New Jack and Jill Boutique!

I know, I know...I've talked about it for years. I've often been told and said that I should open up an online baby boutique to offer the many wonderful products I use in my designer nurseries and kids' rooms to my site visitors and fans of our work. After putting that daunting task off for the past decade, I've finally taken the leap!
I am the type of person who won't do something unless I can do it right and do it big. I didn't want my boutique to be just any ordinary boutique offering ordinary kids' decor and nursery furniture. I wanted my boutique to be different and stand out from the rest.
My Jack and Jill Boutique goes hand-in-hand with my nursery design company, Jack and Jill Interiors. In fact you will see links on every page of Jack and Jill Interiors taking you to "products" for sale. I am often asked where people can find the beautiful products I use in my designs so I'm starting off with loading up products from those tried and true designers and manufacturers. If I wouldn't use the product in my own home or the homes of my clients, you won't find it offered in my boutique. I've hand selected only the best designers in the children's industry to be featured on my site.
What else is unique about our kids' decor store? Well when you buy your furniture or bedding from us, you get the added benefit of free design advice from me. Yes, that's worth something...in fact if you look at my hourly rates, it's worth ALOT! But we want our customers to be completely certain that their investment is a good one. We will help you select your baby furniture, baby bedding, kids' furniture, kids' bedding, kids wall art and accessories and will even select wall colors for you once your bedding is purchased.
We've loaded our first six vendors to the site so far (we have about 30 to go!). We currently feature: Bratt Decor, Newport Cottages, Doodlefish Kids, Olena Boyko and Caden Lane.
Visit our site if you're looking for high quality, affordable kids furniture and bedding and if you purchase furniture by December 1, you can save 5% by using coupon code "furniture5" at checkout!
Be sure to check back often to see what great new products we're loading and PLEASE spread the word to your family and friends!

French Flair Collection Released!

I'm finally able to share my brand new collection with you!  I'm so excited about this chic collection of wall art including a chandelier, street light, dress form with tutu, Eiffel Tower, Louis Chair with Yorkshire puppy and ottoman with Yorkie puppy! The puppy is even so enthusiastic about her inclusion, she has donned her best tutu and bow for the occasion! 

Palm Beach Tots has a beautiful window display (which Jack and Jill Interiors helped to design, by the way!) featuring the entire set. 

This collection is brand new and not yet found online for sale, so feel free to contact our studio info@jackandjillinteriors.com to buy direct and be on the lookout for these to appear in your favorite kids' boutiques soon! 16"x20" stretched canvases are $119 and the 36"x24" wall hanging is $158.

Free shipping!

My Favorite Designers Series- Mary Bauer of Bratt Decor

Sherri and Mary's $10K Military Nursery Give-away Contest

As a nursery designer I have the pleasure of meeting some of the world's most talented designers. Not only do I recommend their furniture and bedding to my nursery design clients, but I have the opportunity to exhibit my products along side of them at trade shows as well. I've met some outstanding people who have, over the years become more than just my colleagues- they've become my friends. Mary Bauer of Bratt Decor is not only one of the most talented women in the children's industry, but she's also one of the most grounded, kind-hearted and thoughtful people I know. Her generous spirit is unmatched and as time goes on, I find myself more in awe of her in her many roles as a designer, a wife and mother. After working and playing together over the years, I now count her as one of my most trusted and valued friends. 

 Many consumers don't really stop to think about they story behind the products they purchase and enjoy.  It' a shame, really. Because as far as I'm concerned, the story of the designer, about how the design or product came to be, and what inspired its creation- makes that particular item all the more priceless in my eyes. Mary's story of how Bratt Decor came to be is one of the most inspiring yet. So sit back and enjoy this little interview and peek at the woman behind that fabulous nursery furniture line, Bratt Decor!

Mary with celebrity clients, Mario Lopez and Courtney Mazza

Where is home? Baltimore, MD

When did you first realize you wanted to be a designer and how did you prepare yourself for this career?

I don’t know that I ever “realized” it, it’s just always been a part of who I am.  Even as a kid, I was always creating and designing everything around me to fit my version of beauty.

How did you get into this business/start the company?

I began when I got pregnant with my first child, and couldn’t find a crib that I loved.  So, together with my ridiculously talented husband, I designed one.

What do you adore about your job?

I love seeing something in my mind appear before me in a tangible way.

What do you like the least?

