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Baby on the way and not sure how to style the nursery, mama? What do you really need and what can you skip? An interior design expert shares her top tips in our latest makeover project for mama-to-be Syazana
With a hectic work schedule, the day-to-day struggles that come with pregnancy and limited time on our hands, doing up the baby’s nursery was the furthest thing from my mind even as I got halfway through my pregnancy. I thought, It’s okay, I’ll just have a changing area set up and leave it at that, because I wanted to focus more on baby’s bare necessities. But I never knew how much I needed the lift I got from seeing the completed space!
Here at Sassy Mama, we are super lucky to work with some of the best companies in Singapore when it comes to stuff like baby gear and kid-friendly home decor. So we figured we’d reach out to our favourite brands and collectives to put together the perfect nursery with help from Melisa White Interiors.
Hailing from Sydney and now residing in Singapore, mama-of-two Melisa is an interior style maven with a penchant for creating beautiful and enchanting spaces for children, from birth through to the teenage years. Whether it’s materialising the perfect serene environment for little ones, to styling a living space, or selecting a few key elements to help tie in your existing decor, Melisa can help just about anyone design their dream space! Her design services are for busy people (uhh, me…) who don’t have the time to re-design their child’s nursery, or style their home.
We started the process by noting down my style preferences and intentions for the space.
“Syaz loves bold colours and I suggested that we add some metallic, botanical and organic elements to add to the overall cosiness of the room. I set to work to create a nursery that was equally playful and stylish, with elements that would grow with the baby and her family for years to come. To create a calm, girly, and chic space for the baby, I chose soft florals, gold and muted hues to make a dramatic statement and to create a cohesive and harmonious look.”
So with just a few months left on the clock, we got to work on collaborating with some amazing brands to put together the ideal nursery!
Watch the video below for the amazing transformation, and click through our gallery for all of Melisa’s top styling tips!
Lead image by Michell Tam
“Syaz wanted to make an impact in this room, so we selected a beautiful Scandinavian floral print in muted hues of yellow, green, pinks and blues. It is bold enough to make an impression, but also soft enough to create a calm and restful environment for a baby. The large scale floral and foliage print creates a bold statement, and it also sets the tone and feel of the room. To create balance, I chose to keep the other walls neutral. The fresh and vibrant botanical print will take this room from a cute nursery to a fun space for a teenager.”
Wall Catalog specialises in all things wallpaper, wall art and decals. We love that they offer a wide selection of standard prints, along with the option to send in your own customised artwork.
Backed by a leading printing expert in Singapore, they’ve got the latest printing technologies and and over 20 years of experience! Large format printing is their gig, having dressed up plenty of familiar brands and large organisations for various displays and events. No fuzzy or pixelated image quality here.
Keen to give them a try, mama? You can enjoy value-added services such as complimentary site inspection and installation for all Wall Catalog wallpapers!
Kids grow up way too fast! Investing in one to two key furniture pieces is definitely the way to go. We wanted a stylish cot that would convert into a toddler bed. FLEXA recommended the versatile FLEXA Play Baby Cot ($1,500) which will take the baby from 0-3 years. The rounded organic details of the FLEXA Play baby bed brings a modern feel to the bed, and the wooden legs complement the other wooden elements in the room. The bed linen by FLEXA is made of a beautiful sateen cotton which is breathable, soft, and easy to wash. Perfect for a little baby.
Hailing from Denmark, FLEXA is known for high-quality, contemporary Scandinavian interiors for babies and children. All their products are designed to create a safe and stimulating environment which adapts, grows and transforms to meet every child’s ongoing development. The result? A range of the world’s best functional, playful and sustainable room solutions.
FLEXA offers cots in modern Scandinavian designs, with beds made of long-lasting materials with the highest standards for quality and safety. From the age of 3 years, FLEXA also offers junior beds or single beds.
FLEXA, located in United Square, i12 Katong and The Forum
I wanted a nursing chair that would complement the wallpaper, act as an accent piece and unify the room. This modern lounge chair from Mulamu is perfect for this nursery. Not only is the chair comfortable and easy to clean, but it is also fun and ultra-stylish. I chose to have it covered in a fabric called ‘Golden Rod’ as it complements the wallpaper, adds a pop of colour and balances the room.
Melisa: “A good nursing chair should take your child from infancy through to the teen years. If you can’t imagine your little one curling up in it to read or study, you might want to opt for something a little less cutesy.”
The round side table, also from Mulamu, pairs perfectly with the nursing chair and cot. It is solid which means it won’t tip over easily (tried and tested!), and it is a versatile piece of furniture that can be moved from the nursery to the living room, study etc.
Mulamu is made up of a team of quirky design-loving Singaporeans who share a love for high quality furnishings that boast unique designs. Without the need for a middle man, they bring you affordable high-end design at factory prices. They now have over 500 pieces of designer furniture, lighting fixtures and home décor accessories up for grabs, including one of the largest curations of Scandinavian-inspired furnishings in the business.
