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Inspiring Designs And Expert Advice For Decorating Your Daughter’s Room

Inspiring designs, local style-makers expert advice, and Dallas’ best sources for decorating your daughter’s room.
By D Magazine |
Rather than going the kid’s bed route, Michelle purchased a French carved bed for Nile when she was 10; it will be a key piece of furniture when Nile decorates her first home. The room has no molding; to create depth, Michelle stenciled a white rectangle on either side of the bed and hung a set of botanical prints with gold-leaf frames, one on each side.


Sweet Dreams
Inspiring designs for your little girl’s room

Nile is pictured here in her favorite, comfy slipcovered chair. Her room came at the end of a major remodel, and there wasn’t enough in the budget for fine carpeting or a significant rug. Her mother, decorator Michelle Nussbaumer, enlisted the help of a handyman, and the two stenciled the rough plywood floor and gave it a matte varnish for what, in the end, was a far more interesting effect.

 

Blue and White Bliss
NILE, 18

“All I know is I don’t want pink,” Nile told her mother, Michelle Nussbaumer, when she was 10 years old. Michelle created a room that withstood the test of Cokes, markers, and time—and grew beautifully with her daughter, who just this year went off to college.

As Nile grew up, her dollhouse evolved from a toy to a veritable piece of folk art.

 


Maggie’s room is whimsical but sophisticated, notable for its combination of antiques, hand-screened Osborne & Little fabrics and coordinating wallpaper. To unify the room, which is filled with photos, mementos, books, trinkets, and more, Ann wallpapered both the walls and the ceiling. Maggie’s desk is a French flea market find from Rue No. 1; the antique garden table to her left is from the Mews.

Pastel and Pretty
MAGGIE, 16
 

She’s got Catcher in the Rye on her nightstand and Flash photos all over the wall, which is why this soothing blend of French antiques, English fabrics, and even her own fireplace is a sanctuary for Maggie, and a place where, more often than not, you’ll find a friend (or two or three). Her mother, decorator Ann Burke, put her room together when she was 12.

 

The corner seating area, complete with love seat and table, gives a studio effect to the room, one reason why friends often congregate at Maggie’s.

 

 

The mirrors over the queen-sized bed are framed in mother-of-pearl, purchased at Art of Old India in the World Trade Center. The antique palm-frond lamps were purchased at the Round Top Antiques Fair.

 

 



 

Holly’s mother, decorator Shelley Lipscomb, found the starburst mirrors and funky pea-green wicker chair at Round Top Antiques Fair this year. The low-slung sofa, also a Round Top find, is covered in fabric from Osborne & Little and finished with tape on top of a frilly trim from Rutherford’s. The retro ’60s lamp is one of a pair she found at Betty Anne and Jimbo’s on Lovers Lane.


Retro and Funky

HOLLY, 16

After years of doing “pretty,” Holly wanted a room suitable for her posters of Jimmy Hendrix, the Mamas and the Papas, and the Beatles, along with her random collections of 1960s paraphernalia. Her mother, decorator Shelley Lipscomb, put together this fabulous and funky hangout for Holly’s 15th birthday.

An ornately carved wooden screen from Urban Outfitters is festooned with strings of photos of Holly’s friends. The bolster on the bed is made from old curtain fabric, and the bed skirt is burlap from Hargett.

 

 


 

Augusta’s poster bed, formerly metallic black, is painted apple green (her choice), draped in a gauzy fabric, and adorned with a string of lights from Urban Outfitters. With windows on two sides, the shutters are the perfect means of allowing sunlight into the cheery room. Augusta has been fine-tuning her room since she was in preschool.

Pink and Frothy
AUGUSTA, 11
 

Though her mother, Sally Timberlake Hoffman, now treads in the world of design, Augusta wanted to do everything herself—and started decorating her bedroom at age 4. From the color of the walls to the lights dangling from the canopy to the selection of her linens, this is Augusta’s creation, from top to bottom. Her next project: painting clouds onto the ceiling.

 

 


 

Girl Power
Dallas style-makers favorite products, best ideas, and expert advice on decorating your daughter’s bedroom.
by Loyd Zisk

Brooke Crew, Rue No. 1
DESIGN IDEA: A headboard can set the tone for the room. Make one out of an old general store shelf or even an old postal shelf. Both have lots of small compartments that can hold all sorts of treasures. Also, use slipcovers and duvet covers that can be removed and washed—and replaced—as your daughter grows up.
FAVORITE PRODUCT: French wicker knitting baskets that can be hung one on top of another are wonderful. Line them with fabric that coordinates with the room, or mix them with hooks to hold clothing.
TIP: Sea grass or sisal on the floor is uncomfortable and difficult to clean. Instead, choose a big, fluffy rug, and scatter large, comfortable floor pillows that are fun to sit and play on.

