Posts Tagged ‘120’

While the idea of all-American good looks now extends far beyond the blonde-haired and blue-eyed, diversity can still be hard to find. Sometimes you’ve just got to take matters into your own hands.

New online shop Kisha’s Kids operates with the mission to fill children’s surroundings with images of kids who actually look like them. The concept comes from founder Kisha Holt, who became frustrated after not being able to find brown-skinned faces on decor for her own kids’ rooms. Contemporary and vintage-inspired accessories and toys, many of which are exclusive to the site, range from original area rugs illustrated by artist Lizzy Rockwell to giclee clocks featuring old-fashioned cars. Kids of all backgrounds will relate to the playful images, like fairies and fire trucks, that reflect their ever-changing worlds.

Available at kishaskids.com.

Your decorating style is uniquely yours (art deco-meets-African?) but you want your little one to have a room of her own.

Start with art: Honeybee Gallery offers an eclectic assortment of original art for a kid’s bedroom or baby’s nursery. Developed by a mom and experienced family therapist, this online gallery of child-oriented pieces ranges from vintage-inspired silkscreens to contemporary oil on canvas. Sure there are the usual ducks, bunnies and princesses, but you’ll find offbeat renderings as well. The well-organized collection is broken down by artist (don’t miss Anne Leuck Feldhaus or Maureen O’Connor), style (whimsical, folk, retro) and theme (music, animals, things that float) for easy searching.

Point, click, decorate.

Available at honeybeegallery.com.

You could sure use the help of a decorating-on-a-dime expert, given your funds to build a dream nursery (near zero) and your penchant for product (zilch).

Penny People’s adorable Alphabet Print is the best deal for your decor budget. For $15 to $25, owner Lindsay Stephenson will customize your kid’s name onto a colorfully modern A-to-Z poster that will look great an inexpensive frame. The stylized design will last long after he learns his ABCs.

Available at pennypeople.com.

If these walls could talk, they’d cry out in boredom at the surrounding nursery decor. No more cutesy ducks and bunnies, please!

Fu-Shun Designs does fun and funky artwork that’s in sync with the vim and vigor of a child’s room. Art deco techniques use color and texture to visually teach little ones letters and zoo animals. The lightweight natural canvas sets (sold as three or four) make the perfect grouping to fill an empty space.

And add some much-needed modernism.

Available at fu-shundesigns.com.

You decorated your baby’s dream room in your mind — then realized it was way out of your budget. But no need to scrap the plan entirely: Below, Los Angeles interior designer (and mom) Nicole Sassaman shares her top ten tips for creating an affordable kiddie space.

1. Design a room that your child can grow into.

2. If you decide to go with a theme for your child’s room, do it with decorative items that are easy to change out (think pillows, throw rugs, stuffed animals and art).

3. Skip the toddler bed. Go with a twin bed with a mattress that can fit under it and be pulled out at night or go with a trundle.

4. Try a small fish tank with a filter system to both sooth your child to sleep and give him a great night light, along with teaching him to take care of animals.

5. Get creative with storage.

6. Instead of buying a changing table, a night stand with drawers is a perfect place to store diapers, etc.

7. Stores like West Elm and Pottery Barn don’t break the bank, are super stylish, and can create a room that lasts through high school.

8. Choose soothing colors, as they have a definite effect on one’s mood. Go for softer shades for softer moods.

9. Flor’s carpet tiles are a great solution for carpets in kids’ rooms. If your child destroys an area of the carpet that you just can’t get clean, you can replace a square or two of Flor’s carpet tiles rather than having to buy a new rug.

10. An easy solution for interchangeable artwork in your child’s room is to frame fun wrapping papers. One day you can have pink polka dots, and another day you can go with blue and green stripes.

You’re feeling extra patriotic this summer (especially since gas prices prohibit you from leaving the continental U.S.). Once a devotee of modern decor, suddenly a more traditional urge has taken over.

Try the new American Collection from Nurseryworks. Shaker and Federal style, mid-century California design and classic American details combine to form furniture with a contemporary character suitable for tots (think tufting, turned wood spindles, wing back).

And with a headboard named “Harvard,” you can’t go wrong.

Available at fawnandforest.com.