Minty Magazine {Issue 10} Spring 2017

SPRING 2017

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AU S T R A L I A’ S M O S T LOV E D FA M I LY A N D L I F E S T Y L E FA I R F R E E E N T R Y W H E N YO U R E G I S T E R O N L I N E AT O N E F I N E B A B Y.C O M . AU

MELBOURNE 9 + 10 SEPTEMBER R O YA L E X H I B I T I O N B U I L D I N G - C A R LT O N G A R D E N S

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P R O U D LY S P O N S O R E D & S U P P O R T E D BY 2 MINTYMAGAZINE.COM.AU

SHOP TIL’ YOU POP OVER 100+ CURATED STALLS FEATURING KIDS CLOTHING, MATERNITY CLOTHING, KIDS INTERIORS, DECOR, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.

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F R E E E N T R Y W H E N Y O U R E G I S T E R O N L I N E AT O N E F I N E B A B Y. C O M . A U

S O C I A L I M PAC T PA R T N E R

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GONE ARE THE DAYS, IT SEEMS, OF HOLDING YOUR CARDS TO YOUR CHEST...

The secrecy around our IP, protecting our suppliers at all costs and keeping our competitors at an arms length are business practices that I am so happy to wave a huge goodbye to.

Mother Native - a perfect example of two brands with core values so aligned it would be insane not to create something spectacular together.

Kat & Fox came together with Little Hipster Kubbies to create beautiful content to share with us (lucky us!)

Howe and Zo, Inspired Quarters, and Oh Eight Oh Nine joined forces and bought us a room collaboration that utilised everyone’s best skills with incredible results.

I LOVE collaboration. I welcome sharing ideas with open arms. I would shout from the roof tops every one of my suppliersto help their businesses and because I am proud of the beautiful relationships I have in the industry. I firmly believe we are It makes me beyond happy! stronger together.

So, please enjoy this edition. Share the As I read through the pages of this edition rooms you love. Click through to see what it brings me so much joy to be sharing so other treats our wonderful suppliers have. many projects born through collaboration. Be inspired and create!

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01. Teal Sofie $149.95 misterfly.com.au 02. Indigo Stripe Duvet Sets from $185.00 cultiver.com.au 03. Grey Short Knit Overalls $49.95 miannandco.com.au 04. 2pk Large Plates Fox $29.95 lovemae.com.au 05. Little People, Big Dreams: Frida Kahlo $19.99 whenharlowmetjagger.com.au

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MINTY & CO.

OUTSIDE

FEATURES

ROOMS

13 // COLOUR BOMB A conceptual journey of colour to inspire your next room.

27 // CAREER RENOVATION Taking the plunge with UrbanBaby.

33 // SPRING INTO SPRING Your guide to this Springs colour pop trend.

34 // SHOPPING How to dress your babes this Spring.

54 // NEXT LEVEL KUBBIES A Kat & Fox and Little Hipster Kubby Collaboration 60 // INDI AND ZARA 66 // MINNIE’S ROOM 72 // FRANKIE AND BEAR 80 // PATRICK’S ROOM 88 // ASHER’S ROOM

37 // MOTHER NATIVE How a uniquely Australian collaboration was born.

94 // TWICE AS NICE

40 // AT HOME WITH THE BEAR CUB CLUB Muma bear, Sarah Pickersgill-Brown on keeping it real in a cub life.

108 // JOEY’S ROOM

100 // EVIE AND INDIANA

112 // THE ESSENTIAL NURSERY PLANNER

PARTIES

46 // THE REAL KIDS OF BONDI Party Time!

PUBLISHER + EDITOR Nicole Ray GRAPHIC DESIGN Bridgette Bathgate FRONT COVER Jacinda Malloy, Hide & Sleep FEATURES Celine Barnes Bernice Campbel Jacqui Greig PHOTOGRAPHY Françoise Baudet Brooke Castel Sue Ferris Craig Hempstead Simon Hewson, fa tog’ra fi Tarina Lyell, oh. eight. oh. nine

Shelley Mills Photography Jenna Payne Sarah Pickersgill-Brown Red Rabbit Photography Caitlin Schokker Silk Imagery Vellum Studios Rachel Winton Photography VIDEOGRAPHY Simon Hewson, fa tog’ra fi TYPOGRAPHY Louie Luxe CONTRIBUTORS Gina Ciancio, Style Curator Georgie Duddy, After The Rock Belinda Kurtz, Petite Interior Co. Magdalene Liacopoulos Jacinda Malloy, Hide & Sleep

Madeline McFarlane Nicole Rosenberg, Little Liberty Aimie Ryan, Willow + Bear Kim Saunt, Inspired Quarters Kristy Young, Minnie & Me Interiors MINTY MAGAZINE IS A QUARTERLY ONLINE PUBLICATION. VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF THE PUBLISHER. COPYRIGHT IS RESERVED MEANING NO PART OF THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER, MINTY MAGAZINE. THE PUBLISHER ACCEPTS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS WITHIN.

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Interiors • Toys • Fashion

www.jackandwillow.com

Image © Tarina Lyell - Oh.Eight.Oh.Nine

Interiors Toys Fashion MINTYMAGAZINE.COM.AU 11

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COLOUR BOMB A CONCEPTUAL JOURNEY OF COLOUR TO INSPIRE YOUR NEXT ROOM PHOTOGRAPHY FRANÇOISE BAUDET STYLED BY MADELINE McFARLANE

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THE EMERALD AND THE EARTHY THE LUSH AND THE LIGHT THE MEADOWS AND THE MOSS

Sierra Weave Seafoam Rug $750.00 armadillo-co.com // Penny Cushion $75.00 nativeswinson.com.au // Confetti Floor Cushion - Small Flax $49.00 olliella.com.au // Olli Ella Luggy Yellow $75.00 kidostore.com // Spike Cactus Donna Wilson $145.00 kidostore.com // Bergstein Rainboot Forest Gumboots $64.95 kidostore.com // Milton Ashby Aeroplane Green $59.50 urbanbaby.com.au // Be Free Wall Hanging Mustard $55.00 olliella.com.au // Fitted Sheet Set - Piccoli $55.00 olliella.com.au // Bayonet Photographic Art Print $80.00 theminimalist.com.au // Jake Chair $320.00 store.koskela.com.au // HAY Box Box $94.00 cultdesign.com.au // Jute Flooring POA store.koskela.com.au // Plants and Greenery by Maggie May Flowers maggiemayflowers.com // 14 MINTYMAGAZINE.COM.AU

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Luxe Rug $680.00 langdonltd.com.au // Gingham Cushion Large $175.00 langdonltd.com.au // Royal Wave Cushion $150.00 jenniferandsmith.com // Denim Bean Bag $590.00b store.koskela.com.au // Bloomingville Cloud Shelf Large $129.00 kidostore.com // Bloomingville Cloud Shelf Small $88.00 kidostore.com // Ahoy Trader Fiji Palms Mini Tile $50.00 thetribeco.com.au // Ahoy Trader Tribal Mini Tile $50.00 thetribeco.com.au // Lucie Kaas Sketch Inc Kokeshi Doll Thief $59.95 kidostore.com // Wooden Story Rainbow Blocks in Sack $85.06 urbanbaby.com.au // Trash Studio A3 Print Electric Blue Leopard $40.00 thetribeco.com.au // Colour Box Chest of Drawers $1233.00 lillyandlolly.com.au // HAY Box Box $94.00 cultdesign.com.au // Wee Gallery Nesting Dolls $54.95 urbanbaby.com.au // On The Edge Lamp $425.00 theminimalist.com.au // One Two Tree Alpha Print $69.00 kidostore.com // Panton Chair Kids Blue $28.00 glicksfurniture.com.au // Wee Gallery Organic Sensory Puzzle Ball $59.95 urbanbaby.com.au // Vans Hi Top $89.95 kidostore.com // Indus Design Cotton Baby Blanket - Whale $69.95 urbanbaby.com.au // Dingo Hat Fallen Broken Street $69.95 kidostore.com // Car from Mitchell Road Antiques // 18 MINTYMAGAZINE.COM.AU

