I’m so impressed with this new online children’s magazine from Australia called Papier Mache. Gorgeous with a capital G.
Thanks for the link, Brianna. Nice find!
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From the monthly archives:
May 2009
Because Jared & Liz are moving to San Francisco, Jordan is trying to recruit the rest of the family. She sent me a link to this charming house in Berkeley. I want.
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So the latest gossip/news among my siblings is that Jared & Liz (of Say Yes to Hoboken) are moving to San Francisco. We’re all very excited. And at least one of us is very jealous (that would be me). I heart the city by the bay.
Their big news is good news to someone-yet-to-be-determined — because they’ll be renting out their gorgeous house in the Avenues of SLC. Know anyone looking for a place? Tell them they can find more info and photos here.
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For my last post as Guest Mom, I’m going to tackle a big one: work-at-home-space. This year I moved my studio back to the house and the topic is on my mind. As any working mom knows, it’s sometime hard to balance home life with work life. But striking that delicate balance is all the more difficult when there is no defined line between home and work. The most important design tip I can offer moms who work at home is to find a way to incorporate your kids into your work space. They will be less apt to interrupt if you give them something to do, and a place to do it in. Kids like to feel included and there are creative ways to do that.
Once you’ve established your work area, it’s a good idea to add a toy desk for your kids. There are quite a few space-efficient and attractive options out there, like the Klick desk and chair set. If you don’t have enough space to offer them their own desk, then reserve a special spot at your desk. Another great multi-purpose solution is a daybed. If your work space permits, a day bed is a great way to accommodate overnight guests. Otherwise it makes an excellent spot for kids.
More ideas:
-I like to put aside a special box full of crayons and pens so that they can do their homework beside me as I work.
-In my office, I have a grass cloth tack board where I keep my ideas and reminders. One side of the board is reserved for my stuff, while the other is reserved for my daughters.
-Similarly, we have a marker board in the office. One side is for my drawings and measurements. The other side is for the girls. -When the kids do come into the office, I can keep them busy by giving them a “job” to do — little design tasks that (hopefully) keep them busy and buy me valuable time to catch up with work.
It’s been a great week! Thanks for the comments, questions and feedback. Thank you to Gabrielle for having me. Last question goes to you: What are your best ideas for managing work-at-home-space?
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I love to design kid’s spaces because there is a lot more room for whimsy and daring. When I was designing my daughters’ rooms, it was an exercise in balance. I wanted them to feel empowered to make design decisions (they are after all two very creative little souls), but I also wanted to make sure that their rooms flowed with the rest of the house.
We started with by defining color palette: one that the girls loved, and one that also fit with the rest of house. From there we chose complimentary but distinct wallpaper patterns as the base of the design.
The next major step was choosing the right bed. Both girls wanted “cananopies,” as they called them, so we had to figure out how to give them two similar but, again, distinct canopy beds. For the elder, we chose a vintage bed. For the younger, I custom designed a high canopy bed for the tight space; the large pot drawers below provide extra storage.
Next we considered durability. We chose furniture and finishes that are non-toxic, but also multi-functional. We also kept in mind the fact that kids use their spaces heavily — there was no reason to spend a fortune on something like bedding. We took a standard coverlet from Bed Bath and Beyond and added a bit of appliqué. Suddenly, we had what looked like custom bedding at a very budget-friendly price.
And since it’s important to me to instill a sense of heritage, I mixed in family heirlooms with the new features. We put a vintage French vanity that has been in my family for years in my younger daughter’s room as her desk. And my elder daughter has my grandmother’s rocking chair in her room.
The result is two similar but distinct rooms that are fun and youthful, yet quite timeless. We hope the girls will enjoy them for years to come.
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What? It’s really the end of May?
Here are 5 things I’ve been considering for Father’s Day. (Ben Blair, don’t read this.)
1) T-shirt from Robotcha.
They come in kid size and grown up size. Ben Blair is sort of obsessed with robots.
2) Custom Fingerprint Cufflinks from Womily.
Womily has this amazing line of jewelry (necklaces, bracelets, keyrings, etc) called Touch, that feature the fingerprint/thumbprint of someone you love. They send you a kit to capture your print, you send it back, and they form it into jewelry. So cool! You could capture your babies thumbprints. Or if you have two kids, you could capture one fingerprint from each. Ben Blair is all about a great collection of cufflinks.
3) Comic Book Wallet.
Made by the disabled from pages of recycled comic books. Available as passport holders as well. I don’t think Ben Blair read many comic books as a kid, but they are certainly the basis of his favorite movies as an adult.
4) Belt from Strapped Belts.
