 Photography in Sydney. Here are some lovely pictures of little people from their portfolio.

They also run a course specifically on photographing architecture and real estate for more advanced students, which I would love to take as a follow up to improve the blog.

With our new house only a few weeks away and The Man's 40th birthday not long after I'll have to put this on hold, but I WILL GET THERE! I've committed to it here so no backing out.

If you have the cash available yourself Focus10 run courses in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra with 2 courses per month scheduled in Sydney.

I aspire to ... Under The Sycamore

2010-07-27T16:21:00.000+10:00

While we're talking photography I have to give a shout out to my favourite blog - Under the Sycamore. Every morning when I turn on my computer I look forward to seeing what Ashley has to offer. She is a supremely talented photographer, a wonderful Mum and a witty writer to boot!

Recently Ashley's daughter turned one and she shared the monthly photos she took as "Firecracker" grew. It was the best version of monthly photos I've seen, really capturing her emerging personality.

I wouldn't have expected anything other than the best from Ashley. She doesn't wait for a special occassion to pull out the camera. Everyday she captures her kids in natural moments - playing, learning, sharing, being.

This is the stuff that truly uplifts me and keeps me going back each morning! She has 24/7 access to four of the best models/muses a photographer/mother could ask for. Aren't they the most beautiful kids?

And as an added bonus Ashley is very generous in sharing her techniques and giving advice on how to improve your own photos. If you don't already have Under the Sycamore saved to your favourites you need to head over to check it out now.

On My Mind... school photos

2010-07-26T06:34:00.007+10:00

My little person had his first school photos taken this year. (Well, daycare photos.) When we first got the information sent home I thought it was a little unnecessary. I mean he’s two and we have A LOT of photos of him. Then I thought oh no – do I put him in his knock about day care clothes or risk staining his nice weekend clothes for the photos? Then I felt sorry for the teachers having to corral a dozen 0-3 year olds into a group photo. But when the day arrived I was just plain excited!

And I have continued to be excited for the last six weeks waiting for them to arrive. I must have asked his teachers every day for the last two weeks if they were available. I think they should have made a sign just saying "No!" to hold up everytime they saw me coming.

Anyway, they have arrived and the wait was worth it! If I do say so myself they are beautiful photos.

I am very grateful to the photographer and his teachers for making it a fun experience for him. I don’t remember specifically, but I am guessing I did not enjoy my first school photo experience…

LOL! Oh well, I have to say I love looking back at photos of my childhood.

Do you still have your first school photos? Are they as dodgy as mine? Or are you a happy little camper like my little person?

Love Your Work! Bird themed nursery

2010-07-23T13:52:00.000+10:00

I couldn't let the bird theme pass without a shout out to Deven's lovely Mum Maya. The nursery she created for him was featured on Oh Dee Doh a while back and I just love it!

An artist by trade Maya painted the woodland mural herself.

Maya also handmade the bird mobile via a pattern she found at Spool Sewing.

I love that the black and white look so crisp against the Tiffany blue walls and that she put so much of herself into the room for her Little Person. What do you think?

Affordable Alternatives - Bird Mobiles

2010-07-22T08:35:00.007+10:00

Birds are a poular motif in Little People's spaces just now, so finding some adorable and affordable alternatives wasn't much of a stretch.

This first by Alimrose Designs via Little Styles is the closest I came across and for just a fifth the price.

Alimrose Designs also produce this cute owl design.

Made It has a wide range of options including this I heart birdie mobile and this by Ernie & Bird.

I also found this colourful option on Eco Toys.

Do you have a favourite? Or do you make or sell them yourself?

Cash To Splash - Bird Mobile

2010-07-21T08:23:00.003+10:00

I've just recently discovered fabulous online store Kindergallery. Kindergallery brings together some great creative talents from around the world, making their creations accessible in Australia. Even better, the collection is geared specifically for use in Little People's spaces.

My favourite is the Bird Cage with Three Birds mobile from Tamar Mogendorff.

Perhaps by the time Little Person #2 comes along I'll be able to justify the $250 price tag?

But don't let that scare you - a lot of the artists' work on Kindergallery is very reasonably priced. Head on over to check it out.

Love Your Work! Fresh & Colourful Nursery

2010-07-20T08:35:00.004+10:00

I absolutely adore this nursery recently featured on HGTV. Created by Amy from the b-line for her new Little Person it has really taken my fancy.

I love the big window and the leafy outlook. I've seen this Ikea shelf as a window seat a few times recently and it is perfection in this room.

The soft grey of the walls and the bright white furniture really take advantage of all the natural light in the room, making it feel extra spacious.

The colourful accessories and window pelmets add high contrast to the scheme, just perfect for stimulating growing little minds.

This wall art installation using fun fabric prints is a fantastic way to add interest with minimal investment in time and cash. I think I want to steal this idea for my next Little Person's room.

