How fun is this Potato Stamp Stars bedding? Stars are such a great and versatile design, perfect for both modern or traditional decor styles, and I love how the potato stamp effect gives the star print a retro feeling. The bedding is certified organic cotton, printed to Oeko Tex standards… and is as cosy as can be. This duvet cover has the star print in cotton percale on one side and a blue, snuggly t-shirt material on the other side. It’s available from Quick Brown Fox of Dulwich along with other great bedding designs.

-Courtney

x Courtney

My kids recently got a Little Red Stuga play blanket and it’s just awesome. What a cool design!! The idea is so simple, but as always with the simplest ideas there is a very talented mind behind it. In this case Little Red Stuga worked together with the lovely Elisabeth Dunker from the beautiful blog and boutique Fine Little Day, who designed the indian graphics. I love how the Bu! blanket doubles up as a comfort blanket and a pretend play dress-up device — and how it travels everywhere. So cool!

xxx Esther

If you’re looking for something truly special for your house, take a look at Davina Zagury’s website. She has a collection of beautiful still-life images with three main concepts. The first one is about the land of lost toys. Vintage toys, found at flea markets, second hand stores or in the garbage bin (!), make us wonder about the children that once treasured these toys, their home, their story, their life. The second series is about kitchen appliances. Not only are the objects so interesting and beautiful to look at, they also hold memories of our grandmother’s kitchens; they smell of home-made biscuits, chocolate cake, and warm milk. In the animals series that Davina created, little toy animals take centre stage and tell us a special story in which they play the main part.

xxx Esther

I read my boys (ages 6 and 4) their first Tintin book recently, and an obsession ensued. For the past couple months it is the only thing they have requested at bed time; I think we are now on our fifth Tintin book.  I’m actually surprised by how much they like it — there is so much they can’t possibly understand, and so much of the humour goes straight over their heads. But still… they love the adventures of Tintin, his dog Snowy and the very funny Captain Haddock who says things like ‘billions of blue blistering barnacles!’ and makes silly mistakes.

The story behind Tintin is an interesting one. The first Tintin comic appeared in the children’s section of a Belgian newspaper in 1929. The series was so successful it was then published in Belgium’s leading newspaper, Le Soir, and then spun into its own magazine. It became one of Europe’s most popular comics and has been translated into more than 50 different languages (you can read more about the origin of Tintin here).

There is now a Tintin movie — I haven’t seen it, have you? There’s an online Tintin Shop and an actual Tintin store in Covent Garden where you can buy all sorts of Tintin goodies like posters, toys and, of course, the books. I’m thinking of buying my boys some Tintin posters for their bedroom (don’t you love that image above with the Tintin poster and figurines?).

x Courtney

Image found on Pinterest

These happy pillows from Barcelona make me smile every time I see them! They’re made by Yuly from Bibu, who wanted to create something fun, modern and unusual for her son. Her pillows can be used to play with, sleep on, and make great decoration too. And I love that the ‘backside’ of each pillow is made out of a very cool, custom designed fabric!!

xxx Esther

I get asked all the time if I know of any good, stylish children’s beds for kids who have outgrown their cotbed but who are still young enough to need/want a child’s bed. There is such a hole in the market here because I have literally searched and searched and the pickings are slim. The one bed I love is the Müller stacking bed by Rolf Heide. I just love that the beds stack so that when needed, you always have an extra bed for sleep-overs and other guests in the house. I have several friends who have these beds either for their kids or for guests (I even have a few German friends who grew up with them!), and everyone only has good things to say.

The beds were designed in Germany in 1967, before the age of modern flat-packed furniture, and were highly innovative for the time. Inspired by smaller spatial living in the 1960s, the beds were meant to be a sofa or daybed by day and a bed(s) at night. So brilliant!  For more information, you can download the catalog from here. And, if like me, you’re interested in buying them in the UK, they’re available from The Home Online shop.

And if you know of any other great single beds for kids, please share!

x Courtney

I have just had my entire flat repainted. My favourite part of having builders in is certainly not living on a building site, but spending countless hours daydreaming about how to decorate the rooms. So much fun, even if only 10% of my ideas actually ever see the light of the day! I am a big fan of old stuff; I like things that are not too perfect and which look like they have been around for a while.

Rien à Cirer is a super cute little company I discovered at the Mini Vintage Fair last month. I love the way they use old furniture and give it a new life with beautiful colours and little touches, while keeping the vintage feel alive. It really feels very French to me, but with a nice twist! I picked up a little unit similar to this one to hang up in my bathroom. And how cool would this type of dresser look in a children’s room?

