I don’t know if it is because I have 3 little munchkins running around my humble abode, but children room design always get me! (OK, I also get misty watching How to Train Your Dragon… but that’s another story!)

There is something quite whimsical about a child’s room. They do not see their decor as we do. Their comfortable bed with matching bedding is for them either a castle or a drifting raft where hungry sharks swim below. Their little colouring desk becomes, in a flash, an English Tea Room where dolls and stuffed animals attend with great ceremony.

As I look at the glossy pages of magazines and the beautifully curated rooms they present, I marvel at how far chilren room design has come. Long gone are the days or Winnie the Pooh (no offence Winnie, your books and movies rock!) wallpaper and marching bedding.

Colour schemes are vivacious and adult like, the textures are soft and curly but also sophisticated and rich. Themes have been left aside to leave the whole floor for ambiances with streamlined or moody decors. I could not be happier!!

And when all is said and done, and we, as parents, have gotten our design fix, I can only marvel once more at the fact that my children still think their eclectic, bohemian vintage inspired bedroom, still makes for a great space ship or camping tent! Let them keep that child heart as long as possible for spying on their “pretend games” is one of my most profound source of happiness!!

sources: 1. Two Ellie 2. Nuevo Estilo 3. Ikea Family Live 4. Krispix 5. Me Oh My! photograph by Ashlee Raubach 6. The Style Files 7. Scrubs & Pearls

Interior Philip Gorrivan, styling: Stacy Kunstel, Photographer: Michael Partenio

I guess I am a closet rocker. Black lacquered surfaces, grommets and nailhead details have (somewhat) replaced my “thing” for everything that had a little skull head on it (You should see my Alexander McQueen head scarf collection!).

Although my own home is quite tame I have to say, I always do a double take on pieces of furniture and accessories with a raw edge. Here are some of the things I have been lusting over for a while now…

The Rug Company

Keep Calm & Carry On said the Queen

I know I know, the Union Jack has been seen and “re-seen” but just like a zebra print rug, it seems to find its place in my heart time and time again.

Designer Rose Uniacke London Home

Cool lighting

Lighting is the jewelry of the home, the pendant earrings to a gorgeous LBD. Well, on my rock ‘n roll list is a slew of cool lighting that are mixing materials, form and texture. The result is smashing and a must on my “lust list”.

Malachite Print

When I channel my rocker self, I always picture it happening somewhere in the ’70s, when free love reigned and malachite prints were the rage. The saturated colour, the intricate pattern and the über-retro vibe are all win-win to me.

David Wiseman | Honeycomb Fireplace Screen

Honeycomb pattern 

Not very rock n’ roll in itself, the honeycomb pattern is one of my favourites. I really (read here REALLY) love this fireplace screen that is a little edgier than the usual culprit.

Animal… anything

Deborah Needleman said in her book The Perfectly Imperfect Home that every home needs something of the animal kingdom. Is it as a token of interdependence or as a public display over the four legged species? Whatever the sociological behind it, I have to admit that I am a little coockoo for anima prints and collectables. As upholstery, rug, bronze or ceramic, the theme has always found a roaring public amongst the risk n’ roll crowd and I can’t imagine it stopping anytime soon.

source: Dering Hall , Sea of Shoes, Atlantis Home

Ever since my childhood I have always been giddy when it comes to exposed brick. Whether on walls or on floors, bricks ooze an air of centuries past, carrying with each one stories of dinner parties and families that graced the homes.

Rough and uneven, it brings in an element of warmth to an otherwise modern kitchen.

An exposed brick wall is often not a feature we choose to have in our decor, but most likely something we have to integrate. Despite the fact that it is imposed upon the homeowner, I happen to believe that it actually is a decor dream rather than a hindrance. I mean think of it: history, texture and charm all in one!

There are special glazes that are sold in order to preserve an aging brick that tends to come apart on contact. It will seal the surface and some even give it a little sheen that is nothing short of delightful.

If the brick is uneven in colour, as a door or window was closed up after construction, there are two options: embrace the rustic charm or paint it! We had a brick wall in our old house’s vestibule and it was a miss mash of different bricks as some of them must have been replaced over time. It took us an afternoon and a gallon of antique white paint to give the wall a uniform look and open up the small space by brightening it from a rusty red to a luminous chalky white.

Unlike most brick interiors that tend to be industrial and masculine, this interior exudes femininity and grace. The white watched finish of the brick’s patina gives a soft chalky look to the plush bedroom.

Sources: 1. Living Etc..., 2. Lonny, 3. Delicate Sound of Thunder, 4. Remain Simple, 5. Apartment Therapy, 6. Kavka Design, 7. Decor8, 8. Kavka Design, 9. House Beautiful