Kid-Sized Design
If you’ve been following my Tweets or the Likely Design page on Facebook, you might know that I have a fun new (real life) design project in the works — a daycare playroom! So in my search for some inspiration for this project, I clicked my way over to HGTV and saw that runner-up Design Star Dan Vickery’s new online show has debuted! It’s called “Kid-Sized Design” and there are only a couple of web-isodes up so far but after seeing Dan’s celebrity nursery design from Design Star I was curious.
Remember this room from Design Star? So sweet and cozy! I really thought it was finished well.
Those boat-mobiles were very creative! I could see why they decided to give him a show about designing for kids (well, really for adults, right?).
And here are a couple of shots from rooms from the show…
A little sparse (rug? more storage furniture? teeny tiny side lamp? they couldn’t change out that ceiling fan?)…but at least it errs on the side of not enough furniture instead of too much. And the main feature of the episode was that storage valance above the window, not the room itself.
Better, but I’d like to see more. There are a couple of 4 minute videos to watch, and you might come up with a couple of good ideas from each, but I’d love to see the floor plans, resource lists, etc. The “Dan Cam” (which is right in his face) is a little strange, but it’s only the intro and ending. Here is my favorite video from the bunch:
And here are links to the rest:
So, had you forgotten about Farm Boy Dan and his online show? Me, too, but I’m glad to see he’s back and working on something fun like kids’ spaces! Plus he does have the design education that others lacked, so I’m sure he’ll bring it. And if that doesn’t work out, he always has his modeling… 
{images via HGTV.com}
Read MoreMy version of a growth chart
Last December, Glenn and I (ok, mostly Glenn) painted our kitchen cabinets white. It happened to be on the day that our daughter turned 4 months old, and so we decided to immortalize the day on our living room wall. We rolled a little of the low-VOC paint on her little foot and stamped it up on the wall by the front door. I love seeing it as I dash out of the door, and everyone likes to comment on it when they come to visit.
Strangely enough, later in the day my dad called to tell me that his mom had died that morning, so it’s also a nice way for me to think of my Grandma from time to time. Miss you, Grandma M.!
So what did we do on the 1-year anniversary of that day? Well paint another footprint, of course! Now we have 2 growin’ footprints on our wall from when Harper was 4 months and 16 months old…and I’m hoping that this giant new footprint means that she’ll be tall – just like her daddy’s family! But then again I’m only 5’3″ with a size 9 foot…I know…I’m a hobbit. 
I Love Me A Painted Ceiling…
Check out this lovely set of photos from the Southern California home of Kristan Cunningham (yes, the host of HTGV’s Design on a Dime!). Most of the walls in their rental are white, but they’ve painted most of the ceilings a dark charcoal gray. And their ceilings really don’t look that high, which is a nice example of how dark ceilings really don’t make a room look and feel smaller (like most people believe) but they push the walls out and make the room look and feel larger.
I also love the lighter gray trim, and the dark lower cabinets with matching pulls.
They added the wainscoting backsplash as well.
They removed a few upper cabinets to the left of the kitchen window and added open shelves there – perfect touch!
I love the black accents and black, white, gray and brown/wood color scheme.
How great is that ceiling? And that painting? And those orange Eames Molded Plastic Armchairs!
Even the stacked books on the mantel are coordinated!
I’m grateful for my new vinyl windows, but there’s something about painted window grids. And cute little owls.
Probably my favorite shot from the whole house. I love the doilies and the ticking stripe bolster. But just wait…
LOVE that closet paint job!
And the bathroom cabinet got the same treatment as in the kitchen.
Turquoise front door. Enough said! PS – Turquoise has been named Pantone’s 2010 Color of the Year…just in case you didn’t know.
Enough eye candy for you today? Me neither…I could always use some more! If you’d like to read about Kristan’s house, budget and DIY tips, you can read the entire article here at the LA Times. Enjoy!
What are your thoughts on Kristan’s French-with-an-edge Venice California house? How about that ceiling color? A little masculine with a little quirk? Just my style! Leave your thoughts here!
