Posts filed under 'Décor'
It is hard to believe but Merci, one of Paris’ most fashionable concept stores has been out-trumped by a kid’s store. Just a stone’s throw away from Merci on the corner where the boulevard Beaumarchais turns into the boulevard Filles du Calvaire, Bonton has opened up a 800 M² new flagship shop. It is absolutely fabulous! On over 3 floors you can find clothes, clothes and even more clothes, a book shop (with a GREAT selection of books), a bakery, a sweets bar, a hair dresser, a deco area and I don’t even remember what else.
Rebecca (who used to write for us from Washington and who has, luckily for me, moved back to Paris) and I went to the opening and had a blast. The Prosecco was flowing, there was a huge counter full of hams and cheeses and little sandwiches. It was a great way of discovering the shop and the new Bonton summer collection.
Oh, did I mention that they also have one of those old-fashioned photo booths with a bucket full of dressing up hats in front of it? We also took advantage of that, though we were the only grown-ups queueing up for it in a huge line of kids…
- Emilie
BONTON
5 boulevard Filles Du Calvaire
75003 Paris
Open: Monday – Saturday 10:00 – 19:00
Emilie in Paris
March 4th, 2010
Is this little girl not absolutely adorable? That face! That hat! The vest…! I could practically eat her up! Luna Ninos is an Australian brand I discovered when my son was a baby. They design and knit their products in Melbourne without linking, sewing or seams… making their beanies and bonnets, booties, baby blankets and cardigans comfortable and lightweight. They use only the finest natural fibers — pure cotton or extrafine merino wool, and each season offer an array of delectable colours, from the more muted (mouse, spinach, bamboo…) to the very bright (aqua, rosa and tomato….). Luxurious yet practical — everything is machine-washable (fortunately as I have absolutely no patience for hand-washing!). I especially love their tree blankets — not only visually superb, but proceeds from their sale support the Wilderness Society of Australia, saving our beautiful old growth forests, which is a really good thing…
To view their stunning collection and for online orders, click here!
-Sara
Sara in Melbourne
February 26th, 2010
Check out this YouTube video featuring Julie from Famille Summerbelle cutting out, by hand, her New York map. I saw it on the Famille Summerbelle website and could not resist writing about it. The whole thing took 20 hours to make, but don’t worry, the video only lasts 2 minutes. It is seriously insane to watch — I personally would have sliced off the tip of my finger in the first minute….
I really like watching someone work with pen, paper and scaple instead of a computer, just like in the good old days.
I also have to say that I have a real soft spot for Julie’s work, especially her cut-out maps. They are lovely and full of little details which are acute observations of the cities on the maps.
- Emilie
Emilie in Paris
February 26th, 2010
As you know we recently moved to a new house. It has a little garden, but it’s by no means bigger than the previous apartment, so our children are still (happily) sharing a room. My husband and I went through some effort to make it a lovely, cosy space (we have really sweet kids, you know), so we painted, hung bookshelves, assembled cabinets, and glued an enormous, wonderful wallpaper tree to the wall.
Inke Heiland originally designed her wallpaper silhouettes for her little boy’s room, but after great results and very positive feedback she decided to start producing the designs, which are now available from her webshop. All handmade from the most exquisite vintage wallpaper, these trees come as a do-it-yourself kit, completely cut out, with clear instructions, wallpaper glue and brush present in the tube. It was a bit scary at first as neither of us have wallpapered before, but the application process was surprisingly easy, and though I’m not saying it was 3 minutes work — more certainly we spent over 3 hours — the result is absolutely fantastic. The kids are super proud and adore their room. And yes, I admit, it did turn out rather nicely.
I really recommend Inke’s designs — they’re highly original, will instantly spice up every kids room and they certainly complement different interior styles very easily. They’re available through her webshop, or through our favourite eco shop ShakShuka.
xxx Esther
Esther in Amsterdam
February 23rd, 2010
If you have a sewing machine, this Valentines decoration is easily made, and my kids really liked the project!
Just potato-stamp hearts on paper; I used recycled paper but you can use any sort really, even newspaper. No need to be perfect here, my 2-year-old had quite some production going. Let the paint dry and cut the hearts out. Again, slightly outside the outline of the stamp is fine, my 4-year-old girl was perfectly capable of doing it all herself! How typical for this age…
My machine had black thread in it and I didn’t bother changing it. I think it actually looks quite nice like this. Make sure to leave some thread at the ends for attaching!