THE COOL AND THE CALM THE ECLECTIC AND THE ETHEREAL THE ROYAL AND THE ROGUE

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THE DUSKY AND THE DIRTY THE FRESH AND THE FEMININE THE RICH AND THE ROSY

Eggpicnic Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo Print $150.00 thetribeco.com.au // Main Sauvage Maple Leaf Cushion $86.00 kidostore.com // Heirloom Blanket Persimmon Misha Puff $249.00 kidostore.com // Indus Design Cotton Baby Blanket - Rocking Horse $69.95 urbanbaby.com.au // Single Bed Fitted Sheet Old Pink $140.00 majorminorsydney.com // Single Pillow Case Old Pink $42.00 majorminorsydney.com // Milton Ashby Speedster Red $44.50 urbanbaby.com. au // Milton Ashby Rocking Horse Red $44.50 urbanbaby.com.au // Piki Basket Pink olliella.com.au // Fringe Cushion Blush $99.00 langdonltd.com.au // Fringe Rug Blush $297.00 langdonltd.com.au // Seletti Bellavista LED Garden Lights $215.00 kidostore.com // Albany 3 Print $210.00 lillyandlolly.com.au // Sierra Weave Fairyfloss Rug $780.00 lillyandlolly.com.au // Spin Stool $442.00 fredinternational.com.au // Oeuf Sparrow Trundle Bed $449.00 kidostore.com// 22 MINTYMAGAZINE.COM.AU

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career renovation TAKING THE PLUNGE WITH URBANBABY WORDS CELINE BARNES PHOTOGRAPHY CRAIG HEMPSTEAD STYLING MADELINE McFARLANE

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fter years of assisting small to large businesses with strategy, accounting and tax matters, Russell and Amelia had a light-bulb moment and realised they had the energy, passion, knowledge and experience required to run their own show. They affirm the main motivation behind their decision was their dream “of being able to spend more time with our young children. They are only little a short time and we wanted to be able to be involved in their lives more, from school to all extra curriculars. The look on our kids’ faces when we rock up at school to do home reading, homework help et cetera is priceless!”, Amelia declares.

The reality of their arrangement in action is “like any other family with two young children – busy (but fun!)”. While juggling the demands of children

and responsibilities to the business is hectic, they are lucky to work near home and have flexible working hours. They are also fortunate that while Amelia’s parents live overseas, Russell’s family and Amelia’s brother live close by and are very helpful with the kids.

“To be honest work life balance is a funny thing.

With the world being more connected than ever, I am not sure if one can fully detach from business outside of working hours but because we can share the workload or do some of the work after hours we believe we are better at achieving work life balance”, says Amelia. The best test is whether they would change anything and when asked, Russell is quick to proclaim “Nope – no regrets – should have done this sooner!”

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We found some time in Russell and Amelia’s busy schedules to get them to share their experiences with you: WE ARE AT A BBQ AND I ASK YOU WHAT YOU DO…“We run UrbanBaby which is the online destination for stylish, practical and innovative parenting solutions.

Our range covers beautiful essentials, hand selected gifts and designer furniture all conveniently delivered to your door with our fast dispatch service.”

WHAT GETS YOU EXCITED ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS? “Our customers! We are so lucky to have customers saying they have a wonderful experience with us and will tell their friends about us. We must be doing something right because they say they’ll come back and they do! Can’t beat that feeling! We also find keeping ahead of the competition and being the brand ambassador for many new and innovative products for the Australian market a super fun aspect of the business.”

We loved the idea that people would be coming to us to find items to assist their precious little person grow!

WHAT DREW YOU TO URBANBABY? “UrbanBaby has been around for over 15 years and in that time established and maintained a great reputation with its customers, suppliers and partners. In fact, we were customers when our children were babies! When we began our search for a business to purchase, UrbanBaby was presented to us and really struck us as a business which had genuinely strived to find solutions to so many parenting dilemmas. On closer inspection, the business had been well run and everything neatly documented making the changeover much easier. On a personal level, babies are such joy for families and we loved the idea that people would be coming to us to find items to assist their precious little person grow!”

WHAT MAKES URBANBABY STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD? “UrbanBaby is often the first store to introduce new products to Australia, so our unique selection of products really is a great selling point. By catering for both parenting essentials and beautiful gifts, we give customers a destination for all their baby needs. Matched with our next business day dispatch service we believe we provide the ultimate customer journey.”

WORKING WITH YOUR SPOUSE IS A CHALLENGE MANY COUPLES WOULDN’T EVEN ATTEMPT SO HOW DO YOU MAKE IT WORK? “We can discuss business quickly, make decisions quickly and have ultimate trust in each other therefore can segregate tasks faster.

While we have similar skillsets gained from our business advisory background, with UrbanBaby, Amelia does more of the creative side of the business (with our socials and photos) and Russell focuses more on the business, financial, strategy and operational side of things. The most difficult thing is keeping work conversations to a minimum during family time.”

WHAT HAVE BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES? “As with many other business owners who have young children, juggling family and work is the biggest hurdle and one that needs constant recalibration. It has been a steep learning curve when it comes to building relationships with our media partners and influencers to ensure that we work with people who share our values because in our previous roles this type of networking was not required yet it is critical to the success of UrbanBaby.

OMG probably the other thing is making sure

FEATURE our kids don’t take too many toys home from the warehouse! Thankfully, they are getting better as they get older but earlier on it took much vigilance to keep the pilfering to a minimum.”

WHAT ARE SOME KEY CHANGES YOU HAVE MADE TO THE BUSINESS? “We started using Instagram in October 2016 to showcase our beautiful products to a wider market and we have invested in a larger warehouse with a fantastic layout and floor-plan to increase our efficiency in getting orders out to our customers.”

WHAT ARE YOUR DREAMS FOR URBANBABY? “We would love for UrbanBaby to be the first store that comes to mind when parents, aunts,

uncles and grandparents are buying for babies and children. We would like our customers to be excited about the products we offer and always enjoy a wonderful customer experience from browsing our site through to when their chosen goods arrive at their door. We would like our customers to encourage others to shop with us and be comfortable that the person they recommend us to has the same wonderful experience as they do – every time.”

URBANBABY www.urbanbaby.com.au @urbanbabyshop

WATCH NOW

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TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL CAREER RENOVATION Check and double check. If you are purchasing a business, ensure you do due diligence, ask lots and lots of questions and talk to your accountant.

Save up! Changing from employment to business ownership may mean less predictable income and you need a buffer to help see you through the leaner times.

Create a business plan. While it can be hard to do, you will thank yourself later when you have something to measure against and keep direction clear. The power of writing something down should not be underestimated.

Become a sponge and learn from others. What you end up doing may differ from what you have had experience in so far and you will need to accumulate knowledge quickly.

You will make mistakes. Each mistake is a learning experience so get used to dusting yourself off, making necessary changes and moving on.

BABY DONKIE www.babydonkie.com.au @babydonkie

Art prints by blackliststore.com.au // Bedding by cultiver.com.au // Cushions by langdonltd.com.au // Everything else by urbanbaby.com.au

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INSTA LOVE AMELIA’S GO TO’S FOR INSPIRATION

@threebirdsrenovations THESE LADIES ARE SO CLEVER WITH THEIR RENOS!

@lisamessenger A WOMEN WHO MAKES THINGS HAPPEN.

