Tag Archives: Products we Love

Wallpaper Pairings: Flamingo + Speckle

April 24, 2017

What better way to mark the beginning of spring than with an all new wallpaper pairing? Here, a few familiar Animal Print Shop faces—Flamingo, most notably, plus eight lovable Little Darlings—show their colors against an eye-catching patterned paper called Speckle, from New York City company Chasing Paper. Its striking simplicity and playful, perfectly-imperfect dots are just the right match for Flamingo, whose most irresistible features— round eyes, tall legs, and two-tone-pink plumage—truly pop in the pairing.

Founded by printing industry veteran Elizabeth Rees, Chasing Paper has made a name for itself with affordable, removable wallpaper that blends striking design with fail-proof functionality. Those on the hunt for the perfect paper can choose from a wide range of colors (from sweet pastels to radiant brights) and patterns (including geometrics, florals, and lively animal prints)—or, browse a selection of collaborative designs. Best of all, when you’re ready for a change of scenery, you can peel your chosen paper off in a pinch and replace it with something new, making it a no-brainer for “serial movers, stylish mamas, renters, DIYers, and, of course, commitment-phobes.” “Our hope was to introduce a fun way to create a curated and personal moment in people’s homes without putting any holes in the walls,” says Elizabeth.

Stylish and fresh, Speckle caught our eye right away. Composed of freehand dots and available in eight punchy colors, it’s a playful pick for a child’s room or baby’s nursery, but still chic enough to show off in a living room, bathroom, dining room, or foyer. With Flamingo, it provided the perfect backdrop for a vintage rug, sturdy stool, and wooden credenza, all flea market or antique store finds. Meanwhile, vibrant greenery and a hanging light fixture from Ikea complete the picture, further setting the stage for our pink winged star to shine. And showing off it’s verstaility, Speckle is a perfect backdrop for a grouping of Little Darlings – we just love how it makes all their adorable faces pop.

For more of our favorite wallpaper picks and additional interior inspiration, browse more of our Wallpaper Pairings.

tagged: Products we Love, Wallpaper Pairings

Round-up: Nursery Trash Cans

March 21, 2017

They say details make the difference—and when it comes to nursery design, we couldn’t agree more. From light bulbs to lamp shades, book ends to bed sheets, it’s often the smallest pieces that make really make a room pop. Each time we embark on a new project, we spend hours comparing mobiles, throws, wallpaper, woven baskets, and more—so why not devote some space on our beloved blog, we thought recently, to a room’s most basic necessity (albeit one that’s too often overlooked)?

Here, we’ve rounded up a selection of stylish nursery wastebaskets that represents a range of styles, prices, and performance features, and that elevates the trash can past its purely functional role. Forgo the forgettable, and you’re sure to find that a well-chosen and well-made alternative can add a hit of color, texture, and even humor to any room. Still need convincing? We’ve listed our 11 picks of the litter (pun intended) below.

1. Round Step Trash Can, $19.99

There’s no denying the simplicity of this clean-looking can. Its stainless steel exterior is impressively fingerprint-resistant; housed beneath its lid is a plastic bucket that keeps trash bags concealed.

2. Wire Framed Trash Bin, $149

Handmade in Oregon, Schoolhouse Electric’s eye-catching can merges pretty (its wire frame comes in red, pale green, or a golden yellow) with practical (its metal bin is sleek and sturdy). Take note, design aficionados: its construction takes cues from mid-century master Richard Galef.

3. Handwoven Waste Basket, $70

Woven by hand using a natural fiber called fique, this stunning basket is the result of a collaboration between LA-based online shop Someware and artisans in Santander, Colombia. It’s multifunctional, too: As the folks at Someware point out, you can use it to corral toys, textiles, or “anything else your creative mind can imagine.”

4. White Trash Can, $24.98

An effortless addition to any room, this charming square bin owes its streamlined look to snow-white propylene and a simple wooden handle that makes everyday transport easy. Plus, like many of the options on this list, it comes in a variety of can’t-go-wrong colors.

5. Copper Trash Can, $14.99

Spills, messes, and dings are no match for this gleaming can, which showcases all the attractive qualities of copper, without any of the inconveniences (think: rusting and denting).

6. Swing Top Trash Can, $35

Umbra’s dependable “Venti” model is as good-looking as it is effective: Its brushed metallic lid and neck ring are shamelessly chic; its sizable can holds 16½ gallons.

7. Woven Basket, $38-78

Available in small, medium, or large, these beautiful baskets are made to last, featuring durable water hyacinth woven over an iron frame.