My daughter’s bed looked lovely instantaneously! (The wallpaper bird is from Inke, more about that later.)
xxx Esther
P.S. Inspiration for this project came from Maya*Made
Esther in Amsterdam
February 12th, 2010
Most parents discover fairly early on that if they want to meet in a cafe with friends and have any hope of conversation (one that spans more than 10 seconds), then a distraction for the children in the form of a book/toy is imperative. It allows at least some semblance of communication between the adults whilst in the company of young children — where you can form a full sentence… in one go!!
Many cafes in Melbourne answer this need, providing crayons and butcher paper to occupy the kids. And that certainly helps! But Family Life Home & Café in Grattan Street, Prahran goes one step further. Not only is it a divine Balinese inspired space, incorporating a cafe and boutique, but it has a gorgeous imaginative play area for the children.
So… whilst you leisurely sip your cappuccino on a comfy couch, chat to friends, read the newspaper (without being interrupted every. single. sentence) and shop for hand-made toys, eco homewares, exotic recycled furniture and some great kidswear — the children are happily playing nearby in the enchanted forest or putting on a show in the gazebo! Happiness all around!
If you are visiting, be sure to check out the kidswear. Not only do they carry some great Aussie designers like Mill&Mia, Sudo and Jellyfish but they also carry a more obscure Balinese designer called Paul Ropp. His distinctive and vibrant pieces are truly amazing!
Family Life will also throw a fantastic kids birthday party, with every little detail taken care of!
- Sara
Sara in Melbourne
February 1st, 2010
Like many households with children, we are the proud owner of an Ikea Bekvam step stool, which lives in our kitchen and is used all the time. It helps the kids reach the counter, it helps our Peruvian sitter to reach the upper cabinets (mounted extra high to accommodate tall Dutch genes), and it helps me to reach the upper, upper cabinets that even tall Dutch girls can’t reach!
A handy gadget, this Bekvam. It’s not, however, the most original piece of interior (hear the architect speaking?), and to be honest, mine is so much in need of a layer of paint that I hardly dare to display it in my kitchen!
Thankfully we now have the beautiful, modern, fresh, and well-designed Tess stool in the house. A lovely addition to our household! It’s being used in the bathroom to brush teeth, dragged to the kitchen when there’s a threat of a fight over the Bekvam, and used as a side table or stool where and whenever needed.
Designed by the two lovely Dutch ladies of NU (who share 5 kids between them), the Tess is well tested and proofed, and characterizes typical Dutch no-nonsense, practical modernism. My cup of tea! (And as soon as we have a house with a fireplace as in the photo, I WILL make sure I have three Tess stools in the house, lined up as pictured.)
Tess stools are made in solid oak and available plain or lacquered — just send an email to NU for information (go to the contact page of their website).
xxx Esther
Esther in Amsterdam
January 24th, 2010
Don’t you love these wall decals? I mean, even if you don’t live in Amsterdam, you surely must like them!?!
These supercool stickers are made by Zuuz, and besides the fact that I really like the images of the typical Dutch canal houses, I love the fact that they are so big — my daughter can draw on them even when she’s standing up! We have a long hallway in our current apartment so we could fit both the crayon sticker set and the outlined houses set next to each other, and it really looks fantastic.
I never knew crayon stickers were so much fun for the kids — my daughter really loves drawing in the windows, the doors, and the people… Brilliant!
These (and other) fun wall decals are available through Dutch webshop Zuuz. (BTW, I love the combination of these wall decals and the pendant lampshade I wrote about earlier!)
xxx Esther
Esther in Amsterdam
January 12th, 2010
The Antoine and Lili flagship stores must be some of the cutest rows of shops I have ever seen. I was walking past them today and they were so bright and cheerful on a grey winter’s day!
They can be found along the canal St Martin, an area which, for a long time now, has been attracting lots of little shops and restaurants. If the rumours are to be believed the Antoine et Lili shops were actually the first independent shops to open up in this area, turning the area into a trendy little spot.
Anyway, if you are in Paris and like kitsch and bright colours, Antoine et Lili is a must. The kid’s store especially is a bright, bright space with great toys, presents and clothes from the world over. It is definitely not minimalist, but colourful and loud! I also love the homewares shop were you can find great Mexican waxcloths and fabulous melamine plates for the whole family.
Antoine et Lili
95 Quai de Valmy
Paris 75010
Tel:+33 1 40 37 58 15
- Emilie
Emilie in Paris
January 8th, 2010
I am completely smitten with a virtual wonderland called Kindergallery. Actually it is a very genius online art gallery but it might as well be a wonderland — it is so gorgeous and enchanting!
