CREATIVE WARDROBE SOLUTION

No sooner had we installed floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and office cupboards in our dining room and custom cabinetry in two bedrooms then we decided last year to move house. Sure enough, the new house doesn't have anywhere near the amount of storage as our previous home. It always makes me wonder how people live for so long without somewhere to keep their clothes and belongings stored and filed neatly away.  

We are back to the beginning again - or at least so it seems on some days. 

When we first moved into our home at the end of last year, we placed the children's clothes in chest-of-drawers. But they are not big enough, and it leads to items getting creased and crushed. Also, I've noticed that the girls can't "see" what they have, especially when it comes to their dresses.

As we plan to remodel their room at some point - but have to yet to determine the layout - buying furniture or even diving in and creating a temporary "built" storage solution seems counter-productive.

Then during the treehouse building project, when I saw bundles of beautiful branches outside, it gave me the idea of create a hanging rail for the girls' room. All it required was a couple of hooks, rope and a branch - all of which we already had at home. Perhaps, more importantly, it could be created in under an hour - quicker than going to the shops!

YOU WILL NEED
1 x saw (to cut branch to desired length)
1 x tape measure
2 x hooks
1 x drill
2 x equal lengths of sisal rope
1 x branch

HOW-TO
1. Drill two hooks into the ceiling, ensuring they are 20cm shorter than your length of branch. You need 10cm of overhang at each end.
2. Create loops on two lengths of rope - one at each end. We used a splice knot to secure them in place. Make sure the rope hangs at the right height for little eyes and hands.
3. Insert the loops on the ceiling hooks and the other ends on the branch.

Tips
* Choose a branch that is as straight as possible. If it has too much of an angle the clothes will slide down.
* Choose a height that your children can reach, which helps encourage them to get dressed.
* If you need to shorten the rope and you've already created your knots, you can always create a basic knot along the length.
* You can store other items underneath, such as suitcases, which is where we keep dress-up items, such as masks and other costumes.
* Colour code clothes to make it easier to view what's on offer.
* The girls share this hanging rail and the youngest has the left-hand side while the oldest has the right-hand side. 
* There's no reason why you can't create one of these for yourself or another adult's clothing collection.
* Use the same style of coat hanger for your clothes to minimise the visual clutter of the hanging rail. Colour coding helps with this too.

Top Printebebe
Shorts Aubrie
Suitcases Mamapapa

images the indigo crew

INTERVIEW | CHLOE BROOKMAN OF OLLI ELLA

Chloe Brookman’s life experience has been a guiding light in her homewares business Olli Ella. She co-founded it with her sister Olivia after she wasn’t able to find a nursery chair when pregnant with her first child, son Tennyson, in 2009. At the time Chloe was based in London and the sisters, who were running an art gallery, decided to create a range of nursery furniture that wouldn’t be out of place in any modern family home. The business got off to a great start when within three months the chair was stocked by Harrods. Not one to stand still, Chloe moved to Australia with her young family and has continued to grow the business. At first, Olli Ella expanded to create bedding and more recently it has added storage baskets and a range of rugs, as well as other decor items, to its offering. The sisters design many of their wares themselves, and the pieces they source are from fair trade suppliers.

Olli Ella is about to exhibit at Life Instyle for the first time in Sydney. They showed at Melbourne last year. “We are rolling out a handful of new products in entirely new categories,” Chloe says. “I can't say too much but you can expect to see some new materials in use from macrame and jute to rattan and wool.”

Register now to attend the upcoming Life Instyle Sydney event that explores Happiness By Design. The trade event runs 18-21 February at the Royal Hall of Industries and Hordern Pavilion.

This post was sponsored by Life Instyle, an event I have attended many times over the years. All editorial content was produced independently. Thank you for supporting businesses that help to make this site possible. - NW 

What was behind the decision to start your brand? Olli Ella was started as a passion project by Olivia, my sister, and I. We were running an art gallery in London at the time and had long talked about started a creative project. We never could have imagined that five years later we would have offices in three countries and have an ever expanding range of homewares in the range!

How do you try to differentiate your products from others on the market? We try not to focus too much on what other companies are doing, which has been both a help and a hinderance in some respects but what's worked for us so far has just been to focus on what we love; designing effortless homewares, and not worrying to much about competition.

What has been completely unexpected since starting your business? How passionate our customers and partners have been about our products. We've loved the concept from the beginning, but the overwhelming response we have received from our friends, customers, and retail partners has been such a thrill.

What is something that people often don't realise about your wares? That they are all fair trade.

