These days, decorating a new baby’s room or a child’s room goes way beyond painting the walls yellow, pink or blue, buying a crib, rocking chair and changing table and putting a couple of cute pictures on the wall. This is serious business now.
The decorating shows have led us to believe that we can all do it. With glue gun, paint brush, stencils and endless trips to the arts and crafts store, we can make it a wonderland for our child. You just need to think up a theme and go for it.
There are some creative women who have been on this bandwagon for years and have made a business out of their golden hands. Kathi MacNeil-Mousoulis of Thimbelina often knows the sex of babies before the parents. Though the information is available at the time of ultrasound test, many parents still want it to be a surprise to them until the birth. So in order to keep it a secret, yet still be prepared for the baby’s arrival, the parents are handed a sealed envelope (from the test results) with the sex written inside it.
Alternative color choices for boys and girls are then made, and Kathi takes the one that coincides with the medical info. Another option is to pick a neutral shade of green, and then when the baby arrives add pinks and blues to the color scheme. These days, however, brown is the new green, so that has become the basic color with pink and blues added later.
Another long-lasting idea is to make up a patchwork quilt with many colors, and then as each child comes along, pass the blanket down from kid to kid and just select another color from the quilt to accessorize the room.
Baby’s Breath & Holly, 5122A Sherbrooke St. West at Grey Ave., Westmount. Phone: 514-744-8133. Hours: Monday to Wednesday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. When it’s time to set up the perfect nursery, come here for this creative woman’s help to coordinate and design your look using baby bedding, mink blankets and crib skirts, pillows, gingham lamps, crystal chandeliers and shabby chic frames filled with mirrors or bulletin boards. Hand-made and personalized baby gifts abound – rocking chairs, hampers, toy chests, doll’s high chairs, coat racks, Moses’ baskets and monogrammed hats, towels, bathrobes, cardigans, sun dresses, etc. A baby registry can be set up.
Thimbelina, 4937C Sherbrooke St. West at Claremont Ave., Westmount. Phone: 514-484-0954. Hours: Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday by appointment. If you like the personal touch for a child’s room (or yours), this creative shop can do personalized sewing, painting and carpentry for the room. You can select hand-painted dressers, step stools, laundry hampers, clothes hooks and growth charts. They can custom-make towels, bathrobes, curtains and bedding, and even nursing pillows for the momma. These creations can be made for the rest of the family too – just bring in a swatch of fabric from your decor and they can match up everything from shelves to mailboxes. www.thimbelina.ca
Ange Neige, 251 Rachel St. Est at Laval Ave. Phone: 514-845-2643. Hours: Tuesday and Wednesday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m, Thursday and Friday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. We all know that our kids are angels (at least when they are born), so why not go with an angel theme for the room? Angels here run from scarves and photo albums to lamps and jewelry. Play with angel puzzles or learn about them with angel books and tapes. Dress up your kid’s room (or your house) with tapestries, ceramic bowls, mirrors, throws and night lights. You can even buy angel teddy bears – stuffed or made out of wood. When the angel is asleep, plan a special dinner-for-two with angel cards, and set the table with angel wine glasses and candlesticks. www.angeneige.com
