CLASSIC BLUE AND WHITE KIDS' MODERN PLAYROOM REVEAL

Our first reveal of 2020 is here and I am incredibly excited to share this amazing children’s playroom with you! This space ticks ALL the boxes for fun, playful and functional too. While we are not massive trend followers over here, I can say that this playroom is sporting ‘Classic Blue’, the Pantone colour of the year. Chance? Absolutely - this room has been in the works for quite some time.

Let’s rewind a little. My client enlisted me to re-imagine her basement into a bright, colourful and fun play space for her two children, aged 2 and 4. At the beginning of this project, this space felt dark, dated and full of potential. Pretty much my favourite kind of project.

While there was some storage in the space, it wasn’t functional and the kids weren’t able to access toys in an organized way, so functional storage was a key goal for the room. When we found this Pottery Barn unit, it ticked all the boxes for a lot of storage, including opened and closed storage for ease of access and the ability to hide a lot too. The Pehr bins are perfect little buckets for smaller toy collections, such as mini cars or wood blocks. You’ve seen this play table in our Baker playroom project too, and it is one of the best on the market if you are looking for a play table that can grow with your kiddos. I love the under table carts for Lego storage, and they are on castors so they can easily pull out. Bonus!

SHOP THE LOOK…

The library nook is my absolute favourite feature of this room. This family are avid readers and own an incredible collection of hundreds of children’s books that any little one could only dream of. I love knowing that though the collection is already large, these incredible built-in bookshelves gives plenty of room for the kids’ (and adults!) book collection to continue to grow. We specifically designed the slanted book ledge so that seasonal books could be displayed, providing a special spot for regular rotation of favourites. The giant floor pillows from Natti Natti provide the perfect cozy soft spot to curl up and read!

From this angle, you can just see the scale of the library nook and also how impactful the dotted removable wallpaper is! We knew we wanted something that made this huge wall stand out and the gold polka dots do just that. I love how the classic blue and white rug provides so much pattern too.

The artwork chosen for the entire room is the children’s own. The client was so excited to showcase her own children’s art and I loved this idea too! These two canvases were the same size so we paired them above the Oeuf toy storage, which is the ideal piece if you love having open storage for little ones.

SHOP THE LOOK…

I love seeing all sides of a space and so I thought I’d share these views too. In the shot above, you can see the sweet little fireplace set inside the teepee. You can see that the rug provides an underfoot layer for little feet at both the low play table and the higher one. The custom ottomans you can see a peek of on the left here were made by Tonic Living.

Looking the other way, there is a gallery wall of children’s art as well as a giant whiteboard, which has proved to be popular on playdates with friends.

Leaving you with this view of the storage area as it leads into the book nook. What an absolute dream play space!

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A NEW YEAR & A FEW THOUGHTS...

Well, friends, we made it to 2020!!! While the moment that we entered into the year 2000 really doesn’t feel that long ago (I was celebrating in Copenhagen, Denmark that year and remember it well)…it is hard to believe that was 20 years ago and we are now in the year I wrote about as the far distant future when I was a child. Crazy.

While 2019 was a year I will never forget (we lost my brother-in-law), I am entering the year 2020 with a few new thoughts; mainly with the intent that I share way more of my work, even if I don’t feel it’s ready or PERFECT. Sure, when I share client spaces, I am of course proud of the rooms we have created, but this year, I’m ready to share more little projects, ones from my crappy rental house and really just a little more of the every day that I hope will inspire you and give you the motivation to try in your own homes. I’m trusting you can keep me honest with this because truly, it’s so easy to forget intentions once the year starts to roll.

So that’s it for now. Later this week, we are installing the first playroom of the year and I honestly can’t wait. Here’s wishing you all a beautiful year in the making…starting NOW!

GIFT GUIDE: TOYS FOR KIDS

I’m a little late to the party this year, but first on the list in our Holiday Gift Guides is toys for the kids. This Christmas guide includes mainly items that our kids own and love, a couple that are on the list this year and the Milton and Goose play kitchen that I can’t get enough of!

Last year, the wooden dollhouse was a huge hit as a main gift for one of our twins, and it amazes me to watch toddlers as well as older friends come for play dates and spend hours playing with it. It was a Christmas gift that will last for years. For kids over 5, the Instax camera is a fun toy that will surely be a hit on Christmas Day and the little Jacob’s ladder toy reminds me of my own childhood (and will be making itself into at least one stocking this year).

While Keva looks like such a basic toy, it (along with Magnatiles) are two firm faves that will continue to last throughout the years.

I hope you find a little something that inspires your little one to play, which is exactly what this holiday guide is for.

01.// Smart Game; 02.// Solid Wood Kitchen; 03.// Superhero Mouse; 04.// Ice Magnatiles; 05.// Instax Camera; 06.// KROM Kendama; 07.// Jacob’s Ladder; 08.// Micro Scooter; 09.// Fresh Mart Store; 10.// Victorian Doll House; 11.// Metal Slinky; 12.// Maple Keva Planks.

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WINTER DAISY PICKS: 8 OF THE BEST HOLIDAY PAJAMAS FOR KIDS

It’s that time of the year again and we are all ready to cozy up on the couch at home with the kids in a good pair of pajamas. I have shared my favourite pajamas for kids in the past and this time, I’m ready to share the best HOLIDAY pjs! With Black Friday coming next week, this is the perfect time to grab a pair of high quality, comfy pajamas that will last through the winter months.

