Here are some sure-fire bedding sets that add colour to your nursery or child’s bedroom without a drop of paint.

Fresh clean nursery bedding set evokes feelings of being by the seaside

Bright orange isn’t a colour most people will be happy to splash all over their nursery walls, but just look at this orange baby bedding set. Made from bold geometric zig zag patterns- which by the way are all the rage! Geometric prints are very defined and contemporary. The zig zag bedding collection is available in a range of colours. Use a large drum ceiling shade in the same fabric for lighting,  accessorize with pure whites and textured for a clean, crisp look or with bright solid orange or celery green rug for a playful, zany look.

We LOVE this red and blue nautical themed boys bedding set! The optional pillows feature embroidered anchors while the duvet cover shows painted sailboats in red and blue. Accesorize with various shades of blue and of course a deep denim red, this collection is great for the adventurous child; yet uses ‘grown-up’ colours and will last for many years.

Red and Blue Nautical Duvet Set for Boys

Call us on 0203 371 7530

to order now and get 10% off all nursery bedding, ends

Wednesday 01/05/2013.

You can also order directly from our online store.

For free design advice please email design@punkinpatch.co.uk

How happy are we to finally see the glorious sunshine! No doubt you are equally glad, to spread the sunny cheer.

We are offering 10% off ANY of our nursery bedding ranges from now until next Wednesday 31st May! 

Speculation is mounting that Kate Middleton is expecting a baby girl. While we don’t know for sure, the rules for designing a royal nursery is the same as any; we’ll simply amp up the wow factor a thousand times more! We would expect the Royal Nursery to have a largely British lilt to it, either in the actual products used or in the inspiration the nursery is drawn from. 

The nursery is the baby’s room as well as a retreat for mum, it is the room you’ll remember each time you recollect those first years of childhood. The royal nursery will be designed for style and ambience, as well as for functionality- with safety being the bedrock of the design. Designing the royal nursery has the luxury of turning out exactly how the new parents imagined, even better.

Safety

The most important factor in selecting furniture for the royal nursery is safety. Safety trumps aesthetics any day, and this applies to all nurseries. Cot safety is regulated by the British Safety standards which has a list of points to which all cots must adhere to preventing falls, strangulation, suffocation and entrapment. A cot that is made to the latest British safety standards is as safe as can be. The paints used in the finishes must be lead-free and with low VOCs.

Inspiration

Less is more when it comes to Royalty. Have you ever seen Kate Middleton in a cacophony of colours when out on official duty? Keep it simple is a thread that should run through the royal nursery; simple but luxurious and classy. It is preferable to ‘suggest’ rather than ‘say’ or even worse ‘shout out’.

We recommend starting with a precious item as a source of inspiration. This could be an actual physical item like jewellery or favourite dress, or even a nostalgic photograph. It can also be abstract like a memorable vacation spot, an English garden, a fairy-tale or a historical figure. Inspiration should be something that evokes feelings of joy and peace. Period accents are a great source of inspiration representing the long lineage of the monarchy. We have chosen damask featuring botanical patterns as our inspiration. History refers to damask as the fabric of royalty, since the common man could not afford such a luxurious fabric. In our design we have used damask on the walls, this could be hand painted directly on the walls by a mural artist, or wallpapered on. Damask can also be used in the soft furnishings; bed linen, upholstery, curtains or/and canopies. We suggest using any synthetic fabrics on the outside of the bed linen, as we recommend 100% cotton for the portions that come into contact with baby’s skin.

Damask has a soft sheen to it and we have used this element in the girl’s nursery in the form of a gold chandelier and mirror, the nightstand and bed linen also features soft gold. This reflective element suggests luxury, yet it is understated and not over the top. The soft beiges and creams warms the nursery making it feel cozy and not aloof.

Our boys’ nursery furniture features an emblem which would be designed in the House of Windsor royal crest. The furniture is hand rubbed to give an aged finish, again a symbol of longevity. A variety of textures- cotton, silk, satin and wool all give it interest and depth.

Furniture

Our choice of furniture has been aged to give it a period finish. The Iron cot is distressed by hand giving the impression it has been passed down generations. The wood furniture is also rubbed down by hand in the corners and edges to give the same effect. An organic baby mattress is preferred to a non-organic one, which may have harmful chemicals in it. Kate’s changing dresser will be made to measure just for her, so the top is at a comfortable height for her to change the baby.

A nursery is not complete without an upholstered glider. Upholstered nursery gliders are very comfortable, with a removable cover in royal blue, piped in white. This is where a lot of bonding happens and memories are formed as the proud parents rock and feed their newborn.