- Emilie

xxx Esther

I had the great pleasure of meeting the lovely Teresa, founder of the brand new Hedgehog Shop, a few weeks ago when she opened up her London studio for a little pre-Christmas shopping. I knew immediately that I would LOVE her online shop. Her knack for sourcing the cutest toys, craft items, dress-up pieces, party gifts and loads of other adorable treasures from around the world is SO spot on. I got my Christmas crackers from her shop and they were a huge success at my dinner table. I also found the most charming toys and other little winning gifts. The online shop is now up and running, and I just know you will all love it as much as I do.

x Courtney

Tante Ted (‘Aunty Ted’) is a Dutch brand focussing exclusively on boys bedding and accessories. I’ve known Ted for a few years now and I’ve seen his brand develop, and it’s so cool that his collection is now professionally produced by bedding company Damai! Well deserved, because Ted just knows what boys like. The bedding for starters, all very cool and with bright colours and graphics, inspired by traffic, travel, insects and other things boys love. But what about the lights (my son Pim LOVES this builders’ light!), or the carpets (made from moving blankets! And there are lampshades too!). Everything is just so very cool, just what boys love… and stylish too, just what their parents love. Way to go, Ted!

xxx Esther

P.S. The Tante Ted site is still just in Dutch, unfortunately, but just email Ted if you have questions or would like to order something!

Now that the perfect grey has been chosen, the next project is the girls’ room. I have been thinking of putting up wallpaper on at least some of the walls! How lovely is this Famille Summerbelle wallpaper? It is appropriately called: Un dimanche à Paris (A Sunday in Paris). Is it a bit exagerated to have a Paris-themed wallpaper when you live in Paris? I am not sure!

- Emilie

The Littlest Mammoth offers a curated collection of art from artists all over the world… and what I like about their collection is that, while it’s officially ‘art for children’, there is nothing obviously ‘kiddie’ about it. Hardly a single alphabet print in site (okay, maybe one!), the artwork is interesting, imaginative, and vibrant, and represents a wide range of styles.

At The Littlest Mammoth, they believe that art generates thoughtful, perceptive and imaginative people and that ‘it’s monumentally important for children to be surrounded by art’. I couldn’t agree more.

xx Courtney

Swedish design company Fabriko was started last year by Lisa Erikkson, a Stockholm-based designer and mum. Her patterns are aimed at children but I’m sure they are as attractive for big people as they are for the little ones! The collection consists of wallpapers and a textile collection including bed linen, pillows, quilts and bags, all made from organic cotton and really super cool and decorative. Lisa currently works with 4 amazing patterns, but I hope we will see more in the future.

xxx Esther

Alfabetika is now giving away a free download every day for a different alphabet letter to colour in (like the A above).Cute! See their Facebook page for details. Also, they’re offering free shipping to Babyccino Kids readers until the end of December. Enter code BABYCCINO at check-out!

-Courtney

I just got a pack of these funky light switch stickers for my kids and we’ve had so much fun customising all the light switches in our house. Ivy turned her light switch into a bunny rabbit, the boys turned theirs into bear, and then they turned the light switch in the playroom into a funny combination of all the different animals. Such fun! The stickers are available from Hello Bubba and also come in different themes — such a cute little gift (stocking stuffers maybe?).

-Courtney

We were recently asked by Caos Magazine to create a list of tips for decorating children’s rooms… and while we certainly aren’t experts, we felt we had a few good ideas up our sleeves. Check out our ten tips here. And please feel free to leave us comments with any other good tips we may have forgotten!

(Image is from Esther’s daughter’s bedroom. Tip #6 — use your child’s clothing as decoration!)

-Courtney

Do your kids have a teepee? I got this teepee for my kids years ago… and I must say that it is one of the best gifts I’ve given them. They play with/in it all the time — I think kids just love having a little nook to hide away in, whether they’re reading books, playing games or creating an imaginative scene far, far away from the reality of their bedroom.

Our teepee is from Little Smiles and the quality is really, really good. I also like the simplicity of this one from Bianca and Family (so pretty!). And this one from Habitat is slightly smaller so it’s a good option for smaller spaces. Do you have other good teepee suggestions?

x Courtney

Pure washed linen, the finest quality soft cotton, all carefully hand-crafted and hand-printed with water based inks. There is something so timeless and tactile about the tuliP+i pieces — they’re such a pleasure to touch and to look at. The simple designs and little Italian phrases and nursery rhymes are so sweet, they read like a poem. You will find blankets, pillows and sleep sacs at the tuliP+i collection, and bibs that are so beautifully made they are fit for a queen. I promise you that these are pieces that you will use day after day with so much joy and pleasure — we have the oversized crib quilt for Ava, and tucking in our baby at night has never felt so good.

xxx Esther

I’m always a sucker for wooden toys in iconic London designs. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m an American and so I’m still charmed by the quintessential Englishness of them… or if it’s because I’m a Londoner and I like them just for that (who doesn’t love a black cab?!). I’m loving the range of Heritage Toys available at Alex and Alexa. Little stackable guardsman and the London City in a Bag – super cute, and pretty reasonably priced as well.

-Courtney