room for baby : one pretty day

It all began with a cabinet.

The distressed green cabinet that Claire from one claire day bought long ago because she could picture it being in her child's room one day.

Now in pride of place in baby daughter Eulalie's space, Claire has filled the rest of the room with items she loves. Her favourite? The solid Jarrah cot she herself once slept in, made by her grandfather.

Eight month-old Eulalie's favourite thing? The pretty Mae wall stickers that she tries to peel off at changing time.

Story books in vintage suitcases are arranged at perfect baby height.

A lack of storage led Claire to get creative with branches and bows.

Tidy wall shelving and hooks provide a place to hang sweet baby threads.

who lives here?
Eulalie, 8 months in Townsville, Queensland, Australia.

vibe
Dreamy, nostalgic and sustainable. Claire gathered items that she was drawn to over time and collected various pieces from local markets and thrift stores.

one for me please : frankie 2012

Does my love of frankie know no bounds? First there was the Spaces mook and now the 2012 diary and calender have my stationery-loving heart all aflutter.

I know it's a bit early to be thinking about 2012 (living in the moment and all that) but these are seriously want-worthy, especially the journal with illustrations by the super-talented Melbourne artist, Amy Borrell. Are you a calender or journal kind of person?

You can order your own here if you fancy :)

room for kids : metallic glam

It's a new space from Nicole at Little Liberty!

Sometimes you get a client who is happy with your vision and gives you the complete go ahead -- my favourite type. I also had a big budget for this room, which didn't hurt.

I loved putting this room together as there were no boundaries and I was really able to create something special. The moose head gave a different dimension to the room and the wallpaper really brought the whole look together in a subtle way. The decorative accents also gave life to the space.

vibe

Glamorous, French-inspired with silver accents.

who lives here?

A very stylish nine-going-on-nineteen year-old!

décor

The colour and texture combinations were chosen to be rich with sparkly silver accents -- sequins, a black velvet bed and splashes of silky magenta. The back wall has been papered with a shimmery textured silver wallpaper. Here is a picture up close:

furniture

I had the bed head custom made and it turned out beautifully -- exactly how I had envisioned it. I also love the glamorous desk and chair I found. My little client can enjoy the room even when she is doing her homework (or should I say doing her Facebooking!).

best buys

My best buys were the super cute owls on the floating shelves, I found them in Bed Bath and Table -- they were just $29.90 AUD for the set.

nicole's fave

There are so many! The silver pouffes, the silver trim bedding and accessories for the bed... and I really love the moose head.

top tip

Creating this look can be expensive. I think if you don't have the budget to go all out it can look a little tacky, there is a fine line. So if you want to do this on a budget just make sure you keep it simple and don't go too overboard.

by Nicole from Little Liberty.

my favourite and my best : learn and grow

Fun! Educational! Sweet wall hanging by Melbourne brand Blink, approx $55 AUD from Sydney store, Shorties.

the bump : 25 weeks

the baby space bump at 25 weeks and five days. photo by the baby space man.

It can take time to find your feet as a family. We live in what I suppose is called a blended family. The teen and I were just us for many years before the man joined us and then we had our sweet preschooler nearly four years ago. Maybe in families that start off with two parents the power dynamic set at the beginning doesn't change too much as the years go by. I don't know (maybe you can tell me?).

When the man joined the (then) tween and I --and it was him joining us, we were already a family-- I felt quite protective. Of both of them. I didn't want my only child to feel displaced, or that he should automatically like and respect someone new just because I did. I didn't want him to feel he should have to treat the man like his dad. After all, he already had his own dad that he had, and still has, a very good relationship with.

At the same time I felt a little wary for the man. I didn't want him to feel excluded or that he couldn't exercise autonomous judgement in his own home because there was already a family dynamic there. And most of all, what I really didn't want, was for the teen to one day turn around and say those four horrible words to him in anger: You're. Not. My. Dad.
(p.s The man wasn't worried in the least about this happening -- just me.)

