All this to say, these are all wishful thinking items. Perhaps I can wrangle Emma into one of these adorable dresses- fingers crossed. Here’s to hoping your kids are a little more pliable!

You can find all of these clothing links here (along with some outfits for you as well!) The little easter gift links are here (I’ll be doing a tabletop post next week, but you can get a sneak peek of what I’m saving!)

*shudder*

I was telling a girlfriend about this story and she said “I would LOVE to see you design a rainbow unicorn themed room”, and I thought CHALLENGE ACCEPTED, baby. Now is this the exact concept Emma would have in mind? No, hers would be in a much more neon palette and cartoonish- but hey, it’s a nice, tasteful combination of rainbow colors and unicorn themes! Never say never!

I have LONG loved this Kravet wallpaper and almost did it for Emma’s room originally- and lo and behold, there are actual unicorns in it! This week we picked up this rug sample for another client and it’s such a cute subtle way to add rainbow to a room. The unicorns come back in this sheet set, paired with a pretty pink embroidered duvet and shams. Emma has this dollhouse bookshelf in green in her room now and it’s darling, and the canopy bed is such a princess moment. I love this Schumacher shields fabric because it’s giving “princess warrior/ be your own hero” vibes. The dresser and nightstands, chair and bed are all long term, last forever pieces that kids won’t grow out of, which is what I always like to do when designing kids rooms. You can change bedding and even wallpaper and give the room a whole new look.

wallpaper // drape fabric // bed // bed fabric // bedding // sheets // nightstand // chair // swimg arm lamp // shade // bookcase // dresser // art // lamps // bed pillow

Click images for links.

Lots of good discounts and sales coming out really early this year so I’m trying to get a head start!

As kids get back into the swing of things, here are some newer kids room and study space items I’ve spotted that can help make hitting the books (or bed) a little more stylish. Click images for links.

Kids room and nursery stuff these days is NEXT LEVEL. I absolutely LOVE doing an all-out fun kids room, and these finds showcase how you can do some really cool stuff with retail items- some are seriously affordable too (H&M Home and Zara Home, I’m looking at you).

Two starred items: hooks // stripe bedding

Easter is sneaking up on us and a couple of you asked for some easter basket ideas so I obliged today (and while I was at it came across some truly darling tabletop items I also rounded up!). I try to only do a few candy items in the baskets, so most of these are small toys, books and gifts.

I have a strange love of a good Easter tabletop, I’m not sure why. This whole look would be so good in my dining room – may she rest quietly until next spring when we can really celebrate in our new space!

In our mudroom we have way more room than we used to, but still less than we need.  With two kids, backpacks, baby bags, coats, shoes– it’s the hub of our home and where EVERYTHING lands. As much as it pains me, we do plan on demoing this during our kitchen renovation coming up and creating a slightly larger mudroom with a cubby for each family member that really utilizes all the vertical height we have. This is part of the reason I still have not had a custom cushion made for this seat- because I know things are changing!

Durable materials and a bevy of storage options are key: hooks, baskets, outdoor rugs, a place to sit and put on shoes, something to drop mail on or in, bulletin boards/family calendars…. but not everyone has an actual dedicated mudroom with built ins. So here are some great pieces for mudrooms and entryways that need organizational help!

Click images for links

Images by Jessica Delaney

I am still playing catch up from my vacation and trying to get back into the swing of things (also recovering from whiplash which is no fun).  But I wanted to say hi and post a little something today after seeing that John Robshaw released a line with Crate & Kids!  ADORABLE block print crib sheets anyone??? So here is a little roundup of items I’m loving from them. Promise to get back onto a better schedule in the coming weeks! Henry’s first day of 1st grade is tomorrow so I just have to get through that first. Click images for links.

Photo by Michael J. Lee.

With school back in session, getting our calendars, school forms and notices, mail and reminders organized has become a priority. In looking for attractive solutions for my own house I gathered up some great options that can work with your decor instead of against it. The pile of random bills, notices and such piling up on my kitchen counter needs to GO. Click images for links.

SOURCES: wallpaper // crib // crib & roman check fabric fabric // crib/roman shade fabric alternate stripe // pillows (similar) // glider // monogram pillow // rug // abstract art // small landscapes // changer // etagere // floor lamp // crib skirt & bumper // sheets // baskets // rocking sheep // mirror

As you know, I finished Emma’s nursery in our old house like 5 minutes ago. And I thought I’d just recreate it in this house (the only issue being that her room can’t have drapes – only roman shades – because it’s on the third floor and has window seats under the windows – which are adorable). I could cut up my insanely expensive Hollyhock curtains and make romans, but I really like them as they are, so I decided to use them in the guest room, which I painted F&B Lulworth Blue to coordinate. Her rug will go in there as well, and the rattan ottoman (with matching chair now…).