Based in Sydney (with a second home in Berlin), Kindergallery sources and sells exclusive art works for children — original paintings, limited edition works, prints, stretched canvases, box art and wall decals. It is the brainchild of Fiona Lang, mother of two and curator of the stunning collection. She gathers the very best of Australian and international artists including Ida Pearle, Shinzi Katoh, Anna Ventura and one of my personal favourites, Meredith Gaston.
What I love about this collection is that each piece has clearly been handpicked to inspire the imaginations of young kids, but will also appeal to the discerning, style-conscious parent. And the best part? There is something for every budget! Works can be purchased for under AU$50, but Kindergallery also focus on providing that really special, once in a life time purchase too.
Whether you are in the market for some artwork or not — have a look at the website, it is guaranteed to make you smile!
-Sara
Sara in Melbourne
January 5th, 2010
I am so in love with all the lovely ornaments by Maileg this year! They could not be any cuter. Last year I picked up some of the little soldiers, which I loved because they look so British, and this year I discovered the darling birds and mushrooms!
They’re the perfect ornaments for a house full of kids because they won’t break if they fall off the tree — plus they just look so playful and fun.
Maileg is a young Danish company which also makes lovely toys and decorative objects. You can find Maileg pieces in London at Elias & Grace and Petit Aimé, or buy online at Nordinary.
Merry Christmas!
xoxo Courtney
Courtney in London
December 23rd, 2009
Because we always do Christmas with our family in the states, I still haven’t bought my kids their own Christmas stockings! And while I LOVE going home for the holidays, I can totally see the appeal of staying put and celebrating together as a family in our own little home. Maybe one day (I’ve heard London is really cozy and quiet at Christmas time).
Anyway, I’m on the look-out for the perfect Christmas stockings and I just discovered these darling hand-knit wool stockings from Sundance. I love the homemade look of them, and the mix of all the different colors and sizes.
I also love the wool stockings at Sweet William. I think it would be a cute idea to buy them and then embroider your kids’ names on the top white cuff. So cute!
Oh, and it would probably be a good idea to buy the Christmas sacks Mo wrote about earlier… in case Santa were to bring too many gifts to fit inside!
-Courtney
Courtney in London
December 21st, 2009
I wrote about the wonderful fabric wall stickers from I love Mae a while ago. Again, they’re just adorable! My daughter has the twitters (pictured) above her bed, and we love them…
Feeling lucky? Great! Peta from ‘I love Mae’ is very kindly offering one set of small fabric wall stickers of choice to one lucky Babyccino Kids reader!
Just leave your comment below by Monday, January 4th and we’ll pick a winner at random.
Good luck!!
xxx Esther
P.S. Check out the super pretty and free dowloadable Christmas wrapping paper from I love Mae — adorable!!!
P.P.S. Congrats to Sarah who won the three dresses from Hucklebones!!!
Esther in Amsterdam
December 19th, 2009
I keep trying to work out a trip that might take me in the direction of Hereford (about 2.5 hours west of my house). I haven’t come up with one yet but would one day really like to visit the store of Mark and Sally Bailey, Bailey’s Home & Garden.
In the meantime I will have to continue browsing their lovely website. Mark and Sally describe their interior style as the ‘recycled home’ so they have some great vintage gems alongside some beautiful homewares from small, family run companies.
I love everything they sell but they have some particularly beautiful wooden toys for children. I bought the xylophone for my daughter because I love the simplicity of it, and I’m quite tempted by the Noah’s Ark and these cheeky chappies (pictured).
They don’t have e-commerce set up on their site so you need to browse and then give them a bell with you order and credit card details.
(Note: For more on Mark and Sally you can check out their interiors book, Recycled Home. Available through their website or from Amazon.)
-Mo
Mo in London
December 18th, 2009
We recently moved and so we had plenty of white walls to fill up! I was looking for something to hang in my children’s bedroom and landed on Mishmish studio. Artist Susie Lubell offers high quality prints of her original watercolor paintings, which means professional archival ink and professional museum etching paper. Her subjects are sweet and airy, perfect for children’s rooms and nurseries, but she also has an animal section and a more spiritual one. I also have the feeling that the print I chose will not look out of place in an older child’s bedroom, so this means it will probably last until my daughter will replace it with the poster of her favourite pop-band I guess!
Each print can be personalised with the child’s name, birth date and a special quote. Susie is happy to offer suggestions, but you can have your favourite quote printed if you prefer. I picked an inspiring and well-wishing Native American proverb that I was not aware of, and it somehow seemed perfect for my daughter.
