Nook

Happy New Year

2010-01-03T19:52:00.000-08:00

Visit my craft journal at nectar.squarespace.com

Groovy shared bedroom

2009-06-12T14:23:00.000-07:00

Check out the details of this shared bedroom on ohdeedoh. Love the chocolate wall and paint bubbles inspired by a coaster they use on their night stand. Amazing.

Henry Road inspiration

2009-06-11T13:03:00.000-07:00

I've been working on a design for a butterfly chandelier for my girls. I just stumbled on these one of a kind lampshades, chandeliers and mobiles from Henry Road and am getting some serious inspiration. I like the mobile.

lily's pad by ducduc

2009-06-09T21:51:00.001-07:00

Huge design packed into such a little space. Inspiring. Love the wallpaper as a focal point for this nursery. The ducduc canopy crib is elegant. The hot pink and green are the perfect accent colors for this mod nursery.

must find time...

2009-06-09T14:48:00.000-07:00

I must find time to make this fabric scrap memory game from inchmark. Lovely idea!

it's for the bears

2009-06-09T13:58:00.001-07:00

$80 hard earned dollars on a bear canister. That is what my husband considers a necessity. He's off this weekend to climb Mt. Whitney with friends.

I'm still wrestling with how useful this thing even is. The bear can smell the food in the can and come to your campsite. It just can't open the can. The hope is it will become frustrated and leave. Or become frustrated and eat you? I'm told they aren't grizzly's. They are "more afraid of us than we are of them" (hard to imagine) and will just move on.

You don't want them eating your food. For two days this seemed like reason enough. Then I realize, he's only gone 2 1/2 days. If the bear ate his food, he isn't going to starve. I point out that he can fill up on Jack n the Box on the way home.

So, now he's a humanitarian. It's for the bears. The can keeps the bears from becoming accustom to eating human food. It keeps them wild - from slipping into the sad state of the polar bears; eating trash from the dump because it's there and it's easy. Okay, good reason. I don't want Yosemite bears turning into Yogi and Boo Boo. I wonder if I can write the can off as a charitable contribution?

Plus, he's pointed out it's multi-functional: He can use it as a chair. He's promised to take a picture of him around the campfire sitting on his can.

He bought it so now it's ours. I wonder if it's toddler proof?

the second cup

2009-06-09T12:49:00.000-07:00

Sambos restaurant 1980. A young girl and boy sit in a booth with their mother. They eat, they talk. The outing winds down to it's natural conclusion.

"Can I get you anything else?" the waitress asks.
Then the dreaded words.
"Just a little more coffee please."
The children cringe. They are going nowhere fast.

I use to hate coffee. Throughout my childhood it stood between me and doing something fun. That uncomfortable period of waiting that came with topping off that second cup. In college I was so disgusted by people who had to have that morning cup of jo to get their day going. What weaklings I thought.

Then enter my husband. He use to make me sniff his coffee every morning. "Come on, just breath it in, it smells great." I resisted for years. Then while honeymooning in Austria for three weeks I did as the locals did and had a cup of coffee with breakfast. In our attempt to keep our trip alive I joined my husband in a cup of coffee and a plate of bread, cheese and meat in the mornings once we got home. The bread and cheese faded, and the coffee remained.

He makes a great cup, I'll give him that. Too good for his own good. Now he must provide a well frothed topper or else!
Lately I've been needing a second cup at nap time so I can have the boost I need to get my work on the computer done (or a post). Which brings me to the point of my rambling:

My poor mother. Like me now, she just need that little something to give her the energy to keep up with us the rest of the day. I'm emailing her now to apologize for all the grief we gave her.

soft storage baskets

2009-06-08T22:07:00.000-07:00

I like these Jenna Rose storage bags because they don't scream "a child lives here."

I can't resist this felt bucket with squirells on it from tinydecor.

maintaining adult space

2009-06-06T22:01:00.000-07:00

I like this idea of a curtain for carving a space out of the living room for a nursery or if you need a play area for an older child while a younger one naps in their shared room. I find these particular curtains hideous, but you get the idea.
I must say this adult space needs some baby proofing. Can't you just see your toddler diving, then quickly bouncing from that silver jack "chair?" straight onto the tile edge of the fireplace? Those green moss balls look like good eating. That DVD player in arms reach: ooh, buttons! The glass table just has to go back to 1980 from whence it came.

2009-05-29T13:55:00.000-07:00

Colored walls are a necessity for me. We are lucky, our landlord let us paint our apartment however we liked. I know a lot of you are living with Navajo white. But, there are a lot of great vinyl decals out there that can really make your nursery or kids nook fun and sweet. Here are some of my latest discoveries from Figgy & Wink on etsy.

Green with pavilion envy

2009-05-29T13:41:00.000-07:00

Not that I have time at the moment to kick back on the sofa and sip a tall lemonade... even if I had a yard to put this on... Still, I think this pavillion from Z Gallerie is dreamy. I do have the paper lanterns hanging over my desk. I'm part way to the dream...

crib bedding for dream menagerie rug

2009-05-19T13:45:00.000-07:00

I've been searching high and low for crib bedding that would work with the dream menagerie rug from Anthropology.
I'm a big fan of mixing patterns. My rule is as long as the two patterns have colors in common, go for it. I think the charlotte crib set from Dwell Studio works best. The leafy motif doesn't compete with the animals, it creates a "background" for them.

tutu cuties

2009-05-19T13:33:00.000-07:00

Jr. Jr. is two months now and we are finally getting around to doing her birth announcement. The picture we are using is "ancient" now but if we wait any longer it will never get into the mail. A friend of ours is a photographer and he's going to shoot her, but it keeps getting pushed off a week, then another week. I came across these photos above when I was looking for some inspiration for our shoot. Those are just the cutest baby pics I've seen in ages. The tutus are sold on the Layla Grace website.

Pewter Knobs

2009-05-14T13:07:00.000-07:00

We built a dresser recently and drilled holes in the drawer faces instead of knobs. Kid shaped knobs seemed corny at the time. But, these pewter knobs by f. is for frank are tasteful, even down right cute. There are 29 to choose from. The owl is my favorite, today.

Off with their heads

2009-05-12T12:46:00.000-07:00

Pillow Pals
I think it's the colors I like. Orange reminds me of my oldest. Her curls flip out below her ears too.

