Something about the holiday season always makes me want to stock up on shiny, glittery silver and gold goods — and not just to hang on the tree. If you're in a similar metallic-loving mood, check out these nine gilded finds just for kids. From gleaming polka-dotted and starred blankets and sheet sets to sequin-studded pillows and glittering wall decorations, these items are guaranteed to make you and your little ones feel golden!
Most parents know the joy (for your kids) and agony (for you) of toys, toys, and more toys . . . in every single room of your house. Give all that kid-friendly clutter a pretty place to live in one of these brand-new storage bins. From some of our favorite retailers for kids (Land of Nod, Ferm Living) and adults (CB2, West Elm), these bins are stylish enough to live in any room and big enough to hold an abundance of Legos, books, stuffed pals, and more. Start shopping!
Winter can call for a little — OK, a lot — of creativity. Get some help (and get your kids away from the television) with these five supercreative new toys. From an affordable, make-your-own model that your lil one will spend hours designing online to a book with incredible disappearing-ink technology that requires some fun and time-consuming interaction, these toys are totally worth the cost. Now how many days do we have until Spring?
Live in a small space? So do I. And as much as I'd love to add a freestanding coat tree to my front entry, there's simply not enough floorspace to accommodate one. That's why I love this wall-mounted coat tree, featured in an office space designed by Amsterdam interiors firm Concern. The office space is studded with smart design solutions, such as a rubber floor that helps minimize sound and an open space dominated by a long table that fits the entire staff. The wall-mounted coat rack, a must in rainy Amsterdam, prevents the sleek office space from gathering clutter in the form of unnecessary furniture.
I haven't been able to source the coat tree, and in fact, it looks custom made. I love how the coat hooks blend into the tree's branches. Take a closer look to see what I mean.
If you want to get a similar look, you could try painting a tree-like design directly on your wall, and then adding coat hooks in the same color. Or, try Ferm Living's Coat Tree Wall Sticker ($128).
Two weeks ago Messe Frankfurt, one of the world's largest trade fair companies, invited me to visit Ambiente, its annual international consumer goods fair. I discovered dozens of new designers and trends there, but one brand that I'm already familiar with that I was excited to see in person was Ferm Living. The Danish company made a name for itself with wallpaper but has branched into textiles and accessories, as well. Some of Ferm's new products I'd seen online, but they are 10 times lovelier in person. Others haven't made their way to the States yet, so I was pleased to see them for the first time. Come along and check out nine of my favorites!
It's rare that a reader will let us take a peek at a home renovation mid-process. Luckily, Kati Driscoll is letting us do just that. Her beautiful 1890s Gothic Second Empire home in Bear, DE, which she shares with her boyfriend, artist Alan Brown, has been in her family since the 1980s, when her grandmother bought it for use as an office. After she passed away two years ago, Kati moved back in to help with house repairs. After moving in, though, she fell in love with the house, and decided to make the move permanent. Kati, Alan, and Kati's family have completed all of the work downstairs with the exception of the mud room, and are currently tackling the upstairs. Let's take a tour of Kati and Alan's home: a true masterpiece in mid-process. And don't worry; we'll be checking in with them again soon to get updates on the home's progress. Here's Kati's house tour, in her own words.
To kick off the new year with a bout of generosity, Ferm Living is offering a free copy of Chronicle Books' Wallpaper Projects ($23) by Derek Fagerstrom and Lauren Smith of the Curiosity Shoppe with every order of two rolls of wallpaper or more while supplies last! To snag the deal, enter the code FREEBOOK at checkout, Considering that you named Ferm Living your favorite wallpaper company of 2009, it shouldn't be hard to find at least a couple rolls you want to take home. And, with dozens of crafty projects in the book to put your new papers to use, you'll wish you had more.
As part of a fun holiday series, I've asked interior design "tastemakers," from designers and stylists to bloggers and shop-owners, to share their favorite go-to holiday gift ideas with me.
Christiana Coop, owner of the super-stylish design shop Hygge & West and the US outpost of über-cool Danish wallpaper company Ferm Living, who is also an interior designer, gave me the lowdown on her go-to holiday gifts:
"I love to give people these Saimaa Mugs ($16) with Steven Smith tea. I love the mugs without handle because the texture of the beautiful, bumpy butterfly is really fun to hold and makes a great hand warmer with a hot drink. And the tea is so delicious and offers so many flavors to match my friends’ different personalities."
I absolutely love the Ferm Living Silk Treebomb Pillow ($110). It's really eye-catching and has an ethereal, wintry quality that's just plain dreamy. But, as much as I think sometimes it's worth it to spend upwards of $100 on a pillow, I'm still wary of it because I've seen so many equally arresting designs at more palatable prices. Turns out, there's a pillow that's a near twin to this one, that'll require much less penny pinching. Want to see it?
One of my favorite wallpaper retailers, Ferm Living, has a few new things in store that I'm really loving. First of all, I think the way this Sewing Kit Wall Sticker ($57.50) is staged is absolutely hilarious. I think it would be clever to use it around a window or doorway in your home, especially one that doesn't have a lot of molding. See a few other new things when you read more