So it’s a fresh start for Emma. And I know I said I was probably going to do pink, and I tried, I pulled every pink wallpaper I saw that struck my fancy. But I kept coming back to Colefax & Fowler’s Bowood. I know, it’s been DONE and then DONE some more. But I just LOVE it for her, and this room – with its lower ceilings and angles. Something about it just felt right. So I decided to not fight it, and go for it. Although I am doing a newer colorway (the original has a very creamy/beige ground paper with violet accents. I do not like purple much, so I chose this new colorway with a white ground and pale blue highlights). So off we go! I am going to reupholster her crib panels and use the Pierre Frey fabric on it now for pillows elsewhere in the house. The glider is the same, as is the changer, but I’m going to use one of my own Momeni rugs and add in some rattan accents through the etagere and mirror.

A reminder that this is the room:

It’s gonna be so cute :)

Emma and Henry will have their own level, which is so nice as they get older. I’m still kinda stuck on Henry’s room – but he LOVES it even in its unfinished, unstyled state, so I really can’t lose! :)

image via Grandin Road

Halloween is upon us, and it’s going to look quite different this year. I still haven’t figured out what we’re going to do about Trick or Treating – perhaps doing an outdoor scavenger hunt type thing with some kids from Henry’s school.  It’s so sad, just breaks my heart, Henry LOVES Halloween! Last year was so amazing… I was 8 weeks pregnant with Emma and stuffed myself into a Black Widow costume and had thought about how fun it would be with the baby and Henry together this year. DAMN YOU COVID. As stupid as it sounds, I’m really hitting my saturation point with this whole mess. I’m just so tired.

Anyways, I feel like since I’m not sure what Halloween holds for us, I will try to make our house really festive for the kids (Henry). I’m almost at the point that I would buy a giant yard inflatable just to see him get excited. Luckily there are some really pretty decor options out there that aren’t cheesy, but rather cute and stylish! I rounded up some options here, and I’d love to hear what you guys are doing for your Halloween plans?!

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image by Sara Grayson // Henry’s sweater is Cygnet Living (Emma has one too with her name but she needs to grow a bit more- love this brand!) // Emma’s bubble (similar) & bow

I’ve had a few requests for a baby girl fashion post– and to be honest, I learned with Henry that buying really expensive stuff for babies is really dumb. They wear them MAYBE once, and then outgrow them. It’s hard NOT to, but it really is painful to see some of the incredible things I spent money on for Henry go into the hand me down/ donation bins. So with Emma, yes, I probably will splurge on some silly things, but for the most part I find insanely cute stuff on affordable sites you already probably shop at. So here are some finds from my most-frequented sites:

H&M is probably my #1– the quality is so good for the price, and they have the BEST ONESIES HANDS DOWN (most organic cotton too). They also have great toddler stuff for Henry so I shop here all the time. (Click images for links)

Maisonette is my fave “splurge” shop and where I look for baby gifts most often. They have have some of my fave “fancy” brands like Egg, Pink Chicken, Petite Plume and Roberta Rollerabbit. On the opposite end of the spectrum, I have found some seriously cute and stylish stuff at Oshkosh and Carter’s! I always think of them as the purveyor of icky “Daddy’s Little Princess” printed items, but really they have upped their game BIG TIME. (Click images for links)

Zara is another affordable but super stylish spot, more in the “hipster baby” vein. Simple but chic styles at good prices. (Links at bottom). Gap and Old Navy are a classic source with great sales all the time. (Click images for links)

In the last year, my husband has made it his mission in life to make our lawn as green as a golf course. It’s his pride and joy. He has an entire photo album on his phone dedicated to “outdoor projects”, to which he adds daily photos of the grass and walkways, and looks at while he’s watching TV or lying in bed. I’ve caught him many times just staring out the window wistfully at the grass.

To bring the rest of the yard up to speed, I’m working on the garden beds and, most exciting of all, we added a kitchen garden. This is a big step for me, so when Jessica Robison from Acton Food Forest reached out to us about working together, we jumped at the opportunity! I am a total garden novice, so I thought it might be helpful to include a Q&A with Jess in case you’re interested in starting your own but don’t know where to begin… I’ve also included a few helpful tools and cute accessories (obviously) at the end of the post!

Q: Tell us about your background and how you got into this.