Wire monkey mobile

2009-05-12T12:36:00.000-07:00

You certainly don't have to worry about overstimulating your baby to tears with this mobile. From the babies point of view there is really nothing to look at, just the bottom edge of the lowest bird. They barely even look like birds. Partridges? There's no contrasting colors. Nothing to make baby happy. Snip the birds off the wire and hang them on the wall, okay. You have to be careful with modern design and kids. Sometimes it's just sterile. Go for the modern furniture, skip this bland mobile, I say.

2009-05-12T12:31:00.000-07:00

I'm surfing The Land of Nod today. I've never been one for frilly things myself, but I love feminine accessories for little girls rooms. I think this Whoopsie Daisy Chandelier qualifies.

Butterfly bedding

2009-05-12T12:20:00.000-07:00

All Aflutter Butterfly Crib Bedding
I'm really into butterfly motifs so this caught my eye immediately. It's a sweet pattern in happy colors. I wish the sheets (available in solid pink) were sold with the butterfly print. I don't use bumpers anymore because it makes changing the sheets such a pain. My oldest threw up a lot and I got sick of having to yank the mattress out from under the bumper. It loosened the ties and it started to look sloppy. Maybe if the ties were velcro instead?
Regardless of my personal pet peeves, this is a cute collection.

Can't beat the cube

2009-05-05T13:59:00.000-07:00

Kids deserve color. And for $119.50 they should get it. You can pick the color of each of the cubes and the table. Don't be boring and pick one color, please! I'm seeing a storage bin in each cube. I'm going to assume that you can put all four cubes under the table for space saving....

brilliant bookcase

2009-05-05T13:53:00.001-07:00

I thought I was being clever when I told my husband to build in a temporary shelf for little baby books. I'm stealing this idea and putting my husband to work modifying our shelves. I hate the dead space that the little books leave.

This is the Nurseryworks Storytime single and double bookcase.

high style high chair

2009-05-05T13:40:00.001-07:00

I thought I'd found a decent looking way to have #1 join us at the table when I ordered the Prince Lionheart boosterPod until I set my eyes on this. These are nicer than my dining chairs. Alas, I can't spring for a $345 high chair. But, if you can these Tavo High Chairs are the one's. They come in brown or black leather (recycled of course). Handmade in Canada.

Truly, My Brest Friend

2009-05-05T13:28:00.000-07:00

Love this nursing pillow. The little bit of back support makes all the difference. Plus, it's firmer than a Boppy, so you can sit at the computer and blog, while nursing (some scary imagery for you). The cover zips off so you can throw it in the wash. It's a bit of a brain puzzle at first figuring out how to stuff the foam back in, but it's easy enough. There's something about buckling yourself in for a feeding.....

I'm still not sure what I would want to put in the little pocket. Any ideas? It comes in cute prints too.

Bird Bedding by Dwell

2009-05-05T13:15:00.001-07:00

I stocked up on the Bird Bedding Collection fitted sheets by Dwell Studio for Target. They won't last long and I thought they were sweet. I wanted to be sure I had some for Newbie when she gets old enough for a crib. I think I bought four. With all the barfing that goes on in this house I think that should be enough. Lately #1 who has always been a big barfer (her longest stretch without barfing was two months) now requests a bowl when she is feeling sick. What a difference that makes. No more stuffing dripping wet sheets and blankets into a garbage bag and putting them on the stoop until morning.

See Kai Run

2009-05-05T13:04:00.000-07:00

See Kai Run is my go to company for kids shoes. The leather is soft, they have nice soles and on sale, the price is right. I don't usually put my babies in shoes, I like them to wear the Mary Jane socks. But I got these little shoes for Newbie so she can match her sister. #1 keeps trying the babies on. A good lesson in "too small" I guess.
You can order right from the companies website. If you don't mind naming your child after a shoe, check out their names. It's a who's who of who's at the playground.

Out of the rabbit hole

2009-05-05T12:51:00.000-07:00

It's been so long since I've posted that I almost forgot my password to log on. The last few months
of my pregnancy were overwhelming. Besides keeping up with my 2 year old I was trying to pack
in as much work as possible so I could breath a little easier when the newbie arrived. Add the
economic downturn, crazy clients and tax time and I was run ragged.

Newbie is here. She's 7 weeks old today and I think I have my sanity back. I realize this is still
the baby honeymoon period of sleep, eat, poop so I am enjoying it. Thank my lucky stars newbie
is only waking up once a night! Very different from the every 2 hours her sister subjected us to.
I think I'll be keeping my sanity this time around. Though we are thinking of having another baby.
That may be proof in itself that I'm insane. I'll have to ponder that.

To those of you who stopped by while I was away, thank you. I'll be posting weekly now. Especially
now that I'm in dire need of keeping our abode from turning into a kiddie playland. I'm on the hunt
for nice storage solutions.

Vincent shoes

2009-01-15T15:18:00.000-08:00

How could I have missed such a cute shoe line! I spotted these bunny shoes for baby in Wonder Time magazine while trying to entertain my 2 year old at the ob's office. Checked out their website and spotted cute sneaks for her and the babe-to-be.

Christmas cheer

2008-12-05T13:56:00.000-08:00

My mother's cousin knit me the most wonderful Christmas stocking when I was a baby. I still use it (though I've had to stuff it myself a few years, hint.. hint... husband oh, mine). This year my daughter is two and I found the perfect heirloom for her on etsy. I bought her the elf stocking and her name is knit in along the top. We can't wait to put it up Christmas Eve. Visit jpyle's shop. She has a wonderful selection.

walk-in nook

2008-11-19T13:11:00.000-08:00

Every month I can count on Domino magazine to give me some inspiration. The November issue did not dissapoint. Now, if only I had a walk-in closet.
Michelle Rubel I'm guessing from NYC since they titled her nursery "the uptown prepster," converted a walk-in closet into a sophisticated nursery with Martha Stewarts "Blue Agave" paint and white accents. It is hard to spot in the picture because it is painted blue to blend into the walls, but just to the left of the crib is a Murphy bed-style changing table. Great idea!
She's created a cozy space for her daughter to sleep and a cabinet for all the essentials.

Move over Viking!

2008-11-13T21:39:00.000-08:00

This is one gorgeous play kitchen. It's too rich for my blood. Luckily we don't have room for it, so I don't have to fret that my daughter can't have it. Plus, she can't have a nicer stove than us!

These are from Pottery Barn Kids and they offer the stove ($299), island ($498) - but don't despair it's on special for $479. Yes, a whole $19 off. That has got to be the lamest special I've ever seen - it doesn't even cover shipping. Why not an even $20 bucks? and Fridge ($299).