A bedside table next to the chair makes reaching for necessities easy.

Linens and Soft Furnishings

Colour can be introduced to the nursery via the fabrics used in the baby bedding and other soft furnishings. A theme can also be introduced this way too. The fabrics should be selected first as it is easier to match paint (for the walls) to the fabric than vice versa. Organic cottons now come in various designs but the availability of designs is still pretty limited. The work-around is to use your preferred fabric on the outside and softer, natural fabrics on the inside. This can be achieved by having the linens made to order from scratch. Texture can be introduced using an array of different textiles, lace, satin silk and cotton all combined in the same colour gives an amazing result without going over the top with colour. Window treatments in coordinating fabrics complete the look.

The Finishing Touch

Decorative items like rugs, lighting and artwork should mirror the look and feel of the nursery. Plain, soft shades as opposed to heavy patterns and bright colours keep things simple yet elegant. Parents today are no longer saddled with the limited choice of an all-pastel nursery, but now opt for more ‘grown up’ looks that maintains serenity in the room.

The completed nursery fit for a prince or princess features a range of inviting hues and textures which reflect the parents’ personal style and taste. The result is a space that feels good, safe and homely.

Hire Expectations (www.hireexpectations.co.uk) was launched by twin sisters Pippa and Robyn, after seeing many pregnant friends struggle to find a dress to wear to a special occasion whilst pregnant. It can be difficult to justify splashing out on a new dress for a special occasion, when you know you may only be able to wear that dress once.

The business initially launched as a maternity dress rental website, but soon diversified into offering stylish dresses suitable for breastfeeding.

Hire Expectations offers a range of dresses ranging from stunning gowns to glamorous fitted frocks, for hire at up to 80% off retail prices (dress rentals start at £25). The site stocks dresses from ten leading labels including Crave, Isabella Oliver, Keungzai and Peaks of London, plus Butter by Nadia, a brilliant non-maternity line, popular with celebrities and designed to flatter all shapes and sizes plus maternity too. The popularity of the site means that the range is expanding quickly in line with customer feedback.

The process of hiring a dress is very simple. You just choose the dress you love in your usual size plus a back-up size if you wish, book a delivery date (a couple of days before your function) and pay (from £25 to £66 for five days, plus £9.95 delivery and return postage). After your special occasion, there’s no need to clean the dress, you simply post the dresses back in the pre-paid returns envelope where Hire Expectations will take care of the cleaning.

Thank you to Pippa and Robyn for guest posting with us today, please do get in touch with Hire Expectations if you would like to discuss their fabulous hire service.

For more information visit Hire Expectations – www.hireexpectations.co.uk

Follow Hire Expectations on Twitter – www.twitter.com/HireExpectation

Like Hire Expectations on Facebook – www.facebook.com/HireExpectations

Thanks to Rosie Pope we have now identified a must-have pregnancy service. We were beside ourselves with joy when we came across our newest partner, The Baby Planners. They are a London based baby planning and maternity concierge company dedicated to providing support and guidance to new and expectant parents by offering every service you could possibly need during those precious nine months of pregnancy. The baby planners are Simone & Gemma and we were pleased to interview them:

How can the Baby Planners help you?

You have seen pregnant in heels laughed at the parents to be and wondered why you would ever hire someone to help you choose your baby’s name? More money then sense you have mumbled to yourself. Well let me introduce ourselves and explain what we do then maybe you will have a different view on how maternity concierges work.

Myself and Gemma have been nannies for over twenty years and throughout our nanny careers we have experienced many different families and situations but the one recurring theme in all our nanny families was “are we doing this right” or “there is so much information how do I know what’s right for me” so we decided to set up the baby planners to offer support and advice for parents to be tailor made for them to suit their lifestyle.

A service that helps parents and parents-to-be with everything from practical advice on birthing plans and hospital bags to fun stuff like organising baby showers, decorating the nursery and so much more. We work with a network of professionals to support and advise you offering standard or bespoke packages dependent on your family’s needs.

So what can you expect from us?

We offer in home consultation where we will go over all your concerns and worries. Be it birthing plans, birthing choices, pregnancy nutrition, baby proofing your home or choosing the right buggy (that will fit through your front door) we will then go away and come back with a plan just for you. We work along side midwives and sleep consultants so you know your always going to get the best advice.

Our aim is to use our expertise, knowledge and contacts to ensure you have a healthy, happy, worry free pregnancy and can relax and enjoy your new baby. Not to take away the fun of your pregnancy but helping you make decisions that let you really enjoy being pregnant. Think of us like your wise, loving big sister that will do everything in our power to magic away your worries whilst also remaining in the real world of midwives appointments and dirty nappies!