Where do you look to for design inspiration? Travel and the way we live and exist in our own homes.

What role do you want your products to play in a childhood? I love that so many of our baskets and storage have been embraced by parents and children for toy storage. I love the idea that these handmade, tactile woven baskets are the keepers of treasures and it's so wonderful to see how they have been used in children's spaces.

What was the last great children's book that you read?
The Day the Crayons Came Home by Drew Daywalt.

images courtesy of olli ella

FLOWER WALL

In the past we have used balloons en-masse to decorate our dining room for at-home birthday parties. However, as the four-year-old's party was themed "flower fairies" it seemed the obvious choice to use nature-based decorations. After finding wax flowers in abundance at the markets, I wanted to use them in some way. Because they have sturdy stems, I went with the idea of attaching them to the wall using masking tape. Breaking them into smaller stems meant that the weight of them would hold easier and after initially considering an archway of the flowers, the less traditional dispersed effect was more appealing.

As it turned out, it was also easier for little hands to help. When they saw me attaching the flowers to the wall, they wanted to do this too. They did it in a random way, with some stems upside down, which they thought was funny. I quite liked the effect, and they were having such fun, I didn't want to dampen their enthusiasm. In the end, my mum was cutting the stems, I was applying tape and the girls were sticking them to the wall. It was such a great activity to do together.



I quite enjoy decorating this wall in our dining room for 
parties. It helps to transform the space into a special place, and it's also a fun backdrop to take photos against during the party.

images the indigo crew

HOMEMADE FAMILY BIRTHDAY PARTY

 

For many years we had parties in the park because our small apartment couldn't accommodate a children's birthday party. However, quite a few times we got rained out and so had to reschedule or relocate. When we moved into our current home and had space to host a party, we were happy to finally have the chance to do so.

We have always enjoyed making birthdays a special celebration, and creating them ourselves - from the food (homemade sausage rolls and birthday cake) to the decor and the entertainment. (Last year for a science party, we created our own experiments using a salt pendulum and a fishing game with magnets and different types of metal.) We like the children to see that we can create our own fun. Where possible, we also like them to get involved in helping create the day - from helping in the kitchen to decorating the walls.

While there's often a big mess to clean up afterwards, there are also lots of memories too as we often let the balloons float around the house for the next few days. It's a nice reminder of the fun that we've had.

This year we created a scalloped wall decoration that was even easier than I was expecting.

Here's how to create our feature wall.

YOU WILL NEED
Crepe paper - white
Tissue paper - gold (If you can find crepe paper in a nice shade of gold, all the better)
Scissors
Washi tape

1. Cut a scalloped shape out of folded crepe paper, ensuring you leave a join on either side of about 2cm. This will give you a strand of scalloped paper about 2m long.
2. Alternate with a gold paper. We had to use tissue paper and as it wasn't as long had to hang in three parts. We folded the paper in a similar style to the crepe paper and cut.
3. Alternate one row of white paper with one row of gold. Or you could use one colour en-masse.
4. Add helium-filled balloons for fun.

images the indigo crew

INTERVIEW | ANNA JONES OF TWENTYONE FIFTEEN

After living in London for 10 years, where she worked in the fashion industry Anna Jones was ready for a change of scene and career when she returned to Australia. But she didn’t head back to Melbourne, where she studied at RMIT, or to country Victoria where she grew up. Instead she unpacked her bags in Sydney, alongside her husband, who works in television. They settled in Bondi Beach and after becoming a mother to two boys Anna decided she wanted a creative role that allowed her spend time with her children but also make something with her hands. She started Twentyone Fifteen, a children’s decor business, initially making personalised kids cushions and bunting. Now she is becoming known for her wire decor pieces, which she sculpts and wraps with Liberty print fabrics, vintage denim or fleece. They are designed to hang in children’s bedrooms and be just as appropriate for a toddler as a teenager.

What was behind the decision to start Twentyone Fifteen? I wanted to start a small business that I could manage around looking after my two boys. I wanted to be doing something creative but didn't want to be stuck at a sewing machine or a computer. By creating my own decor pieces it has given me the freedom to work around my children’s routines as well as hopefully offering something different and fresh to the children’s decor market. 

What had you been doing previously? I studied fashion marketing at RMIT and after graduating I moved overseas to travel and work. I lived in London for 10 years firstly working in communication/PR and trend forecasting before a dream job in a sourcing and account management role for luxury fashion retailers Lane Crawford, Pedder Group and Holt Renfrew. After moving to Sydney I managed and bought for a mid-century furniture store before starting my family and Twentyone Fifteen. 