If you are looking for play food my favorite online source is moolka where they offer a great array of wooden and felt food. You can also create a wishlist for relatives. Tis the season.

I agree

2008-11-12T21:53:00.000-08:00

Check out the blog My Notting Hill for the "Round Rugs - When?" post, a lovely roundup of round rugs (say that 10 times fast) including this Anthropologie Dream Menagerie rug ($78-298) My notting hill writes "Wouldn't this be adorable in a baby's room in front of the crib." I agree!

This rug would make an amazing starting point for a palette of greens & blues, pinks & reds, or yellow & greens. Perfect for boys, girls and for when you don't know yet...

country club chic nook

2008-10-18T14:01:00.000-07:00

Thanks again Domino. This nook is part of interior designer Ruthie Sommers daughters room featured in the October issue. I think it's a lovely inspiration for a closet conversion, a nook in mom & dad's room if you're sharing or wherever you can carve out the space. While this hand-painted mural requires some skill try a "paired down to your talents" version in white on pink.

Target has a good selection of reasonably priced white crib options for recreating this look including the Bassettbaby Mission Crib ($219.99)

The addition of some wallpaper on the back wall really makes her closet special. A pleasant to open closet is always a good thing.

Maxi-Cosi at Target

2008-10-18T13:42:00.000-07:00

This is the car seat we have and I'm happy with it. It started being sold in America just when we were ready for it. I was dreading putting the Britax seat in my car. It's ridiculous I know, but I think it's hideous. The Maxi-Cosi is easy to install, and easy to put in your child (though can be tougher w/a full diaper).

The first time we took it off to wash it we had a hard time pulling the buckle through but after some serious wiggling it came out. Now it comes out no problem. They say hand wash. But, hand washing didn't get rid of the vomit spell so we put it in the washer. It washed well - though there is a slight degrading of the stitching in one spot. Of course we have a low end washer which didn't help.

We recently brought in on a cross country flight. When buckled it fit on the handle of our pull luggage and was easy to get around the airport. It took no time at all to install in my parents car at the airport which was a lifesaver, since it was midnight and after 6 hours with a toddler who didn't nap we had no patience left.

Now they are carrying it at Target.

homemade sandbox with wheels

2008-10-18T13:30:00.001-07:00

I clipped this from the July Domino magazine. I'm dreaming of something a lot smaller with grass in it for our little patio. On the way to work I pass a store front for a business called Pet a Potty that sells what I'm imagining. For a far different purpose of course. A sandbox would get a lot more use, but I love the idea of my babe barefoot on the grass. Truth be told there is no room for it at our abode. Still, it's a great idea if you have the space.

Families Squeeze In

2008-10-17T12:19:00.000-07:00

My father clipped this New York Times article for me as I'm sure in instantly struck a cord with our situation. There are some clever sleeping solutions featured for some seriously tiny nooks. As with the subjects of this article, I really enjoy the urban atmosphere of our neighborhood. People walking on the sidewalks at all hours, playgrounds loaded with kids... it's hard to feel lonely.

My husband and I recently visited my parents on Cape Cod. They live in a lovely area near the beach (I live in a Pacific beach town but their is something special about an Atlantic beach town that you don't get here) where houses with yards are within reach. But each time we went to the local toddler playground it was empty. It felt lonely. Staying sane while staying at home with kids requires adult contact. I can't imagine not being able to just walk to the park for some "playtime" conversation with other moms. Although I still dream about a yard, I can be happy making due with less space here.
Here's the article.

trick or treat

2008-10-10T13:51:00.000-07:00

Halloween is just around the corner and I am feeling crafty. These treat boxes from Martha Stewart are too cute not to make.

Now my daughter is old enough to have fun with Halloween but not old enough for trick or treating and candy. I'm thinking of having a few tots over for some treats and "play". I'm going to rope a few neighbors into an introduction to trick or treating with me supplying the treats. I think three toddlers and two doors should do the trick. I'd like to make some non-candy "healthy" Halloween inspired treats. I'd love some ideas...

Tracy Garcia's Whimsical Kids'Rooms/Martha Stewart

2008-09-19T13:01:00.000-07:00

I was perusing Martha Stewart's website looking for some ideas for snack time when I stumbled upon these two lovely ideas.

I didn't realize they made four poster cribs. Having that curtain all the way around would be great for blocking out light at bedtime/morning. We could use them here! Then we could watch TV when our babe goes to sleep. Right now the TV casts too much light on her crib.

Now I'm daydreaming. When the kids get their own room I want to (my husband) to build a 3D version of this scene with a Parisian bakery with a play kitchen in it and a Parisian fix it shop with a tool bench.

dinnerware

2008-09-05T13:09:00.000-07:00

My babes plates are looking a little ragged and I wanted to swap them out for something cute. The melamine plates and bowls from French Bull are the winner. I like the superheroes and robots best.

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The monsters all have sad faces. I don't want her to finish her food and see a frown.

I'm ordering from bebebabble because you can buy the pieces individually.

attention brownie end lovers

2008-09-05T12:46:00.000-07:00

I love a nice edge on a fudgy brownie. This bakers-edge brownie pan gets you more!

fireplace fantasy land

2008-08-22T12:42:00.000-07:00

It's time to clear out the half burned candles from the fireplace and create a play space. September's Cookie magazine suggests a conversion to an animal theater, robot planet or a fairy land. I love this idea.

a little privacy

2008-08-22T12:37:00.000-07:00

Everyone likes a little privacy. Two simple curtains get the job done, plus offer a little shade from morning (or summer night) light streaming in the window.

From Domino magazine online.

PB storage cubes

2008-08-06T13:28:00.001-07:00

I am a sucker for storage cubes you can sit on. These are the latest offering from Pottery Barn ($45).

2008-08-06T12:37:00.000-07:00

From Coastal Living magazine this children's bunk room is in a vacation house. It's a great idea to steal if you have a finished attic (or maybe now you will finish it) or a bedroom with sloped walls. I like the moulding and dividers used to give each child it's own nook. What a great idea for transforming what is usually useless space.

we have a kitchen!

2008-08-06T12:18:00.000-07:00

It magically appeared yesterday morning on our steps with the sun! Our daughter loves it. It's the first toy she's ever played with for hours. We love it too. It's nice looking and just the right size. The slice able bread and carrot, fried egg, cheese, mushrooms and pizza are a great start to the pantry. We ordered a few extra veggies from Haba and a bag of pasta. I was thinking it would a fun thing for her to stir the pasta in a pot. But it turns out they're more of a choking hazard. I've put them away for now. The green pepper is my personal favorite.