8. Powder Coated Trash Can, $48

On the hunt for cute and compact? This powder-coated trash can does just the trick.

9. Multicolored Wastebasket, $14.99

We love that this playful, patterned wastebasket is simple enough not to steal the show—but its colors bring a hearty dose of charm and seaside whimsy to the table all the same.

10. Wire Basket, $85

The brainchild of Danish designer Trine Andersen of ferm LIVING, this iron basket comes in three sizes and a host of colors. We’re partial to the elegant, understated, and not-overly-girly rose.

11. Swing Bin, approx. $70

Designed by Shingeichiro Takeuchi and made in Japan, this minimalist trash can—whose graceful swing lid is conveniently removable—is artful, efficient, and appealingly uncomplicated.

tagged: Inspired Finds, Products we Love

Products We Love: Monroe Workshop Toys

December 15, 2016

If you read our blog, you know we love working with Matt Monroe of Monroe Workshop. Over that last several years, we’ve used his handmade furniture in many of our projects – a beautiful log bench in our Wolf Pup Room for Siblings, a custom live edge kids’ desk for our Cabin Inspired Kid’s Room featuring Baby Horse and Baby Horse Little Darling, an original, custom floating shelf/changing table for our Baby Wallaby Nursery, and our favorite Credenza sits below our majestic 30”x40”American Buffalo limited edition print in our Dining Room Makeover.

To say we have a working relationship with Monroe Workshop is accurate, but it doesn’t nearly describe how fond we are of Matt and his crew. Seriously, you couldn’t find a nicer guy who happens to be insanely skilled!

So, we’re thrilled to pull the spotlight away from his furniture for a moment to feature Monroe Workshop’s new series of Toys – a charming coterie of critters. The genesis of Monroe Workshop’s first two toys–his robot horse and robot monkey–was a clever way to minimize waste. Matt says:

“As a fan of wood, I hated to throw our scrap away–all the toys are made of furniture grade hardwood. So, I started making the toys to give as gifts to family and friends.”

Matt featured the robot monkey on instagram and the demand was immediate. He and his crew have been working like busy elves this year and have unveiled a charming new collection of animals to add their menagerie. Here are our favorites!

Cecily the Pig is giving our Piglet a run for her money. We love Cecily’s mismatched ears which Matt sources from a local shoe manufacturer’s scraps of Italian leather.

Matt gave Avinash the Elephant a huge dose of personality. Not dissimilar to our Baby Elephant.

You can almost hear Jean Pierre the Longhorn Bull bellowing. His stare is just as intense as our Long Horn Steer Close-Up.

Ravi the Rhinoceros may be small, but he’s every bit the brute our Baby Rhino is.

We think Gemma Lou the Giraffe would get along with our Baby Giraff e just fine.

The toys are named after family members. Well, all except for Gary the Robot Monkey. Matt says, “I just like the name Gary.”

All of the toys are made of domestic hardwoods in Monroe Workshop’s Los Angeles shop. They’re available at monroeworkshoptoys.com.

Matt says to keep an eye out for a barn and possibly a jungle-scape tree house for more play opportunities. We can’t wait!

tagged: Products we Love

Wallpaper Pairings: Baby Deer + Hygge & West

October 6, 2016

For our latest wallpaper pairing, we returned to one of our favorites: Baby Deer. She was one of our first Animal Print Shop prints and even though she has lots of company now, our love for her hasn’t diminished. We’ve been chomping at the bit to use a Hygge & West wallpaper (BTW, Hygge is pronounced: Hoo-Ga) and knew we’d found the perfect compliment in their soft blue Petal Pusher pattern. Even better, Petal Pusher is a design by the uber talented Joy Cho of Oh Joy Studios.

Hygge & West was founded by childhood friends Christiana Coop and Aimee Lagos – loving the vibe of Danish design, they created their wallcovering company around it – Hygge is a Danish concept loosely translating to life’s small pleasures, be they cozy homes in winter or bedtime stories with your kids. The “West” in Hygge & West is western as in the United States. We love that their wallpapers are all hand silk screened AND Hygge & West works with so many talented designers. Oh Joy finds herself in amazing company next to Julia Rothman, Rifle Paper Co., Heath Ceramics, Justina Blakeney, and many others.

