Happy News...We have a little Girl!

We have Happy News!

'Olivia The Owl' by fab label Bluebird & Honey, a soft rattle friend from our dear friends Caz & John, and Mollie [from Infancy].

I am in disbelief...Thursday morning at exactly 11am I gave birth to our gorgeous sweet little girl, Isabelle Sarah! We loved the name 'Isabelle' for some time now and 'Sarah' is a family name from my Dad's side including my namesake - my Grandma, her Great Aunt & Great Grandmother, and my cousin's middle name - needless to say it's a special family name and we love it. Not long after posting on Palatial Living late on Wednesday evening I went into spontaneous labour...that will teach me to post about not having any more birthdays in the month of April!! Now we have one more very special on 22 April 2010 to our daughter,Isabelle, who decided to meet us some 2 weeks earlier than expected!

We're all doing super well, and I now will have so much fun finalising Isabelle's nursery! Luckily my darling husband (aka amazing birth partner & new Daddy) lent me his 'baby dell' laptop so I could - a) blog for Palatial Living; b) email friends & family; & c) importantly get in contact with those who I have sourced from for the finer decor details! Note -Janette - My Sweet Prints, just to let you know that I will be ordering over the weekend!

I will post images very soon... Blessings, I will be back shortly! S xxx

Image by Verandah Home & Garden Living Solutions

Visit 'Bluebird & Honey' blog here; and check out 'Infancy' online here.

Nursery Sneak Peak...

I covet my [our] Eames [Replica] RAR Rocker from Matt Blatt - it is so comfortable and terribly stylish, teamed with UK brand 'Nature's Purest' - 'Bird' applique Pillow... ready for nursing.

A collection of sweet friends - left to right - 'D-lux' knitted Bunny from my Aunt & cousin, Harrods' 'My First Puppy' I picked this adorable plush puppy up when I was in London last year visiting my sister - just before I arrived we found out I was pregnant with Baby Verity - as a little girl I had a 'puppy' that I adored & I wanted to carry on the tradition.

Next to 'Puppy' is the knitted soft rattle 'Safari Elephant' from Nature's Purest - an adorable gift from a good friend & work colleague who loved the recent birth of the baby elephant at Sydney's Taronga Zoo and thought to commemorate it for our baby! Lastly - 'Noukies' Teddy Bear rattle plush slippers I saw these in a baby wear store in Lucerne Switzerland on my travels late last year and thought they were perfect!

I love this Cath Kidston 'Knitted Bunny' that I picked up in the Cath Kidston signature store in Covent Garden London when visiting my sister last year - I really love that store, coupled with another 'rabbit' with the wonderful story book 'Guess How Much I Love You' sweetheart edition by Sam McBrateny & Illustrated by Anita Jeram.

A fun display - Eric Carle's 'Very Special Baby Book' , Dr Suess' Miniature Library, Cath Kidson's 'Knitted Rabbit', & 'Guess How Much I Love You' story book.

[Above] A very special friend has been waiting for a few years now... we named 'Sinclair', who is Harrods' Signature Teddy Bear that my husband surprised with me when in London, heading though Europe for Christmas & New Year's, a couple months after we were married in 2004, he bought it for our first baby that he knew we'd have some time down the track!

[Above]'Peter Rabbit & Wedgewood Dinner Plate' & Mug; a gift from Verity Grandparents-to-be, my mother-in-law gave us this sweet set, which I have displayed with perspex plate holder, when we announced we were pregnant - I love that she told me she had bought it, as in -waiting gift, shortly after we were married and kept it for this announcement! A lovely friend & work colleague gave us Baby Verity's first couture - a 'Baby Dior' by Christian Dior bottle, complete with silver mesh carrier!

Starting the library... you know my fondness of books, and it's never to early to start. Since taking this photo the collection has grown again, as has the Amazon wish list in Baby Verity's name!

I got restless & did some 'nesting' end of last week and through the weekend in the nursery... and also picked up our Eames [Replica] RAR Rocker - Yay! Here are a few images of the Neutral Canvas I have created for our much anticipated 'Baby Verity'... due in approx. 2/2.5 wks time! My husband thinks it's hilarious that I love to 'merchandise' the books & toys in the bookcase & room... maybe some of me is rubbing off on him - as he found the white baskets, and is quite proud of his 'design' mark made!