P'kolino Kick

2008-08-01T13:55:00.000-07:00

The P'kolino Kick ($199) is a great space saving desk for kids ages 3-7.

villa sibi

2008-08-01T13:40:00.001-07:00

No this is not an architects model, it's a dollhouse. It looks like something you're not suppose to touch. For $640 (or $900 if you don't shop around) it would be a "don't touch" in our house. Those poor dolls, sleeping on hardwood beds. I can see how this toy would appeal to grown ups. It's beautiful. But as a toy to stimulate your child's imagination, please don't.

island changing table

2008-08-01T13:30:00.003-07:00

This idea comes from Better Homes and Gardens. It's a kitchen island on casters. This is great idea because it has ample storage underneath for supplies and you can move it to make way for playtime, or perhaps gliding it out of site when company arrives.
I can't help but comment. This setup looks so modern with the Max push car and max lorette trailer ($450 smackers) nonchalantly parked in front of it.

faux headboard

2008-08-01T12:56:00.000-07:00

More inspiration from my Domino magazine file circa March 2006. The two-tone green paints in latex pearl Benjamin Moore Pear Green and the lighter Lettuce Leaf make a charming, inexpensive, space saving headboard. Domino used a stencil from The Stencil Library. I think this is a charming idea for a little girl's bed.

oh kitchen, where art thou?

2008-08-01T12:46:00.000-07:00

After three cancellations trying to order the kid kraft retro blue kitchen I got over it and ordered the my french kitchen from Moolka. It comes with everything pictured. They shipped it right away and... it was supposedly left on my stoop. Of course it wasn't. I've waited three days for the Fed Ex driver to come by to jog his memory on where he put it. He must have left it on the wrong street. Today they tell me that they were never told to call me. Are they kidding? Someone is probably enjoying my play kitchen, two potatoes, tomato and bag of wooden pasta. I just want my girl to fry up some fake eggs. Is that too much to ask?

crooked house

2008-08-01T12:43:00.000-07:00

Our friends have this crooked playhouse in their backyard (in a cool bright green). I just love it. Though it leaves me with some serious backyard envy.

mini window sill garden

2008-07-25T12:44:00.000-07:00

I came a cross this mini window sill garden while searching for a tea set. I love that the process starts with the kids painting all the pieces (pottery paint doesn't seem to be included). The mini rakes and shovels are too cute. $14.99

dream nook

2008-07-18T22:06:00.000-07:00

The granddaddy of all nooks! Via Geekdad, the Uroko house in Japan. Book & toy storage, a cool hideout for a kid, I love it. This is setting my do-it-yourself brain into overdrive. Maybe a little too cozy for a baby, but a toddler or child would be so happy to have this nook.

inspired stenciling

2008-07-18T21:03:00.000-07:00

This delightful paint job (emerald green chalkboard paint) invites little artists to add birds of their own, or perhaps some creepy crawlers that live under the grass. It ranks as one of my favorite nursery inspirations. Instead of toucans and parrots, I see squirrels, gnomes and fairies wrapping around the whole room. The hot pink angel peeking into the room is a nice touch.

Kudos to the NYC design team know as The Apartment featured in the February 2007 issue of Domino magazine.

nyokki

2008-07-18T20:54:00.001-07:00

Leave it to the Japanese to turn the chia pet into something so insanely cute. Handmade in Japan, the egg shaped ceramic critters are filled with a soil medium and rye grass seed. The "hair" grows to full length in two weeks. You can style it, cut it, then watch it grow again. My babe is too young to fully appreciate these. She'd rip their hair out! I've filed them away and plan to get a few when she's a bit older as a fun way to introduce indoor gardening.

I think they'd look cute on a shelf in a nursery. Bring a little bit of the outdoors in.

Characters include Kitty, Monkey, Chickee, Blue Bear, Froggie, Panda, and Piglet as well as some holiday friends. Available online at eggling.

P.S. Nyokki is a Japanese onomatopoeia that mimics the sound of a plant growing! It is pronounced "n-yoo-key".

the art of rocking

2008-07-18T20:52:00.001-07:00

This has got to be the most whimsical, adorable, cool, did I say adorable? rocker I've ever laid eyes on. It's $179 bucks which I consider a splurge. My husband has been telling me for a few months now that he's going to make my daughter a cool animal shaped rocker. If he doesn't snap to it soon I am heading to the blood bank and selling every once of blood I can spare, then racing home and ordering this. I can just imagine my girl holding onto those long leather ears and rocking herself into some serious giggles. It is designed by Bjorn Dahlstrom for Playsam in Sweden. It even earned the "Excellent Swedish Design Seal of Approval." Amazing wood creations come from Scandanavia so I'm assuming this is a big deal. I think this would make a nice object d'art in the living room. We'll see.... If anyone wants to grace their nursery with it, you can buy it online at kidsonthirdstreet.

room and board goodies

2008-07-18T12:17:00.001-07:00

Room and Board's little Jake chairs in green, blue, orange or white ($49ea) and the little jill table ($99) are simple, stylish and best of all colorful.

august cookie - fave

2008-07-17T21:44:00.000-07:00

These aluminum creatures from OWI robots are awesome. I can't wait until my daughter is old enough to build these, I am ordering my husband one now.

august cookie - fave

2008-07-17T21:21:00.000-07:00

Cookie magazine is a fun read. Though I do have to shake my head at them this month for the cover which promises 21 decorating ideas on a budget p. 34, p. 78. When I think budget I don't think $2777 chair, $85 stuffed animal and fabric for $115 a yard budget. This is a $10,000 toddler room (that's just the stuff they listed).

Cookie transformed a bland built in office into a lively storage area. I love the cable rug from West elm. Even I want to roll on it. The leather handles from vandykes really add style. I love the lovely mix of orange, red and hot pink. It gives the room energy. Cookie installed fabric-covered cork panels in the cubbies. Fabulous idea.

so many questions

2008-07-17T20:48:00.000-07:00

"If only I were in a real tub I could play with my rubber duck!"