Ann Fox, Room Service
DESIGN IDEA: A functional, attractive desk chair is impossible to find. But one really good option is to buy a traditional office chair with rollers (yes, they are really ugly), upholster it in a coordinating fabric, and maybe even touch it up with paint. The end result is a great-looking functional chair.
FAVORITE PRODUCT: I love the signature Bella Notte quilted velvet coverlet. It’s a functional, beautiful, investment piece that will last for years.
TIP: Always use washable bedding for children. You never know when a stray marker or your favorite lipstick will get into the linens.

Mary Cates, Mary Cates and Co.
DESIGN IDEA:
Often mother and daughter have different design ideas. An interior designer can make the experience of creating the room easier by acting as the mediator. The designer can listen to both parties and come up with a design that pleases both of them.
FAVORITE PRODUCT: The puff, a small, down-filled French duvet that fits just on top of the bed—literally, the size of the mattress. I like to see them in a paisley design, with a small ruffle.
TIP: Girls sometimes want the latest fad and quickly abandon one must-have for another. Making the latest find a small, replaceable part of the room allows your daughter to change her mind without disturbing the integrity of the room.

Jacklyn Butler, Jacklyn M. Butler Associates
DESIGN IDEA: Grass cloth wallcoverings add texture and dimension and convey a feeling of warmth and insulation. Grass cloth also accommodates posters, as pinholes do not show. Also, monograms are back! I especially love to see curly monograms in girlie colors on crisp linen Euro squares.
FAVORITE PRODUCT: Bella Notte and Shabby Chic bed linens, especially the washed velvets.
TIP: Avoid trendy items. Buy timeless pieces.

Lisa Luby Ryan, At Home with a Past
DESIGN IDEA: Vintage materials with a history or story add beauty to a bedroom. For instance, use vintage napkins for pillow shams, monogrammed sheets as drapery panels, or heirloom tablecloths as duvet covers.
FAVORITE PRODUCT: British textile designer Caroline Zoob has one-of-a-kind vintage textile lampshades and pillows with embroidery, floral design, and wonderful fabric.
TIP: Encourage your daughter to get involved in decorating by helping her start a collection. This develops her sense of style and taste—and it’s fun.

Lisa Carlson, Sanctuary
DESIGN IDEA:
Choose fun items that grow with the child. One of my favorite accessory ideas is to embellish a picture frame by covering the matting with material. The frame can be used for artwork, and then, in later years, to hold photographs of friends.
FAVORITE PRODUCT: Maura Daniels has created a wonderful group of crystal chandeliers with velvet rosebuds and beads. She also has some very special sculptured glass lamps with shades that reveal a floral pattern when the light bulb is on.
TIP: Always use machine-washable fabric and invest in quality furniture and materials.

Joyce Fox, Joyce Fox Interiors
DESIGN IDEA: Be conscious of practical concerns. In other words, craft a room that works well for your daughter, not necessarily an adult. Her bedroom should be her sanctuary, with ample room for spreading out.
FAVORITE PRODUCT: Osborne & Little has fabulous wallcoverings and fabrics. While they’re not childlike per se, they are geared for a child’s taste and can create a sensational backdrop for a room.
TIP: Girls rooms should be colorful and stimulating a place where they want to bring their friends, be creative, and spend time.

Lynn Sears, Lynn Sears Interiors
DESIGN IDEA: In girls rooms, bookshelves and bulletin boards to display keepsakes, awards, and pictures are a must. Another must-have is a comfortable place to hang out with friends with access to the computer, music, and the television. The design cannot be too juvenile; teenagers are embarrassed when their room looks too young or babyish.
TIP: Girls rooms usually become nice guest rooms later, when parents are empty nesters.

Janet Rosell, Jane and Coco
DESIGN IDEA:
We’re done with pink feathers, beads, and tchotchkes. Bring in Lucite and sleek design. The space should be uncluttered and functional and set up as efficiently as possible.
FAVORITE PRODUCT: The Lucite desk. As children grow, they need a desk that enables them to conduct their studies and school projects as they would a business. This desk does it all very efficiently.
TIP: I’m really into designing rooms with illustration. For instance, a mirror or chair rail that is painted on the wall. By using illustration, you create a feeling of whimsy, but it isn’t too juvenile—just fun, hip, and smart.



