Everyone is returning from their various summer journeys. It’s time the kids get back to school.  I am back from Pittsburgh for a bit.  So far, everything is going very well with my mom and sister. They are getting stronger every day. My mom has a new future. It is just amazing what the doctors can do.  I am so thankful! The huge weight that lies on my shoulders is beginning to lift.  Life is ok right now…

Tina and Beth  have been  great  caretakers of  the little shop.  I am thankful for them too!

We put together a new window display celebrating the return of school. I picked up these cheap vinyl floor tiles from Home Depot to cover the base of the display.

I recently purchased this giant abacus from an auction that was selling items from a schoolhouse from the turn of the century. It is enormous. It would be fabulous in a great playroom or bedroom that needs to fill space because of high ceilings. It would look great on top of a bookshelf. A piece of sculpture.

Bookends came into the shop in late August. The vintage globe also makes a nice addition to the window.

Another set of new bookends…

So we put it all together  along with some other items and made a welcoming display.

See you…

Christina

How lucky to live right around the corner from the NYIGF. Store owners, designers and bloggers descend  from all over the world, to check out all the new looks. Most of the vendors I had already seen at the Atlanta show. But New York always brings out a different feeling.

I go with a shopping list so not to forget customer requests. I got the new blablas for one customer. Leo Leoni books for another.  Organic doll is still outstanding.  Another asked for a moroccan pouf on steriods. Check, I  found  one. Wow, 36″x16h”!

Even though they had a whole new baby and children  gift and decor section, the vendors seemed to be the same ones I had seen before. Nothing really striking  sticks  in my mind.

But the home decor vendors showed some flair.

I just loved Pacific Connections lacquer ware.

Mondrian inspired tables…

The color of the inner section of this table can be changed out to any color requested….

And of course they are known for their boxes. So I asked if they could make a  chic little diaper caddy. Maybe, he said…

I noticed some really nice chairs for curling up and reading a book. Could work in a chic little girl’s bedroom..

A bit campy…

A Bit Bohemian…

Oh soo cool…

And then there was Jonathan Adler kids …..

Just as I was about to leave for the day,  I came across Tedde.  Tedde is made in NYC. Cici Crib is a little too populated right now with other stuffed animals. Maybe they will find a home at the shop next year. But I really felt like they did. It was a long day at market.

See you…

Christina

This new picture frame came into Cici Crib this week. I love the delicate pink and orange.

I really don’t like creaming a room with “fun” colors just because you are decorating a kid’s room. It can still have the same bad effect. Just too much of everything. This is an inspiring pink and orange room.

So I am doing some girls bedrooms with pink and orange. Gathering ideas is so much fun.  We will not use all these items, but they are ideas to throw around.

Wallpaper…

A clock…

Some pillows…

An original piece of artwork from Jeff Canham…

The bedding and furniture will be  quiet for the most part. Although, I have these vintage bedside tables that I want to paint in a hot pink or orange.

We already chose this light fixture..

We love these boy and girl lamps I found in Atlanta for the bedside.

It will be a delicate pink and orange room.

See you…

Christina

Bright clear colors were everywhere in Atlanta. It was all about fun.  I love these ball chairs. Great for a playroom. Comfortable for even an adult to sit in. I saw the same chair on the 5th floor in  Barneys in the city the other day. Oh, except it was in black, of coarse…

Love this chartreuse wall with the white animal heads…

How nice for  a girl’s Bohemian bedroom…

Polka dot happy…

I couldn’t resist  purchasing these large metal flowers made by a surfer guy from California. They are cut from recycled metal and spray painted.

Pink and orange is a combo I am working on with a few clients..

Midcentury reproductions for the midcentury spirited child.

These cool boy and girl lamps have shades made of mylar..

This lamp is over 5 feet tall and is perfect for a glamor girl…

It was my first time in Atlanta. I brought home some great products for the design end of the shop.

See you…

Christina

Back from the Americasmart and happy to be home. I feel inspired and design rejuvenated. I can’t say there were many baby products that were new, but some of the showrooms were filled with solid  design ideas.
I arrived in Atlanta just in time to sit in  on a talk given by Suzanne Kasler. I love her interiors. It was nice to hear about what inspires her. Like most ” visual people”, she is not just inspired by an interesting spaces, but by unexpected color arrangements, fashion,and the fine arts.  Anything that may catch her eye, she ” files” for future references. Her own foyer is just beautiful.

After the lecture, I started to make my way around the showrooms. The interesting looks of industrial influences were apparent from the get go. It seemed like a celebration of the industrial revolution. Just great for  a boys bedroom or even nursery. Check out this funky dresser.

This little cube seat duals as a storage unit could  also be used as an ottoman.

I love these large wooden  letter plaques. The entire alphabet is available.

They can be made into side tables as well.

More interesting looks….

A kid who loves adventure could use some of these decorating ideas…

Love this ottoman..

What a nice lamp for a baby’s nursery…

This lamp will make it’s way into Cici Crib this Fall.

