Dear Debbie: We are planning our new baby’s room and we would like to purchase furniture and a carpet that will last at least 10 years.
Is it possible to decorate so that a nursery will work as a young child’s room, too?
Madelaine
Dear Madelaine: Yes, and this is a very good plan. Furniture makers have taken large strides to create pieces that grow with the child. Cribs turn into junior and single beds. Dressers come with a change table on top so the dresser will be in use long after the change table is history. Nursing chairs will later serve as a place the growing child will curl up to read or play.
Colour plays a big part in your design, and since paint is so easy to refresh, you can switch up the room’s character when the time is right.
Your baby will spend many hours on the floor, sitting, crawling and playing — sometimes even taking a quick nap between adventures. You’ll want to select a carpet that is safe (non-slip), soft, warm and durable.
One very clever option is a modular carpet system called kinderGROUND. Carpet sections come in three shapes: hexagons, triangles and diamonds. Each shape is available in six patterns and five solid colours. Your design possibilities are limitless and the shapes fit together seamlessly. Shown here is a large carpet in the shape of a hexagon created with six separate triangles; the circle patterns have been planned to match up at the edges, but also stand alone as an individual design.
KinderGROUND carpets are family friendly with designs that are not just appropriate for children’s rooms, but also for a den, living room or as a runner for a hallway. You can create your own carpet designs on their website, www.kinderground.net. Made from natural materials, their carpets are 100 per cent New Zealand wool and backed with EcoNet (rubber and jute) for a non-slip barrier.
Dear Debbie: I have a big headache in the shape of my teenage son’s bedroom walls, which are covered in lyrics and quotations all written in permanent marker. I have applied two coats of paint and the marker has bled through. I’d prefer to paint but will go with wallpaper if that is what you suggest. Your advice will be followed to the letter.
Brenda
Dear Brenda: The right primer is the solution you are looking for. Ask your paint store what they suggest as a high-conceal paint primer. It should state on the label what it will cover. I have used BIN primer to cover and seal in stains. For serious stains, I apply one coat, let dry and apply a second coat. Then paint.
If you go with wallpaper and don’t seal in the marker first, it will bleed through the paper.
Dear Debbie: My kitchen is extremely small and laid out poorly. To improve the look and feeling of space, I have read that a mirrored backsplash would help. Do you have any other ideas?
Dianne
Dear Dianne: I adore mirrored backsplashes for three reasons. They immediately update a kitchen, they are super practical because they are so easy to keep clean, and the mirror’s reflective power will make your small kitchen look bigger. You can buy mirrored tile in large or small squares or have it cut to size. If installing yourself, be careful of sharp edges.
Debbie Travis’s House to Home column is produced by Debbie Travis and Barbara Dingle. Please email your questions to [email protected]. Follow Debbie on Twitter at twitter.com/debbie_travis, and visit Debbie’s website, debbietravis.com.
