Kidding around
Three stylish Perth women open the doors to their children's bedrooms, sharing their styling tips for creating spaces that kids will love — and won't outgrow in a hurry.
Designer touch
The key to styling with a “10-year-old boy’s mess” is a monochromatic colour scheme, according to Renee Coleman, owner of Empire Homewares in Highgate.
“Orlando has had very neutral bedrooms with an accent of colour since he was born,” Ms Coleman said.
Now living in an iconic 1960s home that was designed by famed Bulgarian architect Iwan Iwanoff, Orlando’s bedroom is suitably home to a mix of designer hand-me-downs, mid-century treasures and a cool little pet.
“He’s inherited my Missoni doona cover and Empire Homewares black leather bed,” Ms Coleman said.
“His white bedsides are by Kartell and the old vintage sideboard is a radio from the 1960s — a stunning piece that my husband found.
“The aquarium is home to a bearded dragon named Marshmallow.”
Looking out over the home’s front garden with a national park across the road, there’s not another house in sight from Orlando's room.
“When the time comes, it is going to be pretty hard to move out!” Ms Coleman said.
Jasmine Carmichael in her bedroom. Picture: Iain Gillespie
Awesome attic
‘Cosy attic bedroom” was the brief stylist Jo Carmichael set herself when creating her now four-year-old daughter Jasmine’s bedroom, as part of a wider home renovation.
“We managed to claim a lot of the space that would have been originally boxed up, enabling it to have this long pitched ceiling which I clad with wood panelling to add texture,” Ms Carmichael, one half of design blog Style and Focus (styleandfocus.com.au), said.
“I was lucky enough to find the crafted bed on Gumtree, originally a high-gloss varnished pine but with a lot of sanding and a repaint it was painted a dark French grey to ground all the pink.”
A fan of design company Ferm Living, Ms Carmichael opted for its yellow bed linen which she layered with Jasmine’s baby quilt — a great find from her favourite Sydney store Pure and General.
“The daisy rug by Armadillo & Co was the perfect rug for this kooky space with its pastel colours and robust materials,” Ms Carmichael said.
“But the best find was the Art Deco wardrobe. I spotted it at a second-hand store and the veneer was badly damaged but as Jasmine showed a budding love of drawing I thought why not paint the whole thing with blackboard paint.
“It now houses all her toys and books and is an ever changing art display.”
Ann-Marie Jansson's daughter Imogen. Picture: Iain Gillespie
Scandi style
No room ever stays the same for long in Ann-Louise Jansson’s home, where black, white and grey rule the roost.
“What’s the study today might be the living room tomorrow, just as my daughter Imogen’s bedroom was once the room I used for reading, watching movies and relaxing,” Ms Jansson said.
When preparing for Imogen’s arrival, Ms Jansson, the owner of Scandinavian Wallpaper and Decor in Mt Hawthorn, knew she didn’t want anything too childish, and still wanted to be able to change things around on a whim.
“I chose furniture that would work as the room evolved from a nursery to a toddler’s room to a little girl’s room,” she said.
Copper letters, tactile sheepskins in varying colours and a cool brick wall-look wallpaper from Ms Jansson's store are key pieces in the two-and-a-half-year-old's room.
“It has a definite Scandinavian influence — some pieces are from IKEA, others are from my parents and grandparents in Sweden,” she said.
These family pieces are important to Ms Jansson, who likes a room to tell a story.
“Tee pee-style tents are popular at the moment but ours is more than just a trend, it’s a reminder of our roots and the native Sami people of Sweden.
“Good storage was also essential so toys can be easily packed away before Imogen goes to sleep.”
