EXCLUSIVE HARDWOOD BEDS DESIGNED TO INSPIRE AND SAFELY NURTURE CHILDREN
beds - bunks - mid sleepers - high sleepers - furniture - storage - desks & chairs
www.littlefolksfurniture.co.uk 01985 300588
Editor’s letter Hello, Welcome to the Nursery Edition. I am saddened to be sending this out under lockdown, it has made me think a lot about what it must be like to be pregnant whilst in lockdown and indeed giving birth and going home, unable to have friends and family come round to meet the new addition to your family. I know we had lots of people around immediately and second time round that was extremely overwhelming. I also have a good friend who after her third didn’t get out of bed until her husband went back to work, two blissful weeks getting to know her new babe. I hope you are able to turn this situation into one that works and is nourishing for you physically and mentally. There are lots of services available and my advice is call even when a little glum don’t wait for a struggle, there are lots of resources here for maternal mantal health and I highly recommend Samaritans, always there on 116 123! I am hoping that you look after yourself during the down moments, baths, books, hot chocolate, movies, facetime with friends and family. During the up times you get to have fun and plan and organise and shop online. The baby’s room or nook is the perfect place to spend all your time thinking about what your tiny human will be like and how much fun it will be getting to know them. The pages of this issue are here to help with great advice from professional designers, all mums as well. Interviews with Eleanor Bowmer (p30) and Emma Worrollo (p48) who have just had their 2nd and 3rd babies so they have some good advice too. We have lots of items that I think are essential for babies purely based on my experience, worth checking them out on page 58 Happy reading and happy decorating, if you have any questions, need any help or if a link isn’t working please get in touch here. Best wishes Rachel x
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Editor in Chief Rachel Burns Art Director : Elizabeth Barrett Sub Editor : Ann Storr Assistant Editor : Joanna Olney Style Editor : Chloe Spillett
Brand Consultancy : EB&Co Contributors : Ursula Wesselingh, Medina King, Joanna Riding & Nadia McCowan Hill For advertising enquiries, email hello@rooomy.co.uk or call 01732 359488
cover image: OOna’s Nurser by Room To Bloom, Ursula Wesselingh (see p40)
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Contributors Chloe is an award winning a designer, mum of two. Formlery a psychology teacher, Chloe finally made the move into fulltime design after winning the National Prize for “Styled by Me” judged by Sophie Robinson Chloe knew she was onto more than a hobby and then she went on to win Grand Designs “Under the Stairs” project with a wonderful playful nook, any child’s dream hang out.
Ursula is the director of Room to Bloom, an interiors studio dedicated to children’s interiors. Ursula has been on a professional mission to curate the best children’s furniture and accessories for her clients and she believes that every child deserves the most beautiful room in the house, its where so many childhood memories are made.
Medina runs award winning Child Wellness Design Practice, MK Kids Interiors. Recognised as an expert in the field of kids’ interiors, Medina speaks about the field at the Ideal Home Show, the Autumn Fair and on the BBC. Her vision is strong and her commitment to child wellbeing is wonderful.
Joanna is a mother of three who has launched the wonderful Mini Maison store, curating a wonderful place to shop for kid’s interiors. She has gone on to design her own products with her focus on nurseries, she really knows what she’s talking about when it comes to great spaces for babies that parents will find useful as well as wonderful to be in.
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Art Pick
Nursery Styling
Accessories
Rooomy Loves
Ready for Play
Blow It vs Budget
Nature Inspired
Walls
Eleanor Bowmer
Reader Room
Mini Trends
Small Spaces
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There have been rainbows everywhere over the past few months and this beautiful illustration from Bear and Bloom is perfect for any home right now and particularly for a nursery. It will spread joy, positivity, hope and dreaminess throughout your tiny human’s new living space.
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welcome home baby
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CHLOE SPILLETT GIVES US THE LOWDOWN ON HOW TO MAKE A F A N TA S T I C N U R S E R Y.11 ..
THE NURSERY STYLE REPORT For many, from the first moment we learn we’re expecting our attention will turn immediately to the nursery. It’s hard to resist dreaming up the most beautiful spaces imaginable for our new arrivals. It’s a wonderful time filled with much joy and anticipation. Of course, not everyone will feel this way. For some, tackling the nursery is daunting. Lots of us opt for the smallest room in the house for the nursery and with such an extensive Wishlist, there can be a LOT of stuff to cram into a small space. But it doesn’t have to be a chore. I’m here to help you make informed choices about the products you really need, and while I’m at it, I’ve got some jaw droppingly beautiful options up my sleeve. With a background in psychology I’ve always been a firm believer that our surroundings are fundamentally important for our sense of well being and our personal development. This is true not only for baby but for other family members who will be using the space too. The nursery is a place where many memories will be formed, bonding will take place between caregivers and siblings. The more inspiring the environment you and your baby are in, the more likely you will attach positivity to those memories. And yes, there will be sick. And poo; lots of it! But believe me you will even look back on that one day with fondness.
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Henry Cot Bed, Incy Interiors, $674.25
whether you’ve got a good sleeper or an all night raver, a cot is an essential piece of kit...
