Behind the Scenes: Laurel Beck Design and Remnant Restoration

Laurel and I are completely immersed in the world of interior design for children. Not only are we adding new items to Stylish Kids Rooms everyday, we officially launched the website for Laurel Beck Design this week! As many of our treasured customers and clients know, we specialize in creating ideal spaces for infants, children, and teens in Colorado Springs. While most retailers are focused on selling during this challenging Christmas season, we're working feverishly on a project through Remnant Restoration, a non-profit ministry of design for widows and orphans that we're scheduled to complete in mid-January. We're designing three bedrooms for 6 children, 4 of whom have just been adopted from Ethiopia...a room for the boys, a room for the girls, and a nursery for twin infants! If you'd like to follow the progress of this project, check us out at the ministry website www.RemnantRestoration.org.

The Psychology of Design

Laurel and I are starting a new series of blog entries we don't want you to miss. As specialists in both child development and interior design, we want to focus for a while on the psychology of design. Creating spaces for children involves so much more than decorating. Every child has unique social, emotional, and physical needs that should be addressed in the design of his or her bedroom or playroom. (or classroom!) Over the next few months, we'll share our knowledge and insights on design psychology. We'll also be interviewing industry experts right here on our blog. We're starting with the nursery!

We're Donating 100% of Our Profits on Friday!

Want to make a difference in the lives of kids? Laurel and I are donating 100% of our profits this Friday to Remnant Restoration to create new bedrooms for recently-adopted children. 100% of our profits from every sale this Friday will go directly to bedroom and playroom makeovers for orphans. The first project we're funding is for a family with 2 children who are adopting 4 children from Ethiopa. We're designing and furnishing three bedrooms for them! And when we're finished with their rooms, we'll create more for other adopted kids. The more we sell on Friday...the more projects we can fund!!

Don't need anything but still want to help? You can donate online at Remnant Restoration http://www.remnantrestoration.org/

Holiday Shopping Ideas

My snail-mailbox has been stuffed with catalogs this week from my favorite stores. It's time to start thinking about Christmas! Laurel has picked out some fun things from Stylish Kids Rooms and featured them in our Holiday Boutique. I love, love, love our retro pink pedal plane. Finally...a transportation toy for girls! (We've got pedal planes and trains for boys, too.)

We've also got these super soft sheepskin rugs for kids. Just in! They're small, round, and absolutely adorable!

Themed playroom furniture is stylish and fun. What a great way to perk up your child's play space. We've got toy boxes, rocking chairs, shelving, and desks fit for royalty in themes like flowers, Paris, firemen, and more!

We'll post more ideas this week for you to add to your shopping list!

Nursery Decorating Tips

Decorating my third child's nursery was one of the most daunting projects I'd ever undertaken. I new exactly what I wanted and I just needed to find it. Unfortunately, the walls in the room were a very unusual shade of green...one that I just couldn't seem to match. Laurel wasn't around to suggest I just paint the walls to match the bedding I wanted. After all, a can of paint is alot less expensive than custom bedding, right?

Fortunately for new moms and moms-to-be, Laurel is here for you! And to make your nursery decorating task a whole lot easier, she's got some tips:

1. Choose one item, an inspiration piece, to build your entire room around. For example, a colorful crib bedding, lamp, pillow, or rug you really love.

2. Build your color scheme around the inspiration piece. Expert designers like Laurel choose three colors: a dominant color and two accent colors.

3. Repeat your color scheme throughout the room with fun accessories like small shelves, floor cushions, mobiles, and diaper stackers.

4. Consider leaving the work to us and shop for complete nursery collections at StylishKidsRooms.com!

We've got a fantastic selection of designer baby bedding from Three Little Ziglets, Glenna Jean, New Arrivals Inc, and Freckles. And coming soon...gorgeous custom bedding by Beautiful Baby!

Pure Ecommerce

When Laurel and I started the ministry, we searched for a business idea to help fund our free design makeovers for widows and orphans. Never in a million years did we imagine opening an online children's boutique. But Jennifer Gault-Varner of Pure Ecommerce opened our eyes to the amazing world of internet retail. Pure Ecommerce is THE site to find boutique-style internet businesses for sale. Jennifer has complete turn-key businesses available or she'll help aspiring e-retailers create one from scratch. Her experience and success as an online business owner has made her a credible and highly-respected ecommerce consultant. Check out Pure Ecommerce at www.pure-ecommerce.com!

Diaper bags...you CAN afford them!

Amy says you should never skimp on shoes and purses. Add a pair of Gucci loafers and a classic Coach tote to a faded set of Levi's and a white t-shirt...you've got gorgeous fashion sense with cents well spent. A designer diaper bag can be the pick-me-up fashion statement your checkbook can live with in this financial crisis that's devastating our maternal instincts for stylish parenthood.

Having a baby? Let's face it...there are some things you can't live without. Fashionable or frumpy, if you're leaving the house you gotta have something to carry diapers in. And gone are the days of pastel bears and bunnies and balloons and lollipops. Today's diaper bags are hip, hot, and full of style. For the mom who has it all or the mom who's just beginning, Stylish Kids Rooms has a diaper bag for you!

Animal prints are back! JP Lizzy pink-trimmed leopard as well as OiOi Baby's bold zebra and classic giraffe designs are falling off the shelves at Stylish Kids Rooms. In totes, messengers, and backpack styles, we have something for every mom.

Looking for a polished but posh look? Check out our stunning red and black leather diaper bags from Pyknyk. Modern floral and bold geo prints more to your taste? Fleurville may be for you. We've also got Cricket and Monkey, Posh Mom, Trend Lab, and Zosephine. And if you really want something different...we've got a great diaper bag/baby carrier combo from Kemby. Reviewers are saying they love it even more than Bjorn!

Already have a diaper bag? That's okay. A girl can never have too many. And we've got some on sale! So buy one for today and save one for tomorrow. What are you waiting for? Your new style is just a click away! We'll even ship it to you FREE if you spend more than $99. http://www.stylishkidsrooms.com/ And tell 'em Amy sent you!

Welcome to StylishKidsRooms.com!

We are your premier online children's furnishings and decor store! We have one of the largest selections of everything you will need for your child and baby from top designers and manufacturers. Check out our new selection of hand painted furniture and fun and trendy bedding in collections by 3 Little Ziglets.