As always, the materials I choose for my own kiddos are all natural with our favourite material for jammies being 100% cotton, for breathability (and I find they fit & wear so well!). These ones are all adorable to boot.

1. J Crew

This company has a few sweet designs, but these prancing reindeers (below) are my faves with the repetitive little print.

Fabric: 100% cotton

Sizes: 2 years - 14 years

2. Hannah Anderson

These come highly recommended from a friend who only buys pjs from this store. With high quality fabrics, these jammies are thicker than some and the tree pattern is perfect for this time of year. Check out the sizes they come in…perfect for a family with lots of kids of different ages.

Fabric: Organic cotton

Sizes: 2 years - 16 years!

3. Burt’s Bees Baby

These are outstanding value! 100% organic cotton for less than $20??! Amazing. The gingerbread pattern is super cute but there are other nice options too.

Fabric: GOTS certified 100% organic cotton

Sizes: 12 months - 7 years

4. Lake Pajamas

These pajamas are the softest, dreamiest pajamas due to the high quality of the pima cotton. These would make luxurious gifts from the grandparents and I love the fact that they have family pjs that pair beautifully. They feel like sleeping on a cloud!

Fabric: 100% pima cotton

Sizes: 2 years - 10 years

5. Parade

A local favourite, designed right here in Vancouver, Canada. The materials are thick and last a long time, even when you put them in the dryer. I love the fit (see the photo below) and the starry night pattern is my seasonal favourite.

Fabric: 100% GOTS certified organic cotton

Sizes: 2 years - 10 years

6. The Little White Company

I can remember the first time I walked into this store when I lived in London, UK long before I had my own children! I fell in love immediately. When I found out the store is now available in North America, I had to include one of the cutest sets of the bunch. I can just imagine our girls squealing with excitement on seeing the reindeer face.

Fabric: 100% cotton

Sizes: 12 months - 12 years

7. Skylar Luna

This brand was included in my original post about pjs, and I seem to always find a nice pair for any season, including holiday. If kids aren’t as keen on cutesy patterns, a good stripe can go a long way to appeasing little ones while still feeling festive. I love this green set.

Fabric: 100% GOTS certified organic cotton

Sizes: 12 months - 8 years

8. Gap

While I try hard to shop locally first, the Gap is a mainstay when it comes to pjs. While I wished they continued their organic cotton pajamas past the baby age, I must admit these festive cozy and snug red stripe henley pjs are pretty cute.

Fabric: 100% cotton

Sizes: 4 years - 14 years

I hope at least one of these pairs of holiday jammies becomes a loved favourite. Come December 1st, we’ll be wearing ours with festive excitement. Remember to save the graphic below to Pinterest so you can access it later. Do you have other faves that I’ve missed? Let me know which ones you love in the comments below.

01. Prancing pjs; 02. Gingerbread pjs; 03. Tree pjs; 04. Snowflake pjs; 05. Starry pjs; 06. Reindeer pjs; 07. Stripe pjs; 08. Henley pjs.

5 WAYS TO HELP DURING A TRAGIC TIME

It is with so much sadness, that I share what’s happened in my personal life over the past week. My brother-in-law had a sudden heart attack and died, leaving behind my sister (& best friend) and her three kids, aged 9, 14 and 17. This is them last summer.

I have never written a post like this before, but through the process of loss, there have been a few things that have come up that I thought might be helpful to share.

1. Take SO many photos (& videos):

   My sister is a photographer and if there is anything she feels grateful for right now, it is for the hundreds of photos she has of her husband and her family. Her kids have photos to tell stories about, pour over in their darkest hours and memories to hold forever. She has had family photoshoots taken by professional photographers and these sessions are valued beyond belief. Videos capture voice and personality in an even greater way. So, get our your cameras and snap away making sure you and your partner are in the shots too.

2. Stay organized:

   Having important documents labelled and organized helps those around you at all times of life, even when you are no longer here. When systems are clear and in place, it makes the inevitable process of form completion and documentation so much easier throughout the most challenging times. Digital organization is just as important as paper-based.

3. Food is a fabulous love language:

   Within hours of the tragic news, close friends dropped off a block freezer and started filling it with food. Hot meals, freezer meals, general groceries and fresh food platters started to arrive. In that moment, I realized, food is the most logical (and such an appreciated!) way to show love. It is so helpful. If you have a friend or family member going through a heartbreaking time, dropping off a meal that can be enjoyed now or used later is such a great way to give.

4. Play:

   While each child copes differently and processes at different times, play is a beautiful way to connect. With younger kids, reach out and set up play dates. With older ones, invite them for a movie date. Any distraction that can allow a break for the mind is a welcome way to show kids that you care and a great way for them to connect with their friends.

5. Think longer term:

   While the initial outpouring of love is amazing, I can’t help but think of ways that will be helpful longer term. Set a reminder once a month over the next 24 months to drop off a meal or have a grocery gift card or gift certificate to a local restaurant mailed to the family every 3 or 6 months.

Most importantly of all, just be. Be you - the sibling, parent, child, or friend you are. Your friendship is what is most valuable of all.

In search of ways to help, I’ve set up a GoFundMe page for my sister and her family. Thank you to those who have already reached out. Your kindness and generosity is so very much appreciated.