My background is sort of random – I went to art school and fell in love with plants, and then really got into gardening about 10 years ago with my first home. I loved the idea of growing food and had some sort of small veggie garden since my first apartment out of college, but this time I was going to grow big… I consumed all things garden – podcasts on my way to work, blogs, books, you name it.

I am a web designer, but last year I decided I wanted to help others learn to garden and started Acton Food Forest on social media. It was supposed to be a few gardens to start but COVID happened and there has been a big interest in gardening! I like to think I am helping the next generation of gardeners. I grow gardens AND gardeners!

Q: What plants/veggies are the easiest to maintain?

“Herbs, greens, roots, shoots, and then fruits” is the order I go by… If you are new to gardening and want to try to grow some food at home, herbs are a great way to get started! Thyme, sage, rosemary, parsley and basil are all low maintenance, and being able to skip buying those little plastic containers of fresh herbs at the store is a good feeling, too!

Greens are the next step in learning to garden. Lettuces and kale are low maintenance, and Dino Kale and Baker Creek’s Rocky Top lettuce mix (I make sure all my gardens have those two things in them) are my favorite varieties.

Root vegetables are pretty easy – you just need to prepare the soil a bit more. Raddish from the garden are mild and have a great crunch. I love french breakfast radish and they are super reliable, fast-growing and so darn cute!

Shoots like broccoli, cabbage, peas, beans (and most of the veggies in that family) are a little tricker but mostly just require a lot of space vertically or in a bed (cabbages are huge and caterpillars really love them!).

Lastly but well worth the extra effort (in my opinion) are the fruits –  anything that grows off the flower of plant …that’s peppers, eggplant, squash, and TOMATOES. A sun-warmed garden tomato is 100% worth trellising, feeding, and the space it takes to grow! It’s honestly my favorite thing in the garden.

Q: What plants/veggies do the best in this climate (the northeast)? 

I suggest looking at your local farmstand to get an idea of the tried and true veggies to grow around you. In the northeast, we have 3 main growing seasons… (keep in mind that the dates below are specific to my area – Metrowest Boston):

spring: first cool – late March/early April – peas, brassicas, spinach, some lettuces, and arugula

summer: warm late – May/ early June – tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, eggplant, squash, kale, melons

fall: second cool – early/mid-September – another succession cool weather crops!

Dates for when to plant individual crops depend on your climate zone, weather patterns and your mini/microclimate (are you on the water, in the woods, in a city or near a big hot parking lot, etc… is the garden exposed to wind or sloped)

In the Boston area, we are zone 6a, according to USDA plant hardiness zone. If you look at information about a plant it will usually mention which zones it can grow in. This zone number describes the average number of frost-free days and if the plant can be grown in that amount of time. We have around 140 frost-free days here. We cheat Mother Nature a bit by using grow lights or greenhouses – that’s how we get to grow a tomato, which is originally native to South America. My grow lights go on in March usually. You can plant most annual veggies, just need to know how long they take to grow and count back from the frost date.

Q: Any general upkeep/maintenance/watering tips?

Hang out in your garden, observe it, enjoy it. By doing that you will learn what your garden needs. Keep leaves dry and off the bare soil (with mulch, trellising or pruning), and your keep soil moist and well-fed (compost a few times a year does the trick). If you are in your garden often you will see pest damage or disease before it’s out of control and know when it needs extra water or feeding. If your plants are getting sun, compost, and water, they will grow.

Vegetables need around an inch a week of water, some more during certain points. If it rains you can take the day off from water usually but if it’s hot you might need to water a bit more than a more mild week. Try to water only in the morning or after the heat of the day has passed (watering during heat can actually make the plant hotter!) Use a gentle setting on your hose or watering can and when you water, water deeply by the root at soil level of a plant not the leaves – that can cause disease and attract pests.

Q: How do your services work?

All my clients start with a consultation – we talk about what can be done with your space, time, and budget as well as what you want to get out of the garden. From there we decide who is going to be building or fixing your garden space.

After your beds are built and filled then I come in and do a planting day consultation (my favorite!). I work on a crop map and then bring all the plants and seeds you need. As we plant your garden I walk through how to care for each plant, what pests to look out for and maybe offer a recipe or two :)

If you’re interested in building your own garden but don’t know where to start I can work with you to design a garden that you can build on your own! I can walk you through how to build out your garden (which materials to use, where to get them, how much soil, etc.) or work with an existing garden that just needs some love to get going (fix up the beds, pathways, and make sure the soil is alive and healthy).

Click images for links!