S L E E P L I K E A B A B Y… Where did that expression even come from? Is it meant to be ironic? Hey, you might get lucky, but for most it’s a prepare for the worst and hope for the best type situation. Regardless of whether you’ve got a good sleeper or an all night raver, a cot is an essential piece of kit. What’s money well spent? Thing is, it’s hard to tell when your little one is going to be ready to transition from cot to bed ( I know you probably don’t want to think about them getting too big, but it happens) and sometimes we think they’re ready before they really are. So to save all that to-ing and fro-ing, a cot-bed is definitely
a viable option and can also be kinder on the bank balance long term. That said, the Henry Cot from Incy Interiors, is certainly an investment piece but boy does it make a statement! It’s chrome plated and built to last so if you’re planning on larger family it’s well worth considering. Available in a range of colours, it’s a timeless classic, and can come with a conversion kit. (main image left). For a more modest budget these mini-cots by Mokee (see insert) are a great alternative. Simplistic by design, they come in a range of wonderful yet unexpected colours.
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Muted Rainbow Mat, Mini Maison, £28
ALL CHANGE! There’s no two ways about it- changing nappies is relentless. Even if you’ve never changed a nappy before in your life ( I hadn’t before I became a Mum) you’ll soon be doing it in your sleep. It’s really important that your baby is safe and that you’re both comfortable. Although changing tables are a popular choice they aren’t always a necessity. There are lots of changing baskets and wedge mats available with curved sides to ensure baby can’t roll. This way you can pair with more timeless furniture such as a chest of drawers which will still have a place in an older child’s bedroom. Future proofing is always a good idea!
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17 Reva Changing Basket, Olli Ella, ÂŁ69
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Bamboo Storage Bag, Nobodinoz, ÂŁ34.95
Storage Basket, H&M, £12.99
Storage Crates, Molly Meg, £24
STORAGE IS KEY Stuff, stuff, stuff!! Little people come with a lot of baggage. If you want a relaxing and calming space in your nursery you’ll need to pull out your A game when it comes to storage, but don’t fear- there are plenty of options! I often get asked about soft toy storage. Cuddly toys are wonderful for development and eliciting role play and nurturing behaviours. As a child I must’ve had hundreds but the truth is they can also house unwanted bacteria and dust mite and can therefore trigger allergies. I find the best solution to tackle this is to have a few soft toys dotted around the room and place the others in easily accessible storage and then rotate. These bags by Nobodinoz are a great option (see opposite page) Or for a cheaper alternative: H&M (above left) For everything else the trusty foldable crate never fails! They come in a range of sizes and are stackable. The hardest part is choosing a colourway!
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L E A R N I N G T H R O U G H P L AY This last decade has been pivotal for children’s play, toys and accessories. Long gone are the days when the market was completely saturated with unpalatable bright colours and plastic galore. Don’t get me wrong babies love colour and so do I, but I am really enjoying the fact that there are so many products now available that appeal to a wide range of tastes whilst also ticking all the boxes when it comes to play value, developmental aids and style and beauty.
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Activity Balnket, Fabelab, £33.40
Oval Rainbow, Raduga Grez, £25
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Kolton Rocking Chair, Made, ÂŁ549
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COME SIT WITH ME A WHILE Most people will be divided on the nursing chair front. On the one hand it’s really important that you have somewhere super snuggly to feed your baby; you could be warming the seat several times a night after all! But on the other hand nursing chairs can be big, bulky and not winning any prizes in the aesthetics dept. There are few that break the generic mould but this one is really championing in the style department: And if you’re still not feeling the nursing chair you could always opt for an armchair that will make a statement in any room in the house such as this one: There you have it, a round-up of the Nursery essentials, with these in mind you’ll have ticked off all the practical elements for your nursery, sleep, change and feed, plus the essential storage. Once these have been chosen you can start to have some fun with accessories; garlands, cushions, a rug (perfect for protecting the carpet), artwork, photos. Happy Decorating and wishing you a wonderful time getting to know your lovely new baby.
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BEDDING AKA SHEETS Bedding for babies, to be fair it’s not so much bedding as it is sheets. Your baby won’t sleep under a duvet for a while yet and sleeping bags are a great way to go (check out our top picks on page…) so have some fun with the sheets for your baby’s bed as you will see them, you might as well make them fun and pretty to look at, instead of plain white or cream. Check some of these out!
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Lazy Bear Fabelab £25
Penguin OYOY Living £46.50
Sunshine Nelly’s Treasures £32
Star Cushion Sage & Clare £44
ALL THE CUSHIONS Cushions galore, they really are the easiest way to bring colour and personality into your baby’s nursery, there are thousands out there to choose from but here is our pick of the colourful and fun ones.
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Inventions CamCam £52
Foxes JoJoMaman £12 Leopard Print Mini Maison £28
TIME TO CHANGE Changing mats, you will need one maybe even two/three, can be good to have one for each floor of the house, you will use it a lot. Great to make them interesting for you and later your baby when they start to roll, it’s so much fun when they do that and you’re trying to change their nappy.
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WA L L S TO GA Z E O N Once the obvious accessories have been taken care of then it is time to adorn your walls. There are plenty of pieces of artwork and prints to choose from, you’ll have already seen our No1 Art pick on page 8. These wall hangings will bring great layering and textures to your Nursery walls, something for you to enjoy and for baby to gaze on. Perfect for you and of course make wonderful gifts for your friends who are also expecting.
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Milky Way Rug, Lorena Canals, £159
BRIGHTEN THE FLOOR AND PROTECT IT I f y o u h a v e a h a r d w o o d f l o o r, y o u w i l l w a n t t o b r i n g a s o f t l a y e r t o t h e floor for you to be laying on and later for babe to be crawling on. If y o u h a v e c a r p e t i n y o u r n u r s e r y, w e h i g h l y r e c o m m e n d y o u p r o t e c t i t with a r ug. They add another point of interest to the room and will keep hard floors war m and car peted floors safe.