@mintymagazine GORGEOUS FRESH KIDS’ INTERIORS.

RUSSELL’S GO TO’S FOR INSPIRATION

@weegallery BEAUTIFUL PRODUCTS, SCIENCE WITH HEART.

@doddleandcompany A GREAT FEED WITH A GREAT PRODUCT.

@joelparko AUSTRALIAN SURFER JOEL PARKINSON. MINTYMAGAZINE.COM.AU 31

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SPRING INTO

SPRING

YOUR GUIDE TO THIS SPRINGS COLOUR POP TREND

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01. XO Love Bamboo Muslin Swaddle $35 creamempire.com // 02. Felt Shelfie Aqua $79.95 willowandwood.com.au // 03. Wire Basket Mint Large $29.95 thewoodsfolk.com.au // 04. Ocean Abundance Print $20 bekhallidayart.com // 05. Kip & Co X Electric Confetti Banana Neon $895 electricconfetti.com // MINTYMAGAZINE.COM.AU 33

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Enchanted Tee White $27.95

THE LITTLE finn $40.00

Lerato Mary Jane Lace Ups $50.00

Mimi dress $75.00

GOLDEN DINO ACORN SWEATER CONFETTI BLOOMERS $72.00 $29.95 Lerato Mary Jane Lace Ups $50 maishakids.com.au // Enchanted Tee White $27.95 asterandoak.com.au //

The Classic Sweater Golden Dino $72.00 whenharlowmetjagger.com.au // Mimi Dress Eggplant $75 talaria.com.au // The Little Finn : : Almond Milk $40 aberdeenpetite.com // Confetti Bloomers $29.95 acornkids.com.au // MINTYMAGAZINE.COM.AU 35

MOTHER NATIVE HOW A UNIQUELY AUSTRALIAN COLLABORATION WAS BORN PHOTOGRAPHY CAITLIN SCHOKKER WORDS JACQUI GREIG

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mazing opportunities become possible with the right meld of talent, personality and vision, which was exactly the case when artist Kate Swinson, and fashion duo Peta Purcell and Rowena Campbell, joined forces to create clothing collection Mother Native.

Collaboration is fast becoming a defining characteristic of creativity and growth; as our mothers taught us – sharing is caring. For Kate, Peta and Rowena, it was the fateful Instagram introduction by a mutual friend that led to the inevitable.

“We followed each other’s Instagram feeds for quite some time until eventually Peta and Rowena were heading to Sydney and asked if I would like to meet,” explains Kate. “Two cups of coffee and one kombucha later, we knew something was going to happen collaboratively between our businesses.”

Kate is the Sydney-based artist and designer behind Native Swinson – combining a love of nature and drawing with a passion for creating environmentally friendly artisan design that celebrates nature while treading lightly on our planet.

Kate’s aesthetic for her wallpaper and textile designs is born from the detailed line drawing of her contemporary art practice, growing organically from the memory of a rural childhood roaming untethered through the Australian landscape, climbing up trees and floating down rivers. A perfect fit for ‘slow fashion’ label Mother + Joey, which is handcrafted and inspired by the Australian landscape.

Meeting as neighbours in the country village of Morpeth located in the Hunter Valley, Peta and Rowena saw a future in family fashion that

had purpose for themselves, their families and many more generations to come. Mother + Joey is Australia’s first fashion label dedicated to twinning for mothers, sons, daughters (aka joeys) and soon dads, redefining the concept of “matchy matchy” – making it polished, modern and decidedly cool.

“Peta and Rowena had seen my fabric and wallpaper and say they fell in love with the aesthetic,” says Kate. “They could see it as a part of what they were already doing with clothing for mothers and children. As a tactile maker I was very drawn to their beautiful linens and tailoring and how they had reconceptualised the concept of ‘twinning’. I’m a lover of the ‘matchy match’ and have secretly wanted to design children’s clothing for quite some time.”

The three women share a passion for handcrafted, locally made Australian design; Kate produces her designs locally, hand screening using nontoxic inks and ecofriendly papers, while Peta and Rowena are proudly part of the minority who are making clothes onshore and keeping the traditional skills of pattern designing, dressmaking and high-quality tailoring alive.

Aptly named Happenstance, this first collaborative collection perfectly sums up their complementing skillsets and the serendipitous piecing together of Kate’s hand-screened fabrics with Peta and Rowena’s soft linens.

“The original fabric designs are seeded from my childhood spent growing up in rural Australia and the memory of adventuring through the bush,” explains Kate.

Indeed, childhood play has been a focus throughout the clothing collection, with the ‘Little Gatherer’ and ‘Fly Away at Dawn’ dresses and skirt featuring oversized pockets on the front, ideal for gathering flowers, rocks, shells and whatever other precious treasures small people feel are important to collect and cherish.

One of our only challenges has been time, and not enough of it. We could probably look at this from the other direction though, and say we are able to do an awful lot in a small amount of time.

“This collaboration seems to have formed on its own, with its own sense of urgency and force.

As there are three of us the momentum has been very rapid – before we knew it our words had turned into designs and our designs into a collection,” says Kate.

Kate believes that collaboration brings its own energy; “If everyone is on the same page, it is a very efficient way to work. People are able to play to their strengths and if these strengths are spread throughout the collaborators then the end result is highly tuned.”

“One of the best things (about working together) has been throwing an idea forward and having the response be yes, let’s do it, how can we do it? And suddenly it is done,” says Kate.

“One of our only challenges has been time, and not enough of it. We could probably look at this from the other direction though, and say we are able to do an awful lot in a small amount of time.” This is exactly the beauty of creative collaboration – working with a shared vision toward a common goal, which, in this case, is a handcrafted collection of clothing that celebrates the Australian landscape with natural, earthy colours.

Shying away from mass production, the Mother Native collection has a timeless style that celebrates the hand of the maker and is made to last a lifetime, not a season. It is a collection that fittingly pays tribute to the creative genius of the makers behind it, honouring their values and being all the more beautiful because of them.

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VIEW THE HAPPENSTANCE COLLECTION

MOTHER + JOEY www.motherandjoey.com.au @motherandjoey

NATIVE SWINSON www.nativeswinson.com.au @native.swinson

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AT HOME WITh

The Bear Cub Club

MUMA BEAR, SARAH PICKERSGILL-BROWN ON KEEPING IT REAL IN A CUB LIFE. PHOTOGRAPHY SARAH PICKERSGILL-BROWN WORDS NICOLE RAY

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FEATURE

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very now and again as I’m trawling through the socials, I come across a true ‘scroll-stopper’ and @thebearcubclub is one of those accounts. Curated by the impeccably stylish Sarah Pickersgill-Brown, we are taken on a journey through her beautifully light life with her twin boys. Quill and Caspian are hands down the best dressed twins in town, and don’t even get me started on their playroom!

These little squares of happiness bring endless inspiration and #instalove to my feed. If you haven’t checked it out - you should…but beware the ovary explosion is inevitable!

I am delighted to share this little peek into life with the Bear Cubs.

TELL US ABOUT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY “We live in Melbourne, but my husband Ben and I are originally from New Zealand where we grew up and met. Ben and I married quite young at 21, and we decided to move to Australia shortly afterwards to build our careers and make a home in a bigger city than our hometown.

I always imagined I would be a super young mum, and have babies in my early twenties, but we decided to travel and live in Europe for some time, so I ended up falling pregnant in my late twenties. I was so wrapped to have two at once which I felt made up for lost time.

As a family, we really enjoy spending our weekends at different Melbourne cafes and catching up with friends, most of which have children of similar ages to the boys. During the warmer seasons, we do road trips to new and interesting places around Victoria. Our social activities almost always revolve around the boys however, so we’re also quite often at the zoo or at other child friendly places.”

YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL AESTHETIC, IS THIS SOMETHING YOU HAVE ALWAYS HAD OR DID INSTAGRAM AND THE TWINS OPEN THIS UP FOR YOU? “I have always been creative and involved in lots of different hobbies. I originally studied fashion, and worked in bridal wear, then as a makeup artist until the boys arrived. As I care for the boys full time, I naturally became interested in mini fashion and all the accessories which are part of raising babies/toddlers. Styling their wardrobe and playroom is such an amazing creative outlet for me, and it involves the boys 100% so I’m not sacrificing my time with them, but rather including them in everything going on.”

I LOVE THIS QUOTE FROM YOUR INTAGRAM ACCOUNT ‘ONE TINY PIECE OF BEAUTY IN AN OTHERWISE UNATTRACTIVE AND MESSY DAY’ IS THIS A PHILOSOPHY YOU LIVE BY? “Yes! There are some days us mums have, that just start poorly, and end poorly. It’s inevitable unfortunately, unless you give birth to a robot baby?! But I try to always focus on the best parts of the day. Because every stage is so fleeting. If I verbalize a negative thing, I find myself rehashing and dwelling on it far more than if I ignore it and only focus on the positives. In saying that, I’m pretty down to earth, and am the first to admit this parenting gig has its limitations and challenges!

It was also a struggle and journey for me to fall pregnant, so I am very conscious of how amazingly blessed Ben and I are to have these two healthy, energetic and entertaining little humans! It helps see past the trickier parts.”

ARE YOUR BOYS EVER NOT IMPECCABLY DRESSED? “Totally! I’m NOT a morning person, and especially if the boys have had me up during the night, I’ll be a walking zombie all morning!

Most days, it’s not until I make it to our local café for a coffee fix that I get the energy to function.

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This includes choosing an outfit for the boys to wear that day! So they turn up to the café in their PJ’s most mornings, and me in my Mum Uniform of yoga pants and a sweat top. But seeing the boys dressed in cute mini fashion makes me so happy, I actually feel really depressed if a whole day goes by and I’ve not put them in something special. So apart from the mornings, they’re usually wearing some cute outfit from a small business I’ve discovered through Instagram.”

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO KEEP PUSHING WITH THE STYLING OF THE BOYS AND THEIR PLAYROOM? “I just can’t seem to help myself with wanting to dress the boys in cute clothes! I’ve wanted real life baby dolls since I can remember to play dress ups with, so I don’t think I’ll ever tire of it? I also love supporting small and local businesses. The sweetest outfits are so often handmade treasures made by mums working from home.

I vividly remember my own childhood, and how much I adored playing games with my little sister. I’m in my element reliving all of that through the boys again. I grew up in a family of four girls, and we really didn’t have a lot to spend on anything other than necessities. But that didn’t stop me having the best childhood!

I made my own paper dolls with cut out paper dresses to interchange. I desperately wanted a doll’s house so I made one from an old heater box, filled with everything mini, and it was my pride and joy! I was also just as much a tom boy as I was a girly girl, so I’d love climbing trees and making stick huts and pulling my little sister around in an old tin cart. These are all the things I can’t wait to do and introduce to the boys to.

But of course, I now have the ability to shop not only at op-shops (which I still LOVE! and do quite often) but also with those businesses who make toys I could only have dreamed of owning as a child.”

slide and rocker, as they’re not only beautiful to look at, but super practical. The slide is perfect for them as they love to climb up on anything and everything, and this is a super safe option and something they play together on exceptionally well. They use it as a car ramp, a tunnel to crawl through, a cubby to hide under, a hill to climb up, and of course, a slide to scoot down and send their soft toys down, singing out, ‘WEEEEEEEE’.

The rocker is another amazing toy that they share really well (most of the time). They giggle at each other when one is rocking wildly away.

It’s become a game to swap turns, answering to each other’s loud requests to ‘shhhhear?!’.”

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN THIS SPACE? “I love to keep everything as light and bright as possible! But I have to be careful the overall look and feel doesn’t become cold and clinical. I love to include warmth wherever I can, especially in beautiful pieces of wooden furniture, like our Elements Optimal sheep chairs, (which I absolutely adore! The feel and quality of them are so special). I’ve also developed an obsession for natural coloured wooden toys, especially the ones which entertain the boys really well, like our Honey Tree Baby stacking and pull along toys. Our Sailah Lane prints, framed in natural wooden frames also add just the perfect amount of warmth and colour to the space, but in a soft, quirky and child friendly way. (The boys LOVE them too, always pointing them out and asking what animal it is).”

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT THIS SPACE? “The light that fills our playroom is beautiful. It has one small window but, for some reason, it’s the brightest room in the house. It always puts me in the best mood spending time there. I feel uplifted and motived as soon as I step through the door. “

One tiny piece of beauty in an otherwise unattractive and messy day

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE FEATURE IN THE PLAYROOM AND WHY? “I adore our Jupiduu 42 MINTYMAGAZINE.COM.AU

THE BEAR CUB CLUB @thebearcubclub

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PRODUCTS ON THE WAY TO OUR PLAYROOM NOFED TWIN MOUSE BENCH HONEY TREE BABY NOFED MINI TABLE & CHAIRS HONEY TREE BABY PERSONALIZED CUSHIONS LITTLE CONNOISSEUR GREY ROUND BOBBLE MAT LILY LILY BABY NUMERO74 SILVER GREY CANOPY CONCRETE BLUSH

TOP PRODUCTS JUUPADU SLIDE HONEY TREE BABY JUUPADU BUTTERFLY ROCKER HONEY TREE BABY ELEMENTS OPTIMAL SHEEP CHAIRS CONCRETE BLUSH HENRY PRINT A2 SAILAH LANE STACKABLE AND PULL ALONG TOYS HONEY TREE BABY CHALK BOARD ROOF TABLE/CUBBY HOUSE HIP KIDS TOGETHER THEY WERE MAGIC PRINT MEEK & VALIANT QUILTED PLAY MAT MOLLY AND MOO MUSICAL ORB THE GATHERED STORE CAM CAM MUSICAL BALLOON MOBILE THE GATHERED STORE JANUARY HIGHCHAIR HAVE A NICE DAY MINI WHITE PIANO HIP KIDS HAPPY BOY LUCKY KNITTED DOLL ONE LITTLE TWO LITTLE SHAPE SORTER BELLO BABY NEUTRAL FELT BALL MOBILE HOPE AND JADE CLOUD WALL STICKERS STICK STAY POM POM AND TASSEL GARLANDS CLOUDETTE HOME FELT BUNTING AND FELT BALL MOBILE BABY JONES DESIGNS MANHATTAN BOOKCASE HIP KIDS FELT APPLE CUSHIONS BIG AND LITTLE BOW CUSHION CLOUDETTE HOME

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PARTIES 46 MINTYMAGAZINE.COM.AU

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TOP PRODUCTS PARTY SUPPLIES & GARLANDS RUBY RABBIT CAKE TOPPER GNARLY WOOD PROJECTS FOOD FOOD RASCAL NEON LIGHTS ELECTRIC CONFETTI SIBELLA AND HUGO SETTEE INCY INTERIORS RUG, CUSHIONS & HIDE DESIGN TWINS FLOOR CUSHIONS MISTER FLY GREENERY & FLOWERS MAGGIE MAY KIDS DRESSED BY HEY LITTLE CAPS BY KIDS CULT VIDEO & PHOTOGRAPHY FA TO’GRA FI STYLING GEORGIE DUDDY - AFTER THE ROCK

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D LOATY N R W DO UR PA E E YO INVITE HER T PLA M TE

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NEXT LEVEL KUBBIES A KAT & FOX AND LITTLE HIPSTER KUBBY COLLABORATION PHOTOGRAPHY SILK IMAGERY 54 MINTYMAGAZINE.COM.AU

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Cabin Kubby littlehipsterkubby.net // Cushions and Linen katandfox.com.au // Luggy Baskets minimacko.com // Flowers myfloralstyling.com.au // Clothing minimacko.com // Stockings & Socks mamer.com.au // Boots beautifulsoles.com.au // Vintage Bike C Woods Vintage Cycles // 56 MINTYMAGAZINE.COM.AU

LITTLE HIPSTER KUBBY

OUTSIDE

Little Hipster Kubby are a family owned business passionate about building creative play spaces.