Overall, I doubt I'd change a thing in this space. What about you? Is this your idea of perfection to?

A blank canvas

2010-07-19T22:47:00.000+10:00

I was doing a little happy dance this weekend when we visited our soon-to-be home. Settlement isn't for another 3 weeks, but the previous owners have already vacated so the agent was nice enough to let us in to take some measurements. Here are some snaps I took of the blank canvas we'll be working with...

So much potential! So many ideas! So excited!

For now we are still super busy preparing our existing home for lease. This past weekend we washed down the outside of the house and all the windows, finished building a new railing on our back deck/stairs, steam cleaned the carpets and gave the garden an overhaul. The to do list for next weekend is just as long .... paint the new railings, sand back and repaint some damaged skirting boards, repaint the laundry ceiling after some old water damage and replace a faulty light in the dining room. And don't even mention the packing!

But, at least I have this to look forward to.

Little People's Reading Nooks

2010-07-15T22:14:00.000+10:00

Though life gets too busy for Mummies to relax with a book, there is always time for reading to your Little People.

Spark!

Gelati Art

Alexander van Berge

A guilty conscience

2010-07-14T21:22:00.000+10:00

So far my posting to this blog has been sporadic at best. I would like to commit to posting five days a week. Eventually, I will. Right now, it is just hard with a move to plan and getting our existing house ready to lease.

I don't want to let it go a whole week without a post, so for now I am offering a few random rooms that make me happy.

Oh, for the time to curl up in a comfy chair with a book!

Winter in Sydney

2010-07-08T21:50:00.001+10:00

I've just looked back at the previous post and realised every room I chose has a lovely view of blue skies and verdant landscapes. We are so lucky in Sydney that even in the midst of the coldest winter in years we are blessed with beautiful blue skies! Most days anyway...

Here are some more brilliant blues and gorgeous greens captured on a recent trip to our neighbourhood park.

And riding home...

... wait a minute. Make that walking home - no point doing things the hard way! ;o)

Finally, all tuckered out ready for an afternoon nap.

House Hunting with Little People

2010-07-05T23:36:00.000+10:00

Before I get too carried away with planning for our new family home I want to take a step back and talk about the past few months of house hunting with a Little Person in tow. If you don't want to read my unsolicited advice you can just enjoy the current offerings on the Sydney property market.

1. Limit your viewings to one day a week. On average we would see four properties each Saturday, then we would devote Sundays to our Little Person.

2. Schedule breaks between viewings to visit the local parks. We wanted to have a playground nearby anyway, this allowed us to get to know the area better and get a feel for the local community.

3. Take snacks - lots of snacks. Sultanas, apples, cheese sticks and crackers were always well received and didn't make too big a mess in the car.

4. Talk to your Little Person about the house you are viewing. What colour are the tiles? What can we see out the window?

5. Give your Little Person a job to do during the viewing. Our Little Person is only two, but we would count the number of bedrooms in each house.

6. Oh and slip on shoes!

All images today via realestate.com.au

The Elephant in the Room

2010-07-04T08:27:00.000+10:00

While we're on the topic of storage and organisation I might as well address the elephant in the room when it comes to our particular home. Cables.

Our home is wired to the extreme. At the moment all the cables from our desk and media centres are not so carefully stored on the floor with furniture creating a barrier to keep our Little Person from pulling at them. This is obviously less than ideal for safety, organisation and aesthetic reasons. I hope to find a much better solution for our new home.

Nicole at Making it Lovely first made me aware that it was even possible to "manage" your cables with this post on her home office where she uses the Ikea Signum Cable Management system.

Then I realised Unplggd was a treasure trove of cable management solutions. It was on Unplggd I saw the sleek Blue Lounge cable box which I think would possibly be the best solution for our media centre.

And also this DIY solution using guttering to keep cables off the floor and under control, which we could possibly replicate in our study nook.

Lastly, I'd like to buy a Bedford Smart Technology™ Large Recharge Station from Pottery Barn for keeping mobile phone and iPod chargers handy.

Not such a pretty post, but an important part of setting up our new home in a way that is both friendly to our Little Person and aesthetically pleasing. Can you recommend any other cable management solutions?

Nobody's Perfect

2010-07-03T07:46:00.001+10:00

Another thing from my wishlist for a family home is storage. Lots and lots of built-in storage. I live with someone who has great difficulty in throwing anything away. It's a hereditary trait - his late father was a certifiable hoarder - so I can't hope to change him and I can only assume our Little Person will follow suit. So to achieve the aesthetic I want for our home I have to accommodate and conceal this clutter.