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CHILDREN'S WALLPAPER & DECOR
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ROOOMY INTERVIEW
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My dreams and goals are getting bigger all the time. I’ve always been a very ambitious person, sometimes it doesn’t pay off but when it does the feeling is amazing!
Eleanor Bowmer is a Textile Design and Illustrator based in Manchester. Mum to Norie and baby Teddy and of course Frank her French Bulldog. Eleanor went freelance 5 years ago and her rainbow and tiger adorning empire has grown from there, with recent product launches in John Lewis and Partners! With the arrival of baby Teddy and the Nursery Edition coming up I had to take this great opportunity to pick Eleanor’s brain about the Nursery and how she pulled it all together.
RB - When/How did you get into art and sometimes it doesn’t pay off but when it design? does the feeling is amazing! EB - studied art and design at college followed by a foundation course in Art and a degree in Textile Design. My dad was an artist in his 20’s and taught Art at degree level so it’s in the family. RB - When you began designing is this where you imagined yourself? EB - That’s a hard question to answer actually. I dreamt of it, but I didn’t ever think it would happen. I didn’t know how to make it happen. My dreams and goals are getting bigger all the time. I’ve always been a very ambitious person,
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RB - What have the last few years has been like going from designing cards and prints with Frank on your lap, to having your own studio and seeing your first mug collection being displayed on the shelves of John Lewis and Partner? EB - The last year in particular has been a whirlwind mixture of excitement and being terrified. Until I saw them on the shelves in JL myself I wouldn’t believe it. It’s been a big year of decision making and risk taking, so far it seems to have paid off. It really has been incredible.
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RB - Last year you launched your first RB - You have a second kids wallpaper wallpaper collection for kids. Had this collection out now, was this always the always been a plan of yours or did this plan or did it simply happen because you come from customer demand? needed a design for Teddy’s room? EB - No, nobody was asking me for wallpaper. I basically wanted some cool wallpaper for my daughter’s room and couldn’t find any I liked so I thought, you know what - I’m going to design some. So I did, thankfully it’s been a big hit! I am actually a trained wallpaper designer which is where I started, so it hasn’t just popped from nowhere!
EB - A bit of both! RB - As Teddy’s was your second nursery to create, did you learn anything from the first one that you did differently?
EB - Well they’re both different gender which is great so I really got the chance to explore different colours with both. I was really happy with Norie’s room, so I just RB - When you designed Teddy’s nursery went with gut this time too! where did you begin? What led the design? RB - What are your three must haves for EB - My own head! I had my wallpaper in a New-born? mind and then went with colours I love. I like an eclectic mix but thoughtfully put EB - Patience, routine and faith that it will together. It isn’t quite there yet but almost! pass, or do you mean products? haha. Top 3 products would be a Ewan the RB - Do you mood board or do you start dream sheep, a cosy blanket and plenty with the first piece of inspiration and take of muslins. it from there? RB - Have you ever bought a baby product EB - I always have a bank of images and that everyone seemed to think you should artists I love as inspiration. have and then find it was a complete waste of money?
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Go with what you love and it will all come together perfectly. If in doubt, don’t be too fussy with prints - keep it simple and bold.
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EB - A sleepy head, which in fairness I did RB - Apart from your wallpaper, what is use with my daughter but not with Ted. your favourite thing about Ted’s room? They’re really expensive! I’ve gone for a less is more approach this time round! EB - His cot! It was Norie’s and was from Cottage Toys. Expensive but worth it! RB - What advice would you give first time parents when it comes to sorting out their RB - If money was no object what would nursery? you buy for your nursery? EB - Start with a colour palette and build EB - A machine/robot of some sort to do on it. Go with what you love and it will all the night feeds! come together perfectly. If in doubt, don’t be too fussy with prints - keep it simple RB - Yes, good idea! and bold. To check out Elenaor’s wonderful RB - For your stunning nature and animal products, take a look at her site here, inspired designs – who or what inspires currently only open on the weekends. you most? Her wonderful mugs can be found here at EB - I love botanical art, which I know is John Lewis & Parnters and if you want to quite a stark contrast to my designs, but I check out her hilarious daily updates why honestly love the detail and am so in awe not follow her on Instagram, she makes of the realism! me smile every day.
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URSULA OF ROOM TO BLOOM S H A R E S H E R N AT U R E I N S P I R E D NURSERY DESIGN FOR BABY OONA
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The focal point is a pretty woodland wallpaper – it has echoes of the floor colour in it so it is the perfect connecting background.
This is Oona’s room. When Oona’s family moved country, her mum asked me to design her and her sister’s bedroom, to help them settle into their new life abroad. We worked remotely via email, calls and facetime, proof that this can work just as well as being there in person.
