Step Right Up

Photographer and mother of two,Jess Obrien, has a passion for styling both her children and the interiors they inhabit. With an eye for beautiful details, notable in her dreamy Instagram feed, Jess is drawn to an aesthetic that is rich in warm tones and rustic timber accents. When she is not on the tools in her own home, Jess spends her time capturing real-life moments through her photography business Dusk Til Dawn.

RIVER’S ROOM

Creating a space for her son, River, Jess wanted to incorporate those warm hues and the particular Scandinavian trends of styling that most appeal to her. Taking her design cues from the fun and frivolity of circus and carnival, Jess found an adorable cream and deep caramel canopy tent and bunting from Bee&M Kids to set the tone and dictate her colour palette of sage, caramel, cream and mustard.

The Namely Co personalised blanket in sage, combined with the Seakaboo Kantha Half Moon quilt, complements the palette beautifully and creates the perfect home for River’s tonal soft toys.

Jess effortlessly incorporates the rattan trend with functionality through her choice of the stunning desk and wall shelves from Poppy’s Little Treasures. The rattan softens the aesthetic and provides the most gorgeous setting for the treasures and trinkets in the room.

Perhaps the biggest scroll-stopper of all is the timber feature wall. Jess created this look with Bunnings Laminate flooring, cut to size and hung from the ceiling down. Paired with Dulux Bryophyte, it instantly captures the coveted hygge atmosphere. Adorned with rattan animal heads, the muted bunting and canopy, and a handy leather wall hanging, the stunning feature wall becomes a playful, yet sophisticated backdrop for River’s room.

“I do love the canopy tent and also the rattan wall animals. They bring the overall theme together.” says Jess.

Reflecting the wild and vibrant personality of her almost 5-year-old without wanting to overcrowd the room, Jess achieved a harmonious balance of colour, light and shadow in the pieces she chose. From the rattan animal heads from Nestling and Nook and spotted floor bean bag from Hunter & Nomad, to the gorgeous calendar from Oskar’s Wooden Ark – these beautiful pieces string a story together. The inclusion of the Rugabub padded playmat grounds delightful, imaginative play in comfort, providing River the perfect place to explore his toys and books.

Whilst styling is always front of mind, it wasn’t the main objective for this space. Jess sums it up beautifully; “As much as I love creating a styled space, I still wanted something fun and inviting. My son’s imagination is amazing, and that was why I created this space for him. To see him being inspired to play out his own stories is incredibly rewarding.”