Read More{Real Rooms} Reese’s Nursery
I am so excited to share an adorable little nursery project with you today, not because I designed it (because I didn’t – I wish I could take credit for it!), or not only because it is darling, or hand-crafted with special little details, but because it is the bedroom of a sweet little girl whose mama is an old friend of mine! And as you can see a very artistic and creative friend at that! But if you knew Janet in high school, you would know what an artist she is! A good example showing that whatever profession you choose, you can still be an artist (Janet is a nurse!).
A big thank you to Janet (and Reese! And Matt!) for sharing her little nursery project with us – I absolutely love it! My favorite part has to be the hand-painted details; two tones of yellow in two different finishes and don’t forget the hand-painted ‘R’ (yes, that is painted directly on the wall!) with glitter accents, a painted border and a wooden frame tacked to the wall. I’m sure it is something that little Reese will be so proud of when she starts to learn her ABC’s! Here is what Janet had to say about it:
“As for the “R” – I modeled it after a font I found at Pottery Barn, but I decided to draw/paint it free-hand since I wanted it so much larger. The brown and blue frame is painted as well, and Matt cut and nailed up the final white frame around it all. The R is painted with the same color as the stripes, and has a few glitter accents. It was very fun!!”
And here’s the break down to make up a sweet little nursery, just like Reese’s! Thanks for sharing, Janet!
Paint
- Primary wall color – Dutch Boy ”Honey Bear” – Flat finish
- Stripes - Dutch Boy ”Just Enough Yellow” - Semi-gloss finish
- “R” – Painted the same color as the stripes with glitter accents. Framed with blue and brown paint (color, brands unkown) used left-overs that a friend had. Matt finished it off with the white trim.
Furniture/Decor
- Crib – hand-me-down from Reese’s four little cousins
- Bedding – Baby Martex CoCaLo bedding – Australian Animals (I think this has been discontinued) – From the Baby Depot
- Note from Lindsay – it’s called Down Under and you can buy it here!
- Note from Lindsay – it’s called Down Under and you can buy it here!
- Rocker- a baby-shower gift. From Target
- White Dresser – Bona Vita “Peyton” Dresser/changing table combo – from The Baby Warehouse in Petaluma
- Credenza – given to us from the Funeral Home where Matt works – Don’t worry – it was in the lobby – It fits in there perfectly and is decorated with all her favorite stuffed animals.
- Martha Stewart’s Tissue paper pom-poms – from Michaels
- LOVE these! -Lindsay
- LOVE these! -Lindsay
- Pictures (above dresser)- White frames from Aaron Brothers -a little collage of pictures we had taken at the house when Reese was two weeks old!
If you have a room you’d like to share, please e-mail me at lindsay[@]lindsaychristensendesign.com!
And P.S. – sorry for the interruptions throughout the background of the post – I’m tweaking the blog template and those boxes should be on the right – thanks for your patience!!
Question for the mommies out there!
I’m just gonna get right to it – How do you get a shower in when there is no one there to help you??? Harper, at 17 months now, is taking one nap per day, Glenn goes to work at 6 AM so I am left to get the both of us ready for the day alone! When she was little, it was easy – she hung out in her bouncer or her Exersaucer…now that they’re mobile what do you do?
Put up the baby gate? Pop in a DVD? Let them wander the house alone? Lock them in the bathroom with you? Have the dogs babysit? Bring them in the shower with you? I did that one yesterday. If I don’t, Harper will stand at the shower and cry…and get soaking wet! One time she even managed to crawl in…clothes and all. She loves her Old MacDonald Baby Einstein DVD (she loves the puppets and songs), but I think she’s getting bored with it…and I’m just wondering what other options I have!
I would shower at night, but mornings (before she’s awake) are the only time I have to get a workout in. I just wanted to throw it out there and get some suggestions, as the thought of jumping in the shower in a few minutes is stressing me out!
Thanks!
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About Me
I'm an interior designer and a draftsperson, but I live in the country. I like it that way. I'm also a firefighter's wife, mom to 2 cute kids, and a homeowner and I like that even better. But right after that is a pretty and affordable space...and I mean a REALLY affordable space. Because I believe good design can be for EVERYONE!
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