The simple natural wooden cot is livened up with bedding in the wallpaper’s accent colours. Because the bed blends in with the floor, the room feels as spacious as it can be – the cot’s open design also helps with this. To anchor the cot we painted a dusty green border alongside, creating a two tone wall. An oak framed pear Oona’s nursery was created in the print adds height and creates a cosy smallest room in the house, leading off corner. her sister’s bedroom. My main focus was to make the room feel as spacious As there was not much space for lots and restful as possible. of furniture, we prioritised clothes storage at this early stage. Using the I choose a peaceful, dusty green height of the room, I found a vintage colour as the main theme for the room, single wardrobe in just the right colour, to counteract and mellow the strongly so it blends in with the background – coloured oak floor. The focal point is another trick to make a small space a pretty woodland wallpaper – it has feel larger. echoes of the floor colour in it so it is the perfect connecting background. As most of Oona’s toys were stored There’s lots of sweet detail in the elsewhere, we decided a simple play design to hold Oona’s gaze. corner with cushions, book ledges
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To style the room I used vintage elements, like the small chairs and the suitcase on top of the wardrobe, and continued a light woodland theme with a bunny lamp, a small fox head on the wall and other creatures.
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and a house shelf on the wall would suffice for the early years. Oona just loves rearranging small toys in the house. Later down the line a compact toy or book cabinet could be added.
surface. Adding a playful touch, it tones with the grey curtains, keeping the mood calm. Despite the distance and having to work remotely, I think the design was really successful and my client did a great job at overseeing the installation. I just love how pretty and together the room has turned out!
To style the room I used vintage elements, like the small chairs and the suitcase on top of the wardrobe, and continued a light woodland theme with a bunny lamp, a small fox head on the wall and other creatures. A grey bear shaped rug For more wonderful calm inspiring covers some of the floor’s surface, which interiors for baby and child please xplore helps keep it in check and provides a soft Ursula’s work here.
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P L AY E X P E R T A N D MOTHER OF THREE EMMA WORROLO HAS A R U N A W AY S U C C E S S W I T H ‘ T H E P L AY F U L D E N ’ A N D SHARES ADVICE FOR BRINGING FUN INTO THE N U R S E R Y. . . 48
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Emma is a parenting goddess. Big statement you might think but she is a Play Expert which means she is a parenting goddess simple! All kids need is safety, love and playfulness in their lives. If you tick the first two boxes but struggle with the third, then you need to follow her and check out her blog The Playful Den. She runs her own business with offices in London and New York, mother to two fun loving kids and one gorgeous baby boy Scout. I could easily go way off topic with Emma and dive into building a business, parenting, playfulness, home décor, moving near the beach, being a mermaid and more. But I will focus on why you are reading this; we want to hear about her nursery design and maybe some newborn parenting advice for good measure. RB - When you found out you were now not in the scheme at all. The room expecting Scout, how long was it before did however end up being inspired by the your thoughts turned to the nursery? aesthetic of candy shops, so that must have taken there. That’s what’s cool about EW - About 10 seconds because I love a following your curiosity; you end up in the room project, haha. But in reality, it wasn’t right place eventually. until I was about 7 months along before making any proper plans or purchases (I RB How does Scout’s nursery compare to think it took me that long for me to believe Phoenix’s? we were having a third baby!) EW - We were in a rental when Phoenix was RB - Is the nursery you have now what born so we didn’t really do anything other you first imagined or did you make some than buy furniture and put prints up as it changes along the way? was a temporary flat. 9 years later settled in our home and more experienced, EW - It’s quite different, but then I expect when designing Scout’s room I was really that. I am an ideas person and usually tend thinking about the toddler stage more to have too many ideas in my head. I need than the new born days. Ultimately the to go through a process of sifting through baby stage is quite brief, which means I them until I find the one that’s really was thinking more about the practical singing to me. At first I had this obsession needs of caring for a baby but equally with the colours of the Fruit Salad sweets about the room being suitable for story from a pick “n” mix, I really thought those time, carpet play, low down surfaces and would be the final colours, but they’re toy access.
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To style the room I used vintage elements, like the small chairs and the suitcase on top of the wardrobe, and continued a light woodland theme with a bunny lamp, a small fox head on the wall and other creatures.
RB - Did you find out the sex or did you keep it a surprise, I can’t remember? We did but didn’t tell anyone. I wanted a surprise but the big kids couldn’t wait! I think it helped them get ready for their brother (especially Indy who wanted a sister! She had plenty of time to get over that not happening!)
As I moved through my ideas I noticed I was leaning into lots of Miami imagery we’d been there in the summer when I was in the early stages of pregnancy and I was really happy with a Miami inspired palette so ended up with the idea of ‘Miami Sweet Shop’ as the theme circulating in my head.
RB - When you designed Scout’s nursery I found clear acrylic domes for toy storage where did you begin? What led the and book ledges as these gave me a sweet shop feel. I’ve later realised the colours design? i’d chosen simlar to those in the Honey EW - I started with those Fruit Salad Dukes sweet store, if you’re Harry Potter colours and just started pinning from fans like us you’ll get it. there. I usually start practical and choose the furniture required for the space So much of my inspiration comes from and then move onto the details of the places we visit, it’s like a memory mood aesthetic. This is because I can get really board forms when traveling. You don’t carried away with concepts and I need to make sure I’ve ticked the boxes for even realise it’s happening, but it’s all practicality and am in budget with the there in your subconscious and when designing it can pour out. main pieces before moving on!
