Gift Guide: For Discerning Littles

Decor

When it comes to giving gifts to littles, it’s wise to remember that you’re actually gifting to the parents too. So those toys that light up, play songs, wiz, bang, and whir? Yeah, we’re not so thankful for those. But there is a treasure trove of amazing goodies out that there that kiddos will clamor for and that won’t make mamas shudder when adding it to the ever-growing collection of kid-related accouterments. Here are some faves I’m going to be giving to the new wee babes in our life (and a couple I’ll be adding to our world as well!).

1> Finding non-cheesy, kid-friendly tableware seemed like a never-ending quest. Enter Miniware. Even the cutlery is cute. And eco-friendly. Problem solved.

2> I am endlessly obsessed with kids books (check out this post if you need more recs). This story, about what you can discover when walking in the woods, warms the heart & is easy on the eyes.

3> Every kid needs a cuddly friend and a sweet, friendly deer is perfect this time of year!

4> A rocking robot?! I just want one.

5> The train obsession is real. This guy connects and includes blocks.

6> Gotta love it when a kid dresses better than you do. This cactus romper is too cool for school.

7> Because every mama needs a few minutes hands-free.

8> Do not be fooled. You do not need an ugly, ginormous automated chair that takes up half your living room. This rocker will do the trick and looks amazing!

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Check out the rest of our gift guides HERE.

image via house & home

How to Maximize Space in a Toddler Room

Bedrooms

If you frequent Apt34 from time to time, you may have seen that I’ve been working on a toddler room refresh for my two and a half year old. Rather than get overwhelmed by trying to redesign the entire space at once, I decided to tackle it area by area. First up: the closet. Did you see the before I shared a few weeks back? The closet was just a hot mess and a missed opportunity to capitalize on very usable space. But now the makeover is complete and today you get to see the after! I can’t wait to hear what you think.

It did take a bit of elbow grease to get the closet looking this spiffy. First there was the getting rid of the things (yes, I forced myself to part with stacks of swaddle blankets and tiny baby outfits I’d been holding onto with a vice grip). Then there was the cleaning of the things. Funny how grungy a space gets when you don’t touch it for months on end!

Thankfully, a few quick swipes with Clorox Triple Action Dust Wipes caught all the dust and dog hair that had accumulated in there. I love that they pick up allergens too. I followed that up with a thorough wipe down with Clorox Disinfecting Wipes for a totally clean slate. The closet looked as sparkly new as the day we moved in.

After that good wipe down, I set out to transform this space into a little creative studio for my little guy. Now all his art supplies, legos, stickers and the like are within reach of his little fingertips – and out of my sight! The secret? Boxes on bins, on tubs, on boxes. For example, I found the perfect white bins that hide the (ever growing!) collection of legos. So happy about that.

The adorable ABC bins now holding favorite puzzles, blocks and balls are from Pehr Petit. I love that the bins still feel young and playful, but are a touch more elevated in the monochromatic color palette.

Despite my personal aversion to color, I had to pay homage to my kiddo’s creative side by displaying some of his masterpieces and his most-prized possessions on the closet wall – the banjo and ukulele. Now his instruments hang just like his music teacher’s – major bonus points for mama (though he’s probably more excited about the little men they’re hanging from then the display itself).

This little kid table is the perfect workstation for anything creative. I love that the stools can tuck in out of the way. And it’s actually pretty comfortable for me to sit at too.

get the look: wall-mounted book bins // pehr petit alphabet baskets // children’s banjo // children’s ukulele // white storage bins // white washed wood storage bins // fabric storage bins // little buddy wall hooks // wooden elephant puzzle // retro wood car // maxi helly helicopter // baby letto lemonade play table // vehicles book

Finally, I corralled our extensive book collection with wall mounted shelves that make it easy for a toddler to recognize book covers and grab what he wants to “read” for himself. I keep the nicer titles that are less friendly to rough and tough play in the upper bin. It’s the perfect way to make use of the vertical space.

With this little makeover, I accomplished two goals: dramatically increasing the amount of usable playspace in my son’s room and I gave myself way more storage and the ability to tuck away mess with the simple swing of a door. It was a win all around. I’m happy to report that my son is just as thrilled with his new space as I am!

For more peeks into our San Francisco Victorian, CLICK HERE.

For more kid’s room inspiration, CLICK HERE.

original photography for apartment 34 by andrea posadas

This content was created is in partnership with Clorox. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. Thanks for supporting collaborations that I’m excited about and that have kept apartment 34’s doors open

Remodel Update: Nursery Redesign

Decor

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned wanting to transition our nursery into a toddler room. Every time I step in there right now, the space just doesn’t seem to fit the energy and fun that my two year old now embodies. And while I’d prefer to wave my wand and magically transform the entire space all at once, I am in fact a normal human and have to do it in phases.

