Awash in calming neutrals, baby Catarina’s Brooklyn nursery looks like a perfect setting for peaceful play. “Catarina’s parents love to travel, and have always had a special place in their hearts for animals,” says Chelsea Reale, one-third of the team behind children’s interior design firm Sissy + Marley. “That, along with the soothing color palette, was the inspiration for the space.”

With Sissy + Marley’s new ZEE wallpaper making its debut as its backdrop, the designers added an assortment of cheerful accents to bring the room to life — including five little faces we happen to know well. “We adore the Baby Elephant print, and can never resist using it,” Chelsea says. “The built-in shelves seemed like a clever space for him to live.” Meanwhile, Baby Giraffe Little Darling, Baby White Tiger Little Darling, Baby Alpaca Little Darling, and Baby Monkey Little Darling keep watch nearby.

 “Catarina’s big sisters — and the entire family — were over the moon,” says Chelsea. “And, of course, the animals made everyone’s hearts melt, as they always do.”

A big thank you to Chelsea, Rachel, and Diana of Sissy + Marley for sharing!

‘Tis the season, believe it or not, for our third annual gift guide for pets! On our list this year: Camp Cloon’s festive red-checked neckerchief, a handsome stoneware bowl, and a handful of items designed to do good. From cuddle toys that support fair-trade craftsmanship in rural Kenya to a fragrant shampoo that gives to canines in need, they’re gifts that prove that giving feels (and looks and smells) just as good as getting.

It’s that time again. For the third year in a row, we couldn’t be more excited to share Halloween costume ideas inspired by some of our favorite familiar faces. As always, these ensembles are meant to be fast, fun, and easy – just a t-shirt and leggings, plus one or two quick additions: a striped tail, for instance; a set of claws; or a pair of wings in every shade of pink.

There’s no denying the statement-making effect of well-designed wallpaper. Dedicated followers of this blog may have noticed that several of our featured nurseries pair our prints with patterned paper – a combination we’ve come to love so much that we’re dedicating an entire series to its charms. In it, we’ll match some of our favorite wallpapers on the market with the cuddly creatures who complement them best. And as always, layering in beautiful pieces (like a stylish crib and modern floor lamp) to bring everything together!

Up first: Makelike’s stunning, slate-gray design meets our beloved Baby Giraffe. While we’re at it, we think its playful zig-zags suit Flamingo, Baby Elephant, Lion Cub Little Darling, and Baby Zebra Little Darling just fine, too.

Today, we’re sharing six sweet finds for spirits as happy and free as our own Baby Horse Little Darling. Among the haul: a Danish-made mobile; a linden wood rocker; and an organic cotton dress with a herd of horses caught in mint-green gallop. Ride on.

Ceramicist Heather Levine has a way with clay. And while no one could deny the beauty of her hand-crafted bowls, bottles, and egg-shaped birdhouses, our favorite pieces are her one-of-a-kind wall hangings, which manage to balance incredible artistry with unassuming grace. They’re ideal pick-me-ups for any room — case in point: our American Buffalo Close-Up, where a cascade of teardrops and triangles bedecked an otherwise naked beam.

In keeping with tradition, The Animal Print Shop is celebrating the release of its newest addition — bright-eyed Baby Wallaby — with a custom nursery designed to match her energetic spirit.

When it came to designing the space, Sharon enlisted the help of her close friends Fitz and Su, the husband-and-wife team behind the living design store Fitzsu. In went a dose of gender-neutral color, with wooden wall hooks in yellow and pink; a mobile with a bright constellation of felted spheres; and a white oak crib whose citron support flips over to become a desk (for when sleeping infants transition to student-hood).

Adding to the atmosphere of lighthearted sophistication: a band of Donna Wilson lambswool animals; a woolen day bed; and smart, recycled-bottle storage bins soft enough for small fingers. (Two Print Shop mainstays — Duckling Little Darling and Baby Kangaroo Little Darling — make appearances, too.) Welcome home, Baby Wallaby.

(Photos by Joe Schmelzer for The Animal Print Shop)

Canada-based company Luvmother makes kids’ clothing that is exactly what most items for children are not: no frills (yet still perfectly suited to a pint-sized aesthetic), high quality (pieces are made using ethically-sourced, “traceable” materials), and made to last (according to its founders, Luvmother products retain a “built-in hand-me-down quality”). We love the clothing’s simple shapes, soft-to-the-touch textures, and muted color palette — in fact, we’d go so far as to say that if we could, we’d happily wear it ourselves.

“Xavier is the happiest, smiliest, most gorgeous little boy,” says Melissa Barling of her toddler son, before adding: “Of course, I’m biased. Designing his nursery was a dream.”

It was, indeed, in more ways than one. Xavier’s nursery, outfitted in a forest animal theme, is the inaugural project for WINTER*DAISY, a business founded by Melissa that specializes in children’s interior design. “WINTER*DAISY’s aesthetic is serene and modern,” she says. “And it consistently draws inspiration from nature and the outdoors.”

Appropriately, Xavier’s cheerfully-colored quarters feature a menagerie of wooden animals perched above the changing table; an assortment of children’s books, with titles including In My Jungle and This Moose Belongs to Me; and four framed Little Darlings: Baby Deer, Wolf Pup, Baby Fox, and Bear Cub. “Xavier absolutely adores animals,” says his mother. “I originally had different art for the wall above the armchair but when I received Baby Fox and Baby Bear in the mail, I had to go back and get two more — I was so blown away by the quality of the images. The room really wouldn’t be complete without them.”

“Xavier loves his little forest friends,” she continues. “He’s always putting his arms up for me to pick him up for a closer look. He points and says, ‘Beah’ for Bear, and ‘Dee’ for Deer with a big smile on his face. His twin sisters keep asking when they are going to get baby animals in their room, too.”

“WINTER*DAISY was an idea that evolved over time and is now becoming a reality,” Melissa says. “I’m so excited for what’s to come.” But when all’s said and done, the completion of Xavier’s nursery signifies more than just the beginnings of a business — it’s resulted in what Melissa refers to as “a dreamy space for reading, playing, and peaceful sleep.” It’s also where treasured memories are made. “I love spending time in here with Xavier and his sisters. We sit together, we read,” she says, “just taking in the space.”

For magazines, for laundry, for your sweetest, softest toys: eight woven baskets in an array of shapes and sizes, made from materials like seagrass, wool, and water hyacinth. Whatever your preference, you’re bound to get your money’s worth — these hardy, durable weaves are made to last, providing years of storage for treasures of all kinds.