Hope you like them... accented colours & more decor pieces to follow - stay tuned! S xxx

Images by Sarah Verity - Verandah Home & Garden Living Solutions

Nursery Styling & Decor Ideas...

Since Baby Verity is due anywhere between the next 2 weeks & 4.5 weeks, I have been asked frequently by all who know me - '...how's the nursery decorating going...'! After being in hospital for false labour on Wednesday evening last week [a great test run for darling husband and family!]. I was at least calm in the knowledge that I have already created a fabulous neutral canvas that will be a solid design foundation on which to build more gender specific decor themes around & upon...

Above - Neutral Canvas, a solid colour & design foundation to build upon.

Above - Colour & Design accent ideas for a little man... White, Sand with Navy, Pale Blue, Cherry Red, teamed with Stripes & Nautical influences.

As we decided not to find out what we're having - a little boy or girl, here's a few mood boards I have popped together for our potential baby boy or baby girl! Hope you like them too! I have painted the room walls in Dulux 'Scallywag' Full tint, the trim & door is 'White Canvas' and the furniture is all 'White' - we repainted a timber bookcase that I have had for a number of years in Dulux 'Vivid White' aqua enamel [I don't know why I didn't do it sooner] it looks fabulous! And the rest of the decor is accented with similar hues, with dotted applique, mirco stripes & plains to create a solid colour & design foundation on which to build upon for our impending delivery - a little man or for a little lady!

Above: Colour & Design accents for a little lady...hues of Raspberry, Floss Pink, Pistachio Green with forest friends of stylised owls & squirrels in blossom branches to ticking stripe & gingham bunting.

So when we have settled back home with our Baby, in several weeks time, and we accent the room to his or her decor style, I will post pics of the room to share with you! Hope you like the ideas so far!

Images by Verandah Home & Garden Living Solutions.

Included in collage - Fabric from No Chintz, Boori Furniture, Nature's Purest UK - bedlinen & decor, Eames RAR Rocker, Ikea - Lamp & Basket, My Sweet Prints via Etsy.com - 'World Map',' Room t Grow' & 'Nautical' Bedroom Collage from Shop4Kids magazine, WallArt - decals, Bosco Bear - Decals.

Wall Art For Kids...

Being in the pregnant way lately I have started to buy magazines that are both fashion & decor friendly for both myself & our baby. I bought my 1st [own] copy of 'Shop 4 Kids' - having worked in kids wear for several years I was fortunate enough that this was often bought for my work but I suppose not being pregnant or with any children of my own I would scrutinise over the competitors labels, and new product opportunities. All of which is vastly different now that Baby Verity will be due in about 6-7 weeks time I am pouring over the mag [this & Cosmo Pregnancy] for more ideas and supplier leads on nursery decor and nouveau designer products! I think that's why I love my 'Babylogy' newsletter too!

And here in 'Shop 4 Kids' Issue 8 Autumn /Winter 2010 they have explored '162 bedroom busters' with all types of decor hints... perfect for those in the know & those not! And here I came across a great article on kids 'Wall Art' - and none the pleaser was I to see that my talented 'Palatial' follower & friend Janette Baker of 'My Sweet Prints' artwork took centre pride of place... as shown here in the mag image! Well done Janette - so exciting to see your work in print - excuse the pun! You can order this print and many other designs through Janette's Esty store name & link 'My Sweet Prints'. I still have to wait till we deliver 'Baby Verity' to find out if we're having a little boy or girl to decide on what I can order with Jeanette - ohhh the suspense!

Images from Shop 4 Kids Magazine - Issue 8 Autumn /Winter 2010, out now.

Happy Weekend!

Yay It's Friday... gosh you would think I had worked this week - but working this 3 day thing this week with our national holiday falling on Tuesday and also having Monday off - I could really get used to this!!
So there's nothing like a gorgeous pool with a view...It's forecasted to be another warm but pleasant one this weekend [here in Sydney] reaching about 27 degrees. I would like to be dangling my feet in the water but it would seem that we have a number of 'house' jobs to do with a bit of a working bee tomorrow that covers inside & outside - from relaying garden lighting, to replacing garage sensor lights [so I don't trip down the stairs!], to hanging hooks up for tools & finally hanging my [birthday] mirror in our family room, oh and painting the nursery! Yep there's a few things to do...

Thank you for following me this week, be sure to let you friends know that they can also follow through 'Google Follower Network' click-on the right side of this blog, or through facebook networkedblogs super easy to join up!
Happy Weekend! Enjoy S x

Great Print Ideas for The Little Ones...