The kubbies are made from high quality, upcycled materials.

Each kubby is handmade by the husband and wife team Jade and Jonathan Phillips. The range of kubbies include Wild West, Market, Post Office and their brand new releases - Cabin Kubby and Tree House.

We are only limited by your imagination In addition, the kubbies can be customised to suit any style, space and budget - giving you the opportunity to have a playspace like no other!

LITTLE HIPSTER KUBBY www.littlehipsterkubby.net @littlehipsterkubby

KAT & FOX Kat and Fox is the dream of founder Kat Rattray, an interior designer and design educator.

After many years of lovingly reading to her own children, Kat is now combining her skills in illustration with her passion for children’s literature and interior decoration.

The team at Kat and Fox develop a new collection every 12 months adding a new children’s book, complimentary furnishings and colouristic activities.

It’s all about creating those magical memories shared between parent and child The beauty of the products is that they can be mixed and matched to create a magical world that is unique to each little person’s dream.

KAT & FOX www.katandfox.net @kat_and_fox

LITTLE HIPSTER KUBBY Cabin Kubby

KAT & FOX Bespoke décor collection for children.

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INDI AND ZARA

DESIGN NICOLE ROSENBERG, LITTLE LIBERTY PHOTOGRAPHY RACHEL WINTON PHOTOGRAPHY WORDS NICOLE RAY

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reating a shared room can certainly come with its challenges. Particularly when dealing with sisters with quite different personalities. To get the job done, Ronnit and Josh (Mum & Dad) enlisted top interior designer Nicole Rosenberg of Little Liberty. The result, a beautiful space that flips tradition, meets all of the physical demands of a shared room and complements each of the owners’ personalities perfectly.

We caught up with Ronnit to get the low down on how this room came to be.

TELL US ABOUT THE OWNERS OF THIS ROOM? “This room was designed as a shared space for Zara (eight) and India (six). Zara likes things that are feminine. Indi prefers functionality and places to store her treasures.”

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO ENGAGE AN INTERIOR DESIGNER? “I have used Nicole before for my kids’ rooms and other parts of the house. She has an amazing ability to completely understand what I want and know exactly what will work without too much discussion at all. She is great at working within a budget and creating spaces that are beautiful to be in.”

WHAT WAS THE BRIEF FOR THIS ROOM? “To create a shared room for two sisters, maximising the space in the room and catering for both of their personalities. Bonus was that there are areas in the room for sleep, work and play.”

WHAT WAS THE INSPRATION? “We started with the wallpaper and the idea of wallpapering the ceiling and then went from there using a palette of soft greys and dusty pinks with a few pieces like the artwork, beanbags and eyelash lights to give a bit of edge to the room.”

HOW DID YOU SELECT YOUR COLOUR PALETTE? “We needed colours that suited both personalities and that would work for their ages now, but also colours that would last as the girls become older and transition to their tween years.”

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE FEATURE IN THE ROOM AND WHY? “The girls love the desk space, sitting on the poufs and drawing and creating things using all the knick knacks on the shelves.”

WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE? “The biggest challenge was finding the right wallpaper for the ceiling - something that wouldn’t encroach and make the room feel small.”

WHAT IS YOUR OVERALL FAVOURITE THING ABOUT THIS SPACE? “The soft palette and the natural light. I particularly like the way the greenery outdoors is reflected in the hanging plants.”

LITTLE LIBERTY www.littleliberty.com @littlelibertyrooms MINTYMAGAZINE.COM.AU 63

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TOP PRODUCTS BED AND BUNKS OEUF SHELVES WILLOW & WOOD DESK IKEA BOOK SHELVES UBABUB POUFFS CRATE EXPECTATIONS PRINT SARA WINFIELD HANGING PLANTS CRATE EXPECTATIONS RUG THE RUG COLLECTION BEDDING ADAIRS MINI MOD BEAN BAG HOMEDAY

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MINNIE’S ROOM DESIGN KRISTY YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHY & STYLIST BROOKE CASTEL WORDS BERNICE CAMPBELL

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t’s just so damn pretty” is how interior designer and mum, Kristy Young, perfectly sums up her daughter Minnie’s magical room.

back wall has been kitted out with the custom wallpaper, giving the wardrobe a beautiful Narnia feel, hopefully minus the witch beckoning from beyond.

Kristy is new to interior design, not that you’d know by looking around Minnie’s room, one of her first projects that launched her into her new career and business, Minnie and Me Interiors. But her approach to design and decorating comes from a very different place to others. Her work as a child mental health nurse and family therapist means that she applies her knowledge of child development to create functional and beautiful rooms for little ones.

The plush floor cushion and touches such as the intricate bed linen and wool rug, add layers of softness and warmth to this little dreamland. And the magic continues with unexpected whimsical touches such as the deer wall tables, divine floral wreath and limited edition artwork.

And for her little one, Minnie, the brief was “pink, pink and more pink”. But more than that, the room needed to be an original with layers of cosiness, and a sense of enchantment.

The only thing needed to complete the fairy tale room is an amazing dollhouse, which has been purchased and is ready to be refurbished (in blush pink of course) for a Christmas surprise for Minnie.

MINNIE & ME INTERIORS @minnieandmeinteriors

So, when the brief revolves around pink, you must pick pink. But what pink? Selecting the right shade, proved to be the biggest challenge of the room, suffice to say a couple of hours may have been spent in Kristy’s local hardware deliberating. But in the end blush prevailed, creating a perfectly charmed space.

The custom vintage wallpaper, now available through Minnie and Me interiors, ensures that Minnie’s room is truly unique. And it’s Kristy’s favourite feature of the room. The rose gold cot, the focal feature of the room, sits proudly in front of the blooming back drop.

An old wardrobe lovingly restored by Kristy’s father and brother also takes pride of place in the room and makes space for Minnie’s gorgeous shoes and dresses. And what’s more, the MINTYMAGAZINE.COM.AU 69

INSTA LOVE KRISTY’S GO TO’S FOR INSPIRATION

@brookecastelstylist

BEAUTIFUL PRODUCT STYLING AND PHOTOGRAPHY

@houseofharvee

INTERIORS AND PHOTOGRAPHER FROM MELBOURNE

@oh.eight.oh.nine

INSTAGRAM POWERHOUSE - INTERIORS, PHOTOGRAPHER AND BLOGGER

@misskyreeloves

NOT JUST ANOTHER MUMA BLOGGER

@petiteinteriorco

IN HOME AND ONLINE DESIGN FOR YOUR KIDS.

@threebirdsrenovations

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01. Wooden Dolls Pram $179 keeks-and-chuck.myshopify.com // 02. My Dearest Print $79 schmooks.com.au // 03. Valentine Floor Cushion with Feather Adornment Blush & Gold $180 littleconnoisseur.com.au // 04. Rosette Round Cushion Tuscan Pink $59.50 lazybones.com.au // 05. Sierra Weave Fairyfloss $780 lifeinteriors.com.au // 06. Numero74 | Gold Falling Star Garland $49.95 talointeriors.com.au // MINTYMAGAZINE.COM.AU 71

FRANKIE AND BEAR DESIGN AIMIE RYAN, WILLOW + BEAR PHOTOGRAPHY JENNA PAYNE WORDS JACQUI GREIG

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While still pregnant with Frankie, Aimie was keen to transition Bear from the nursery into his very own room. Because their home is small, the aim was to create a sanctuary for Bear where he could play and make as much mess as he wanted, without cluttering the rest of the house.