What is important to you when designing children's decor? For me it’s important that my pieces appeal to both the children and the parents. I like the designs to be simple, timeless but also have a handmade and tactile quality.

How do you try to differentiate your products from others on the market? I try and stay true to myself and both my own personal taste and design instincts, and by working this way hopefully I will be offering something unique.  

What has been completely unexpected since starting your business? How many lovely people I have connected with and how much support and encouragement I have received.

What is something that people often don't realise about your wares? I think people don’t often realise the process behind each piece and that they are all completely handmade and unique. For example, to make the denim pieces I mould the wire, then source vintage denim, wash, dry, cut, wrap and to finish trim the excess thread. They really are a little labour of love.

Where do you look to for design inspiration? I’m always trying to keep up with my favourite blogs, and Instagram/Pinterest accounts, so these sources keep me both inspired and distracted!  

What do consider when decorating kids rooms? I think it’s important to invest in good timeless pieces - my love of Scadinavian design always draws me to white for walls and furniture. I like the idea of adding colour and texture through children’s own artwork, prints and handmade crafts such as blankets and my own decor pieces, of course! 

What role do you want your products to play in a childhood? I would love my work to be keepsakes for children to have in their room for many years from newborn through to pre-teen years. 

What was the last great children's book that you read? I’m a big fan of the children's author Julia Donaldson. My currently favourite is Monkey Puzzle, but she has so many brilliant books - I never tire of reading The Gruffalo, Room on a Broom, A Squish and A Squeeze, Tiddler, What The Ladybird Heard, they are all classics in my opinion.  

images courtesy of twentyone fifteen

ARCTIC HARE BY KIRSTY DAVIDSON

Last year I came across the work of Australian artist and illustrator Kirsty Davidson. After interviewing her for Daily Imprint she said she would like to send me a gift - one of the limited-edition prints from her online store. It was a generous offer, and after deliberating over the fox, tiger and whale I chose the arctic hare artwork because of its resemblance to a rabbit, which is one of my daughter's favourite animals.

For many months it has been stored away until the girls' bedrooms were finished and painted. When that happened recently we hung the artwork and are all happy with the choice. It's lovely to have art in the room that celebrates her interests but can also grow with her - a piece that she will enjoy for years to come. I also like that its colours are quite sophisticated too, and not what you might expect for a little girl's room. And while we are undergoing a major process of simplifying our lifestyle at home, it's something we have chosen to stay with us on our journey together as a family.

images the indigo crew

TODDLER TRANSITION ROOM

I often find that the more tricky a space is to create and decorate, the more creative I become. Initially this room was long and narrow, and quite small. Plus, it had a chimney breast creating an awkward indent into the footprint of the room. But the more we worked through how this space could work, the more ideas we developed. And the more creative we have become with the decor.

The main criteria were to have a space large enough for a single bed and to create a built-in wardrobe. The solution was to build a false wall in front of the chimney breast and extend it so that there would be a wall along the length of the bed. The added bonus of this decision was that we were able to create a series of shelves (for books, etc) in the alcove left by the fireplace. This became the perfect spot to place a desk.

The head of the bed is created by the back wall of the floor-to-ceiling wardrobes. The rooms are 3m high so there's plenty of space to store bedding as well as clothes and toys.

Around the time we were ready to move the youngest into her room, we were considering transitioning her from a cot to a bed ahead of an overseas trip we have planned in a few months' time. Now seemed the perfect opportunity to do this. Initially we were going to get an antique sleigh bed but then the idea of the camp bed struck. It is nice and low on the ground so she can get in and out by herself. It also is less of a distance to bump her head if she falls out. 

The Safari daybed by Danish designer Ole Knudsen Gjerlov is from Dunlin Home. It can be used for camping, the garden, as a daybed or guest bed in your home. It comes in a canvas bag and takes only a few minutes to assemble. It also means that if she gets to the stage when she's not comfortable or supported then we can easily pack it away, or move it to another part of the house.

To provide some comfort and cushioning on the bed, I sourced these Mushkane printed floor cushions. I had used them on a photo shoot a while back and they had always stayed in my mind. We often read books on the floor and these are great to create a nook. I bought them from Mamapapa in Avalon. To find your local stockist, you can contact Nomades.

The canopy was also from Mamapapa, as was the Tamar Mogendorff swallow bird, which has been hung from a branch.

The best news is that the toddler loves her bed and has been sleeping better on it than in her cot.

Happy to provide info on other items that I sourced for the room.

images the indigo crew