But it’s perfect. Because as I did with my laundry room refresh oh so many months ago, I’m again partnering with Clorox to transform what is currently a rather sad mess into something awesome. Check it out.

I am going to transfer my kiddo’s closet from hardly functional into the coolest kid hang out space. As you can see in the pic above, we’re lucky in that we have a very large closet in our kiddo’s room. It’s more than 3′ feet wide and 4′ feet deep. That allows not only for ample storage, but for what could be a good sized play space as well. I’m excited to take what is now a rarely used reading corner (we have a good rocker for that) and instead create a beautiful little “art studio” where Carter can hang out, make art and play. While we all know I don’t really do color, I think this could be a fun place to be stack with vibrant display. Especially since I can always close the doors!

I’ve been gathering inspiration of all the ideas I plan to tuck into this space.

The first to-do is to tackle book storage. Right now Carter’s entire library is crammed onto a few closet shelves. Instead, I’d like to display Carter’s book collection on the wall in an easy-to grab fashion. I love the look of wall-mounted book displays. That solution will also free up shelf space for art supply & toy storage.

I also want to create a gallery wall in the closet. A fun place to display a combination of family photos, kid friendly art and some Carter originals will add a lot of visual interest and allow me to accentuate the 10 foot ceilings.

I’m also intrigued by doing some sort of playful design element. Whether it’s simple highlights with washi tape, or a little framed chalkboard, I want to create a mini creative wonderland when you open those closet doors.

Then there is my favorite OCD, over-organizing activity – organizing the shelves. Toys, legos, art supplies and clothing. I need to maximize all the shelf space, do some fun display ideas and make sure I can store everything. I want to make this space work quadruple duty.

I’m giving myself the month of August to get this little space whipped into shape so be sure to check back. The reveal will be coming!

image 1 / image 2 / image 3 / image 4 / image 5

Don’t Call It a Diaper Bag

Fashion

So it’s taken two years since becoming a mom, but I think I’ve finally got my style mojo back! I actually want to wear real outfits again (aka just say no to anything with stretch). We’re also finally enjoying some real summer weather in San Francisco this week, so I thought it high time I share a style post. It has only been six months since my last one.

I am all about the wide-leg cropped jean at the moment. Yes, I hated them when the style first broke through, but I’ve come around and now have multiple pairs! It’s such a relief to say ta-ta to skinny jeans. The wide leg is much more flattering, not to mention more comfortable to wear. When cropped at the ankle, they pair perfectly with a fun summer heel. I’m obsessed with my pair of cream Rachel Comey jeans. I have a feeling I’m going to live in them this summer.

I’ve also succumbed to the other summer trend I’m seeing everywhere – the round woven bag. It is a really fun, graphic shape. It also kinda makes you feel like you’re on vacation on a random Tuesday in the city. The biggest coup though? I didn’t spend hundreds on mine. I found an authentic French bag on Etsy for $40! But just because I’m doing my best to not dress “like a mom,” that doesn’t mean I’m not prepared at all times. I’ve made it my mission to ditch the diaper bag, even while I carry all my mama-essentials. My secret is pouches. They’re the perfect way to keep everything tightly organized and easy to grab, no matter what bag I’m carrying.

After a couple of years at this mama game now, I’ve realized I don’t need to be over prepared all the time. So I’ve ditched the diapers for days, extra outfits and random toys. I’ve whittled things down to the supplies absolutely necessary for daily survival. This includes a couple diapers, a travel pack of wipes and diaper rash cream to take care of changing needs. An emergency pacifier helps ward off meltdowns. I carry travel packs of Clorox Disinfecting Wipes to wipe down those questionable tables, shopping carts and communal toys at the park because I swear my kid always gets a cold after too many days in a row at the playground! My other secret weapon is the Clorox Bleach Pen. I love cream and white too much to avoid it anymore – especially in summer – so this is my solution for tiny fingerprints on my pants.

shop the look: the podolls hammok top / rachel comey wide leg jeans / cage sandals (similar) / woven round bag / clare vivier zip pouch / clorox disinfecting wipes / clorox bleach pen / lip gloss / diaper cream / hand sanitizer

It’s amazing to travel a little lighter and certainly look a bit spiffier (does anyone say that anymore?? No? It’s just me?) these days. I think I’m going to try this real outfit thing more often.

For my personal style archive, CLICK HERE.