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RB -Do you mood board or Pinterest, looking outside of typical nursery décor or do you start with the first piece of for inspiration that can be very muted, inspiration and take it from there? mostly animal based and if that’s not what you really want don’t be afraid EW - I usually have some spark first and to do something different, there are no organically follow my nose. I like to pin rules really, yet with nurseries it can feel abstract pictures of colours being used like ‘this is they way you have to do it’. first rather than loads of images of the I really don’t think that’s true, do what room type, that can sometimes box me suits your family aesthetic and vibe. in or limit my ideas if I go straight to finished rooms. You also don’t need to babyify all aspects of the room, for example a large nappy RB - As this is your third nursery to create bin is cumbersome and ugly. We just what have you learnt that would really have a neat small Barbarita bin. Nappies help first time parents? only smell If you leave them for ages and we use nappy bags and empty it EW - Definitely to think slightly older every other day - it’s much less intrusive than a baby. I think baby décor dates and gross than the actual nappy bins! I very quickly. A child’s personality really also haven’t bothered with a changing starts to spark quite early and I think it’s table this time, we have a nice sturdy nice to have something with a bit of the wooden change mat over the top of cot bubbliness and boldness of a toddler and it works perfectly without having ready for them to grow into. This means to have a temporary piece of furniture
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which we don’t really have room for. I also recommend drawer dividers, baby RB - What are your top five tips for clothes can get so messy so quickly in expectant mothers? Especially during drawers as they are so small and hard to lockdown? fold neatly, I love an organised drawer! 1/Keep a check on your expectations, if Babies are highly alert to contrasts so a you don’t overcook how idyllic you expect big bold print near the changing area can everything to be, you will always exceed really capture their attention, even more your expectations rather than failing to so than a mobile I think. The wall paper on meet them! ceiling hasn’t once failed in calming Scout down, he’s mesmerised! Equally, babies 2/No one will tell you this, but humour is and young children love mirrors, it’s nice one of the most important gifts a mother to have one up you can show them their can have. Watch comedy, find the funny in face when you’re comforting them in their the craziness, giggle with your partner and take time to make sure you’re laughing at room. something. It really is the best medicine. RB - Top three places to shop for home 3/Showers and baths can be taken at any interiors? time, as can eating, its not a failure to do things out of routine, enjoy them and EW - IKEA, La Redoute, Made make them count whenever they come RB - What are your three must haves for along and don’t worry too much about time for the first few weeks! a newborn? EW - Sleepsuits with zips, comfortable 4/Be cautious with over consumption of news and turning to google every second. baby carrier, sheepskin to sleep on This will distract you from training up your intuition, which is the most important RB - What are your nursery essentials? thing in a mother’s tool kit. EW - Organised nappy drawer, soft large 5/Do not rush your recovery. Consider night light, contrast prints yourself as someone with injuries who RB - Any final thoughts on products for needs time and rest to heal. This will take weeks, do not try and speed it up, new parents to think about? slowness is important, channel your inner EW - My top gifting tip would be to ask sloth! for a Tonie box. Much better than a baby gadget you wont get much use out of. It To find your playful side and to help will read stories to your baby and last harness your child’s, check out Emma’s them until they’re much older, fantastic blog and join her ‘parenting and thriving’ movement The Playful Den. product I love them.
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I T ’ S N O T A P L AY M AT. . . ...It’s more of a rug. If you are looking for something for the baby to be on in your living space, be it lounge, kitchen or elsewhere then you need to check out these roll out mats from Totter and Tumble. Designed by a mum who knows that the foam playmats collect all the dirt and are tough to clean and that space can be needed for all the family to be on when hanging out on a hardwood or tiled floor. This is not a playmat, it is the size of a standard British rug. Designed as a simple, one piece, roll out, wipeable mat, with no fiddly pieces for crumbs to disappear down or be pulled apart. With 12 designs to choose from they are all stylish - reversible, subtle patterns and gentle colours to fit in with interiors and not overwhelm the senses. You’ll find them supportive - inspired by a luxury pilates mat, these playmats are a sealed slice of memory foam, making them tougher to rival a rug, but also perfect for adults home exercising too. Safe and soft to support and cushion tumbling little ones and safety tested to European toy standards, suitable from birth.
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Fiori, CamCam, £60
Haiku Birds, Nobodinoz, £35.95
Floral, The White Company, £30
ESSENTIAL FOR A GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP Sleeping bags will make your baby feel snuggly and safe when sleeping which means less waking, hopefully. Consider these as part of the bedding for the room and buy a few that really go with the fab sheets you’ve bought. Make sure you check the tog ratings for the season!
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A RT B A B I E S CA N E N J OY
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Black and White! Babies love black and white, the contrast is so strong for their developing eyesight that they will be mesmerized. Great for stimulating their brain and even better if you want to enjoy a few still moments and maybe actually drink your tea or coffee before it gets cold. The Wee Gallery offer heaps of great monochrome accessories but these Art Cards have lots of different themes on offer, they can be looked through on car journeys, lined up along the edge of the cot when you need to nip to the loo, I know I’d buy at least two, one for home and one for the changing bag.
Little Ducks, Kite, £19
Supe r
Colombo, Kip & Co, $39
Me,
Didi
& Bu d, £2 0
Sunshine Bunting, Indi & Will, £24
Top Pick, Rainbow Shortie, The White Company, £18 £10 donated to Princes Trust and Refuge
LOOKING GOOD Baby grows for the win, little outfits can take a lot of effort and might well need changing after an hour, if you want to avoid the plain white baby grows and want to introduce some life to your babies wardrobe/drawer or basket, then check out our selection of top babygro’s. Take particular notice of the Rainbow romper as The White Company are donating £10 from every romper sold to The Prince’s Trust and Refuge in equal portions.
