family life
L&L | SEPTEMBER 2019 | 77TEXT
KIRSTEN HILL
PHOTOGRAPHS
KARL ROGERS
HOW THIS SPACE
WENT FROM
DRAB TO FAB:
“The first step was
to paint the walls
white and install
new carpets, which
gave us a lovely blank
canvas,” says Lisa. “We didn’t
want a specific theme, so we’ve
combined cowboy elements with a
Scandinavian feel. The green hills
add depth to the room and introduce
colour to the neutral palette
without being overstimulating,”
she explains. “I also love that Olly
can use the mural as a backdrop
for imaginary play with his toys.”
Olly’s dad, David, made the tent-
style bed, which features lighting
in its roof for bedtime reading. The
duvet cover and linen came from
Clever Little Monkey and the toys
and cushions on the bed were
purchased from a range of online
stores. “We also used real plants in
the room. They echo those in the wall
mural and clean and filter the air.”
“Olly’s bedroom isn’t just for
sleeping, but also a space to play.
Toys and activities are within easy
reach, while decor and more
delicate items like books are high
up on shelving from Simply Child,”
says Lisa. “We also included plenty
of soft storage and a storage crate
so Olly can learn to pack things
away himself. We avoided chests
of drawers where little fingers
can get caught,” Lisa adds.
The room offers plenty of seating,
such as a bunny stool from Dovetail.
A small table and bench from
KE Manufacturing provide the perfect
spot for activities, while a house-
shaped chalkboard from Simply Child
encourages further creativity. Decor
items add whimsy to the space, but
the rocking horse is Olly’s favourite.
“Now Olly’s bedroom is an
ideal space that he loves playing
and sleeping in,” says Lisa.Shopping locally
and online
“Doing your shopping online while
your little one naps, or while supper is
cooking is very convenient. No need
to settle for something you aren’t
happy with. Almost all the shopping
for this room was done online − and
locally,” says Lisa. “I tried to support
mom-owned businesses as much as
possible. It was satisfying knowing I was
helping a mother support her family.”
LISA’S TIPS FOR LOCAL
ONLINE SHOPPING
● Follow local blogs to ensure
the product you’re ordering
is good quality.
● Read product reviews and follow local
brands on social media to determine
which companies are best to use.
● Try to deal with the face behind the
brand. They can also direct you to
a store that stocks their brand.
● Many local online stores have a good
returns policy, so check before paying.
● Find out what materials your product
is made from before purchasing. If
you aren’t sure, do some research. LLContact list
Clever Little Monkey
cleverlittlemonkey.co.za
Dovetail
hellodovetail.co.za
KE Manufacturing
kemanufacturing.co.za
Lauren McCreath Interiors
laurenmccreathinteriors.co.za
Simply Child
simplychild.co.za