For more of my favorite mama essentials, CLICK HERE

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original photography by andrea posadas

This post is in partnership with Clorox. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. Thanks for supporting collaborations that I’m excited about and that have kept apartment 34’s doors open

Baby Space Update: How to Transition a Nursery to a Toddler Room

Bedrooms

This week on Instagram I’ve been talking about transitioning my son’s room from a nursery to a toddler room so I thought I’d talk about here as well! Now that our kiddo is two (going on teenager), I think he’s ready for a big boy update. It also feels like the perfect summer project!

Now there a lot of different directions I could go and I’m having a bit of tough time zeroing in on one big idea.

I’m certainly drawn to Scandi-style which I think could easily evolve and grow as my kid does.

At the same time, an accent wall situation would add fun color and playfulness.

This loft bed situation is a kid’s dream come true.

Though a more rustic version is probably more realistic. I do love how loft beds offer more place space underneath them.

This space is just precious, but I’m afraid it won’t age well. I’m not really looking to redo this kids room every 1-2 years.

And of course, my minimalist tendencies creep back in and I think maybe I just keep things really clean, cool and simple. But is that not playful enough??

What say you?? Anyone experienced with the evolving kid room challenge who cares to share their secrets? Any particularly fun ideas you’ve seen or mistakes you’ve made?! Design aficionados – any genius ideas?? I’m in the mood boarding phase at the moment so I’ll definitely share where I land!

You can check out what the nursery looks like at the moment right HERE. Also, head to Instagram to see the full tour before my story expires!

PS: Our Summer Newsletter launched today! Have you signed up to be on the list yet?? Just scroll down my right sidebar & click subscribe.

image 1 my scandinavian home / image 2 apartment therapy / image 3 contemporist / image 4 apartment therapy / image 5 / image 6 over the ocean

Real Talk, Real Moms: Favorite Books

Decor

Our semi-regular series on motherhood is back today and I’m particularly excited about this post. While we’ve tackled weighty motherhood-related topics in past posts (breast feeding, co-parenting, self-care, the election) this post is touch different – because we’re talking about books!

Now some moms might be sharing their favorite parenting books, but since I’m always on the hunt for good children’s books (and haven’t found the time to actually read any parenting ones yet – whoops) I’m focusing on books for the littles. Because they really are books for us too. We’re the ones reading them after all!

Surely, the world of children’s books is nearly endless but some books really do stand out from the crowd. And my definition of good is not as straightforward as it sounds. To classify a kid’s book as worthy it has to be visually appealing with lovely illustrations, have a truly good story, be well written (for the most part) and not drive me absolutely bat-sh** to read it for the 1,000th time. I’m tellin’ ya, it’s a tough bar. Pete the Cat does not make the cut. But I’ve managed to begin building a collection of kids books that both I and my kiddo equally adore. To the point where he has half of them nearly memorized. And wants to read each a minimum of three times in a row, stretching evening storytime into a freaking hour, but I digress. Because these books don’t suck, I’m ready and willing to do it.

To remind, I now have a toddler one my hands, so these are not board books. He’s just trustworthy enough to flip through the pages on his own. While I’ve found some good board books I love, classics like Go Dogs Go and Brown Bear, Brown Bear, I haven’t found as many board books that I also find truly compelling. If anyone has any recs, I’d love to see them!

1. Almost an Animal Alphabet by Katie Viggers. This alphabet book takes the ABCs to another level. Charming illustrations, actually interesting information about animals and a hidden joke or two make me smile every time we read this book.

2. Ish by Peter H. Reynolds. Ish might just be my favorite children’s book I’ve read thus far. A truly sweet story about a little boy who loves to draw, but his joy is stymied when he’s teased. But through a lesson, from a younger sister no less, little Ramon finds his love of art again. Delightful illustrations and great life lessons make this book a true treasures.

3. Home by Carson Ellis Home is a wonderful visual story about the definition of just that, home. Be it a nest, an apartment, a pasture or wigwams or boats, this book celebrates how and where all beings live. The illustrations soar above my bar and the diversity of places keep you guessing and the little delighted. It’s a winner.

4. I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen. If you’re looking for a book that will crack you up virtually every time you read it, I Want My Hat Back is certainly one. The humor is most definitely adult, but the illustrations keep the kiddos engaged. They might not get the joke in the end, but that almost makes it more fun. This one is also short. Always a bonus when wine is calling. (am I bad mom??)

5. Iggy Peck Architect by Andrea Beaty and David Roberts. If books that rhyme start to make you crazy after a while, Iggy Peck will save you. While written in verse, the story of a little boy who falls in love with architecture is witty, entertaining, and truly fun to read. You’ll love the pictures, you’ll love the message. There are also sister books, Ada Twist Scientist, and Rosie Revere Engineer are equally great.