Next up it was all about color…

See you…

Christina

(more…)

Bummer the US lost. But that has not stopped the kids love for soccer. I came across this great boys bedroom designed by Kate Hume. How fantastic  is this…

I love those light fixtures. What about this one..

Decorating with soccer in mind can just be a matter of touches.  To create nice bedding we could make a eurosham  with soccer fabric and denim piping.

This is fabric is of nice quality..

Mix it with a denim quilt and  shams…

Use a simple white sheet set or mix it up with  a Serena and Lily sheet set to say GO USA…

There is plenty of artwork available that focuses on soccer..

Maybe a distressed hand painted picture will do…

Use a vintage poster…

We can’t forget the girls…

See you…

Christina

(more…)

Ok I had some major computer issues with my blog this week. I am finally back writing posts thanks to my happening computer guy.

Well, it is the  last day of school for my boys.  The last day of school is a huge celebration when you have teenagers. No more nagging. No more trips to the tutor.  No more worrying about grades.  No more getting up at the crack of dawn.  I am just as happy as they are.

The boys have a busy, but incredibly fun summer schedule.  Fencing is heating up as they prepare for a national tournament in Atlanta over 4th of July.  After wards they  will visit with friends and family for a week .  Then it is off to Whale Camp.  Whale camp is something so special to them.   Camp stories trickle out from them all year long.  It is always a touch of sadness for Miles and me  to see them leave. But they can’t seem to get to the airport gate faster. We are lucky to get a 2 minute phone call during their 3 week stay.  A customer told me once that our job as a parents is to give our children roots and wings. So I guess this is the wings part of the equation.

In the shop we are changing our window display in celebration of summer.  We will  have this lovely diving diva making a splash. They are cut from wood, painted and are about 48″ long. A nice vintage feel.   They would make a real statement in a beachy bedroom.

We are using some of the other items from this company to   decorate  a client’s  Jack and Jill bathroom. Touches of teal and some nice art for a little boy and girl. I love a bit of the mysterious. So we will use this mermaid picture.

Moby Dick  will also make an appearance.

Celebrate summer!

See you.

Christina

This Viennese lithograph came into the shop this week. It dates back to the  turn of the century and is in great condition. Colors are clear and the size is quite large. It is absolutely lovely.  It appears that the  young subject is  Herta Zuckermann.

This picture would be a lovely piece to use as inspiration for a nursery or little girl’s room.  Maybe create  a little nursery  with European feel. Children’s rooms in Europe seem far more relaxed and playful, but not cutesy.

Some  Swedish rooms from Lila Villa Vita   Blog

Vita Nyanser’s blog has some sweet children’s rooms.

Lot’s of old linens and quilts could be used to create a very cozy space.

Simple crib bedding using white pique fabric and a little red gingham piping would work nicely.

I saw this light fixture in Pittsburgh last week. That would be sweet to use.

If it is a traditional nursery then we definitely could use this crib from Newport Cottages.

How one picture can inspire the decor of the entire room.

See you

Christina

Sometimes when I mention polka dots as a decorating idea, I get a groan from my customers.  Yes, it  has been over used. Dots on the bedding, dots on the window treatments, dots on the rugs, and painted dots on the walls. Too many dots! Seen too many times.  But that simple circle can be quite inspiring.

Check out Emily Clark’s little girl’s bedroom. Aren’t those exaggerated dots fantastic? It sooo easy. You can just paint the wall  and use the wall stickers to make the circles.

A little more of a classic polka dot for this little girl who loves pink and green.

Love the oversized dots..

Another room that used wall stickers.

See the dots in Cici Crib that are also wall stickers.  Easy decorating for a nursery.

A painted chest of drawers in a bedroom or nursery can create a nice statement.

A simple shade in polka dot is definitely not overdoing it.

Polka dot decorating is endless. Just don’t overdo it.

See you.

Christina

I am currently gatthering ideas for  decorating a little girl’s bedroom. It is in the idea building stage. We definitely would like a lavender and silver coloring in the room. I liked the idea of using circles as a bit of inspiration.  Of course these ideas aren’t logically ordered.  I know I need to find proper storage, a bed, etc.. It’s just the beginning.

The little girl aready has a chandelier which  is perfectly acceptable. But if I could change it , I would l love  to use this flush mount fixture.  It also works because of the 8′ ceiling height.

I saw this really soft rug in Dallas last summer that has a  hint of lavender and silver.

I picked some samples of fabric from Silk Trading Company. They recently moved out of ABC Carpet and have moved into their own space a few blocks away. The solid fabric is a silk velvet. I love the sheen. I want sphere fabric for throw pillows. The fabric is lying on top of a wallpaper memo from Zoffany. An abstract floral. Window treatments are simple blackout rollers with a gauzy lavender shimmery sheer. The room will be dreamy.

This lamp is really lovely.

The little girl loves Barbie prints. We will do them in frames of silver.

We decided she needed some seating so we chose this perfect fainting couch.

We are just getting started.

See you.

Christina