Age 3 months to 14 months. What one year old would stay in this thing for a bath? How do you clean all their bits and pieces with them stuffed in the bottom? That poor babies feet are folded up to his chin. Do they stand so you can wash their bits? That wouldn't be a good precedent for bathtime. I got a plastic trash bin from IKEA for a few dollars, I think it would work just as well.

oh kitchen, where art thou

2008-07-17T20:25:00.000-07:00

Look at this girl hugging her fabulous kitchen. She doesn't know how lucky she is. We thought we found the perfect play kitchen a month ago. It has a sink, a stove, ovens, fridge, freezer and a microwave. What more could you want. So I searched the web for the best price and ordered it off Amazon. Then I got an email that it was out of stock. I ordered from another shop on Amazon. A few days later another email. This time I bought one off eBay. I mean they must have it if they are auctioning it, right? Now I don't know. I got an email saying the auction is void and it had been pulled off eBay. I assume it's not coming. Of course, paypal charged me already and the seller hasn't sent me a word. We were so excited for this damn kitchen to come. We even went to a party at a play place and they had this kitchen. We thought how happy our gal will be when it comes. Shopping on the web can really suck sometimes.

It's back to the web to look for another one.

eiffel book case

2008-07-17T17:03:00.000-07:00

We are knock on wood going to have another baby next March. So I am pondering a move to a two bedroom which seemed like it would solve all our space issues. No more toys in the living room - hooray! My daughter and the new baby will share a room. Then it occurred to me. When the baby is napping during the day, and my daughter is up she isn't going to be able to play in her bedroom. I'm still going to have to have toys out.

I think eiffel book case by argington is a perfect solution for toy storage in the living room. Bonus -it's a nice piece of modern furniture that isn't 2 grand ($630). It's available in four finishes: white, birch, walnut or red maple. You can also make it "two-tone" by selecting different finishes for the doors and case.

Unless she wants to play with her toy kitchen. Maybe we'll put that on casters?

litto kids crib bedding

2008-07-16T13:37:00.000-07:00

These litto kids Silly Owls caught my eye. I use to hate orange and brown together, but it's beginning to warm on me. The inside (baby side) of the bumper has a fabulous silky feel to it which is why I think it's worth a mention. This print reminds me of my childhood (1970's) and my mother's collection of owls.

I like the punch of turquoise with the orange and green in the Magic Garden set.

Retro Mushroom is a little too 70's for me.

kukunest bedding

2008-07-11T12:07:00.000-07:00

I just stumbled upon Kukunest and thought their small selection of toddler and kid bedding was worth sharing. Lantern and sub adventure were my favorites. I thought their line was modernly sweet without being too themey (is that a word? I don't think so). The sub adventure pillow sham is great inspiration for a do-it-yourself sham.

liberty of london fabric nook

2008-07-09T21:40:00.000-07:00

This feminine nook was clipped from Blueprint magazine. The homeowner (sorry, I didn't clip the whole article!) transformed a nook off her bedroom into a nursery, separating them with a curtain on an easy-pull hospital track. She used Liberty of London "Tana Lawn" in Caesar for the room divider and "Tana Lawn" in Mabelle for the wardrobe. Both fabrics were purchased from purlsoho.com which happens to be my favorite place to peruse beautiful fabrics.

mix-and-match napkins

2008-07-09T13:31:00.000-07:00

Martha Stewart is my go to gal for party ideas. I have a bag full of various napkins from parties past. I'm using this idea at my next picnic. Get the details here.

paint by numbers

2008-07-08T22:45:00.000-07:00

These paint by number wall strips by Jenny Wilkinson are too cute. Available online at 2JANE. They are sold in 6 inch x 15 foot rolls. That's a lot of coloring. This reminded me of the leftover acoustic tiles I colored in as a kid after we redid our basement ceiling. They had a kind of rainbow pattern to them. It was great fun. This is even better.

cribs at jcp

2008-07-08T22:02:00.000-07:00

JCP, that's JCPenny's for those of you like me who hasn't stepped in one in 20 years. I can still picture their Christmas catalog like it was yesterday. I spent hours marking off tall the toys I wanted. I remember the forest and beach at sunset wallpaper they use to sell. Of course as a teen I was way too cool to shop there. Now I think it's time to revisit.

The Sweat Pea Modern Crib, looks just like a crib I saw online for over a grand (I wanted to show that one too, but now I can't find it!). I don't think the proportions on this crib are appealing, but the shelves are a great spot for toys and books.

JCP has a large selection of well priced cribs. Check them out at their website.

build a closet

2008-07-05T15:24:00.000-07:00

I'm pulling all my favorite storage ideas from my design file this week. This is from a bedroom designed by Nate Berkus for O At Home, Fall 2004. Never let yourself be hindered by a rooms lack of closet space. When I clipped this I loved the mirror doors. Now I'm imagining them covered with tiny little fingerprints. The purple did inspire our repainting the "hallway" which is now home to a cupboard filled with my daughters dresses, shoes, toys and bath gear.

When you break this idea down, it's basically a box (wood & drywall) with doors, trimmed with molding. Nate created sections for the clients work space, entertainment center and clothes storage.

mibo lamp shades

2008-07-03T21:06:00.001-07:00

This is my new dream shade. It's from mibo lighting and homewares.
These two caught my husband's eye.

tile tattoos

2008-07-03T20:25:00.000-07:00

There are so many fun wall decals out there, I was wondering if someone made something similiar for tiles. Sure enough, they do. The pattern selection at mibo lighting and homewares is small, but if you fancy one of the patterns these tile tatoos would allow for some sprucing up in a rental kitchen, or in a condo when you're not ready to finance a remodel. This is a British site, so when you convert to pounds, you'll feel a pinch in your wallet.

Homewares. We don't use that word in the U.S. I wonder why we say Housewares? It's a little alienating. I don't have a house. But I have a home.

2008-07-02T21:43:00.000-07:00

There is a point where one's taste for modern furniture or desire to maintain your home's "adult space" turns to the place of wire monkey's.

This bookhou child's chair is a wire monkey. This chair has institution woven into it's thick grey felt pad. It has the power to drain any child of every ounce of whimsy and joy.

closet office

2008-07-02T14:38:00.000-07:00

I originally clipped this from Martha Stewart Living and filed it under fun curtains. Today I'm feeling inspired by the bursts of yellow and think this is an inspiring design for a closet office. There is even a copy of Martha Stewart's kids magazine in the storage tin on the desk - perfect.