Michela
P.S. Remember to write BABYCCINO on your note to seller for a 20% discount until December 31st (it will be a Paypal refund)
Michela in Milan
December 9th, 2009
I remember making these angels when I was little; they’re so simple and so lovely. You can use them as table decoration (place settings?), or make a little perforation in the back, pull some thread through the hole and hang them in your tree. You can of course also make loads of them to give as gifts. My little girl loves making them — as long as we use tons of glitter!
Here’s the free download of the pattern. When you’re finished decorating, just cut along all the black lines, and tuck the left side of the arc into the right side.
Have fun!
xxx Esther
Esther in Amsterdam
November 22nd, 2009
I just popped into Muji this week, and I have to say just how great all their Christmas items are! I was so impressed with all the cute little wooden toys, holiday decorations, gift-wrapping items, cards, stamps, etc.
I filled an entire cart full of little gifts (including the items pictured), and I bought one of their wooden christmas tree decoration pieces too!
As it goes with Muji, everything is pretty reasonably priced… perfect for little stocking stuffers or nice gifts for your kids’ friends. I definitely recommend paying a visit.
-Courtney
Courtney in London
November 19th, 2009
Look how lovely this pendant lampshade is… I just love having some typical ‘Amsterdam’ toys and decorations in my house now that we live in this special city! Have you ever been to Amsterdam?? It’s very typical with its canals and canal houses; I don’t think there’s another city quite like it in the world! The scene you see on this lamp is called ‘Jordaan’, named after the picturesque neighbourhood in the centre of Amsterdam with its narrow streets, small houses and cute bridges.
Hylkia, the creative brain behind ‘Hartendief‘, originally studied fashion design but after the birth of her daughter started creating accessories for children’s rooms, eventually resulting in a series of these wonderful silhouette lamps. They are very stylish in their simplicity — plain when switched off, but when switched on the silver (or gold) silhouette on the inside of the shade creates a magical shadow world on the outside…
If you’re not so much into the Amsterdam theme like I am, there are three more sweet designs to choose from, and in a large selection of colours. You can order these lamps through the Hartendief store, but if your Dutch is not so polished these days you can just email Hylkia with your questions and wishes in English.
xxx Esther
Esther in Amsterdam
November 10th, 2009
Ever since an unfortunate incident involving permanent markers, a stamp set and a wall I had just painted, I had decreed that there would be no decorating permitted on bedroom walls! This week I changed my stance — I allowed my son to go crazy with a box of Moveables.
Moveables is gorgeous adhesive artwork that is removable and repositional… over and over again. Though I have never been partial to wall stickers or posters, I have to concede, they really do look quite gorgeous on his walls. They are beautifully made, never seem to lose their ‘stick’ (despite my son having moved them around dozens and dozens of times) and leave the walls completely intact, no sign of any residue! I am impressed!
My daughter who is 8 has now asked me for a box of the very sweet ‘red robin’ range (pictured). I can’t complain - only last week she was asking me if she could stick up posters of Hannah Montana!
Beautifully packaged in a keepsake box, I think that they would make a lovely gift. You can view the range online at Little Chipipi.
-Sara
Sara in Melbourne
November 9th, 2009
Often we’re asked where one can find tasteful, cute party supplies. Here in the Netherlands we are lucky to have Hema, which has a really good selection, but since it seems to be the only tasteful choice locally available, we seriously see the same decorations on nearly every birthday party we attend!
Then there’s Martha Stewart, who comes up with wonderful suggestions for homemade party decorations, but most of them involve complex and time-consuming craft projects which may eventually result in a well decorated house, but chances are that you’ll suffer a nervous breakdown simultaneously.
Now look at this: Homemade Happiness. Great downloadable deco kits for every birthday, holiday or other special occasion.
These super-cute digital DIY designs are downloadable in return for a small fee, and you may print them as often as you wish on card-stock paper. Next cut, fold and glue (even the most non-creative soul with two left hands and 5 children running around can do this!) and presto – you have an extremely original and cute selection of cake toppers, gift tags, gift boxes, party hats and buntings. Seriously everything you need for the cutest and most original birthday party you can think of. Every Homemade Happiness download comes with clear instructions and paper suggestions, and they even thought of including recipes, suggestions for games, sweet to-do-lists, etc. etc. Have a browse, I’m pretty sure you’ll love everything!
Now, the only disadvantage is that the original website is still in Dutch, but the two lovely work-at-home mums behind Homemade Happiness, Caroline and Diana, are working hard to translate their designs and the English versions of most of them can be found in their Etsy shop.
Now… enjoy! Happy birthday Babyccino!
xxx Esther
Esther in Amsterdam
November 3rd, 2009
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