Bedtime Bus Roll

Made With Love

Family of Birds

Customised Birth Print

Quiet the Baby's Sleeping

Alphabet Eye Chart

Thanks to another Babyology newsletter, the gorgeous blog 'The House that AM Built' about her quest to find a decal for her son's room, and traipsing through Etsy.com I came across these fabulous Children's art prints by 'My Sweet Prints'. 'My Sweet Prints' is by talented Graphic Designer, Illustrator and stay at home mother - Janette Baker. She began her Etsy store - MY SWEET PRINTS - as a way of maintaining her creativity, whilst at home with her son. According to Janette's profile blurb - MY SWEET PRINTS was created from a passion for design and illustration, interior design and kids prints and patterns. And specialises in original and customised art for the home, nursery and the heart. Designed to capture the imagination and become a treasured keepsake for your family or someone special.

Here I have found a number of prints that I would love to have in the nursery... I am particularly in love with 3 of the pieces, 'Customised Birth Print' , 'Made with Love', 'Bedtime Bus Roll' [clearly inspired from my love of 'Print Doll's' work. So hard to choose... which one would you go for?

Images from My Sweet Prints

Wall Coverings...For the Boys!

Catherine Martin's 'Circus' and 'Stripe' in Cherry Red/ White for Porter's Paints.

Catherine Martin's 'Circus' and 'Stripe' in Navy / White for Porter's Paints.

Catherine Martin's 'Alphabet' and 'Stripe' in Celery Green/ White for Porter's Paints.

If you're like me and prefer to primary & secondary colours like Navy Blue, Cherry Red, Celery Green with White for little boys nurseries & bedrooms, then you'll love the range of wallpaper and floor rugs from Renaissance lady - film set, production & costume designer Catherine Martin, of 'Moulin Rouge', & 'Australia' fame. Both Porters Paints & Designer Rugs have carried these lines for about 2 years now - so although they're not 'new' on the market they are stayers & therefore becoming 'popular' classics through children's' rooms here in Australia and abroad. Research suggests children respond better to vivid hues, Catherine’s range of wallpapers are the perfect thing to team with simple furniture for a truly beautiful effect. And the fantastic thing about the wallpaper is that you won’t need very much in the way of decoration either – the prints on the wall/s [and floor] are all the decor you need once teamed with simple furniture pieces and a few favuourtie books & toys! I have always loved them especially the 'Circus' them - even my fear of monkey's doesn't put me off!

And more recently, since being pregnant & due with 'baby' in early May, I have been on the look out for stylish nursery decor that I can A) add to later - since we don't know what we're having, and B) can carry through some distinct decor ages from baby to toddler and little [school] boy... Here, I think Martin's range does just that. I am leaning towards the 'Circus' Navy / White with accents of red through prints, bunting & toys, this - should we have a little man grace our home! What do you think???

Also check out Viv's post on her Little Boy's Nursery on Ish & Chi here she used Catherine Martin's Circus wall paper in Red/ White as a fabulous feature wall, and accented with Red & white pieces. She also has a fabulous Etsy store too, and was featured in Real Living mag Nov 09 issue! Now to explore some options for little girls....

Images from Porter's Paints & Designer Rugs

Fresh Friday Flowers...

Yay it's Frrrriiiiday, so so so happy for the end of the [working] week drawing to a close ... at the moment I feel like a real kicking machine with Baby Verity, at nearly 6 months pregnant!

This weekend looks like it will be a creative one - I am revisiting my lovely client [from last year] tomorrow morning, to discuss her lounge room styling & some ideas for her little girls bed & room. And also hitting the baby stores [with darling husband] to narrow down some furniture pieces, plus work out what we need for all the paraphernalia that goes with setting up a nursery... Fortunately, I have been hard at work [loving it] creating both a girl's & boy's mood board - since we decided on a 'surprise' when 'baby' is born, I have had to consider both genders & 2 looks - all based on a neutral canvas! Although there are about 6 paint swatches on the walls that I had to narrow down from seeing the Morning- Afternoon- Night light!! I will post some images of the boards for you when I have finalised them, I think you will like them..

So whatever you might be up to this weekend - I hope it's a lovely relaxing one...

Thank You for visiting me at Palatial Living this week. See you Monday! S xxx

Image from Rachel Thurston Photography