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S O F T A N D S N U G G LY
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Sheepskin is wonderful for babies, the softness for their sensory pleasure and comfort, with its magical ability to keep them cool when it’s hot and warm when it’s cold. A must for newborns, sheepskin naturally traps air between its fibres creating a cosy micro-climate, while in warmer conditions, moisture is drawn away from the skin keeping babies dry and cool. Medical studies have shown that babies settle quicker, cry less & sleep longer on a sheepskin. The super soft, deep-pile, merino sheepskin liners from Bini Bamba will keep your big (little) softies cosy, seriously snugly and sleeping like a baby.
WEAN CLEAN When it comes to feeding time let’s think, looking good and oh so practical and helpful, these floor mats for high chairs are waterproof, wipe-clean, and designed to protect any type of surface from spills, stains, and crumbs, providing peace of mind on top of a super stylish look. With 3 designs in 12 colour ways you’ll find something to suit your home.
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BABY SOFT Every parent wants the very best for the baby, we want to care for them and make sure they are happy and comfortable at all times. Bathing them to start can make some of us nervous, we want to wash them but we are conscious of how precious and delicate their skin is. Natural sponge can be very expensive and other products may seem too harsh, that’s why these super-soft bamboo wash cloths from Cuddledry and are just what you and your baby need.
T U M M Y P L AY Tummy time can happen naturally, or you might find putting your baby on their front very awkward to watch. My eldest was not a fan and my youngest just threw herself over. With all things in life motivation is helped with incentive. A fab play mat toy like this from Done by Deer provides your babe with something to fiddle with, reach for, check out and interact with. This little croc is a great, fun character and of course will be a huge help in the pushchair too.
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D A D PA D An essential guide for new dads, developed with the NHS. New dad’s will feel excited, but they can also feel left out, unsure or overwhelmed. The DadPad can help by giving them knowledge and practical skills that they need. The resource will support you and your partner to give your baby the best possible start in life. This great guide will help reduce dad’s anxiety helping him get involved and gaining in confidence. He’ll learn how to create a strong bond and healthy attachment with their baby and to build a stronger family relationship by sharing the load and learning how to parent together, recognise the signs of postnatal depression in both yourself and your partner, and learn how to get help early. The DadPad was created by a Dad with the NHS in a hope to make information more accessible and less overwhelming than all the parenting books.
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JO RIDING OWNER OF MINI MAISON SHARES THE LOWDOWN ON THE L AT E S T N U R S E R Y T R E N D S 66
67 Our Little Flint Cottage
Decorating your baby’s nursery is one of the most special things you can do when you’re pregnant. Commonly referred to as nesting, the idea of creating a unique space for your precious baby allows for further bonding with your unborn child. Whether you’re decorating their very own nursery, redesigning what will be a shared bedroom or creating a special nook in the corner of your bedroom, this is something that you can really enjoy during your pregnancy. Plus, you need to make the most of being able to decorate your child’s bedroom in your own taste, before they get bigger and start demanding Paw Patrol! Things have changed hugely in nursery interiors over the past few years – some trends come and go, while others remain massively popular, but just reimagined. We are long past the days of pink is for girls and blue is for boys with parents becoming more imaginative with their nursery colour… even the once popular and gender-neutral ‘grey’ being replaced with warmer tones of sand and beige.
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Olivia Edwards-Silk, Lust Living
RAINBOWS REVISITED Rainbows have had a revamp… no longer are they resigned to just being ‘brights’ (although the original is just as popular), pastel shades and muted tones have increased in popularity in recent years. By using muted tones (think beige, peach and tan) you’re instantly creating a calm, warm and inviting space giving instant boho vibes to the room. Whether you choose to go for a bold rainbow mural or small touches such as wall stickers and other decorative items, a rainbow theme will last well into older childhood.
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Steph Bradshaw, Lust Life Designs
N AT U R A L V I B E S You’ll notice that many of the trends that come up are very much interlinked and feed off one another. Bringing nature indoors is something we are seeing across all of the interiors world. From small, delicate botanical details to larger and bolder tropical prints we are seeing leaves and flowers on walls, bedding, changing mats and prints / stickers for the nursery wall. Pair all of that with some real or faux plants and you’ve got a fresh and vibrant space for your baby to develop. Of course, by natural we don’t just mean plants and flowers, even nursery furniture is upping its natural credentials, with cane cribs and rattan side tables becoming ever popular.
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Roscoe Rules
F I V E WA L L S A nursery is a brilliant space to try out some of the newer paint designs and decorating techniques we are seeing across social media. Colour blocking is the phrase ‘du jour’ and it basically just means using paint to create a pattern on your wall. What started off as trend for changing the colour of a room halfway across a wall, either vertically or horizontally has seen creative homeowners take things one step further with scalloped edges or semi circles behind the cot or even painting the ceiling (the fifth wall!). And the best thing about this trend is that it’s cheap to do and easy to change if you decide it’s not for you, because let’s be honest, having a baby is a pretty expensive time of your life (hello ‘travel system’ that cost more than my first car!). Another DIY trend that’s popular in nurseries is panelling, usually behind the cot, creating a bold feature to the room. Traditional squares of panels are most popular but we’re also seeing incredible designs using thinner strips of wood in more geometric patterns. Pair it with a large wooden or neon sign and you’ve got yourself a Pinterest sensation!