Three-year-old Bear is a boisterous, fun-loving little boy; “If he isn’t out skateboarding, surfing or wrestling with his Dad, he’s playing with his trucks. But at the same time he has the softest soul and is a complete Mummy’s boy,” says Aimie.

Aimie’s organic and original approach to interior design is evident in Bear’s room; “I’m not a huge fan of colour, especially when it comes to boys. I remember when Bear was born everything was either blue, red or green and everything had some sort of animation on it – whether it was a train or a dinosaur.” Instead, Aimie wanted to create a space that was timeless and would work with the Scandinavian feel of her home.

It was also important to use natural materials where possible and to support small business.

She choose Instagram-popular brands Pax and Hart and Yorkalee for artwork, which nicely complements the modern and minimalist furniture choices. A favourite element of Bear’s room are the many entertainment options – from his bunk bed which can double-up as a cubby house, to the Oyoy floor rug where he spends endless hours using his imagination, and the library nook for downtime before bed.

Pops of greenery were added with potted plants that bring the outside in for this adventure-loving little boy. With Bear’s ‘big boy’ room ready, it

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imie Ryan from Willow + Bear isn’t your typical florist. The Sydney-sider has an unstructured style and doesn’t believe in perfection, which is exactly why her son, Bear, and daughter, Frankie, have such amazing bedrooms – allowing their little personalities to bloom.

was time to focus on re-designing the nursery – without knowing the gender of the soon-to-arrive babe!

“We weren’t sure if we were having a boy or girl, so I really wanted to create a gender neutral space,” explains Aimie. “This was one part of the home that I did want to have fun with, by injecting lots of colour in a modern way.”

Now aged nine-months, Frankie’s nursery is a gorgeous rainbow explosion of fun, tied together with the clever use of Milton and King’s grid wallpaper. “Incorporating the seven bright colours along with muted tones of grey and wooden accessories really helped to bring some warmth to the space,” explains Amie.

One of the biggest challenges with Frankie’s room was sourcing pieces with colours that worked together – especially as Aimie is naturally drawn to a more neutral colour palette.

“At times it was quite tricky, it’s crazy how many different tones of pink, yellow and blue there are that don’t go together, at all!” Having said that, it was clearly worth the struggle, as Aimie loves how fun and vibrant the room is; “It has so much character and really brings a breath of fresh air to the house!”

The sense of whimsy is enhanced with the help of some judicious choices from Castle and Things, including framed Rachel Castle tea towels, and pieces from her signature bedding collection, while a Mocka wooden rocking horse and design-savvy Noc Noc wooden toy accessories are not only fun and functional, but double as decorator prices.

By steering clear of trends and following her own sense of style, Aimie has created two bedroom spaces for her children that not only suit their individual characters, but fit perfectly into their family home.

WILLOW + BEAR www.willowandbear.com.au @willow_and_bear MINTYMAGAZINE.COM.AU 75

INSTA LOVE AIMIE’S GO TO’S FOR INSPIRATION

@scandikid STORE INFLUENCED BY SCANDINAVIAN DESIGN, THE LOVE OF INTERIORS AND CHILDREN’S SPACES.

@oohnoo_official LINEN AND MINIMALIST BEDDING FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY.

@leoandbella LIFESTYLE STORE. KIDS INTERIORS. CLOTHING. HOMEWARES. PARTY.

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PATRICK’S ROOM

DESIGN GINA CIANCIO, STYLE CURATOR PHOTOGRAPHER SHELLEY MILLS PHOTOGRAPHY WORDS BERNICE CAMPBELL

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ne might be tempted to load a toddler’s room with colour and flair, but here in Patrick’s new room, restraint is key with a neutral colour palette and a touch of mint creating a calm, soothing and dreamy space.

Patrick is one active little man. Like many children, he takes cues from his surroundings. He loves being out and active in the bright sunshine and loves to groove and move to cool tunes.

So, when it came to designing (or re-designing) Patrick’s toddler bedroom, Gina was very careful to not repeat lessons learnt from the nursery design. Gina explains that the nursery “was more for me than him”, admitting to going overboard with styling so much so that Patrick was overstimulated and resisting sleep. But seriously, what new mum doesn’t design a gorgeous nursery to suit her own tastes?

Like all good designers, Gina backtracked when designing Patrick’s toddler room and considered the needs of her tiny client first. The biggest requirement for this room was to support sleep and to create a space that felt calm, cosy and safe. But she also wanted the room to be fun and to grow with him through his childhood.

The starting point and main inspiration came from the cot and change table with the combination of timber and white, forming the foundation of the colour palette. For Gina, bears have a lovely

sentimental meaning, so it was only fitting that they were featured tenderly in her son’s room.

When putting the room together, Gina aimed to “create a stylish and functional space for him without spending a fortune, so high-end pieces sit alongside department store finds”. Wherever possible, Gina also shopped small to support all the wonderful businesses she’s discovered on Instagram. And if anyone knows about wonderful small businesses, it’s Gina. She’s an interior stylist and editor of stylecurator.com.au, an interiors blog focussed on home styling, renovation, DIY and supporting emerging businesses.

And her talent doesn’t stop there, Gina’s creativity extends to the DIY pieces she’s created to personalise Patrick’s room, including some of the wall art and the fabulous play tent (made from a repurposed clothes rack – how clever!).

Gina loves that Patrick will happily play on his table and chairs, and can reach all of his favourite books in his bookshelf and hide in his tent. But hands down, the best part of this room is that Patrick now SLEEPS in his room!

STYLE CURATOR www.stylecurator.com.au @stylecuratorau MINTYMAGAZINE.COM.AU 83

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01. Replica Eames DSW Kids Side Chair $59 mattblatt.com.au // 02. Lucie Kaas Bear $99 designstuff.com.au // 03. Adventure Rug $120 oyoy.dk // 04. Timber Lamp Train $99 delightdecor.com.au // 05. Custom Quote Banner $30 shentonandthrello.bigcartel.com // 06. Mint Green Peggy Clip 49.95 urbaani.com.au // MINTYMAGAZINE.COM.AU 87

ASHER’S ROOM DESIGN BELINDA KURTZ, PETITE INTERIOR CO. PHOTOGRAPHY VELLUM STUDIOS WORDS CELINE BARNES

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eisty five-year-old Asher knew what she wanted in her new room and what she wanted was a bunk so her big sister Holly could stay for sleepovers. The result achieved everyone’s goals: Asher can host sister sleepovers and Belinda Kurtz of Petite Interior Co. future-proofed the room while ensuring it remained suitable for Asher right now.

The defining feature of the room is the Sian Zheng Classic Hua Trees Mural wallpaper.

Belinda confirms, “it was love at first sight and when I saw it I knew I wanted to create a beautiful, sophisticated and girly room around it.”

The gentle, warm hue of the wallpaper coupled with the tranquil vista of trees create a serene space – a woodland haven. The sense of being cocooned in nature is further enhanced by the Perch Bunk from Urban Baby which establishes a strong yet snuggly, cloud-like feel for Asher and Holly to tuck themselves away. The quilts from Design Stuff and cushions from La Cerise Sur La Gâteau bring softness, heightening the sensation of nestling in amongst the trees.

Asher’s old room featured pink and mint but a dark taupe feature wall was bringing unwelcome darkness to the space, says Belinda “I really wanted to freshen up the space while making it more age appropriate for the years ahead,”.