Made in Jackson Hole, Wyoming (where we honeymooned), I think these glass buckles are beautiful. And manly enough to keep Ben Blair’s jeans around his waist.
5) Black Lacoste Polo Shirt.
Apparently Ben Blair’s most recent version of this shirt was misplaced in the move. Bummer. Because he looks really good in it. In fact, I’m not sure if I’ve met a man that wouldn’t look good in a black Lacoste polo.
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I don’t know about you, but for me, Spring brings out the urge to turn the house upside down for a yearly purge. As I’m hauling things out to the curb I have to remind myself: don’t be too quick to throw away the stuff you find in your garage — remember to keep your eye out for hidden treasure.
Some of my favorite trash-to-treasure projects so far (pictured above — click to enlarge the pic):
-I turned an old bank door handle that I bought years ago from an online auction into a new towel rack for our guest bathroom. A new coat of nickel plating and presto, it’s good as new.
-I found a group of old lamps from the seventies in storage and were able to revive them as Mediterranean-esque sconces for a client’s bathroom.
-I took vintage Moroccan lanterns and replated them with nickel. One made the perfect hanging fixture for a regal bathroom for a client. The other two were hung in my own kitchen.
-I also love to mix modern and vintage so when I found some amazing old claw foot bathtub pedestal feet, I refurbished them and used them in my master bath. They go really well with the clean lines of the modern cabinetry.
-It’s also relatively simple to take a tired old chandelier and give it new life with a few simple touches.
-And you can easily re-invent something by simply changing its function. I found a vintage Lucite umbrella stand ages ago but have recently started using it in our bathroom as a toilet paper holder.
Are you a trash-to-treasure kind of girl? Any success stories?
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More sneak peeks of the table project!
Isn’t it amazing? It’s enormous. And weighs 300 pounds or so. I love it so much! I know I owe more details and sources — a full post with more pics is coming. Now. Do I leave it as is? Or try to age it to look like this one?
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I think being a mom, and understanding moms’ needs, actually makes me a much better designer. When choosing furniture for kids (my own or a client’s), I try to keep a few things in mind. The pieces must be durable, safe, and preferably timeless. I’m a huge proponent of pieces of furniture that ‘grow’ with your children and can serve multiple purposes. This prevents parents from constantly replacing and throwing away pieces — clearly not the most sustainable or affordable option.
For example, I love the Oeuf crib that converts to a toddler bed or the Stokke convertible changing table that can become a desk, play table, or even a CD rack when your baby outgrows its first function.
Another example, the Tottoman, was created for one of my clients who needed additional storage. But we raised it on casters and added safety hinges so that toddlers could use the over-sized soft ottoman as an impromptu walker. It also makes a great hiding place. : ) As the child grows, the ottoman can be re-upholstered in different fabrics and live a long and useful life.
A third I idea I love to see implemented: converting old heirloom dressers into hip changing tables. Once your child outgrows them, you can re-convert the table back to a chest of drawers. A new set of hardware and a new coat of paint can update any tired old piece of furniture into a new and timeless piece. Brilliant.
Have you reincarnated any of your furniture? I’d love to hear your stories!
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Hi Ladies! Happy to be blogging here this week. My first post is all about mom space.
Ideally, all moms would have a “Be Kind to Mom” Space at home — a separate room where husbands and kids aren’t allowed. Obviously, not everyone has such a sanctuary, but here are a few tips on how to carve out some Mom space in any home.
Start by locating a spot in the house where you can get a bit of privacy. For some this might be the bathroom. If that’s the case, invest in some scented candles and Lucite necklace stands. Set aside some space on the counter where you can display all the things that make you feel lovely. Make the time to take a hot bath. One of my favorite tricks: bring in some orchids and steam them in the shower with you. A few small touches and any bathroom can feel like a spa getaway.
If you’re lucky enough to have a dressing room, take full advantage of it. I’ve filled mine with happy things — framed artwork that reminds me of my years in Paris as a student, and drawings by my kids. I love how the cowhide rug feels on my bare feet.
For some moms, your space might be a little reading corner in the living room that you can make cozy and welcoming. Invest in the perfect chair, then pair it with a little vintage table where you can set your tea. Add a great cozy throw and not-too-bright-lighting, and you’ll feel miles away from the craziness of everyday.
And if you really can’t find a space to carve out, then create a mobile sanctuary. There are several companies that make great drawers set on casters. Fill the drawers with pretty things and make any small space in the house your own with a mobile mom sanctuary.
How about you? Do you have any special mom space in your home? What would you include in your mom sanctuary if you had one?
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