Storage is one area where our soon-to-be home couldn't fulfil my wishlist. However, after months of searching I was very realistic that no home is perfect and in the overall scheme of things this was a safe area to compromise. I am a resourceful and creative person - with a little inspiration from my online travels I'm certain I can come up with storage solutions to suit our needs.

from Martha Stewart

from Apartment Therapy

from Blissfully Domestic

More than bricks and mortar

2010-06-30T22:28:00.000+10:00

“It’s not houses I love, it’s the life I live in them.”

~ Coco Chanel

I think this quote is perfect for explaining how we chose our soon-to-be home. As we’ve been planning this change for so long (two plus years) I’ve had time to daydream about the lifestyle I want for our family and how the home we eventually chose would support that lifestyle. When I walked into this house I knew it was the perfect setting for my fantasy family life. :o)

1) Large, open plan informal living area. Allowing us to create zones for play, media, conversation and meals while still feeling we are all part of the same family space.

via Elements of Style

2) A separate formal living room for those times when we want some separation from the chaos that is Little People!

via Greige

3) An integrated indoor/outdoor entertaining area, because we love having our family and friends around especially in the summer months.

via Spaced

4) Kitchen overlooking the backyard so our Little Person can play either indoors or out and still be supervised while I’m preparing dinner.

via Driftwood Interiors

5) A dedicated guest bedroom so that my parents (who live a couple of hours away) can come and stay whenever they want.

via Apartment Therapy

6) A quiet study nook off the formal living area for working from home when possible/necessary.

via Porchlight Interiors

What would your ideal family home include?

BTW - don't be fooled none of these images is of our soon-to-be house.

We bought a house!

2010-06-29T13:21:00.001+10:00

I probably should have started this blog six months ago. I’ve had so many things I wanted to share and ideas for posts. Problem was, I felt a bit of a fraud blogging about creating a brilliant family home when I was less than enthusiastic about my own home. We have been planning to upgrade since before our Little Person arrived on the scene, but unpaid maternity leave, family health issues and an unstable job market kept pushing things back. Then, when we were in a position to buy there was just nothing on the market to suit us. We were frustrated and unmotivated to invest time or money in our current house.

Well, that has changed TODAY! We’ve had an offer accepted on a property we really love. The contract revisions have been verbally agreed and once these are in writing tomorrow we will be signing and putting down our deposit. After such a long wait it has all happened so quickly I can barely believe it’s real.

Images via realestate.com.au

I think it will be the ideal family home for our Little People to grow in. I can’t wait to share more of it with you.

Affordable Alternatives

2010-06-28T15:32:00.001+10:00

Well, I couldn't find a child-sized swivel chair that wasn't in a lurid colour and/or the shape of sporting equipment. But, trust Ikea to have a budget-friendly and fun alternative!

Roffyld Rocking Chair from Ikea

For just $AU69 your Little Person can have their own rocking chair. Personally, I'd also spend a little more on paint to spruce it up a bit. I'm loving Tiffany blue and red at the moment...

I also found a great store that will make personalised armchairs for your Little People. How special would your Little Person feel to own one of these?

Bimbee Kids

They have a classic shape and come in nine colours to fit in with most decors. They're quite a bit more than the ikea find, but at $AU239 they're a quarter of the price of a mini-e!

Cash To Splash

2010-06-27T05:28:00.000+10:00

I wish I had the cash to splash on these child-sized replicas of two 20th century classics.

yolk and mini-e from Little Nest

These chairs represent what I am all about - integrating children’s belongings/needs into communal areas without it overwhelming or detracting from the overall style of the home.

Plus, how much fun would a little person have spinning in their very own swivel chair? I can just see the look of glee on My Little Person’s face! …if I can find a budget version I’ll definitely let you know.

One photo for you, a giant leap for me

2010-06-26T07:03:00.000+10:00

I've seen a lot of posts popping up on my regular blog haunts taking up Ally's design challenge - your style in one picture. As I've been meaning to start this blog for some time now I decided this was the ideal opportunity to bite the bullet.

So, here is the one room that defines my decorating style and lets you know what this blog will be about. (Quite a lot of responsibility for one little picture, but I'm sure it's up to it!)

What makes this room the one I long for, all I worship and adore?

Since becoming a Mummy what I'm all about is a home that embraces it's youngest occupants without looking like a day care centre. It's important that My Little Person feels a sense of belonging and ownership in our home, but I don't want to feel like I'm being swallowed up by toys or "cute." This room achieves that balance.

Clean white background and built in storage means the room feels clutter free, while keeping toys and books easily accessible.
Pops of red are great for tying in other brightly coloured items and giving a sense of unity to the space.
Embraces this Little Person's love of planes, without hitting you over the head with a theme.

Thanks for stopping by. If you share my desire to create a family home that is both chic and child-friendly I hope you'll come back soon!

BTW - I'd love to be a responsible blogger and tell you exactly where the image came from, but I've had it a while and I can't remember. I'll get better at giving credit where it's due as we go on.