Decorate with vintage toys

What is it about vintage toys and games and pictures that  make us smile. Is it their innocence that stands out  in this i-everything world we live in? Does it make us feel warm and cozy? This week, Velvet &Linen, one of my all time favorites, blogged about her  fantastic design project.  Her talented family business, Giannetti Home,  created this most inviting family game room.

The room had strong bones and much potential to start out with.

They gathered  collections the family had accumulated over the years...

And created a room that tells  a beautiful story...

I love these images from a French children's bedroom...

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The lamp below was made in NYC in the 60's and 70's..

Vintage blocks are small touches that create nice atmosphere.

Love this room by design team Lila & Tom from Design Sponge:

Vintage games are quite inexpensive and can make a nice statement.

What a sweet shelf. I gave my sister in law a baby present, similar to the See Saw toy below. It was long before Cici Crib was born.  I thinks she puts it out for Christmas every year..

See you..

Christina

Ode to Madeline Weinrib

How beautiful are Madeline Weinrib's goods.  I see why she is a favorite of design blogs. I was picking up some her fabric samples of  the other day at ABC Carpet. Weinrib's atelier is a bit gallery and a bit workshop.

The ikats are hand dyed and woven in Uzbekistan. The fabric was intended for a chair in a little girl's bedroom. Because of it's nature,  it must be lined before upholstering. Unfortunately, I think  it will be the deal breaker in an already tight budget.

But look how fantastic they could be...

Not sure what else to say about her rugs....

They fit into all different interiors. From traditional to modern to eclectic. This rug below  is such  a pleasant surprise..

The chair,  upholstered in a Werinrib fabric in Gweneth Paltrow's home.

The photo of this big girl's bedroom  is taken from one of my favorite blogs,  Cote de Texas.  Just fantastic..

See you...

Christina

New York International Gift Fair

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

Decorate a bedroom with pink and orange

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

Colorful Atlanta

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

Art for a little girl's nursery

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

Love the dot

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

Decorate with lavender and silver

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

Barbie's comeback

I was at the D& D building the other day doing some research for a few clients, when I stumbled upon this Italian fabric. A nice vintage feel. Wow this would be a great boudoir pillow, on a chaise in a pink houndstooth. Great for decorating a classic girl's bedroom.

The Barbie prints that hang in the shop would fit in nicely.

One of my sweetest customer purchased a lavender Barbie  and put in a plum mat to enhance the print. Now it is perfect for her daughter's bedroom.

Barbie reminds me of the head vases my mother collected.She loved the kitsch factor.  She lined them up on the piano.  Unfortunately, She got tired of the collection and sold it. I wish she held on to them.  I could find a nice spot for them at Cici Crib.

Jonathan Adler took a crazy turn in celebrating Barbie's  50th anniversary. He completely amped it up.  It's over the top. It's Barbie's dream house in Malibu.

In Cici Crib there is a nice desk chair for the studious Jonathan Adler Barbie.

Barbie's style is always changing.

See you.

Christina

Overflowing with Flowers

Flowers were bursting in many store windows around the city last week.

Fantastic paper flowers in Kate's Paperie in Soho.

Completely covering the window at the tasty Teuscher.

Anthropologie in Chelsea showed some  enormous playful  looking flowers. Looks like they were made out of paper mache.

Even Cici Crib has an overflow

Inside there were lots of flowers to discuss. Bedding for a little girl's big girl bed  is inspired by   the nicely exagerated flowers on the fabric of the window treatments.

A possible combination for bedding and a  headboard  to complement the  flowery treatments.

Another customer wanted to look at light fixtures that were not chandeliers. It is her third daughter. The first 2 had lovely chandeliers in their room. So we came up with this white rose wrapped  fixture from Maura Daniel.

After 2 sweet sons, another customer is awaiting the birth of her first little girl.  For her nursery, a delicate floral chandelier was in order..

An then there was the Mom  looking for art for her tween. Art by Jacqueline Shapiro for Oopsy Daisy.

or maybe

Lot's of different styles but one focus, flowers...

See you.

Christina

It's Pink and Chartreuse with flower power

I am working on a really fun bedroom right now. The wallpaper and purchased items are the foundation for   this room. As you enter this little girl's room, you face a wall of windows. It's bright! The Designers Guild wallpaper truly dictates the style of this room. It is wallpaper that grows with a child from nursery to a big girl's  bedroom.

The client purchased some items from Cici Crib. In particular this fantastic desk chair that has a clear back. It is a new take on a classic chair.

I would like  to  use this desk. Love the Chartreuse! I also want to add some gold accents.

I purchased this chaise that desperately needs to be painted and properly upholstered. What great lines. Looks like the 1940's.  Maybe we will use  the hot pink quilted fabric.

I don't want to obstruct the view of the windows so I would like a very simple light fixture. I wish I could use this one, but it hangs too low. We may just reuse the chandelier  that is already in the room.

That's it for now. We will see how this room evolves based on the big client(stylish mother) and the little client's(sweet little girl) needs and personality.

Christina