We all need a space to mentally escape from our children. Something that is just ours. As I extrapolate on that idea, I realize that at some point the kids will want to get on the computer or you may need a space for them to do crafts. That's the downside of living small - everything has to serve many functions. Okay... this is a fabulous idea for a family office.

alternative closet

2008-07-02T13:38:00.000-07:00

One more reason to love Domino magazine. This storage solution is from designer Adrienne Neff and was featured in the October 2006 issue of Domino.

I see this as a do-it-yourself project. Closet companies will charge you a lot of money for laminate shelving that you're going to be hiding behind curtains and a shade anyway. Plus, they won't hang the curtain or shade for you. I use to design for a custom closet company so I'm going to let you in on all you know in designing a closet. Here are the rules:

1. Hanging clothes require 24" of depth. In this situation the side panels next to the bed should be 24" deep so the clothes don't extend beyond it. You don't want to be pearing into the closet from your bed.

2. Folded clothes and shoes only require 12" deep shelves. Don't go deeper than 16" or you'll find you're neat stacks will turn into messy piles.

3. Double hang clothing for maximum use of space. Measure your longest shirt and build to that height (usually at least 36"). Hang pants folded over a hanger so they take up half the space. Long dresses and coats eat up a lot of space. If you must, make a taller section for them, with shelves above - make this a shared space with any long items your spouse has.
4. Put in a bottom shelf to help with keeping dust off your clothes.

5. Personally, I prefer to put shoe shelves on their own or above a section of hanging clothes. Many designers put them on the bottom, but then you're head goes into your clothing as you rummage for a shoe!

6. Drawers require some carpentry knowledge and a lot of measuring to get right. Consider integrating a few store bought drawers if need be. Check out West Elm, IKEA and The container store.

Neff used a roman shade above the bed, and suspended the curtains on a track mounted behind a 12" high valance to create a finished effect.

closet nook

2008-07-02T13:28:00.001-07:00

I like the idea of converting a closet into a nook because it gives the baby a sense of it's own space whether they're in your room, a siblings, or the office. Curtains soften the hard edges of the closet and with a non-sheer fabric can make for a darkened nap space on sunny days. There are a million and one ways to give the space personality with paint, art and bedding.

I've had this nook on file since 2004! It's from Home magazine.

You can always slip the closet doors under the bed so they can go back on later. Where will I put my clothes you ask? I have some ideas for that in my file. I'll post them under storage.

life without a yard

2008-07-02T13:00:00.000-07:00

Life without a yard proposes some challenges and a serious need for creative solutions. I grew up with a huge yard that nestled up against giants fields and woods. The neighbors across the street had the same. I have dreamy memories of sledding and snow hut building in the winter only to be topped by long days in the summer playing flash and capture the flag. We would spend hours in the woods pretending to be a frontier family surviving on pods fallen from the trees and water from the streams and brooks. I can't help but feel sad for my daughter who won't have that kind of experience. I know it fostered my independent nature and creativity.

Everything is so structured in the city. You can't just let your kids out of the house with instructions to be home for dinner. I see my challenge as a mother to find ways my Babe can feel like an explorer. When we are at the park I sometimes catch myself trying to walk her away from a puddle because if she gets wet she'll get the stroller muddy. I stop myself. I let her get down and dirty every chance she gets. A little dirt under the nails is a sure sign that fun is being had.

For now it's off to the park. I plan to share any activities and ideas I devise for fun without a yard. I'd love to hear yours....

quinny zapp stroller

2008-06-28T15:02:00.001-07:00

The Quinny Zapp stroller is my favorite stroller. Boo hoo for me, it wasn't available in the US when my daughter was born. Our big concern was how little space it can take up and how easy is it to fold up and toss in the car. Looks had to take second priority. But with the Zapp it doesn't. It's the total package. Look at how it folds up into nothing! You slip it into a carrying case when you travel! It looks like a case of tennis rackets (it only weighs 15.6 pounds.) Wish I had one. We have the Peg Pereggo which is easy to fold up and toss in the car, looks good enough and stores upright in a modest amount of space.

For newborns, you can snap in the maxi cosi infant car seat, which is lovely. We have the maxi cosi priori convertible car seat and like it's styling, ease of installation and use.

This stroller runs around $199.99 which is far less than it's other attractive counterparts like Bugaboo or Mutsy. If you're an on the go parent with little space definitely give this stroller a look.

nano uban highchair by bloom

2008-06-27T14:07:00.000-07:00

The nano urban highchair by bloom caught my eye. It's simplicity is appealing. More appealing is its flat fold mechanism which allows you to stash it away when not in use. The seat is made of a supple micro leather. It's maker promises easy clean up. It's hard to tell from just looking at one how accurate that is. It is also available in a blue, pink and brown. In a color it doesn't have the same graceful appeal.

shopping cart by plan toys

2008-06-27T13:26:00.001-07:00

We've finally arrived at the "let's play house" phase. At 18 months it's probably really just "twist knob, chew on wooden beets, transfer egg from pan to pan" phase. My daughter goes for the kitchen play set whenever she sees one so I think it's time we make room for one. I was looking for a kitchen online when I stumbled upon this nice looking shopping cart from Plan Toys, $59.99. I can picture my daughter going up and down the aisles of Pavillions dropping her little selections into the basket. At home I picture her knocking into furniture as she gives her stuffed animals a ride.

Made of solid wood and finished with completely non-toxic, child-friendly paints and finishes. Hence the higher price. It's recommended for kids over 3 years. Not sure why, but that's that. The cart is L 18 x H 18 x W 14.5 in.

gateleg tables at ikea

2008-06-27T13:10:00.000-07:00

We gave up our dining room to create a nook for our daughter so this kind of table is a necessity. I think it's important to have a table the whole family can sit around. Without one we'd be sitting on the couch in front of the TV. That would be depressing.

We've spent years ridding our place of the IKEA furniture we bought when we were first starting out. I hate the idea of going back there. Let's face it they are a great place to get decent looking, inexpensive stuff for the home. We already have an antique gateleg table that we have up against the wall that we pull out for dinner. Otherwise, I'd be off to IKEA for one of there's. This is the Langed gateway table for $99.99. It's a great price.

hmm... celery lullaboo rocking pony

2008-06-27T13:01:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to look past the dorky "dad" and his matching shirt and contemplate what I really think of this item. It's $1165. If you've got money to burn why not? Or, why?

manhattan chair by babystyle

2008-06-27T12:42:00.000-07:00

I have spent way too much time looking for a little toddler chair. It will be a major part of our living room and frankly, most of them are just hideous. They all seemed to have been designed when Shabby Chic was all the rage. The exception is the Jennifer Delonge Ava toddler chair which is a really beautiful little chair. It comes upholstered in microsuede or cotton. Microsuede is the only way to go. The cotton gets filthy easily. I toyed with getting this chair but at $299 I just couldn't pull the trigger.