 

The Best Sources for Girls’ Rooms in the City
Compiled by Asther Asmelash, Amy Durham, and Emily Turner

Robb & Stucky
7240 N. Dallas Pkwy., Plano.
972-403-3000. www.robbstucky.com.
One of the largest selections of kids furniture and bedroom accessories in Dallas, including the Elden, Stanley, and Lea lines.

Smink
5370 W. Lovers Ln. 214-350-0542. www.sminkinc.com.
Incredible contemporary designs for budding modernistas.

Stephanie Anne Room To Grow
4346 Lovers Ln. 214-368-3025. www.stephanieanne.com.
This beloved local manufacturer and retailer specializes in custom baby furniture and patented Stephanie Anne designs. Her showroom is the Mecca for Park Cities- and North Dallas-types. Select from a variety of styles and 14 color choices.

Room Service
4354 Lovers Ln. 214-369-7666.
Room Service offers a variety of home furnishings, including upholstered and slipcovered furniture, and a wide range of decorating services.

Be-dazzled
5760 Legacy Dr., Ste. B9, Plano. 972-378-3211. www.bedazzledonline.com.
This is one of the most creative children’s boutiques in the country, offering custom bedding and furniture, personalized gifts and accessories, and custom painting, including murals. We’re known for thinking outside the baby box, says owner Deb Hoffman.

Urban Outfitters
5331 E. Mockingbird Ln. 214-821-4371. www.urbanoutfitters.com.
Teen heaven. Look here for retro pieces, novelty furniture, and accessories.

Bombay Kids
13710 Dallas Pkwy., Ste. D. 972-716-9545. www.bombaycompany.com.
Offering good design at affordable prices, Bombay Kids specializes in kid-sized furniture, bedding, accessories, and gifts.

The Magic Moon
1900 Preston Rd., Ste. 269, Plano. 972-612-4659 and 116 State St., Southlake. 817-329-3112. www.themagicmoon.com.
A Dallas, well, Plano, original, Magic Moon manufactures its own furniture and bedding and allows customers to choose from 24 color palettes.

Cantoni
4800 Alpha Rd. 972-934-9191. www.cantoni.com.
Cantoni isn’t famous for children’s furniture, but they do have a great selection of contemporary, hip, and sleek furniture that will last through college and even into first homes.

Bellagio Contemporary Furniture
13617 Inwood Rd., Ste. 240. 972-239-5278. www.bellagiocf.com.
Most of Bellagio’s fabulous contemporary furniture is brought in from Italy. You’ll also find accessories from all over the world.

Kid at Heart Designs of Dallas
6314 Royalton Dr. 214-361-5177. www.kidatheartdesigns.com.
This is a wonderful source for hand-hooked wool rugs. Proceeds from online sales go to a children’s charity overseas, the Noordhoff and Craniofacial Foundation.

Bellini Baby and Juvenile Furniture
5600 W. Lovers Ln., Ste. 142. 214-352-2512. www.bellini.com.
A must-see showroom, Bellini sells infant and children’s furniture, outfitting nurseries to teen rooms in styles ranging from classic to cool. As the source for Peg Perego’s boutique line, Martinelli, and Maclaren, Bellini offers exquisite custom bedding and accessories.

Cat and the Fiddle
5813 Preston Rd., Ste. 564, Plano. 972-943-1005.
All of Cat and the Fiddle’s furniture is custom made, and customers can pick from a wide and vibrant color palette. C&F also has an in-house seamstress. This shop is known for designs by Wendy Bellissimo.

Kid’s Supply Co.
5450 W. Lovers Ln., Ste. 320. 214-351-4030. www.kidssupplyco.com.
Kid’s Supply Company is a retail store and design studio in one: bedding and furniture from bunk beds, daybeds, and twin beds to trundles and desks—is custom made.

Yves Delorme
4270 Oak Lawn Ave. 214-526-2955. www.yvesdelorme.com.
Yves Delorme offers fine bedding and linens in 12 coordinating patterns of pastel solids and florals, many with scalloped edges and matching quilts. From baby to elegant teen to newlywed and beyond, this Dallas showroom is the source for exquisite linens.

Legacy Trading Company
West Village, 3699 McKinney Ave. 214-953-2222.
This hip Uptown boutique features a global collection of decorative accessories—plus the new Design Legacy furniture line—to give her room that exotic, world-traveler look. Or just pick up a few of the sassy, slogan-bearing pillows.

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