While the pink and mint combination was kept for the update of Asher’s room, Belinda added “sage green for a mature touch”. The colour palette is complemented by brass fixtures. The use of sheer S-pleat curtains from In Curtains and Blinds, “creates the dreamiest white light in the room,” sighs Belinda.

“It’s a very small room (3m x 3m) so accommodating bunks, a desk and a place to sit and read was always going to be a challenge,” explains Belinda. With one corner lost to sliding mirror robes, clever solutions needed to be sought. The initial idea of having an armchair proved impossible within the available space, so a large Peoni Home ottoman was placed in the centre of the room on the Ophelia rug from Sage and Clare giving “Asher a place to sit, read or play,” Belinda confirms. The cheeky bear cushion from Boo and Bear takes pride of place on top of the ottoman inviting Asher to come play Lego® with him.

With Asher starting school next year, a place for craft (and possibly some homework) was a necessary component in the room. Petite Interior Co. worked with the team from This Little Love to design and build the ‘Asher’ desk, which Asher happily sits at most days drawing and colouring. Booksee shelves from Ubabub allow for a curated selection of Asher’s books to be displayed for each level of bunk occupant and encourage escape into stories at bed time or anytime really.

The whimsical aspects of the room, such as the single cloud print and paper rosettes from Kara Hynes, are integral as these smaller elements form part of a successful room composition.

Belinda says, “it just speaks to my soul somehow!” Put simply, that is what a good room should do.

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Petite Interior Co. is a design studio that specialises in the design of spaces for children and are also co-creators of children’s interior decorating course, Kids Rooms 101 with Ali Hume. The entire design and installation process of Asher’s new room was filmed for their updated course format.

KIDS ROOM 101 www.kidsrooms101.com @kidsrooms101 MINTYMAGAZINE.COM.AU 93

TWICE AS NICE HOWE AND ZO HOUSE BEDS STYLED TWO WAYS

STYLING KIM SAUNT, INSPIRED QUARTERS PHOTOGRAPHY TARINA LYELL, OH EIGHT OH NINE WORDS NICOLE RAY

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absolutely love a powerhouse collaboration and these beautiful rooms are a perfect example of why.

Kim Staunt of Inspired Quarters teamed up with local bed maker Howe and Zo to style their handmade house beds for their marketing campaign. Kim was able to utilize the design work in her own home to create the perfect backdrop for Howe and Zo’s products. Bring in Tarina Lyell of Oh Eight Oh Nine to capture the scene and the results speak for themselves.

“Inspired Quarters was established to provide an attainable home decorating service for people who don’t know where to start and need help putting together a room (or whole house)! I believe great design is both beautiful and functional” explains Kim.

Pooling resources and working with local suppliers is such a practical and powerful way to work. The energy and warmth of collaboration can be felt through the images – a nuance that is sometimes so tricky to capture. It leaves us feeling inspired to imagine and create beautiful spaces ourselves. For design collaboration, there isn’t a better outcome than that!

INSPIRED QUARTERS www.inspiredquarters.com @inspiredquarters

A styling service is a natural extension to this business, and the collaboration with the Howe and Zo House Beds was a perfect fit. “As a mum of three, I understand the importance of design being practical for everyday living whilst also expressing your child’s style. There is nothing more exciting than creating a dream space for a child… there’s something quite liberating about just ‘going for it’ in a kid’s space – it’s a great place to experiment with colour”.

The house beds were a beautiful addition to Kim’s own kid’s rooms for the shoot. “The House Bed is an amazing handmade timber bed from a local Perth-based company Howe and Zo. They are a gorgeous husband and wife team who lovingly hand make each bed. It is such a beautiful statement for a child’s room and brings a sense of fun and whimsy. I love the fact that you can hang lights, décor or even fabric from it to create an ever-changing look for the room” says Kim. MINTYMAGAZINE.COM.AU 95

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KIM’S TOP 3 KIDS’ ROOM DESIGN TIPS 1. It’s great to think ahead to get longevity out of your child’s room. For example, Dulux Elusive Blue is a colour that will work well into the teenage years.

2. Great design needs to be both beautiful and functional.

3. Don’t be afraid to use colour! Paint is the easiest way to change the look of a room. Get at least two samples and put them on the wall so you can see how the colour looks day & night before painting the rest of the room. When using multiple colours, ensure they are the same tone and you can’t go wrong.

TOP PRODUCTS HOUSE BEDS HOWE AND ZO PERSONALISED CUSHIONS LUVI SHELL CROSSES QUILT ZAC AND ZOE TASSEL GARLAND HOWE AND ZO MANDAL CHEST OF DRAWERS IKEA OMBRE FLOOR RUG KMART HOUSE SHELF HOWE AND ZO ANIMAL ZOO HOWE AND ZO CLOUD QUILT COVER ADAIRS PRINCESS BUNNY PRINT GINGER MONKEY SLEEPY EYES PRETTY IN PINE CUTE LIVES HERE WALL PLAQUE SHARTRUESE TASSEL GARLAND HOWE AND ZO JASMINE VELVET ROUND CUSHION KMART MINT CROCHET RUG AMAROSE KIDS DÉCOR

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PAINT SWATCHES TRANQUIL RETREAT DULUX

GALAVANT TAUBMANS

PETITE PINK HALF DULUX

INSTA LOVE KIM’S GO TO’S FOR INSPIRATION

@howeandzo THE MOST GORGEOUS HANDMADE HOUSE BEDS.

@gingermonkey_ SO MANY INSPIRING KIDS PRINTS AND WALLPAPERS.

@thekidzcurator ALWAYS FINDING THE CUTEST KIDS CLOTHING AND DECOR AT AFFORDABLE PRICES.

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EVIE AND INDIANA STYLING JACINDA MALLOY, HIDE AND SLEEP PHOTOGRAPHY RED RABBIT PHOTOGRAPHY WORDS NICOLE RAY

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as a shared room at the Grandparent’s house ever looked so good?

When Elizabeth and Joe started building their modern new home they engaged Jacinda Malloy, from Hide and Sleep, to design a room for their grandchildren – Evie (five), and Indiana (three) to share.

“Whilst Liz and Joe’s home is large, the girls’ room is quite small and was designed to be a sleeping space, not a playing space. I felt it was important to keep the modern, minimalist look that was throughout the home but also add a softness and feminine touch. I was fortunate that Liz trusted me and didn’t give me a brief. I basically could do what I wanted which I was excited about” explains Jacinda.

As a long-time fan of Plyroom furniture, and a new build with a strong nod towards wooden features, the furniture selection was an easy choice. The stylish and simplistic design complements the modern build perfectly.

As space was limited, Jacinda chose the Rafa Kids wooden shelf to display the girls’ little souvenirs. “These include little woollen alpaca figurines bought whilst on holidays, stationery note pads, pencils and paper clips that otherwise wouldn’t have a home, books that they love to read and their little handbags that they take shopping. Not only is the shelf practical it is also

decorative and is the perfect way to add the girls’ personalities into this space” says Jacinda.

The size of the room played a large role in colour selection. Keen to add colour and interest, without the overwhelm, Jacinda chose Resense Yucca in half strength – a colour that features throughout the home. The bed linen is a prominent colour feature in the room, and one that was tricky to get right. “Flax French linen is my favourite bedding to work with, it always looks great and gets better with age. Finding the perfect colours was proving tricky until I visited the Talo Interiors website and found the perfect shade of mustard and pink and then added black and white polka dot sheets and pillowcases to bring it all together.”

And finally, the artwork. That stunning artwork!

Noticing the home featured a lot of oversize artworks already, Jacinda knew she wanted to incorporate something of an eye catching size.