Then one morning as I strolled past Babystyle there it was. The Manhattan chair... in the exact same fabric as our couch! And, yes, only $160. It's clearly a knock off of the Eva chair. While it lacks the detailing of the Eva, I love it. More importantly our daughter loves it. This morning she kicked back in it with her blanket, bottle and a book. Too cute. The word on the street is that Babystyle has filed for bankruptcy, so you may need to act quick if you want this chair.

summer seating

2008-06-21T12:42:00.001-07:00

Hooray for summer! I love eating outdoors in the summer on our "patio." Patio is in quotes because I'm not sure it technically qualifies as a true patio. It's a 3 foot x 10 foot space which we spruced up with brick surrounded by pebbles. The pebbles were chosen way before the Babe was born. They are of great interest to all small children who have over the last few years moved them to various spots around the building. Our daughters favorite spot is under the Oleander leaves that covers the fence between our abode and the neighboring condos.

Anyway, we have a small bistro set and barbecue out there. I want to toss a few potted plants and make room for a chair for my Babe. There is a colorful chair at a local boutique made in Africa from recycled tires that I am leaning towards. At the moment, I am waiting to see if they get more in. I haven't located it anywhere else yet. During my internet search for it I came across some great summer seating for the kids.

I like this H back kids chair from loll Designs ($139). It's a modern take on the adirondack chair made from recycled plastic and it comes in a range of cool colors including sky and leaf (my faves). It works for kids up to age 6. I'm thinking it'll be easy to clean and you won't have to worry about splinters. I wonder how the color would hold up in the sun?

These OFFI Tiki stools ($59) are fun. Kids deserve fun colors. Plus these can double as little side tables.

The Nest Jax sling-back chair ($68) looks perfect for tots who like to kick back and relax. Besides being made from organic cotton and recycled wood, it's washable. A necessity for anything touched by children and the elements.

full circle crib bedding

2008-06-18T13:50:00.000-07:00

This Full Circle crib bedding by American artist Denyse Schmidt is hanging in a shop around the corner from me. I stop and admire it each time I go by. It's a modern take on a very traditional craft, quilting. For some reason I think of a childhood trip to Amish country in Pennsylvania followed by a stop at Hershey park (home of the biggest Hershey bar I've ever seen.) The bumper ($89), quilt ($89) sheets ($19) and crib skirt ($39) are sold separately. This is great for those who choose not to have a bumper.

If you are on a budget check out IKEA's The Gulliver $99.99 crib.

In bloom crib bedding

2008-06-18T13:40:00.000-07:00

The 5-piece crib set from Skip Hop includes a bumper, blanket, reversible skirt (vine floral/brown) and two fitted sheets (pink dot and solid pink) for $220. It's so nice when a company knows what there customers truly want and need. Two fitted sheets makes this set truly complete. I think the pattern is just lovely. It is available online at land of nod.

metal bucket heaven

2008-06-18T13:22:00.000-07:00

I love metal party tubs. I look at one and think icy cold bottles of lemonade and beer on a hot summer day. Someday when I have a place to put one I'm getting one from The Machbeth Collection. They have bar none the best selection of buckets, tubs, trays, containers and lunchboxes. There a ton of amazing patterns to choose from, as well as mongramming options.

Today, I am loving these patterns best.

The window boxes would make a stylish planter for any porch. Just the right size for your kids to tend to.

curtained bookshelf

2008-06-18T13:07:00.000-07:00

It is so important to have a place for all those toys and books that your child can access easily (so they can learn to put them back). I think this is a great solution for when that space has to be in your adult living space. Let's face it, we don't want to look at toys round the clock. This bookshelf is fitted with a tension rod and curtains that can be easily closed at bedtime.

This was designed by Carrie Naumann for a bakery-inspired theme girls room and featured in Better Homes and Gardens storage for kids' stuff 2007. Borrow the idea and transform a plain bookshelf by trimming the edges with molding that suits the decor of your abode. Hardware stores offer a great array of simple to ornate molding. At the moment, I would paint the cabinet the color of the walls and make bold patterned curtains.

patterned pendant lamps

2008-06-17T12:26:00.000-07:00

I'm always ahead of the retail curve or too poor. For my wedding our colors were orange, green, and dark pink. We scoured southern california looking for orange and green neck ties for the groomsmen... nothing. We ended up settling for one's with a bit of a pattern. The following summer J. Crew and Banana Republic had them in the exact shades we were looking for. The same thing happens to me in home decorating. I get an idea from a magazine (it always costs a mint) then search high and low for a less expensive alternative. I'm even willing to make it if I can find the materials. I always end up having to settle for something not quite as spectacular as I was hoping.

This time round it's the pendant lamp above our couch. I wanted one with a cool pattern. I ended up with a solid silver dupioni lamp shade that I converted into a pendant myself. What I really wanted is something like the Thomaspaul lamps ($275) above. I like to interject pattern wherever I can. I think my Babe would love the orange finches! The flora aqua shade has a retro feel to it that I'm digging.

Fat Pendant Hanging Lamp with Stripe Shade from Target ($49.99) is a great option for, as always, a quarter the price.

Farm Girl: Dwell Studio for Target

2008-06-17T11:57:00.001-07:00

I am very excited about the Dwell Studio for Target line. For a fraction of the cost we can now enjoy Dwell's sweet modern aesthetic in our nursery nooks! I like The Farm Girl collection because it features tractors in such a feminine way. You might argue that it could be a gender neutral print if paired with blue walls to play down the pink houses and cows. As shown here with a soft green it is decidedly all girl!

I might be mistaken but it looks like this farm has gone green with wind power. The structure next to the barn looks like a windmill (with a chicken head) to me. Love that.

This design is only available online. Target conveniently sells a 3 pc. set with comforter, bumper pad, and fitted sheet ($54.99), with fitted sheets ($9.99), bed skirt ($14.99), changing pad cover ($11.99) and curtain panels ($9.99 each) sold separately. I recommend buying at least one extra fitted sheet.

