“Nobody puts Baby in the corner.” So demanded the late Patrick Swayze during the cinematic exploit Dirty Dancing. And nobody, as far as we’re concerned, should put baby in the laundry. Clearly, the mom and pop who fashioned this particular nursery had other plans. Was the occupant of this grim room really laying her tired wee head beside the washing machine? In a word, yes. In the mite’s parent’s defence, it should be reported, there was a serious dearth of accommodation in this doll-sized suburban home. Frustrated, they called out for assistance. And, like heat-seeking missiles with mood boards, we rushed to the scene of the crime.
What resonated first about Ashley and Ian was their adept suitability as parents. Utterly devoted to baby Zoe, they’d tried valiantly to cram into their home everything required to live a regular life. To us, it seemed bizarre to combine disparate functions in one room but, to our erstwhile parents, there wasn’t — or at least so they thought — a choice. Mom and pop had, however, conspired a timely plan to ensure their daughter was never disturbed by white goods spinning at several hundred revolutions per minute. All laundry was scheduled around a strict timetable of Zoe’s sleeping pattern, which meant, in short, head down, machine off. Up and awake? Machine at full tilt.
Chatting over coffee and pastries in their manicured backyard, we started scheming . . . and our clients started dreaming. “We’ve always done our best by our little girl,” explained Ashley, “but this house is so tight it’s difficult to know what’s best.” OMG — we were falling in love with a doting mom and sharing her frustration. “Zoe,” she added, “is everything to us and if we could build more rooms we would. But that costs and we’re not in a position to start.” Reaching for his wife’s hand, Ian added: “We work all the hours God sends just to keep going. But what parent wouldn’t? Zoe is our life.” OMG — now we were falling in love with pop, too. We’ve always had a soft spot for honest, hardworking folk who do best by their kids. This in mind, we felt a surge of commitment rising . . .
So, how best to address matters of laundry and tot quarters? No worries. We had it in hand. The family basement could, while unfinished, be commandeered as accommodation for the aforementioned appliances. There was plumbing down there, and electricity, so why not? And as for the nursery itself? Well, colour is one thing but it should be noted that in junior domains, there are many extra things to think about. Aspects that, unless properly considered, can create safety issues for little guys. We have to plan for the avoidance of trip hazards, for example, or window blind cords that can create choking issues. Plug sockets should be guarded and there shouldn’t be anything to knock over which could result in injury to minors.
To balance the challenge of establishing sound, kid-proof design, there’s the ancillary joy that comes with the creation of safe cosseting environments where young minds can grow and where parents can rest easy, safe in the knowledge their issue is taken care of.
Thankfully, we’re not the only members of our team who care. Indeed, as the “Colin and Justin Enterprise” sails forward, its captains have the full support of a crew who help steer our style ship in the best direction. Without them we’d struggle to pull off our mini miracles. And so, team handed, we stepped once more into the breach. With our home correction radar set to red alert we were ready to seek out and destroy another batch of Canadian bad taste. Here’s how we nursed one flat-lining junior world back to health.
Gut down
Sliding doors. Second only in the satanic stakes to peachy, orange paint. Both home styling crises are the work of the devil. But it could have been worse. Imagine a peach painted room and sliding doors. We can hardly bear to visualize that hellish combo. Oh, hold on a sec . . . we did have both devilish deals to contend with as part of this project. In the first instance, the doors had to go to properly open the space and the plumbing for washing and drying would need to be closed off. The sliders are easy, but, when it comes to plumbing, bring in the pros if you’re uncertain how to proceed. The last thing you want is a tsunami descending upon your newly reworked world.
Wall colour
We’re massive fans of green. From rich verdant shades to softer — and very on trend — pastels, count us in. Although we were designing for a little girl, Ashley didn’t want the room to follow gender-related design norms. Not that there’s anything wrong, of course, with pink for a girl or blue for a boy; in the past we’ve created kids zones using precisely these palettes. After much deliberation — and having considered, lilac, turquoise, softest mustard and even white — we finally settled on this dreamy little tone that helps diffuse light, suggesting, as it does, warmth and comfort.
Panelling
Panelling adds to the charm of most projects, but it needn’t be expensive. Ours is composed of dado rail and trim, carefully mitred and pinned in place. Its inclusion adds period detailing, and it’s a job that can be tackled by even those gifted with minimum DIY skills. Buy a small saw and a mitre block and you’re pretty much set up!
Cot
This wee crib grabbed our attention when we stumbled across it in a store that specializes in kids’ furniture. Imaginatively crafted, it actually morphs into a regular bed with sides that become head and baseboards further down the line, and extending straps to accommodate child, teen or adult. While it might be years off, when Zoe moves into her own home, she could very well find this bed serving perfectly. Someone give this system’s creator a gold medal — we love future-proofing like this.
Dresser and wardrobe
As designers, we’re generally less about making everything match, and more about mixing and matching styles. That said, we fell hook, line and sinker for the dresser and wardrobe that complete this furniture trilogy. Hand painted and beautifully crafted, each item provides function and style in equal measure.
Tip: Look out for dovetail joints, thorough pinning and expert paint finish; these generally point to proficient craftsmanship.
Wall lettering
To further signpost that this was no longer a laundry, we literally spelled it out on the newly birthed bedroom wall. Fashioned by hand and leafed in silver, these cute letters make an attractive wee installation that sets a very gentle mood.
Accessories
Having plumped for a predominantly pastel green scheme, our only concession to girly pink was detailing via layering accents. But don’t be tempted to overdo it — in our redesign a little goes a long way courtesy of lampshades and cot dressing. If moods change further down the line, then the pink could be easily replaced with baby blue, darker green or even red colour notes. Flexibility, as ever, is our mot du jour.
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