Mulamu, 512 Chai Chee Lane #05-01, Singapore 469028
Showroom opening hours: 10am – 6pm
Tel: (+65) 6341 6180
[email protected]
mulamu.com
“A room without books is like a body without soul. This stunning but practical floating bookshelf ($128) from Kids Haven will ensure that this room will always be filled with books. It’s low enough for a curious toddler to be able to reach some of her favourites, and is mounted off the floor which gives the illusion of greater space. It is also safe as it won’t topple over. It makes for a great showcase of all Syaz’s favourite children’s books.”
Kids Haven also supplied an exquisite handcrafted bunny print ($45) by Mori Gallery and a gorgeous handmade bunny and deer ($34.50 each) by May’s Hand which were crocheted with love. The pretty bunny sits comfortably on the nursing chair and the deer sits happily nearby on the hanging toy swing by Cuckoo Little Lifestyle Store.
If you didn’t already know, Kids Haven is actually the largest children furniture store in Singapore. They specialise in kids beds, wardrobes, study desks, bedroom sets, kids’ lighting, bedding, and much more. They’re the sole distributor for some top kids’ brands like Maxtrix, Tomato KidZ, Cilek and Joey’s, with a growing range of products that include knick knacks like knitted crochet soft toys from Vietnam, kids’ cushions and felt buntings and wooden handmade crafts, all of which are perfect gifts for your next baby shower or birthday party!
Kids Haven Westgate, 3 Gateway Drive #04-14, Singapore 608532
Kids Haven Joo Chiat, 166 Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427439
@sgkidshaven
www.facebook.com/KidsHavenChildrenFurniture
kidshaven.sg
“To finish off the room, I wanted a handmade rug made from natural fibres which was cool and comfortable to walk, sit and play on. I worked with Farah from Ruby Slipper to select the perfect decorative yet practical rug which would anchor the space beautifully. Not only is it highly durable, but the natural fibres and soft strands of gold metallic thread add texture and interest to the nursery. We chose a larger rug as it covers more of the floor area and gives it a more cohesive look.”
Established in Singapore in 2008, Ruby Slipper takes many of its design influences from its tropical, Asian surroundings, and will warm up any home around the world with its universal motifs. Each rug is made by hand and made to order in rural areas of India, providing the local artisans with much-needed economic support. Ruby Slipper also takes custom orders – if you’re looking for a certain design or something that’s unique to you, just get in touch with them for a quote!
“As I didn’t want the nursery to feel generic, I included a custom-made artwork specifically for Syaz. Samantha from Girl in Paperland created the most divine personalised keepsake print which coordinates with the nursery perfectly. It’s in a wooden frame that pairs beautifully with the other wooden elements in the room, including the wooden bookshelf and wooden toy blocks.”
Samantha is actually a former Sassy staffer and we’ve always loved her stunning illustrations (she also made this cute card for our colleague’s baby shower!). Be sure to check her out on Instagram!
Many of the gorgeous decorative touches which made the room feel complete came from Cuckoo Little Lifestyle Store at Dempsey Hill. The pretty cushion by Happy Design in soft florals and pink tassels complements the nursery chair beautifully and adds pattern and interest to the chair. The jaw-dropping handmade bohemian birdcage by Numero 74 and sculptured metallic LOVE wall art by Zoe Rumeau bring just the right amount of boho chic to the space and coordinate perfectly with the rest of the items in the nursery.
“As well as adding moody metallics, I added some fun wooden pieces with the hanging toy swing by Hili Studio and the building blocks by Sebra which can be used by the baby when she gets older. A soft padded pink quilt by Rose in April adds more texture and another pop of colour. The very popular folding crates by Aykasa created in shades of light grey, milk tea and banana add colour and create extra storage space for toys and baby products.
Did you hear? Cuckoo Little Lifestyle Store has returned home to their store at Dempsey Hill after a year in Tanglin Mall on Orchard Road! At Cuckoo you’ll find a beautifully curated selection of furniture, home décor, design, clothing and gifts for kids aged 0-12 years, all from several new-to-Singapore designers, some recognisable favourite kids brands, and also some local designers who lovingly handcraft unique pieces – all at accessible price points.
Cuckoo features furniture, décor and other delights, carefully curated for children and their parents. Founded by Francesca Rathbone and Emily Taberner, Cuckoo first opened its concept store in 2014. The full collection of furniture and accessories, gifts and apparel is available online and in their newly renovated show space at Block 6B Dempsey Road.
Cuckoo Little Lifestyle Store, 6B Dempsey Road, Singapore 247662
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 10am until 5pm, closed Sunday and Public Holidays
@cuckoolittlelifestyle
www.facebook.com/cuckookidstore
cuckoolittlelifestyle.com
As this is a ‘Made in Singapore’ baby, I wanted to add a Singaporean element to the room. NODUMS BARCELONA created this stunning Personalized Singapore Skyline ($115) artwork which fits in handsomely into the space. It is modern and sophisticated and gives just the right amount of ‘Singapore flavour’ without overpowering the space or making it feel too kitsch.
NODUMS BARCELONA can be found at the AC collective, a thoughtfully curated multi label boutique and retail home to a group of creative, dynamic designers. Discover premium, ethically produced collections ranging from home to fashion, kids, gifts and quirky keepsakes of Singapore.
The AC Collective, 420 Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427641
www.theac.net
@nodums.barcelona
www.nodumsbarcelona.com
