I’m struggling to find the words to describe how it feels to be turning my daughter’s nursery into a little girls room without sounding over the top or cliché. But it really does feel like this huge rite of passage. One that I wasn’t really anticipating? Or, perhaps, never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined we’d be here so quickly. I must admit, I’ve been far more emotional about the whole thing than I thought I’d be. And though I’m sad to be saying goodbye to some of the last remaining remnants of my baby’s babyness, I am equally as excited for her and this next phase of life. Motherhood really is all of the things all at once isn’t it. Does one ever get used to the whiplash of emotions that come alongside this role?

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All that said, it’s an honour to have been able to help take her room to the next level. Sometimes I wish I could design kids rooms exclusively – they just bring me so much joy. And, shocker, I get so sentimental about the idea of this space being the backdrop to her many childhood memories. She’s been sleeping here for a while now (we just had her first little sleepover with her cousin on Sunday and it was THE CUTEST) and she is just nailing the transition. I know she was ready for it, and I’m getting there too (in my own time, hah). Take a peek at the update below, if you’d like…

SOURCES

Bed | Mattress | Pillows | Sheet Set | Duvet Cover
Quilt | Lamp | Star Pillow | Rainbow Pillow | Rug | Nightstand

MY LITTLE GIRL’S ROOM

As an aside, if you’re looking for an organic mattress and pillows (something that was very important to me), I highly recommend Obasan. They are an absolute 10/10 for comfort and style. They’re fully customizable depending on your sleep needs, which I love. Plus they go above and beyond and do things like embroider your daughter and her stuffy’s name on their pillows (she LOVED this). Just so stinking cute!

The one we have for my little girls room (here) is the same mattress that they use at Fogo Island and Wander the Resort (amongst many other really luxe boutique hotels). Girl is living her best life, let me tell you. It’s so so good.

This is not sponsored, but they did gift the mattress to us and I have since specified them for a few clients because I’m instantly sold. As a thank you, they wanted to offer my readers a little gift with purchase:

If you use LARKANDLINENBED at checkout you’ll receive two complimentary pillows of your choice with the purchase of any adult mattress from the Auberge & Residential collection.

SOURCES

Bed | Mattress | Pillows | Sheet Set | Duvet Cover | Quilt | Lamp | Star Pillow | Rainbow Pillow | Rug | Nightstand

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The post An Emotional Transformation: From Nursery to Little Girl Heaven appeared first on Lark & Linen Interior Design and Lifestyle Blog.

The importance of accessories never ceases to amaze me. 

Though we both still love the previous option, a longtime client of mine is as invested in beautiful design as I am. We designed her condo years ago (you can see that reveal here if you’d like), and we still love every moment of it. She was, however, looking to freshen things up a little bit here and there, just for fun. A new throw, a pretty toss cushion, a vintage rug, and updated art instantly made her existing space feel brand new. 

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I feel like this is such a great testament to investing in high quality (largely neutral) furniture, and having fun with the rest. It allows you to update things easily and effortlessly as your tastes evolve, without having to start from scratch. It also just goes to show the importance of accessories – they really and truly can make or break a room.

I personally still love both options, but the softness in the “after” shot is speaking to me right now. How about you? 

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First photo: Lark & Linen | Second photo: Heidi Lau

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1) Magnolia pink nursery: Becky Boyle Interiors | 2) Neutral wildflower nursery: Louise Roe | 3) Blue floral nursery: Ginny MacDonald with Lulu & Georgia | 4) Blue-gray nursery details: Jaryn Kilmer | 5) Neutral wildflower nursery: Louise Roe | 6) Pink peonies nursery: Rachel Parcell

The post Ivy’s “Father of the Bride” Nursery Inspiration appeared first on Lark & Linen Interior Design and Lifestyle Blog.

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Now, I’ll be the first to admit that I can be quite opinionated when it comes to interior design. I mean, if Malcolm Gladwell’s 10,000 hour rule holds any truth, I definitely feel confident in my abilities as I’m convinced I spend the vast majority of my days thinking, talking, or writing about design in some capacity. It is, really and truly, my passion through and through. And with thirteen plus years of regular practice under my belt, there are two interior design related things I know to hold true. One: attention to detail is paramount. And two: your team can make or break a renovation project. 

This isn’t the first time I’ve chatted about “attention to detail”, but I’ve never really discussed the importance of finding your people in much depth. When it came to my mom’s kitchen renovation, which was under construction during my third trimester of pregnancy (ie: not exactly ideal), I’ve never before needed to lean on my team quite as heavily. And I know for certainty that it would not have fully come together without them (if you’re reading this, you know who you are and I love you for it!) 

This rings especially true when it came to our custom window treatments. I’ve mentioned before that they’re the one thing I always insist my clients invest in (you can read about why here), and I still stand firmly by that post today. For this project we worked closely with Decorview, and the experience was truly flawless from beginning to end. 

Marisa, our Decorview consultant, was such a gem and took the time to go through my laundry list of inspiration images prior to our first consultation, for which she was impeccably prepared. She brought all of the fabric samples to my mom’s place and she was so thorough, explaining the benefits and the pitfalls of all of the options we were considering. And met us with the utmost patience when we couldn’t decide between two options (we were debating between the Hunter Douglas’ woven shade in “Burlap Sack” and a luxurious linen in “Greige-Brown”).

After a lot of debate, we made a decision (hello linen!), she measured for our roman shades on the spot, and within a few short weeks they were ready to be installed. We were kept in the loop the whole way through, and she followed up regularly, unprompted, ensuring everything was on track and on time. This was such a huge weight off of my shoulders as it was one last thing I needed to worry about during the construction process, which – as anyone who has undergone a renovation can attest –  can often feel like a series of decision making, expectation adjusting, delays, and putting out fires if you don’t have the right team.

Photo: Lo Miller

The installer, John, was equally as lovely, and was in and out in a blink. It was so nice knowing that this one line item that I clearly feel very strongly about was completely handled with little to no involvement on my end, and I absolutely can’t recommend them highly enough. Truly, knowing I was in good hands was invaluable.

I mean, it also doesn’t hurt that they look, and function, beautifully, adding a softness and a layer of pure lovely to a space that’s typically filled with hard surfaces. It’s further proof that custom window treatments are always well worth it. I mean – take a peek at this video below (yes, we opted for the motorization option where the shades are controlled using a remote, which feels extra luxe in the very best way! My mom feels so very fancy, as she should.)

I also feel like it’s important to note that customized shades are essential for unique spaces like bay or corner windows, or in our case my mom’s patio door. 

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If you’re in the US or Canada and you’re considering custom window treatments, I highly encourage you to give them a try. Consultations are free, they can be done in person or virtually, and they’re incredibly helpful. 

Thank you to Decorview for sponsoring this post, and for partnering with us on #LLProjectMomsKitchen!

The post The Two Things That Can Make or Break a Renovation appeared first on Lark & Linen Interior Design and Lifestyle Blog.