6. I’d Know You Anywhere My Love by Nancy Tillman. This story is about a mother’s love for her children, but told through eyes of a child playing make believe. If your little loves animals this is a perfect book. It communicates a monther’s devotion while also empowering the child to use their imagination. It also introduces uncommon animals like the Blue Footed Booby. I just adore it.

7. We Found a Hat by Jon Klassen. This is the only book on my list from the same author that I mentioned before. The language in these books is so simple (would be good for early readers). The illustrations are a crack up. And there’s another wonderfully adult joke at the end. It’s a gem.

8. The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfeld Martin. This is another uplifting little tale about parents’ love for their children. I love the modern, dare I say hipster-esque illustrations. There are great messages for littles about caring, empathy, creativity and joy. There’s a fun little flip out section that makes my little guy say wow. It’s got all the pieces you need for a book both they and you’ll love.

I’m so excited to be raising a little reader. There is nothing more satisfying then seeing my little plop down and pick up a book all on his own. Or recite snippets of the books we read frequently. Books truly do open a child’s mind, inspire, teach and entertain.

I can’t wait to add even more to my little guy’s library with all the other Mamas’ recommendations! Check them out below.

The Refined Woman / Ave Styles / Sacramento Street / The Life Styled / The Effortless Chic / Freutcake / Sarah Sherman Samuel

For our entire Real Talk / Real Moms archive CLICK HERE.

Gift Guide: For the Littles

Decor

Holiday shopping is always fun, but shopping for little people takes it to a whole new level. Whether it’s for my own kiddo or for those of friends – so many expectant ladies at the moment – there’s something irresistible about things in miniature form. As a lover of neutrals, I’m here to prove that you can find things your children will love without resorting to crayola colors.

1. All little guys love airplanes. It’s a thing. I love this all natural wood version.

2. Who can resist little tiny baby feet? And you have to keep them warm you know. These little booties are sweetest way to do it.

3. A cute and cuddly sweatshirt will make your little that much cuter.

4. Every tot needs a buddy to cuddle with. This penguin is perfect for the winter season.

5. Our little guy will take a screw driver to just about anything. This workbench is sure to keep any mr-fix-it busy for hours.

6. A pom pom hat. Need I say more?

7. Every little person loves to drum. This one makes a noise that might not drive you crazy

8. For those expectant friends or new moms, this baby rocker is functional and chic.

For more of my favorite finds for kiddos CLICK HERE and HERE.

For the rest of our Gift Guides, CLICK HERE.

original photo for apartment 34 by emily scott

Wellness Wednesday

Fashion

One of my favorite parts about being a lady with a baby is hunting down the fabulous baby stuff out there. Even though it can be a little hard to find, if you dig past the crayola-colored everything you can find super cool clothes and toys that make you just as happy as your little. More importantly, you can also make sure everything your kid puts on or plays with isn’t going to harm them.

Case in point: everything you can get at Noble Carriage. The online children’s boutique is a beautifully curated collection of responsibly made cloths and toys. Founder Jen Hartford has very strict sustainability and safety standards for what she carries and I for one appreciate that immensely. While I hate to come across as one of “those moms,” I definitely pay very close attention to lotions, soaps, food, fabrics, toys – kinda all of it. Yeah, I am that mom. Their little bodies are just so tiny – if I can do my part to keep the nasty away – I’m going to do it.

So when Jen asked me to be part of her Wellness Wednesday interview series – where you get a peek into the routines of parents who are raising kids with healthy living in mind – I gladly said yes.

Jen’s questions were so thought provoking. And it’s always fascinating to see how other families get through the crazy that is raising tiny people. For me it’s about finding some sort of balance – whatever that actually means.

CLICK HERE to check out the entire interview and HERE to shop my curated picks at Noble Carriage.

Curious about how I’ve ~~struggled with~~ embraced motherhood? CLICK HERE

photography by emily scott

How to Create a Nursery that Will Grow with Your Kid

Decor

Designing a nursery is one of the many exciting parts of welcoming a tiny human into the world. Nesting instincts and all. It certainly was one of things I was SO looking forward to. But to say the design process for our son’s nursery was atypical is a major understatement. You see, we got the order of things a little out of whack. We bought what we were turning into our dream house with plans to start our family there, but our family starting growing much faster than our renovation timeline! So instead we wound up becoming a family of 3 (plus 2 dogs) in 1,000sq feet. For an entire year. And while I loved the mini nursery I carved out in our loft, now that we’re actually in said dream house, it has proven to be an interesting exercise to design a “nursery” for a little guy who is hurtling down the road to toddlerhood (lawd help me).