We are completely Independent and we don’t work alongside any big companies so you can be assured that our advice is completely our own with no hidden commission motive. We also attend baby shows and fairs, and keep up to date on new safety guidelines so any advice given is up to date.

Classes and workshops

We also offer both ante-natal and post-natal classes which can be taken in the privacy of your own home or along side other parents-to-be. We also have a selection of post-natal services from learning how to breastfeed to having us in your home looking after mum and baby in those precious few weeks of babies life. Plus we offer practical parenting classes with our own baby planners dolls. (learn to swaddle, bath and use a sling etc) perfect for some extra practise before baby arrives, Especially for the daddy to be. We also run weaning classes and from the summer we will be offering baby massage classes too.

We like to think of ourselves as your pregnancy godmothers, your one stop baby shop for all your pregnancy and baby needs.

Thank you to Simone and Gemma for guest posting with us today, please do get in touch with The Baby Planners if you would like to discuss any of their services. Take a look at our service page. www.thebabyplanners.co.uk/our-services Or contact us here www.thebabyplanners.co.uk

Punkin Patch Interiors will be collaborating with the Baby Planners on a very exciting project but we’re not going to spill the beans just yet, all will be revealed soon so watch this space!

Designing the Perfect Nursery for Your Baby
Decorating your baby’s nursery ranks highly amongst the top most memorable project a parent will get involved in. Your little one gives you gentle reminders of their existence with nudges and kicks yet you can only imagine what their personality would be like.
When designing your nursery, start with the end in mind. Your nursery has to be functional as well as beautiful, so before purchasing furniture think about safety and function but also style, think about the purpose, the activities that will take place in there.

Besides the obvious sleeping and feeding, consider storage and your lifestyle too. Start by measuring your space as it gives you an informed platform to build on. You will find that nursery furniture comes in different shapes and sizes so you need to take a lot into consideration like alcoves and awkward spaces.
Nursery furniture is available in many styles, designs, finishes and even themes, but careful to pick one that adheres to the latest British Safety Standards. Cots in the UK come in 2 main sizes of 60 x 120cm and 70 x 140cm, 131 x 75cm (Boori cots) and 122 x 68cm (Stokke ® Sleepi cot). Cots imported from other countries like the USA are of yet another size. Your choices range from wood or iron, antique, traditional or modern to Natural finish, painted or eco-friendly. Painted furniture with hand painted motifs or themes are also an option. The choice is simply endless. To prevent being overwhelmed with the plethora of cot styles, look at your home to determine your personal taste. Are you a city slicker or country-loving? Do you love nature and would prefer natural woods or even eco-friendly furniture? These questions help to narrow down your preferences as it isn’t always as straightforward as choosing wood or iron cots. Traditional homes tend to be the right setting for curvy designs like sleigh cots or antique-style iron cots with scrolls and scallops, while contemporary homes will almost certainly go for straight lines and fuss-free designs. The cot tends to carry the bulk of the design so choose that first. Most retailers sell nursery furniture as a collection. This means that you can purchase coordinating pieces like the changing unit, wardrobe, shelving etc. Some companies even supply single and double beds as part of the range so you only need to purchase one item 3 or 4 years later and you’ll still have a coordinating bedroom. If space is limited consider purchasing dual purpose furniture, like changing units that have a removable changing top set atop a chest of drawers. This gives its use longevity and it carries on being used long after baby outgrows the nursery.

Baby Bed linen pretty much sets the style or theme of your nursery. This is also what you and of course baby will see a lot of. Even if you don’t purchase a luxury cot you can splurge on the cot linens as that is a great avenue to introduce style and colour to your nursery. Nursery bed linen again comes in many shapes, styles and sizes and the same principle applies that we use to choose furniture. Traditional bed linen are quite easily identified, frills, checks, florals, etc. while contemporary baby bedding will be again rather fuss-free and simple. Think neutrals, geometric patterns and crisp predictable styles. For a true luxe design, go for bespoke bedding. This is where you or the designer choose suitable fabrics in your chosen theme or colour a unique set is created.
Notice we haven’t talked about wall colours yet. This is because it is easier to match paint to bedding than the other way round. It is safer to choose your bed linen first because you wouldn’t choose one in a colour you don’t love. Once this is safely done, pick a colour from the bed linen. Go for a soft colour as you’re creating a serene space that you’ll be walking into at 2am in the morning! Plus of course baby needs a relaxing space.
If your favourite colour is a deep colour and your space is small, tone it down to a softer shade in the same colour palette. Bold colours pull the walls in and make a small space feel smaller. The reverse is also true; lighter colours make the walls recede.