“Art is really personal, and has to resonate with the client as well as work with the design. I gave my client 4 or 5 options, hoping she would love one of them and was thrilled when she chose Sam Sparrow. He fits in perfectly, being subtle yet attention seeking” says Jacinda.

HIDE AND SLEEP www.hidesleep.com.au @hideandsleep_interiors

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01. Sylvie Ballerina Bunny $75 miannandco.com.au // 02. Sam Sparrow $595 pennyfarthingdh.com.au // 03. Design Letters Arne Jacobsen Vase $89.95 leoandbella.com.au // 04. Oh Side Table $625 plyroom.com.au // 05. Rafa-Kids XL Shelf $849 growingfootprints.com.au // MINTYMAGAZINE.COM.AU 107

JOEY’S ROOM STYLING MAGDALENE LIACOPOULOS, THE BEBE STYLE CO. PHOTOGRAPHY SUE FERRIS WORDS BERNICE CAMPBELL

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ROOMS

O

ut of the blue, could be one way to describe the evolution and design of young Joey’s room.

Joey’s big boy room came about from the inevitable outgrowing of his nursery. The brief for Magdalene Liacopoulos, of The Bebe Style Co., was to update the bedroom to accommodate the spirted Joey as he moves through boyhood.

Mother of Joey, Therese, has exceptional style developed through a career in fashion advertising. But the challenges of juggling a career, motherhood and everyday life meant that she just hadn’t the time to pull together a gorgeous room. To help push along the project, she collaborated with Magdalene.

Magdalene was the perfect choice to assist with the styling of the room. After working as a magazine and product stylist for 12 years, she launched The Bebe Style Co. a nursery and children’s room interior styling service, after consistently being asked where to find pieces featured in her beautifully styled rooms. Her philosophy is to create practical and liveable spaces that grow with families, that also look and feel amazing.

The tan mini mod bean filled chair and Kip and Ko throw provides the perfect comfy spot for the family’s daily bedtime ritual of a book before bed. The soft grey side table and pendant pop against the blue wall, whilst both being practical sculptural pieces.

With the basics taken care of, the focus of the room moved to injecting some fun and colourful pieces to reflect Joey’s personality. Bright colour alphabet sheets and a cute pretzel artwork by Castle were selected. Special mention must also be made of the quirky cacti which were included to satisfy Joey’s fascination. Who doesn’t love a succulent?

And the end result is a warm, age appropriate room with elements that are sufficiently sophisticated to take Joey into his tween years.

THE BEBE STYLE CO. www.thebebestyleco.com @bymagdalene

With an eye for fashion, the one thing Therese did know was that she didn’t want a ‘matchy matchy’ room, so the colour palette evolved as pieces were selected. The sumptuous teal velvet bedhead was amongst the first pieces purchased and one that heavily influenced the difficult colour selection of the strong smoky blue hue, “a risk that definitely paid off” says Magdalene.

With the blue backdrop set, the hunt was on to find pieces to pop!

The warm orange tones of the beautifully crafted sideboard perfectly complemented the blue and provided a strong masculine piece to grow with Joey, whilst also providing ample storage.

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TOP PRODUCTS ONE LITTLE PRETZEL TEA TOWEL CASTLE GREY SUEDE SIDE TABLE H & G DESIGNS TASSLE THROW KIP AND CO. ASHFORD VELVET BEDHEAD INCY INTERIORS DUSTY BLUE VELVET PILLOWCASE CASTLE WALL ART PRINT YORKELEE BEDSPREAD QUILT & PILLOW SET BONNE MERE MINI MOD DELUX HOMEDAY MILTON ASHTON AEROPLANE URBANBABY

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The Essential Nursery Planner PLANNING YOUR NURSERY CAN BE OVERWHELMING TO SAY THE LEAST - BUT DON’T STRESS WE’VE GOT YOUR BACK!

1.

Focus on the essentials – you can always add items once you have a better idea of your little person’s personality.

2.

Think about your layout – keep the floor space as clear as possible for easy access.

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Colour palette – light and bright will be uplifting on those tougher days. Neutral is great if you are planning a gender surprise.

4.

Invest in the items that will last – the drawers for example will be able to grow with your bub, the bassinet however, will have a limited lifespan.

Use removable features where you can You can get amazing removable wallpapers and decals that will create impact without the commitment.

DESIGN NICOLE ROSENBERG, LITTLE LIBERTY PHOTOGRAPHY RACHEL WINTON PHOTOGRAPHY 114 MINTYMAGAZINE.COM.AU

TOP PRODUCTS ZEBRA REMOVABLE WALLPAPER ETSY, JUMANJII PAPER MACHE ANIMAL HEADS ANTHROPOLOGIE COT AND CHANGE TABLE BOORI CHANGE TABLE HANDLES MADE MEASURE ROUND RUG THE RUG COLLECTION FEEDING CHAIR GLOBEWEST STUMP SIDE TABLE FENTON AND FENTON FLOOR LAMP NORSU FELT STORAGE BASKETS SOFAS DIRECT WOOL LEMUR DONNA WILSON MINI MONKEY PILLOW DONNA WILSON NIGHT LIGHT LANTERN DESIGN STUFF FAKE FIDDLE TREE HAND CRAFTED FLOWERS BLACK BELLY BASKET OLLI ELLA GREY COT BLANKET BEMBOKA PILLOWS SHEEPSKIN CRATE EXPECTATIONS POM POM KNITTED GREY CLOSELY KNIT

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YOU AND ME PRINTS

TALARIA

GARZIE + MAY

Personalised artworks of those you love, created from your everyday snaps.

Purveyor of fine dresses for little girls. Inspired by beautiful fabrics and wondrous adventures.

Made in Australia.

Beautiful quality bedding and homewares for babies, children and adults. Shop our range of stylish, modern and fun designs online.

www.youandmeprints.com.au @youandmeprints

www.talaria.com.au @hellotalaria

www.garzieandmay.com.au @garzieandmay

MINOUCHE

BABYDONKIE

BLOSSOM & BEE KIDS

Simple and lovely clothing for boys and girls, from babies up to 10 years – ethically made, easy to wear.

Created by Dong Maria, at BabyDonkie you will find a gorgeous collection of children’s clothing, accessories, decor and toys curated in one place for the stylish shopper.

Blossom & Bee Kids is your home of the best range of independent, ethical, sustainable & handmade baby & kids, toys, fashion & décor.

www.minouche.com.au @hellominouche

www.babydonkie.com.au @babydonkie

www.blossomandbeekids.com @blossomandbeekids

MINTY DIRECTORY

TINYGYSPY

HEY LITTLE

KIPPINS

Bohemian inspired clothing for the big and small Gypsy souls out there. 100% ethical and sweatshop-free.

Photo credit @sarahlouisefraser

At Hey Little we bring you a carefully handpicked selection of brands that rebel against boring!

We love cool, we love fun and we absolutely love clothes!

We share the KippinTales through planet and babe friendly cuddle blankies, books, wraps, rattles, play-mats and more that take baby on a dreamy journey far beyond the yawns.

www.tinygypsy.com.au @tinygypsytshirts

www.heylittle.com.au @heylittle_store

www.kippins.co @kippins_

FRANร OISE BAUDET PHOTOGRAPHY

ELECTRIC CONFETTI

KUDU AND MIMI

Sydney based archictecture and interiors photographer.

Electric Confetti is the work of Melbourne-based designer and illustrator Natalie Jarvis. Each artwork is created in the fresh modern medium of LED neon.

Ethically manufactured clothing and accessories.

www.franรงoisebaudet.com.au @franรงoisebaudet

www.electricconfetti.com @electric_confetti

www.kuduandmini.com.au @kuduandmimi

Buying for giving.

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