Petal Pusher pairs beautifully with Oeuf’s clean-lined, modern Rhea Crib. We especially appreciate the slight Danish taper of the legs. The sweet polka-dot crib sheet is from Etsy seller Holkuda who hand prints on the softest fabric ensuring restful sleep for the little slumberer. And our favorite detail is the pop of fuchsia from a custom Kantha baby blanket made by our good friend Heidi Merrick (we’re trying to convince her to make them for sale!). And if blue isn’t the direction your design is headed, Petal Pusher also comes in a range of other gorgeous colors, from gold to blush to black.

Finally, if you follow our blog, you know that we love ourselves a vintage nod. In this pairing, we used two: the brick pattern vintage Moroccan rug and a large white Gainey pot from the 60’s. We’d never seen a rug with such a vibrant, rich blue color, let alone in a brick pattern (if you’re in Los Angles, you can pick this rug up at Hannoun Rugs in Culver City). The Gainey pot is from Sharon’s own collection. Sadly, Gainey stopped making their signature ceramic pots in 2013, so if you spot one at a thrift store, don’t hesitate to buy it!

The finishing touch is a delicate mobile from Brooklyn’s Fort Makers. The designer, Noah Spencer, says he takes inspiration from human fascination with the universe. We love its delicate lines and gentle movement, and we think it is the perfect compliment to the pairing of Baby Deer and Petal Pusher. We also think Petal Pusher pairs beautifully with Baby Camel!

To see Petal Pusher and the full range of Hygge and West’s wallpaper collections, visit them online here – and find more from our Wallpaper Pairings series, here.

tagged: Boy Nursery, Girl Nursery, Inspired Finds, Kids Room Design, Nursery Design, Products we Love, Wallpaper Pairings

Gift Guide: For Pets.

December 3, 2015

‘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.

Clockwise from top left:
1. Birdhouse
2. Cuddle toys, No longer available
3. Feather cat toy, $1.99
4. Neckerchief, $19.36
5. Pottery bowl, $65+
6. Modular cat scratcher, $49.95+
7. Snowflake toy, No longer available
8. Dog shampoo, $16

tagged: Products we Love

Products We Love: Heather Levine Ceramics.

August 20, 2015

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.

See more at Heather Levine’s website, here.

tagged: Products we Love

Products We Love: Luvmother.

June 23, 2015

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.

See more from Luvmother, here.

tagged: Products we Love

Round-Up: Woven Baskets.

May 13, 2015

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.

1. Market basket, $39
2. Seagrass basket, $88
3. Jute rope basket, $22.99
4. African knitting basket, $55
5. Ghana market basket, $36.50
6. Ghana open-top basket, $92
7. African basket with lid, No longer available
8. Woven bin, No longer available

Want more round-ups? Our favorite nursery pillows and soft toys.

tagged: Products we Love

Gift Guide: Dogs and Cats.

December 6, 2014

For those of you whose pets receive the same holiday gift-giving consideration as people (we know you’re out there), we’ve rustled up ten ideas for cherished cats and dogs. Among them: a cleanser made with citrus and spearmint, a squeaky toy emblazoned with a mailman’s mug, and a collar charm containing ID info (to ensure a happy reunion should Fido ever go astray).

1. Grreat Choice, Sisel Ball and Mice Pack, $4.99
2. ORE Pet, Speckle & Spot Ceramic Bowl, $12.29
3. PetFusion, Walnut Brown Cat Scratcher Lounge, $49.95
4. Aesop, Animal Fur Cleanser, $39
5. Billy Wolf, Porter Plaid Dog Coat, $62
6. Oré Pet, Mail Man Dog Toy, $8
7. Heather Dalrymple, Handwoven Pet Basket, No longer available
8. Kaufmann Mercantile, Hemp & Solid Brass Dog Leash, $59
9. Filson, Leather Dog Collar, $38
10. Bethany Obrecht, Brass ID Tube Charm, $14

tagged: Products we Love

Baby Rhino Nursery Sources: Part Two

December 4, 2014

1. Rainbow Stacking Toy: Land of Nod
2. Paint Color: Valspar Modest Silver
3. Duckling Photograph (10″ x 13″): The Animal Print Shop
4. Wobble Chicken: Land of Nod
5. Wooden Blocks: Little Sapling Toys
6. Baskets: Container Store
7. Knit Monkey: Land of Nod
8. Pottery: Vitrified Studio
9. Chair: Search ebay for Vintage Pretzel Style Rattan

We’re working on more Nursery Projects, so be sure to stay tuned. Watch for Sharon’s instagram sneak peek’s (@sharonmontrose) #theanimalprintshopnurseryproject

tagged: Girl Nursery, Products we Love, Room Tours, The Nursery Project

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