Vintage French kid's room style tips.

Fresh and relaxed, vintage French styling has long been a popular decorating trend.

Try starting with a soft cream on the walls and add colours inspired by the French countryside.

Here at Dreams and Wishes we prefer a more contemporary feel with soft greys.

Exposed floorboards covered in slightly worn rugs is ideal...or paint the boards to compliment your scheme.

Furniture should be a mis-match of pieces either wrought iron or time-worn wood, natural or painted. Search thrift stores and flea markets for pre-stressed pieces.

The only lighting option is a vintage looking chandelier...! Consider a smaller style if you have low ceilings to avoid overkill...

Keep bedlinens plain and in muted colours while making a feature with cushions piled high.

Windows look good with classic wooden shutters and lightly draped natural fabrics.

Looking for further inspiration...? Try leafing through Caroline Clifton-Mogg's book on French country living.

French interiors offer casual comfort and a romantic feel...

For a contemporary feel try using soft greys as a colour base...

Or go for warm creams and soft natural colours that depict the countryside...

The mis-matched painted furniture and wrought iron cradle in this image are classic examples of vintage French style....

Customised chest of drawers...our favourites.

I'm sure most parents would agree that a chest of drawers is one of the most versatile pieces of furniture in a kid's room...supplying storage and display space all in one go...amongst other tasks. In fact, however old your child, a chest of drawers will always prove useful... This might explain the vast array of styles, shapes and sizes available but here at Dreams and Wishes we like things a bit quirky...so have chosen a few of our favourite 'customised' versions...

Upcycle a chest of drawers with paint samples to match your colour scheme...

Or try using wallpaper pieces....

Stripes are a classic kid's room favourite...

Maps are big news for Spring/Summer kid's room styles...time for a bit of decoupage...!?

A simple curvy style in a masculine finish...great for a boy's room...

Modern art...graffiti-style...perfect for a teen room.

Images... House to Home, NestGoodies, Unto This Last and Jimmie Karlsson

A cosy kid's reading space.

I like nothing more than curling up on the sofa with a good book and whiling away a couple of hours...it goes back to my toddler days apparently! So I couldn't imagine a child's room without some form of reading space where they can sit comfortably ready to be transported to some fantasy world... Whether it be a big squashy sofa...

...Or a corner chair somewhere...

...A window seat...

...Or a hideaway...!

Images...Roman & Williams, Bjoko, House to Home, Home Klondike, CarrieCan, Porchlight,

I made this...Doll's bedding.

And very proud of my efforts I am too...! So much so that I'm boring you with the process...in pictures! I aquired two metal-framed dolls beds a few years ago now...and was determined to make some vintage-looking bed linen for them....here's the finished article....a little later than I'd planned!

Picture perfect...ideas for displaying artwork

Kid's rooms always benefit from a display of artwork...whether it be the first scribbles from play school or a selection of carefully considered photos depicting the growth of a little one.

But how do you make the best of these unique decorative features...?

Firstly, decide on the pieces that you plan to hang on the wall, this could relate to a pleasing grouping or a fun theme.

Next, decide how you will frame your chosen items...as with the artwork, aim to keep to a loose theme...try mix-matched frames in one bright colour or stick to identical shapes and sizes for a symetrical look.

Lay out your chosen frames on the floor to decide on a pleasing display, or make up paper templates and tape them to the wall...before drilling any holes...!

Try to centre your display around eye-level, this is usually considered to be around 5ft high, remember that your kids may appreciate their artwork at a lower level to best see it....

images, weheartit, real simple, design updates and lonnymag

Kid's room colour.

Whilst I remain a committed fan of the pale, uncluttered Scandinavian interior, I occasionally love a burst of disorganised colour in a kid's room... So here are just a few that caught the eyes of the Dreams and Wishes team... Lovin' the 'hippy vibe'...

Go with an ever-popular hand made feel...

How to make a 'mish-mash' of pattern and colour look great... Maps are big news this Spring for kid's rooms... You just gotta love pink...OK, maybe not the boys so much...! Simple polka dot bedding adds warmth to this light-filled room...

Images from babylon sister, taverne agency, lille lykke, arsitektur media

and real living magazine

Happy Mother's Day to all Mums this Sunday...

You know you're a Mother when....

1. You find yourself cutting your husband's sandwiches into animal shapes...


2. You hear your own mother's voice when telling the kids off...


3. You hire a baby-sitter, 'cos you haven't had a night out for ages, and spend half the night checking on the kids...


4. You can't get more than five minutes alone in the bathroom...


5. You use your own saliva to clean your kid's face...


6. You hope Ketchup is a vegatable, as it's the only one your child will eat...


7. The closest you get to gormet cooking is Rice Krispie cakes...


8. You can talk on the phone, pack a lunch and breast feed, all at the same time...


9. You can remove chewing gum from just about anything...


10. You say at least once a day 'I'm not cut out for this' but wouldn't swap it for the world...