1. How cute are these plant markers?!

2. I have these gloves and they’re so comfortable

3. Jess says, if you only get one tool, make it this one!

4. These are cheap kids tools, but work just fine and are adorable

5. Maybe one day I’ll be the kind of woman who can pull off  a fabulous wide brimmed sun hat, but today is not that day. Included this one in case you are that kind of woman (or if you want to pretend)

6. A cute basket to haul your loot

7. And a tote for your tools

Also, with my Henry pregnancy,  the third trimester was my best phase of pregnancy- I finally had stopped throwing up and I felt awesome. This time around, it’s a whooooooole different story. What a difference 4.5 years makes- I hurt ALL over- from my calf muscles to my scalp and everything in between (the only thing I don’t get is the swollen ankles/feet/ hands thing- so there’s ray of sunshine there!)  I am so grateful to be pregnant, and with a healthy girl who kicks non-stop to let me know she’s ok, but I am pretty psyched that this is my last rodeo.

Since my due date lined up perfectly with the entire world shutting down, I have not been able to “nest” like I did the first time. But I do have a plan, of course! So I thought I’d share the final-ish (is anything ever “done” in my house? NO) design board for the nursery today. I will admit, I’m a little bummed I didn’t do pink now for some reason, but it really makes way more sense to use this palette as we know we will move in the next year or two and this way so many things can transition into a guest room, and the room itself will be an appealing blue color grasscloth for buyers. I’ll do pink in the next house :)  I also like that this feels a little unexpected for a girls room- but still feminine and bright and happy.

It all started with that luscious Kravet Althea floral fabric (retail source here). Actually, it started with the even more luscious (yet double the cost) Hollyhock floral from Lee Jofa.  I think it costs so much because it’s hand blocked and the Althea is not hand printed– I got a little hung up on this blush version, but the cost was just too insane. So I went with the Althea. It’s still so expensive, but this is my last baby and I decided they would make incredible guest bedroom drapes paired with my Serena & Lily Balboa bed I have. Ok, ending the justification rant now. :)

Anyways, the floral fabric will be drapes and I’m going a little granny and doing a pelmet in the same fabric with a little citron piping. This is the style, minus the pom poms.

Layered underneath the drapes will be simple woven wood roman shades I already have. All the wall will be done in a cornflower blue grasscloth that will make the room feel super cozy. The crib I ordered from Restoration Hardware in the cheapest fabric it came in because I am having it reupholstered in Pierre Frey’s Toile de Nantes with ivory ribbon border and brass nailheads.  Gotta be honest, this is pretty exciting as I’ve never seen a crib in this fabric, but have loved it for years.  Also, I’m in love with the toddler bed rails too!

My plan was to get a plain white crib skirt and add the Schumacher trim, but I’m on the fence if it’s “too much”. Thoughts? I was struggling to find cute, feminine yellow crib sheets but Bailey at Biscuit Home saved me by letting me know she had two older style tiny dot crib sheets I could have! YAY! And she made this adorable little boudoir pillow to go with it. I love it.

Grounding the room will be an antique rug from Lindas’s Barn– I have my eye on two. Henry also has an antique rug in his room and it’s SO kid friendly as it really hides everything, plus being 100% wool, easy to clean. I plan on reusing Henry’s lucite bookshelf, as we had it in his nursery, and ordered these adorable scalloped lined baskets from Ballard to go on it with her name monogrammed (yes, she has a name picked already!)  For the changer I am ordering this gorgeous antique-looking chest from Wisteria we’ve used in other projects as it’s on sale and I like how it works with the crib. I plan to figure out how to add a yellow tassel to the top keyhole. I bought the Keekaro changing pad that sits on top and this cute Pottery Barn caddy to corral lotion, etc. and love this Wisteria mirror for above the changer (don’t worry, ALL bolted into the wall).

One of the things we SWORE up and down when we had Henry was that next time we’d get a glider that reclines. And we did- this Pottery Barn one that my clients have loved. I am VERY excited about this.  Although there are cuter custom gliders out there I could have done, function HAD to take top priority here. We’ll top it with a cute pillow in Brunschwig’s Les Touches, so I get a touch of animal pattern in here. :)

As you may have noticed, I love the work of Kristin Blakeney (her large piece was the showstopper in the tour I shared last week). I have adored these new works she’s been doing so I asked her to do a custom one for above the crib in blues, yellows and creams. It adds that little modern touch, plus investing in real art is never a bad idea.

A couple other items I’m looking to buy: this cute bunny painting (trade only source), an Oomph tiny table for next to the glider and this scalloped ceiling light (which is 1/4 of the price of the one I was originally obsessed with).

So as soon as the world relaxes the rules a little, we’ll be getting this all installed. Until then, little lady will have to bunk with me. :)