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A N I M A L A S S E M B LY Of course, imagery of animals never went out of style for a nursery; cute animal pictures that will delight your baby have always been in fashion but we aren’t just talking about a simple elephant art print on the wall anymore – we’ve got woodland animals displayed in elaborate painted murals and safari animals hidden amongst oversize jungle leaves. Creating a themed animal nursery is hugely popular at the moment and with more on-trend products available from a whole range of retailers, it’s a fantastic opportunity to really use your imagination and think about every single aspect of the design, curating your baby’s nursery. Animal heads on the wall are popular, with a range of different designs – fun soft, fluffy and realistic looking or handmade from felt for a more childish feel or even from origami for a contemporary nursery.
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DARK DÉCOR Creating a dark and cosy space for your baby is an excellent idea if you want to create a restful and peaceful nursery and aren’t afraid of colour. If you think about it, it’s the perfect tone for a baby that’s just arrived Earthside. Keep the accessories simple and let the room envelope you and your baby for those special moments. We’ve seen dark blues or even black walls paired with stunning gold cots and gold stars above the crib for a contemporary look or with brass accessories, teak furniture and a Persian rug for a more mid-century feel. Finally you could pair your dark walls with oversize florals to add a feminine, softer touch to the space.I hope you’ve found this trend round-up useful. Follow Jo on @minimaisonuk on Instagram for more trend-led nursery interiors, specialising in contemporary baby changing mats ad check out www.minimaison.co.uk
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S M A L L S PA C E ? W AYA I R ’ S R E S I D E N T S T Y L E A DV I S O R N A D I A M C C OWA N H I L L T E L L S R O O O M Y READERS HOW TO STYLE BABY SIZED ROOMS...
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In a small space, you can’t afford to have excess stuff, so I’m a big fan of regularly editing my home. As a rule of thumb, I try to make sure that everything I have is either beautiful or useful (a nod to William Morris’s advice) and I try to curate and style each space as much as possible so it’s pleasing to the eye. I find it’s possible to give a room a new lease of life, simply by moving items around.
OTIS’ ROOM As Otis is still a small baby, I wanted his room to feel tranquil and sleep-inducing! I started with a nature theme and stuck to a muted palette of sage green, white, dove grey and inky blue. For the furniture, I looked for blonde wood and touches of cane to maintain the natural feel. The room itself is quite small, so I opted for a two-tone paint effect to enhance its character. A light-reflective warm white fills the upper wall and a soft eau de nil runs along the bottom. The room is designed to take Otis from baby to toddler, so I chose a space-saving mini cot and a beautiful canopy for while he’s small. As he gets older, he will transition to the amazing house bed, which is such a unique piece where he can sleep and play. Sticking with the nature theme, I gravitated towards accents and art with whimsical wildlife motifs.
IN THE ZONE Maximise square footage in a less-than-large abode, by zoning the space according to your needs. In our apartment, the kitchen and living room work as one, but each area is demarcated with a clear living area complete with a large rug which marks the space and a separate eating and cooking area. The master bedroom has been designed to be a relaxing and grown-up space that’s free from any paraphernalia, while the kids’ rooms are their spaces and are fully geared to their needs.
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L I G H T U P YO U R L I F E I’m a huge fan of statement lighting in small spaces. As well as offering illumination which makes a room feel bigger, unique lighting gives character. Choose bold chandeliers and pendant lights to bring drama to your vertical space, without encroaching on square footage. Then add ambience with table lights aplenty.
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SMART STORAGE Choose furniture that works double duty. In the boys’ room, I opted for several trunk sets, which look super stylish, but are also a fabulous place to stash toys.
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E D I T R U T H L E S S LY Statement art is a must-have for any kids’ room. It’s an easy and afford¬able way to reflect their interests and adds instant character to a space Smart storage is another important pick. As well as opting for practical shelving units, I love using baskets and trunks which look stylish but are also perfect for organizing toys so they’re easy to find. Soft furnishings help to make a room feel cosy. It’s so important for small people’s rooms to feel comfortable and inviting for both adults and kids.
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ROOOMY GET THE LOOK
M E D I N A K I N G TA K E S U S O N A T O U R O F A B O H O NURSERY FOR THE PERFECT GENDER NEUTRAL S PA C E A N D S H O W S U S H O W T O R E C R E AT E T H E LOOK The bohemian nursery is the current trend - and rightly so with its use of natural materials and gender-neutral colour scheme, making it fit for a baby boy or a baby girl, as well as the parents. The boho look is agile and fits the type of scheme that grows with the child, it can be converted to a family space or a home office. The nursery is also budget friendly. With a mixture of natural materials and fibres paired with plush textiles, the colour scheme is generally shades of whites, with hints of blacks, married with shades of browns from rattan baskets, a tanned leather chair or pouf, with brass or gold fixtures. Don’t forget that great green planter to complete the look. If ever you are ever after an eco-friendly room design the ‘boho theme’ is the one. Not only does it encourage the use of natural materials but also promotes, handicrafts and reusing timeless pieces. Have fun designing! Medina is an Interior Designer, specialising in spaces for children with autism To see more of her work visit www.mkkidsinteriors.com Inspiration for this feature was taken from Minimal Boho Nursery, Livettes Wallpaper
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Rede Light, Habitat, £40
Benni Shaggy Rug, The Rug Seler, £329
Marysville Rocking Chair, Wayfair, £415.99
Nolan Seagrass Basket, Habitat, £55
Moroccan Pouffe, Bohemia, £98
Skandi Cotbed, SnuzKot, £349
Moses Basket, The Basket Room, £169
Fidel Leaf 80-90cm, Patch Plants, £50
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Safari Prints, Iamfy, from £16 each
Wicker Pendant, Willow & Stone, £195
Bamboo Rocking Chair, Wayfair, £84.99 Safari Nursery Print x6, LamourFouPrintShop, £25.54
Seagrass Basket, John Lewis & Partners, £30
Sinnerlig Lamp, Ikea £40
Lockhart Cotbed, Wayfair, £175.99 Desktop Foliage, Wayfair, £27.99 Luszo Otto Lght, Enzo Living £28.56
Moses Basket, Smallable £49
Gobi Rug, Benuta, £124.95
Moroccan Puffe, Dunelm, £25
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R O O O M Y WA L L S
N U R S E RY WA L L S If you want to wallpaper your nursery please know that you can put ANYTHING in there, just like you would in a kids room, it does not have to be cute or babyish, simply you need to love it! I whole heartedly believe this, you only need to check out the interviews in this issue to know how true this is. However, with that in mind it made choosing wallpaper pics for the nursery issue pretty much impossible. There are a lot of designs available that made my teeth itch so I have avoided them and have selected 5 designs that I think will create a wonderful atmosphere for you to get to know your new baby. You have no idea what they’ll be into so just choose what you like, you’re doing all the work right?!
