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The Design Inspirationalist

~ Inspiring Ideas | Spectacular Creations

The Design Inspirationalist

Tag Archives: baby

A Little Ones Sanctuary

29 Wednesday Jan 2014

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, The Home

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Tags

animals, art, baby, carnival, children, childrens room, classic, color, crafts, decor, design, Industrial, interior design, kids, kids room, sports, themes, toys, vintage

A Little Ones Sanctuary

I have always loved the idea of designing a children’s room. There is something special about creating a space for a little one to grow, develop, and draw inspiration from. Besides these few must have ingredients, I feel the child should feel warm, cozy, comfortable, and free as well. This is the space they will call their own and most likely be the place they will spend most of their time as they get older.

My husband and I are planning to start trying for our first child and you can bet I have already thought of how to design the baby’s room. I have to admit, I have been thinking about it for years now so it’s no surprise I am super excited to actually make it happen. I think being prepared and always being ahead of the game is the best policy. Plus, with something so important as this task, you should take all the time you need. Hence, starting early!

Personally, I love an androgynous space for a child. One that is not too girly or boyish, a nice mix of feminine and masculine. And anything that looks “baby” is pretty much out. I prefer a space a child can grow up in, not one that has to be redesigned every few years because they grow out of the decor. So a sense of maturity is essential. And adding small touches of childlike features here and there are easy to do. I plan to showcase vintage elements, art & handmade items, and books – three things that will truly feature the style of the space and bring a cohesive look to the room.

I also do not like themed rooms. When I mean theme, I am talking about sports, animals, carnival, zoo, stuff like this that can really go overboard, which I see all the time. Instead of making the whole room look like a football field, placing a few quality inspired pieces throughout the space. The same thing with an animal theme. A child shouldn’t feel like they are in a zoo. It can get a little hectic with wall decals, lamps that matchy-matchy with bedding, and accessories that take over the space. And most of the time all these designs/items are created for baby, so the overall look is a bit dated and overdone. Here are few examples of how to successfully incorporate a theme:

A Little Ones Sanctuary
Photo Credit: The Boo and the Boy

A Little Ones Sanctuary
Photo Credit: Noosh Kids

A Little Ones Sanctuary
Photo Credit: Kids Decorating Ideas

A Little Ones Sanctuary
Photo Credit: Cozy Cottage Cute

A Little Ones Sanctuary
Photo Credit: HGTV

Color is an important element to think about. How do you want your child to feel in the space. I am a big believer in neutrals, they are used throughout our whole house. These  hues allow for relaxation, inspiration, calm, and stability in the space and are the perfect fit for a baby and young child. Sorry, but a bright red and blue room just isn’t a great choice. You want your kids to feel grounded, especially babies. Too much stimulation can really affect their overall being.

So, here are more spaces designed for children that work. They may clearly show a theme, but that theme isn’t kitschy, its a style. And that is what you want to go for. Creating a specialized look and feel should be the priority, while considering your little one’s needs and wants. It is their space after all. Enjoy!

A Little Ones Sanctuary

A Little Ones Sanctuary
Photo Credit: The Boo and the Boy

A Little Ones Sanctuary
Photo Credit: The Boo and the Boy

A Little Ones Sanctuary
Photo Credit: Smile and Wave

A Little Ones Sanctuary
Photo Credit: The Boo and the Boy

A Little Ones Sanctuary
Photo Credit: The Boo and the Boy

A Little Ones Sanctuary
Photo Credit: Zyrafy Z Szafy

A Little Ones Sanctuary
Photo Credit: Orsa Maggiore Vintage

A Little Ones Sanctuary
Photo Credit: Barn and Bo

A Little Ones Sanctuary

A Little Ones Sanctuary
Photo Credit: nietylkodzieciaki

A Little Ones Sanctuary
Photo Credit: Blessed Wild Apple Girl

A Little Ones Sanctuary
Photo Credit: Your Home Only Better

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Sound in Color: The Cure – Galore

23 Wednesday Oct 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Color Inspiration, Sound in Color

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Tags

album art, baby, color palette, Friday I'm in Love, Galore, hues, Just Like Heaven, music, saturated hues, The Cure

Who doesn’t know The Cure? I mean, they’re one of the biggest bands in the world and still create amazing music. Galore is an awesome compilation of their singles that were recorded from 1989 to 1997 and a must have for any fan. With songs like Just Like Heaven and Friday I’m in Love, you can’t go wrong.

The album cover is a photo of a baby holding an ice cream cone taken from an interesting perspective, making it seem larger than life. The saturated hues bounce off the page and frame the yellow skin toned child nicely. Lots of energy through color is expressed through this cover. Just like their music. There is nothing like a Cure song to make you smile.

The color palette would work nicely for a children’s party and even for a space in your home. It’s fun and has a unique contrast.

