Welcome! It’s been FOREVER since we’ve been here on Ujo Shop together, but I’m so glad we have, and even more so to share the first “Home Story”, created in collaboration with Maisonette.
After moving into our new flat in our favorite part of the UES, in October last year, our first task was to renovate both of the children’s bedrooms. We’ve moved many times, within London, from London to New York City, and within New York City, but we’ve always made an effort – no matter what the place looks like – to finish the children’s bedrooms first! Although, this is actually the first time they are in their own house, until this apartment they always share a bedroom.
Until this apartment, James and Stella shared their bedroom and loved it. We liked it too, because we believed that friendship really helped them feel comfortable and secure when they went to sleep. They rarely woke up at night, or had trouble sleeping – and I don’t think this is due to any magic sleep training, because we never did any in particular without having a strict bedtime routine, which we stuck to strongly. Each time.
Then there is the age factor that played a part in the decision to keep them together, rather than separate them. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against separate rooms, I just have more Pros than Con, and in the end, it worked for us… But this doesn’t mean it’s a guaranteed success formula. Anyway, where I’m going with this, is what I said before, about James and Stella being secure and comfortable together and the age factor, is that we feel that when we were young, they had strong emotional needs to “support” each other. Now, with James almost 10 and Stella turning eight in a few weeks, we noticed their emotional needs at bedtime, or at night, are different. James needs his space, his bedtimes, and dare I say it, some kind of privacy. Or call it personal space. Stella is not 100% there yet, emotionally. She keeps asking us if she can sleep with James, or James with her, but sadly for Stella, James says no more often than she says yes. So, Stella, we think, asked us if the new baby – who will arrive at the end of October if all goes well – can stay in her room. Obviously we agreed to that, but we explained that he would first be in our room, until he would sleep through the night. He agreed. We all agreed. And we’re back to using a strict bedtime routine for both of them, in separate rooms – god is this a challenge, after their summer break! But a week, a week of getting up early to go to school, we feel we are getting there… now we have to stick to it!
But I’m sorry, I know you didn’t come here for parenting advice – and I don’t want this forum to be about that – but about ideas for kids’ bedrooms, so let’s get to it!
In both rooms one thing was very clear from the start; I wanted a design-infused feel, but with a modern foundation. Bright colors were a must, too, which I knew from the moment I saw the Kelly Green bed in the Maisonette – which ended up in James’ room. Stella had always wanted a bunk bed, and since her room was more rectangular than the square room James would be sleeping in, it felt like a perfect fit. And, now they both have a guest spot – once sleepovers are back on the menu again. Oeuf is a favorite furniture brand in our home, and with an Oeuf desk from an old apartment to this one, it was an easy choice to go for a bunkbed from this brand.
We kept the accessories around the bed simple, but in keeping with the room’s color palette and the style vibe we were trying to achieve. For James this meant a grown-up mood in Kelly green and Cook’s blue – by Farrow & Ball – and dark wooden undertones, for Stella a bright and cheerful mix of bold red and pink tones, and a beautiful wallpaper by Work + Sea.
Turn on your JavaScript to view the contentDesk speed is more important than ever! Where before the pandemic children did most of their schoolwork at the dining room table, homeschooling brought the importance of a “workspace” so they could be free to do Zoom classes and virtual playdates. And the lounge – preferably with a rocking chair if you ask Stella – became an important part of their room. It’s like their room became small apartments so that when we are home with five – soon five of us, we don’t have to sit, work, or study on top of each other. The pandemic made it clear that we are all at certain points during the day we need “our space” and we have a bedroom that offers a little bit of everything, serve the children as best we can!
Turn on your JavaScript to view the contentThank you Maisonette for making our children’s bedroom dreams come true. To the amazing team that came to take pictures and film – stay tuned for this one – old and new!
Turn on your JavaScript to view the contentAll products featured on Ujo Shop are independently selected by me.
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