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GOLD STELLA NOBODINOZ If you can be brave and go dark on your nursery walls, this wallpaper will look incredible and create a really cosy soothing atmosphere for you and babe, just imagine sitting under these night sky stars with some low mood lighting while you manage the night feeds, enchanting. The designers have selected the perfect colour tones making sure they are warm darks not cold, very important for a nursey or kid’s room. However, fear not, if dark is not for you Nobodinoz offer the same great design sign in white and blush.
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1-10 WILD HEARTS WONDER There are several alphabet wallpaper designs on the market but people don’t often think about numbers! Thankfully the ladies at Wild Hearts Wonder have and they have brought their unique art work of animals to the table here. The numbers themselves are not too obvious so you never feel like you’re a play school setting, but I think most parents will love being in a room with such beautiful illustrations surrounding them and when your babe becomes a toddler they will love counting the animals and getting to know what they are and probably naming them. I’m already wondering what those cheeky masked racoons are up too. And the Mumma bears doing different activities with their cubs, wonderful.
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AW E S O M E A L P H A B E T LITTLE LETTER STUDIO I like this design because it is clean and playful. The illustrations are smart and the animal and item choices to match the letters of the alphabet are not always obvious which I love. Children will love to discover all the details in this fun and quirky wallpaper. Designed with gender-neutral colours. You will find a Golf playing Gorilla, a Frog sitting on a Fox (Cat would not be happy, if you haven’t read ‘Oi Frog’ then please do), a UFO and lots more.
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S TA R S HIBOU HOME Babies love large shapes, they will gaze on these big stars and feel in awe of the world around them. Colour contrasts are very soothing for babies, whilst also stimulating them, but not too much, we don’t want that. This design will also last a long time, great for future proofing your nursery to last for several years, if you can keep them from picking the wallpaper, or was that just me as a kid? This design is Star gazing at it’s most stylish! It is available in three gorgeous shades: Blush, Silver and Stellar Blue. The Silver and Stellar Blue colourways have a subtle metallic finish on the Stars.
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CIRCUS GALERIE If you do want a traditional feel for your nursery but not too cute then this circus design has wonderful, vintage style illustrations and comes in three different colour ways. The design has lovely little details for young eyes to explore, from the balancing, umbrella carrying mice to the saxophone playing meerkats. All the characters are going somewhere and have something to do, another great way to be chatting nonsense to the latest addition to your family, they will love the sound of your voice, they will stare at you as you natter away and a visual prompt like this is always helpful for a tiered parent.
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creative y t t e r p
unique... ... INDIA THOMPSON S H A R E S H E R I N S P I R AT I O N FOR THE NURSERY OF DREAMS...
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We’d been living in our house for around three years before the little one arrived. Beforehand, the nursery was a spare room which was never really used. It was more of a dumping ground and a place to hang our washing. After finding out we were having a baby, I was straight onto Pinterest looking for ideas on what we could do. I love how much sun the room gets and I wanted to keep the room nice and light. As the ceilings are low we decided to paint half the walls to help make the room look bigger. I had spotted the Eleanor Bowmer wallpaper before we knew we were having a girl, as soon as we found out it was ordered.
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Many of my purchases are all from small businesses, with my favourite being our Totter and Tumble play mat. The original wooden flooring isn’t ideal for crawling babies, so the play mat is perfect. One of the great things about it is it is double sided. Some of the other items are, the wooden rainbow from Autumns Corner, prints on the walls from Pretty in Print Art, The Charming Press and It’s Made by Leah. As we already had the chest of drawers I needed a changing mat that would be able to sit on the top. We went for one from the small business Mabel & Fox which looks great against the wallpaper.
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Before we bought the furniture we had an idea of where we wanted things to go. However, my measuring skills weren’t quite up to scratch and I incorrectly measured the space, whoops! In the end we were much happier with the layout as it has given us more floor space.
think they work with the chest of drawers.
If we were to do the room again, I would like to have more space for books and toys and also some more plants in there. I think I would also utilise the space which is used as our airing cupboard, and instead, use this as a wardrobe, giving us The chest of drawers were from my late more floor space. godmother and I want to find nursery furniture that would match. I struggled to The felt decoartion in ths room are find nursery furniture that I wanted and made by India and you can see her other we ended up buying the cot and wardrobe creations at Felt Fansies from Ikea - although they don’t match, I
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