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Writer's pictureAlice

Why Settle for A Childlike Aesthetic?

Updated: Jan 2, 2023

A Mature Toddler Bedroom


It's New Year’s Eve, and it is also my daughter's birthday. She turned 3 today, and as a gift to her, my husband and I focused the last several months on creating a space she would love and grow into. As you can tell from my last blog post on my other daughter's bedroom, I do not like designing kitschy kid spaces. They grow so fast, so why design or decorate a space that you will have to redo again in a couple of years?

Before

After

If you've followed my work for quite a while, you know I am very candid about the fact that interior design can be quite costly. That said, I do not subscribe to the belief that only the rich and wealthy can have beautiful homes and/or luxurious spaces. So how the latter translates to my design ethos is simple…I aim to create spaces that are functional, livable, timeless, sophisticated, and budget friendly.

This bedroom was no different. I wanted a room that:

  • My daughter could sleep, play, and read a book in (hence the current layout).

  • Housed pieces that had longevity (so I chose solid wood vintage furniture, most sourced from Facebook Marketplace).

  • Wasn't juvenile and could be used by guests if needed (those of you from large African families will appreciate this. During the holidays, you need every room in your home, and if a kid's bedroom is set up to accommodate an adult comfortably, that's always a bonus).




Once the layout of the room was set, it was all about decorating. Yes, I hung vintage tapestry on the wall as art and flanked it with large candle sconces with crystal votives. In case you are interested in hanging a rug or tapestry to your walls, do check out the company Zoroufy (https://zoroufy.com/). They were a delight to work with. Hanging tapestry on the wall may not be for everyone, but art on the wall can be anything you choose and for me I wanted a focal piece other than the bed. While the room has lots of brown tones, I also infused lots of color through accessories.



Lastly, I love to pay homage to the style of homes I design. So, while the design style of this room may read more traditional (that's the style of my home), I make it current by infusing contemporary elements that knock-it-off a bit. Case in point, the yummy yellow barrel chair that stops you in your tracks when you enter the room. It is also super comfortable.







I kept this post short, because I knew many of you were getting ready to celebrate the new year. But if you would like ODD tips for designing kids’ spaces, do check out my last blog post for details.




It's been a great joy sharing the evolution of my home with y'all this year and I can't wait to tackle and share additional spaces in the coming year. Until then, I wish you all a Happy New Year.


Cheers!










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6 Comments


winnie macbailey
winnie macbailey
Jan 02, 2023

I love that your daughter's room has been decorated in such a way that, any future changes that need to be made will be on the bare minimum; No bunk bed that will be replaced, no childlike wall paper that you'd eventually take down,etc

I laughed when you mentioned how important space is for an African family. I feel you 100%

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Oddessence
Oddessence
Jan 02, 2023
Replying to

Thanks Winnie. Your comment captured my exact feelings when I decided to tackle this project. Many thanks for the feedback, and I am glad the about African families resonated with you ☺️.

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rays ibrahim
rays ibrahim
Jan 01, 2023

The attention to details is everything. You are a guru at mixing and matching different patterns, textures and colors. I love your work. Happy new year 🎆

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Oddessence
Oddessence
Jan 02, 2023
Replying to

Thanks dear. I've been trying to push my boundaries re: my use of colors and patterns especially in kids spaces. Many thanks as always for the support ❤️.

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Reliv Hydration & Wellness
Reliv Hydration & Wellness
Jan 01, 2023

What an elegant way to celebrate, end and start a new year! I particularly love the side tables and the mixture in this room. Your designs are quite unique!

Happy New Year!

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Oddessence
Oddessence
Jan 02, 2023
Replying to

Thanks Reliv for the kind words. I hope to deliver more unique designs this year. Cheers ❤️

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