Nothing beats feeding your baby in an upholstered glider. Memories are formed as you feed and rock your newborn in your comfortable chair. The gliders give a gentle gliding motion with minimal effort as opposed to a rocking motion. Some of them swivel too, making reaching out for the box of tissues just that bit easier. The best part is that they are custom made to coordinate with your nursery. You can even have the glider made in the same fabric as your soft furnishings. Nursery gliders come in different sizes, so you it will be helpful to find out both the internal and external dimensions. Remember to take your partner’s size into consideration too as he’ll no doubt spend some time in the chair. A personalised stool next to your chair is a handy addition for bits and bobs needed while feeding or relaxing.

Now that the mainframe of your nursery is formed, add the finishing touches to your design. Decorative accessories like a rug, beautiful lighting, artwork, decals, clocks, etc all place a stamp on your baby’s space. Why not personalise it with a favourite item? An old picture of you growing up in a pretty antique or modern frame, seashells collected from family holidays, heirloom items like your own baby comb all make the space unique and beautiful.

Jenni loves the Gabi messenger...

Whilst Una from girl group the Saturday's is rarely seen without her trusty companion Rebecca....

Kate has been spotted with both Gabi and Holly, a true sugarjack fan! 

Okay! So what's is it about Andy's bed that makes it so special?

Andy's bed stands out from any other wooden bed. It looks like a real bed and not some other cheap contraption designed to entice your child to their room and keep them there for hours, unsure as to whether they are supposed to sleep or play. This Handcrafted, wooden bed has exaggerated features, the sort your child sees in books like Alice in Wonderland, Little Red Riding hood or in a movie like Toy Story. Of course.

Here's a quote from Brian, the talented craftsman behind Andy's Bed:

"I want people to see the true beauty of the timber I choose.  I finish this furniture with a natural hand-rubbed wax polish that nurtures the wood, which means that it can be re-polished, and repaired easily if it ever gets damaged (Unlikely).

This furniture is made from Ash trees felled in the parkland of Shane’s Castle demesne in County Antrim.  It’s an ancient and beautiful deciduous woodland on the shores of Lough Neagh. This is not just selling furniture; this is an Irish tree that’s been carefully crafted into a beautiful bed. You are buying a little piece of Ireland."

Another distinction of Andy's Children's Bed is that it is made to go with any other furniture pieces, it forms the focal point of your child's bedroom and nothing else would attempt to steal it's spotlight. In saying that we have a matching bedside table that is just as grand.

And here's the fun part. Andy's bed is guaranteed for 100 years! Yes you read right. It is an heirloom bed that will be passed down to future generations. In a previous blog post shared about how we  redressed a 30-year old bassinet for a mum, her daughter slept in it and now her grand daughter was about to do so too. That is no longer a bassinet, that is a family history in the making.

There is something breathtakingly wonderful about adding nostalgia and dreams to our lives.

We can design and craft matching pieces like a chest of drawers, wardrobe and desk to go with this bed, please contact us for more information on this.

We also came across some modern furniture that the trader was trying to pass as vintage. I said to him; 'it's modern, how can that be vintage?' He took offence when I continued- 'it's not vintage if it's modern'.

But I get his point. You can call modern décor vintage if you draw inspiration from nostalgic designs. Polka dots is always going to be trendy in children's interiors, but it is a staple in vintage furnishings. Checks are also rather retro, yet can be used in a modern bedroom setting, the same goes for pastels. Although some people use bright, primary colours for their baby's nursery, it would require quite a bit of creativity to stop it looking tacky. Pastels are the preferred choice for babies nurseries because while we agree that babies are stimulated by colour, we are not trying to keep them awake here. Always decide on style or colour as your starting point for your vintage look bedroom, and then build on that.

It's a good idea to have your 'retro colour' on the walls and add vintage accents like floral soft furnishings, this allows the room to evolve naturally as you find treasures to add to it. Nostalgic items like an old frame of your baby's grand or even great-grand parents add authenticity to your room, as do distressed furniture purposely aged to look vintage.

For more design ideas:

visit our online store at: www.punkinpatch.co.uk, send us an email: design@punkinpatch.co.uk

Call us: 0203 371 7530

Punkin Patch Interiors is a family owned boutique specialising in the supply of bespoke, luxury furniture, bed linen and décor for babies and children. Their distinguished collection includes wood or iron baby cots, unusual children's beds and custom designed décor.