And so our family started as a gathering of separate relationships. Mine and the teen's, mine and the man's. Then the preschooler came along and of course we all adored him, but we still had our relationships with one another that were separate. I suppose in some ways, we always will.
Here's something though -- with the growing of this third (and final, for this family!) wee bub I've noticed the family changing.

Maybe it's just a coincidence; the teen is at an age where he is finding his independence and moving away from me and towards his mates (guess who is saving up for his first car!?) and the preschooler has obviously given the man and I practice at parenting together for nearly four years. No small feat ;)
Somehow the balance has shifted so that it no longer feels that there are several alliances but rather that the man and I are the parents together and the kids are...the kids.

Or maybe it's that family, blended or not, is not something that just is, but rather something that becomes.

At the moment, with the imminent arrival of this third baby, it feels that the individuals that make up our home are coming together as a family unit. It feels really, really nice. I feel so very fortunate.

So that's me, coming up to 26 weeks with the baby space baby. Just a wee bit grateful :)

Have a lovely weekend!

living : that loving feeling

Welcome to our new feature, baby space : living. Every now and then we're going to take a peek into the loveliest grown-up spaces around (why should the wee ones have all the fun?). When I saw Jenni Harley's sweet abode I knew it was the perfect place to start.

If you're not already familiar with Jenni she is the talented lady behind all these lovely creations.

who lives here?
"I live here with my husband Peter, sons William and Henry, daughter Ruby, dog Morag and chooks, Gabby, Wanda, Peggy and Charlotte."

home inspiration
"I really enjoy the way our house evolves along with us. Our kids are young but their interests and likes are very apparent in our surroundings."

The family treehouse complete with 'made by jenni' creations.

jenni's style
"It's a mishmash of putting things I like/love together with no definite idea of the final outcome...very much a flying by the seat of my pants technique! The more mixed up the better for me. I struggle with restraint, it is something I admire from afar."

can you tell us about this little corner?

"It is in fact a temporary solution while my daughter's room is being redecorated. The wallpaper is the original paper from when the house was made in the 1950s."

"Ruby's bed was bought from an antique bazaar in Geelong (Victoria, Australia). It's a wrought iron hospital bed that I loved in its original pale pink flaky state but my kids were frightened by the raggedy appearance... so lots of sanding and gloss white enamel it is."

patchwork
"I made the patchworks on the beds from pieces of collected cotton fabrics, doilies and linen. I really like random patterned patchworks. When I first got interested in patchwork and was doing a little research, it was always the real raggy, patchy ones that made my heart skip a beat. I also like to apply this randomness to the size of the patches. Once again, the more mismatched the better. There are a couple of my dollface cushions and a little group of softies I have specifically made for Ruby and some prototypes of different dolls."

dressed for success
"The doll dresser is practically in its original state except for some pastel paper to line the shelf tops and some new ceramic knobs from Ishka.The crockery set is from Ikea. I have opped since my early teens and some of the little ornaments have been with me since then."

one for me please : peel 'n' stick wallpaper

Love cute papers but worried about committing? Renting and need a temporary colour solution? Then this easy-peasy Peel and Stick Wallpaper might tickle your fancy. Pictured above in apple pink, rainbow blue, hearts butter lavender and mustache, the vinyl paper can be cut to shape and applied without tricky glues and extra adhesives. Available from WallCandy Arts in the USA from approx $165.50 AUD plus shipping.

room for baby : vintage pink

Mama-to-be, Sarah, loves that the nursery feels, "light and airy, but is still eclectic and personal. Everything in the room has a special meaning or came from someone with love".

Details like the little yellow lamb trio thrifted by Sarah in Berryville, Arkansas, add kitsch cuteness to the space. They'll also be a special reminder of her pregnancy as she was asked when she was due (for the first time!) while buying them.

