Kristan Cunningham » bedroom – Trends and Design Ideas – Kristan Cunningham

Wallet-Friendly Kid’s Furniture That Doesn’t Suck

Kristan — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 14:22:59 +0000

I am a BIG proponent of kid’s rooms being in good taste, something that they’ll like when they have outgrown silly kids’ themes. It’s important to remember that you can use “regular furniture” for the dressers, bookcases, armoires. Of course, cribs, tables and chairs have to be the right size for the little ones, but these pieces don’t have to be plastic or primary colored or shaped like race cars. There are some great options out there, but for the most part they are CRAZY expensive. I mean, c’mon y’all. A thousand clams for a crib you’ll use for a couple years!? I’m here to say you don’t have to spend a fortune to make your babies’ rooms beautiful !

From Target: Guidecraft Kid’s Blue Rocker Table and 2 Chair Set $109

From Target: Nordic Table and Chairs Set $159

From Target: DwellStudio® for Target®Silver Lake Convertible Crib in Natural/White $299

From IKEA: Somnat Crib, $99.99 (It comes in this fab green color, as well as turquoise and pink!)

From IKEA: Blames Highchair with Tray $59.99

From IKEA: Rofylld Children’s Rocking Chair $39.99

From Modern Nursery: P’kolino Little Reader Sofa $98 (Folds out to a wittle bitty sleeper!)

From Overstock, Modern Espresso/White Crib, $399

From Overstock, Vinnie Cradle Chair Blue $139 (A bit pricier, but so cute, I had to include it!)

From Land of Nod, Changing Top, $129 (You can attach this Changing Top to any dresser to make it a safe place to do diaper duty! Ingenious.)

New Flor-tastic Flooring

Kristan — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 17:25:07 +0000

The ever-useful carpet tiles from Flor are a great solution for lots of rooms- whether you’re a renter and want to take your carpeting with you, or you have kids and you want to have the convenience of replacing individual carpet tiles when uh-ohs happen. Genius! They’ve always had an amazing array of colors, patterns and textures… and the selection just got more amazing. They’ve introduced a few new styles inspired by ikat fabric, flame-stitch fabric, Suzanis, and crocodile skin, that are chic and fun!

Historic Wallpaper Made Modern

Kristan — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:50:32 +0000

When remodeling an old house, I think it’s dangerous to get too caught up in making it a time piece, doing everything EXACTLY as it was done at the time the house was designed and built. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for historic restoration, but your home isn’t a museum and there must be a balance of modern conveniences while remaining true to the age and style of the house…as well as a nice healthy dose of your taste. That said, a really fun way to honor the period of your abode is with historically accurate wallpapers in new colorways, like those made by Adelphi Paper Hangings. The wallpaper is created in an unbelievably labor intensive manufacturing process: woodcuts, stencils, etc. But like those redoing an old home should be, they’re wise enough to take some of their processes into this millenium. For example, the woodblocks are laser-engraved with the designs before they are hand-finished.These artisanal block printed wall coverings are truly beautiful and can really make a powder room pop, a vestibule vivacious, or a dining room delicious.

Image courtesy of Printersting

L’Oiseau Moderne, French Circa 1925-1930

Everard Damask, English Circa 1760

Spiral Willow, French Circa 1920

Adena Pin Ring, French Circa 1799

Viennese Trees, Austrian/German Circa 1920

Persian Volute, American Circa 1845-1860

Alarm Clock Roundup

Kristan — Thu, 20 May 2010 18:50:55 +0000

Unless you’re one of those magic people who wakes up to the sound of chirping birds and welcomes the day with a big smiling stretch in front of the window… you need an alarm clock. And it’s gonna sit out…all the time. So make it cute!

Note: I did not choose any of these guys based on their ring sounds (except for #9- the Zen clock which is just rad). I figure they’re all annoying to varying degrees, so I selected totally based on looks. Does this make me a bad person?…

Ikea - Dekad Alarm Clock $5.99

Target - Retro Spotlight Alarm Clock- Silver $29.99

Muji - Aluminum Alarm Clock $34.95

Walmart - Bai Design Pick-Me-Up Alarm Clock in Mega Gunmetal $34.95

lumens.com - On Off Alarm Clock By Lexon $37

unicahome.com - World Time Clock, $68

fitzsu - Anything Alarm Clock $75

Conran Shop - Mini Quad Black Alarm Clock, $90

now-zen.com - Digital Zen Alarm Clock, $109.95- 119.95

unicahome.com - Wood LED Clock, $176

Conran Shop - Vers iPod Alarm Clock, Cherry, $199.