Sound in Color: The Cure - Galore

 

Inspiration Photo Friday: Babies Galore

16 Friday Aug 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Inspiration Photo Friday

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Tags

american dream, baby, chapter, children, journey, kids, life, mommy to be, stress

We all know the routine of growing up. You get married, buy a home, and then have kids. The American dream, right? These past few years have been a whirlwind of weddings and new mommy’s. It’s all good and happy, but at the same time a little overwhelming.

I just turned 34 and I know I’m not getting any younger. But having kids right now just isn’t on my to do list. Since the year of our wedding and buying our first home, my husband and I have had it a little rough. Life has thrown us a handful of obstacles and it seems we are always fighting to get by. I started Gray Star Design in hopes to finally be successful on my end, while he works for less money than he deserves. The hardships of being an artist. So I would say, this is not a time to bring a child into the world. I mean, we don’t even have health insurance.

Growing up with a single mom who worked numerous jobs and having a Grandmother who raised four kids on nothing, I understand what it means to struggle. I, too, have struggled all my life financially. Being stressed for all these years about the one thing I don’t care about has surely taken its toll. Sadly, you need it to survive and all I know is the feeling of getting by. I certainly don’t want to raise a child in that kind of atmosphere, they deserve more than what I had. I am crossing my fingers that one day my husband and I can live a comfortable life without always dealing with financial stress. Then maybe, we can start a family.

So, with all these new babies and little kids running around, it does put a little pressure on me to have a child of our own. However, I am smart enough to know what is good for me, and my marriage and career is my focus at the moment. Just not ready to make my life all about someone else yet. And I know it doesn’t end when you have a baby, but in reality, it sort of does. It’s closing a chapter and starting a new one. I just have too much I still need to do.

Right now, I will embrace the little munchkins in my life and give them tons of love. I am lucky to have friends and family who have healthy children and I am very happy for the new chapter they have started. I wish them all the best on their journey as parents and will be there every step of the way to support them. Besides, I already have two furry kids of my own to take care of. They may not be the real thing, but they are mine and I love them with all my heart. It may be babies galore on the other side of rainbow but here on my side, the possibilities are endless.

Inspiration Photo Friday: Babies Galore - © Melissa O'Connor-Arena

A Circus Themed Baby Shower

04 Tuesday Jun 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Decor Ideas, Events & Parties, News, Real Events

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

animals, baby, baby shower, centerpieces, circus, design, events, fabric, festive, flowers, gingham, mason jars, plaid, raffle, vintage straws

This past Saturday I helped coordinate a baby shower for my brother in law’s girlfriend, Bethany. Since they don’t want to know the sex of the baby, I had to think of a theme that would be fit for both a girl and boy and also be pretty for the mother to be. I decided on a circus theme that had some fun and festive elements but still felt like a baby shower by using light colors and cute patterns. The day was a success!

The invite I designed introduced the theme with cute colorful flags and a few animals. Nothing over the top. Each invitation included a raffle ticket for guests to bring. This entered them in a contest to see who would win the centerpieces.

A Circus Themed Baby Shower - © Melissa O'Connor-Arena

The decor of the shower featured a handmade banner for the gift table, red striped straws in all the water glasses, and festive centerpieces in large mason jars incorporating white, green, and orange. Each table as well as the gift table had a blue gingham fabric square in the middle for a pop of color.

A Circus Themed Baby Shower - © Melissa O'Connor-Arena

A Circus Themed Baby Shower - © Melissa O'Connor-Arena

A Circus Themed Baby Shower - © Melissa O'Connor-Arena

I created an additional table where I displayed roasted peanuts and fresh popped popcorn for the guests to snack on as well as little cards for guests to share their “baby wishes” with the parents to be. I also laid a gingham fabric on the table except it was beige to incorporate more of the invitation colors.

A Circus Themed Baby Shower - © Melissa O'Connor-Arena

A Circus Themed Baby Shower - © Melissa O'Connor-Arena

A Circus Themed Baby Shower - © Melissa O'Connor-Arena

Each guest had a “baby poll” card where they could choose what they thought the sex would be. Just something fun for them to do.

A Circus Themed Baby Shower - © Melissa O'Connor-Arena

The cake was a delicious with vanilla cream and strawberries. Everyone seemed to really like it. And as a little favor and thank you for coming, everyone had a little bag full of animal crackers to take home. A perfect snack to end the afternoon.

A Circus Themed Baby Shower - © Melissa O'Connor-Arena

A Circus Themed Baby Shower - © Melissa O'Connor-Arena

I am so happy everyone had a great time and the mother to be enjoyed having all the lovely ladies around her. There were so many amazing gifts as well. I think the day went really well. Looking forward to doing more!

A Circus Themed Baby Shower - © Melissa O'Connor-Arena

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