Vintage night light cats that once belonged to Sarah's mother-in-law look over the changing station.

"The two hanging pictures are both designed by friends. One is our silk-screened wedding invitation (above) and the other is the artwork from my recent baby shower invitation."

Sarah's favourite toys for her wee one are the Sophie Giraffe teether and Blabla bunny (above).

A baby bag from Mini Boden and sweet vintage dresses hang in the ready for Iris Adella.

vibe

Playful powder puff pink meets vintage. Sarah has been collecting thrifted treasures for years so when it came to decorating the nursery she was able to draw from her much-loved stash of vintage goodies.

folk : the glow mamas

Three-year-old Grayson kisses her mama's baby-belly.

A mama-daughter culinary moment at their home in Brookyln, New York, USA.

The best mum advice Meredith has received? “Always do what’s in your gut—no one else knows what you or your child need better than you.”

A collection of favourite tales in Grayson's room.

Grayson's bed was from the Pottery Barn and her storage system from Ikea.

Meredith Kahn is a designer who lives with her daughter Grayson in Brooklyn, NY, and was photographed by Kelly Stuart for The Glow, the gorgeous site edited by Violet Gaynor that takes a peek into the homes and lives of glamorous New York mamas. Have you seen it ? Do you love it? Would you like to see more fabulous folk on baby space?

inspired by : living lego

Mix vintage florals with contemporary classics and personal trinkets to create a playful space that will delight kiddos of all ages. Think handmade softies, fun Lego storage and family photos pinned on twine.

Have your Lego cake and eat it too with this delicious recipe.

Timber boxes make great storage for tiny Lego pieces and are great for balancing fantastic plastic with a natural warmth.

Have you seen issue four of La Petite Magazine? A lovely round-up of Norwegian mum Randi's handiwork, edited by the talented La Petite crew.

Just add water to bring a dose of cheer to every packed lunch. From approx $17 AUD from UK-based store, Firebox.

And if you fancy, you can peruse some more Lego inspiration on baby space here.

my favourite and my best : little red riding hood

1. Reversible cape by Amelie and Atticus, approx $49 AUD from Shorties. 2. Donna Wilson Wolfie, approx $89 AUD from Kiddo Store. 3. Fabrik Origami mulberry dress, approx $88 AUD from Baby's Got Style. 4. Big Bad Wolf Amigurumi Pattern by irenestrange, approx $3.90 AUD on Etsy. 5.Vintage Children's Wonder Book, approx $12.20 AUD from ismoyo on Etsy. 6. Knit Baby Hat in charcoal, approx $22.50 AUD by barushslullaby on Etsy.

All this week baby space is being featured on the Decorating Forum. Thanks for inviting us Julie-Ann!

the bump : 23 weeks

hello growing baby! apparently you weigh around 550g, are 29cm long and are now in similar proportion to a newborn. this is us out on the balcony of our house. when you're born you'll be able to hear the birds tweeting in these trees (so loudly for city birds) and you'll probably be woken up by all this sun streaming through the terrace doors.

this week I found your brother's baby clothes and I'm happy to see that they're all in perfect condition. I've held on to way more than I realised -- we won't have to buy too much for you at all. if you're a girl you'll be a very blue one, which is okay with me.

last weekend it was father's day and your big brother made a painting for your dad. it was also your dad's and my anniversary which I always forget and he always remembers. i think you'll like your dad. he's pretty amazing. even if he does want to call you wilberforce (for real).

keep growing steadily wee baby, we love you.

room for baby : wee elephant

The chair in baby Brydie's nursery was an heirloom recovered especially for the new space.


A simple and sweet elephant theme runs throughout the completed nursery.

vibe
Functional, soft and gender neutral. This nursery was designed while mum, Kari, was pregnant with her first baby, Brydie. Not knowing the sex of the baby, we designed the room to be neutral and had options of traditional boy and girl colours to add to the room once the baby arrived.