Welcome To ‘Live A Little Lovelier’, My New Online Home!

Kristan — Wed, 12 May 2010 21:46:51 +0000

To Live A Little Lovelier is a choice. Or, rather, it’s the big beautiful result of lots of simple small choices that we make everyday. From the color toothbrush we pick, to the single souvenir we select on a trip and deem worthy of carrying back on the plane… heck, let’s even throw in matching our undies to our socks. No one designs our lives for us- we get to choose what goes into our homes, what music will create the backdrop to our memories and where to draw the line between perfect and perfectly lived in. We have the option of living a life that’s more… considered. Just plain… nicer. Or lovelier. See? It’s a fancier word. Didn’t cost any more money. Didn’t take any more time. It was a choice, and I feel fancier having said it.

For darn near a decade, I’ve had the privilege of being invited into so many of your homes, through your TVs. I hope now, that you’ll feel welcome in mine. This site is the place where I can share everything from my flea market finds, to new resources that I’m all jazzed about- with the hope that once you shake and sift, a few gems meant just for you will surface. An idea that’s sets you in motion on a home project, or an image that inspires the theme for your next party.

After years of designing a room or two a week- almost always to be installed in one day- I’ve learned a thing or two about using the resources I have available at my fingertips, and turning somethin’ eh into somethin’ kick ass. So, The Resource Library will grow as I tackle new projects and look for new things. I hope to turn you on to some new places, stores, sites, etc. but mostly, I hope you’ll find that, so many of the places you already know and love- have right there in your hood- are full of gorgeous well-priced things that you may have overlooked until now.

Under Do It Lovelier, I aim to give you ideas to do just that. Small projects or transformations- even minor tweaks- to apply to your home that will elevate your living… make your home feel more fancy pants… and these ideas won’t cost you a paycheck or require a pneumatic nailer. We’re talkin’- “put this, in this and you get this!” or “buy this instead of that, and you get awesome”. Doable. Just the way we like it.

My Morning Addictions reads like a roster of some of the heaviest hitters in the blogosphere and each morning, I have my coffee with them and sift through their offerings to find my own gems. I’ve been to places, made things, and given gifts that were all discovered on one of these fantastic blogs. I hope to be able to return the favor ; )

If you’re reading this, you’ve come to my home and knocked on my door. I hope you’ll be a pop-in-often kind of friend, and that every once in awhile you’ll leave a gift. An idea, a pic of something you’ve created, a suggestion about what you’d like to see more of… no need to wrap it!

You deserve to walk into your home each day and adore everything that’s waiting there for you, and I hope to be involved in the process of getting you there…

xo,

A Beach Theme For Your Teen- Uncheesy Umbrella included!

Kristan — Wed, 05 May 2010 05:09:11 +0000

Two questions that I get from viewers all the time: “How do you design a kids room that doesn’t need to be overhauled once they become a teen?” and “How do you tastefully put together a theme room?”

I’ve always been oddly drawn to Pablo Pardo’s umbrella lamp, but have a hard time seeing it in a truly “grown up” space. It is, however, playful without being straight up juvenile (a hard balance to strike) which makes it the perfect piece to base an adaptable kid’s scheme around. One that’ll take them from nursery to teen room. Then I found the Swingset photograph, and suddenly a soft and subtle beach theme was established.

The chair swing is fun without being silly- a great place to rock her when she’s a baby, it’ll later become the spot where she reads. The rope bed (an utter steal, by the way) is a great first bed after the crib since there are no hard edges, and is classic enough to move with her to her first dorm room or apartment . The terrycloth set of towels provide the perfect upholstery covering for anything from floor pillows to a bench seat, and are so practical (throw ‘em in the wash) and affordable. Trim the pillows and cushions with inexpensive natural rope, and you have a look that’s fresh and timeless!

-Design Public Pablo Umbrella Lamp, $120

-Crate and Barrel Driftwood Mirror, $199

-West Elm Capiz Window Panel in Frost Gray, $99 per pair

-Pier 1 Outdoor Swingasan Chair, $249.95

-Walmart True Colors 6pc bright towel set in Parchment, $24

-Walmart Aberdeen Green/ Cream Indoor Outdoor Rug, 5.5′x7.5′, $86.95

-wallblank.com Swingset by Aaron Feaver 11×14, $24

-Pier 1 Queen Rope Headboard, $199.95