FYI the crib is also Dwell for Target.

owl/gnome and mushrooms

2008-06-13T21:57:00.001-07:00

I promised not too many wall decals but these are too cute and I'm having way to much fun cruising Etsy. These two are from Elephannie's shop.

fly the coup/fairies and 'shrooms

2008-06-13T21:39:00.001-07:00

I'm going to try my best not to blog too much about wall stickers or self-adhesive vinyl graphics for those in the know. But, there is an amazing selection out there and they are the perfect decorating item for a nook. The simplicity of sticking them to the wall and removing them when you move or just move on to a new idea is what I love. Here are two of my faves from decorette on Etsy (another thing I will try and not devote my blog to).

Ikea cribs

2008-06-13T20:57:00.001-07:00

These two Ikea cribs: The Gulliver $99.99 and Hermelin $129.99 are both made from solid wood (not from intact natural forests) and come with conversion kits. They are simple and clean.
Now use your imagination and picture the Barnslig Flodhast linens on them. The 5-piece set includes 2 blankets, 1 quilt cover, 1 pillowcase and 1 fitted sheet for brace yourself... $12.99.

It's looking less like a baby jail and more like the start to a really great nursery nook.

Tailored blue and green

2008-06-13T20:29:00.000-07:00

Blue and green are not the colors most people go to when doing a girl's room. They happen to be my favorite colors. The tailored styling of the Marissa Suite bedroom from Pottery Barn Kids makes the color combo refreshingly feminine. The mix of stripes, polka dots, and mod starbursts gives the space a sense of whimsy that all kids deserve. My favorite element is the bedskirt.

This collection is currently on sale.

Kaboost

2008-06-13T13:49:00.001-07:00

They had me at "folds up for easy storage". This is an ingenious product that snaps (it's spring loaded) on to any chair to give your kid a boost up to the table. Now you can say goodbye to the feeding table and tray that is taking up space! The Kaboost is recommend for kids age 20 months to 6 years. It holds up to 300 pounds (our whole family can sit on it) and doesn't come off when you move the chair. Check out the Kaboost web site for a video demo if you don't believe me. Buy it at Target for $29.99. I'm getting it in chocolate.

sea holly crib set

2008-06-12T22:16:00.001-07:00

A simple design in an eye catching pink. I think the Nurseryworks sea holly crib set is lovely. I felt the sheet in a store today and it was not soft. I'm wondering if it gets soft after washing. If anyone has bedding from Nurseryworks I'd love to hear what you think. Crib sheets should be buttery soft.

paper animations

2008-06-12T21:54:00.000-07:00

I got so excited when I stumbled on www.paperanimations.com and found these. Magic. I am a paper devote, but never thought of it in this fashion. My favorites are by Rob Ives' a former British Schoolteacher. I am already imagining a rainy Sunday seven years from now when I suprise the kids with this engineering craft. My tinkering husband will flip when he sees them. With a few squirts of Elmers we'll be glad we are stuck inside.
I want to make one for myself now. Brooklyn 5 & 10 sells a slew of them.

matchstick garden

2008-06-12T21:42:00.001-07:00

You don't need a patch of grass to have a garden. Lucky for us, because we don't have one. I'm taken by the cute packaging. My daughter who has already become quite excellent at watering the potted plants (at least the sidewalk and her shoes) will like sticking them into the dirt. Each match tip is full of seeds either Mixed Herb Garden (Basil, Chives, Parsley and Thyme) or Wildflower Garden (Cornflower, Shasta Daisy, Corn Marigold, and Field Poppy). I'd love to use the herbs in a dinner or two. I remember eating carrots, cucumbers and green beans from my fathers garden as a child. Even though we don't have room for a large garden we can still pluck a few herbs and make a nice pasta sauce. In this simple way we can help our kids make the connection between the seed, soil, water, sun and then... our dinner plates.

These have party favor written all over them. I found them for the best price at shopexit9 at $3.25.

Patience blocks

2008-06-12T21:33:00.001-07:00

When I read the description of this first year toy I laughed. "Patience blocks. Each colorful, wodden block features a small game that little ones can enjoy. Children learn to be patient while using their fine motor skills to succeed in each game." That's a tall order for such a small toy. To make it work it looks like the baby would have to gently roll the balls into place. I can't imagine a baby doing anything with this except chew, rattle, or throw it.

stacking toys

2008-06-12T21:16:00.000-07:00

These two wooden stacking toys beat the pants off their plastic counterparts. Though riskier if your toddler is in to throwing everything.

counter top dishwasher

2008-06-12T21:04:00.000-07:00

My sister, bless her told me about counter top dishwashers. Our lives are transformed. We bought the Danby counter top dishwasher when our daughter was a few months old. Funny story about that. I measured the space between the counter and the cabinets, compared it to the dimensions of the washer and perfect, it would fit. So, I ordered it. The box arrived. The huge box arrived. We opened it up and our reaction was instant. "There is no way that will fit under the cabinets". My stomach turned. What had I done in my sleep deprived insanity? Clearly, I had messed up. Luckily my husband refused to give up. He cut the molding off the bottom of the cabinet and the washer slid in. I am so glad he didn't let me ship it back!

I read mixed reviews about the machine on Target so we were sceptical. So far, so good. It looks from the picture, like we have last years model so I can't review this exact machine. Ours cleans the dishes well most of the time and it is relatively quiet. It is so nice to not have to waste time hand washing dishes anymore. Plus, we got rid of the unsightly drying rack.

Buy online for $209.00 at Target.

Pieces inc.

2008-06-11T20:45:00.000-07:00

Pieces is an amazing online resource for finding contemporary furnishings and accessories. My favorite item is the owl umbrella holder. You need one, why not make it one the kids will think is cute too.

Owner Lee Kleinhelter, offers an ever changing selection of pieces (hence the name, I'm guessing) from markets all over the country. She has a keen eye for color, like this fabulous green ceramic lamp.

Caribbean inspiration

2008-06-11T20:08:00.000-07:00

This has to be the most aptly named paint ever: Caribbean Holiday (aqua). Paired with Lime Green (Benjamin Moore) and hot pink and red accents this nook has personality. It has all the essentials; storage (under the mattress), shelves for books, toys, etc and a lamp. For older kids who share a room this could be a nice way to give them some privacy. Just double up. I would put the curtain on a rail so it can be closed completely for privacy and to block out the sun for snoozing in on weekends.

This is clipped from the May 2006 Domino Magazine. They advise "For a wee, windowless room like this one, choose paints in pearly or glossy finishes. They reflect light and make even the most minuscule spot feel brighter and more spacious." I agree.