When it came to my kiddo’s room, I set out to create a space that would meet all the needs of a bebe, but would also grow with him seamlessly. I’m rather pleased with the final design and am thrilled to partner with Minted to share a little sneak peek with you today.

I was so excited for our little guy to finally have his own room – and not just because I wanted more than three feet separating us at night. I also remember just loving my room as a kid. It was s such a special place for me – to have my own little space and I was excited to create that for my son. But since he’s not really conscious of choices like furniture placement or wall colors yet, I also wanted to create a space that I really enjoy being in everyday!

There are SO many different directions you can go with nurseries these days. There really are no rules. But I wanted to accomplish three specific things:

1. Not have to change anything anytime soon. And by soon I mean in the next five years. We’re just now completing what’s turned into a two year renovation. I’m done making design decisions. So when it came to the nursery, this meant I had to say no to things like really cool nursery wallpapers, murals or stencils that are adorable for those fresh newborns but are maybe less appealing for you (or your littles!) when they’re four. I also didn’t want to pick a theme because what if you pick trains but then they end up being really into animals?

2. Pick versatile pieces. I wanted to select furnishings that I liked, but that an older kid might also be apt to think are cool too. Everything in this room could work well into the teen years, save the crib obviously. I also wanted pieces that should the kid no longer like them, they could be repurposed elsewhere in the house. I could easily swap the rug into another room for example.

3. Add sophisticated whimsy. I wanted to create a room that fosters play, but didn’t feel like a pre-school playroom. He’ll be in plenty of other environments like that. I wanted his room to have a distinct, design-focused aesthetic. I accomplished this through the muted color palate, unique rug choice and selecting pieces that weren’t actually designed for nurseries!

The final result? I call it eclectic modern classic. The Moroccan rug adds an unexpected boho touch while the slate gray furniture adds classic sophistication. Combined with birch accents, it still feels young and playful.

I was so excited to finally create a gallery wall for Carter. He loves to look at things on his walls – we talk about the pictures and what’s in them. Genius distraction technique for diaper changing time. But there’s no rule that kids’ art can’t be appealing to you too! I found so many great options for art at Minted. I ended up selecting a monochromatic palette focusing on black, white, gray, touches of blue and pops of gold foil. I love the fishy print that says Be Unique and who can resist the Hello Handsome?! I also incorporated a gorgeous depiction of his Zodiac sign.

I took a very laissez-faire approach to my gallery wall placement. I simply laid out all the pieces on my bed, quickly tested a few arrangement options and then adhered each frame to the wall free hand. Some people really like to measure or make perfect grids, but I was going for more of a collected, eclectic vibe. Pro tip – I used those adhesive strips instead of nails so it’s easy to rearrange should I change my mind (which is likely!).

I was so excited to learn that Minted now offers their artists’ designs in print-on-demand fabrics. I had both curtains and oversized pillows made that I use as floor cushions.

We’re lucky to have 12ft ceilings so I selected Minted’s 120″ length for our curtains (they offer six options). Conventional wisdom says hang curtains 1/2 inch from the floor, but I’m into the slight puddle effect in this space. And Carter loves to play peek-a-boo in them (cue heart melting).

Now complete, the room feels cozy, inviting and a like a fun space to hang out, play or relax. I certainly love being in it and I think Carter does too. While I’d love to show you even more, I am keeping the brakes on until my full home tour is ready. Sadly, after an 18-month renovation process, finishing touches are rather slow going. But it’s ok. I want to design this house right, not quickly and now that Carter has a wonderful space all his own, I can stand being surrounded by boxes in every other (empty!) room of the house.

I’ve included all the resources for our nursery below. And you can shop all of my Minted selections plus more of my favorites in my Minted Curated Boutique right here.

ROOM RESOURCES

Minted Drapes in Gray Shibori Stripe // Minted Art print 1, print 2, print 3 // Minted pillow in Gray Alphabet Soup fabric // Minted pillow in Black Number Crunch fabric // Stokke Convertible Sleepi Crib //Baby Jives mobile // Oeuf Merlin Sparrow dresser & changing tray // Crate & Barrel leaning bookshelf // Coral Pendant at DWR // Safavieh rug c/o PlushRugs.com // The Citizenry Mercado Basket // Hazel Village dolls from Noble Carriage // Pottery Barn Kids Lamb Plush Rocker // West Elm curtain rod // walls are Whitestone Gray & White Whisp by Benjamin Moore

photography by suzanna scott

This post is sponsored by Minted. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. Thanks for supporting collaborations I’m excited about and that have kept apartment34’s doors open.

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