Reading corners

Alongside the need to get an alphabet poster for Hannah now, it's also time to set into motion a plan I've had from the day she was born...

A Reading Corner!

I blogged about the above reading nook space way back and the image has been seared into my brain... but no corners behind our doors to create a private, magical world for her escapes up the Faraway Tree. And she's too young to want to read on her own for hours like I remember doing when I was about 7.

So I Flickr-ed for inspiration....

Flickr sewinsight

Flickr moline

Flickr Vintage Pleasures

Flickr Two Straight Lines

Flickr cawalla1

Flickr RoegersSofierik

Flickr Veronica TM

Or you can go all out and create a special (expensive project) for your precious ones, like what Flickr: frecklesreggie did:



But with a budget of $0.00, I wanted to create a special place for her in our study. Previously her Step 2 table just kinda sat nowhere. After sleeping on the idea for 2 days, working out placements and trying out one other arrangement, I hit on an idea which I put into place last night and am reasonably happy with it. I dragged out her bookcase from her bedroom (she only ventures in there to sleep) and stole her foam sofa from the living/TV area (gotta replace it with something else)...

Before: (quite an old shot)


After:


She's outgrowing that table, so I'd really like to get her a desk... but the table's nice for when her friends come, although that's not frequent... Anyone got a secondhand/used Step 2 Master Activity Desk to sell? (I'm in Melbourne, Australia...)

Update since writing this: The next morning, the first thing Hannah did was drag that foam sofa out back to the TV area... which was okay since I'd just scored an Ikea Egg chair... and I like the look of it now :) Also dragged out an Ikea lamp from the recesses of our storage...



What about a bright round rug huh?

A dollhouse and a Rose

Don't you just love the fun clothes Rose (played by actress Melanie Lynskey) of Two and a Half Men? I do. She's one of two people on screen who've inspired me to redo my look (or lack thereof!)

Anyway, I was watching Two and a Half Men (reruns) on TV last night while completing the ensemble for Hannah's 3rd birthday gift from me.



Months ago I bought an age-appropriate dollhouse (sans furniture) from Salvos and finally received the furniture I got off eBay via my in-laws.



I'm quite happy with the furniture pieces. They LOOK like the thing: a chair, table, lamp, sink etc... even got a cute shower stall! And they open and close... even the cute washing machine! (And they're PINK!)



The back of the dollhouse already had pre-pasted pictures of sink, fireplace etc... And clashed with the furniture pieces I got. So I replaced the back of the dollhouse with some scrapbooking paper from my vast collection with spray glue. I chose patterns that would allow the newly bought pieces to stand out... and tried to match the wallpaper with the rooms.



Will get to the front of the house when I can be real bothered!

But there's no food, no cutlery, no pretty extras... that are everything to a little girl. (And her mum.) So that was not good.

So I had to raid my craft cupboard for the extras... you know, beads, buttons, scrap cloths and a glue gun.

Plates from green buttons and platter from a large black one! Glued some beads onto the buttons to simulate rice, sushi, egg roe. Still thinking how to craft cups... Any ideas?



Also stuck on some of the new lace-tape on the lamp for embellishment. I also glued on a pink floral button for a clock and drew on some hands. Left some green button-plates on the sink (need to maintain reality, don't we!).

The material the came with the shower stall for shower curtains were flimsy, cheap sheer stuff... so I replaced it with some extra wide vintage ribbon.



Love my crystal pomander in the bathroom area? I got some more in the bedroom area. I made a few similarly simple boudoir pieces... again from buttons and a glue gun.



I put together the house and furniture placing...













I am well pleased. And Hannah is too :) Her plates look like real Japanese platters! :)

Lolly's Citadel on eBay

One of my favourite modern, mid-century feel dollhouses is on eBay! The Lolly's Citadel, from Lolly's Dollhouse going for a disappointing (for me) US$750...



Until now, closeups and pictures of the interior have been non-existent!



Of course, this one isn't as perfect. It's been used/played and I'd reckon the winner will have to restore it to mid-century glory!




See the mezzanines!

Imagine the possibilities!








4 days more!
Bid for it here!

Blogposts to read:
Modern Dollhouses and Miniatures
Dream Doll House
Mini Modern



Update: CallSmall bought this at an offer price of $400! Can't wait to see what she does with it. First things first... rip off old musty carpet.

ish and chi's lovely nursery!

i recently started chatting with Viv of ish and chi when she posted some cute red and white wallpaper used on her newly finished nursery. Viv also just scored a sweet red velvet settee on eBay and worked some paint magic on it...



Now her completed nursery looks so clean, sharp and totally designer-ware!






Well done Viv!

Photos from ish and chi

Figments

I received an email from painter Kristine Baerlin from New York about Figments Studio, specialising in artwork for the children. As you know, I love the idea of converting loved photos and portraits into art. Kristine's style is different from mine. She hand-paints the portraits using a signature circular pattern. A modern take on pop art tradition.



Contact Kristine Baerlin for your commissions on a personalised conversion of your favourite photo of your children taken this summer!

DIY: Lamp

I could do this! So fun for Hannah's room or my home office :)

Photo from Flickr: frillie designs

New Releases at Room To Grow!

I featured Room To Grow a few months ago and kind director Lilach Weineiger sent me a lovely gift! (Thanks again!) It now hangs in my study in the new home (will feature the study when its ready) :)

Room To Grow was the first to carry Krooom's sexy range, but now you readers in the US can get it from Barnes and Nobles! The few French readers I have can go to Tropico and Hipercor in Spain.

Just to reiterate, Room To Grow/Krooom's products are made from reinforced cardboard recycled material (at least 60% post consumer waste). So go green! No chlorine bleaches and hazardous dyes used, only water based glues and a special UV coating. Done with the item? Recycle it again!

I love the funky and fun designs... suitable for the serious man, the moody teen, the funky designer and even the fun-loving little one! I love their toybox and the Maggie storage bookcase to match the lovely black and white damask Delta I got from lovely Lilach! On casters too! GREAT movable closet! Hmmm.



I think best of all these gorgeous things are so sturdy!

Lilach sent me an email two weeks ago letting me know about their new July 2008 range! Sorry Lilach, only now getting headspace to action some emails for the blog!

I love the new Manooo wall organiser! Perfect for kitchen, dressing area, children's room and the hallway. Pretty and fresh to the everyday mundane. :)



And of course, beneath the Manooo, have the Austin sideboard! Great for the hallway, these two things! One for your pickup-ables, and the other for the ubiquitous umbrella, vase, bags, scarves and berets. Great for newspapers and even the Yellowpages.

New Home: Hannah

So, we have painted, washed, wiped, cleaned, painted and painted.
First room up is Hannah's room.

First design disaster: every darn thing in the house was the same colour. The wall tiles, doorknobs, toilet seat, architraves, trim, doors, splashback, floor tiles, carpet, bathtub and shower stall. Yucky beige.

We've painted the living room (still painting and trying to decide on furniture and artwork so not quite ready for reveal yet).. and Hannah's room.

It feels wonderful that there is now ONE room 90% completed.
(Still have to paint the doors and window trim)

Before:


After:
Secret: I've NEVER held a roller brush before. And only paintbrushes to furniture and craft. So family were shocked that I'd chosen a very strong colour. But I stuck to my guns... and after two coats of Chilled Wine (a purply red) by Haymes Paint:














I actually love this room. Everytime I pass the room in the hallway, the warmth invites me in. :)