The paperwork.

When you need inspiration for your designs, where do you most often turn?

Nature.  The patterns and colors in just about anything God created are so perfect and inspiring.  What I love about what I find in nature, is the deeper you look, the more time you take, the more beauty is revealed. 

How might your clients describe your "signature look"?

Glamorous and timeless.

Famous clients? Tell us a little about working with each.

I’ve worked with some, and what I can tell you about all of them, is they worry about all the same things any expectant parent worry about. They want a safe, beautiful space where their love story can unfold.

What's the most exciting thing on the horizon for you?

Our newest crib, J’adore.   It’s a crib/cradle combination,  in an oval shape, made of all hand bent wrought iron, and I’m so loving it right now.

What do you know now that you wish someone had told you when you were first starting out?

That I was, for sure, going to make it.  That little nugget of wisdom would have saved me so much worry and sleepless nights.

You've learned your design studio will self-destruct in 60 seconds, what three things will you grab?

My husband, computer, and dog, all of which are generally found lying around somewhere in there.

Mary and Stephen Bauer and the new J'adore Crib/Cradle

 

Not Your Grandma's Wallpaper!

Wall paper is coming back into our homes after a bit of a hiatus.  To be honest, I’ve never really been a big fan of wallpaper. I guess it’s because I like to change my wall colors so often, that I never really wanted the bother of having to strip the paper each time. But I’m heavily considering a change in tune. With this renewed interest, the manufacturers have stepped things up a notch with some fun, elegant, textural, metallic and fresh new patterns that have really caught my eye.

I’m also noticing that quite a few brands are now offering some great new kids’ patterns that I find very impressive. I’m going to list a few of my favorites here for you. I’m also eager to begin proposing these great designs to my clients. Any takers?

Wallpaper Collective offers some very cool teen patterns. How about this for a music lover who wants a cool retro “lounge”? By Aimee Wilder

I like this paper  By Piet Hein Eek for a boy’s room but it would also go well in other areas of the home, especially if you like a farm-house look. Rustic, rough-hewn wood is very current in décor today.

I would want to camp out all day and night with this wall paper depicting hand shadows! As a mother of boys, this is a favorite of mine!  This is from Paper Boy of London.

And for the girls, I love this super cool butterfly pattern from Mod Green Pod.  This is perfect for a pre-teen or teen with its hip colors! And best yet, their papers are all environmentally friendly! They are vinyl-free and they use water-based inks on FSC certified paper as well as a water-based glaze. No PVC!

And for your nursery or toddler’s room, check out this fresh monkey pattern in a variety of colors. By Bholu.

Princes and Crows offers some beautiful designs for the younger kids. I love these forest animals. Again, another popular theme in nurseries today!

Funky Little Darlings  offers some very unique papers. Look at the soldier ants here. Fun for your adventuresome little guy!

I’m dying to do a nursery in this sweet tree patterned paper!

And they also offer Mural Wall Coverings! I think this would be cool as a backdrop behind a pre-teen’s headboard!

And of course, I can’t forget my favorite designer, Candice Olson! She has a kids’ line of wall papers, too available through York WallCoverings. Each one seen here is available in multiple color ways.

I especially like the Dinosaur Fossils seen here.

And how cute is her camo style pink butterfly paper?!

I’m really digging this Bamboo Curtain paper for a teen’s room, whether boy or girl! Again, how cool would this be on an accent wall?

Candice Olson has this Rocker Silhouette paper that will be sure to impress any  teen!

Have you ever tried painting harlequins on a wall? Well I have…and I’m here to tell you that it’s not fun!  That’s a job I’d recommend leaving up to the pros, folks! Thank God Candice now has this sweet Harlequin Princess paper available to take away that stress for the do-it-yourselfer! 

After seeing all of these great new options for kids’ rooms, I’m convinced that wall papers can be pretty cool. And from what I’ve read, they’re much easier to remove today than in years past. So don’t be surprised if you start seeing it in my future designs.  I’ve already begun gathering swatches!

Have you considered wallpaper for your kids’ room or baby’s nursery? Share your thoughts with us.

Make a Wish- Fairy Garden Playroom

Three year old Avery was diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer at age two. Her wish through Make a Wish Foundation was to receive a Fairy Garden Playroom for her sister, Maddy and herself. Avery has gone through so very much in her young life and is such a strong, brave little girl. When Make a Wish coordinator, Jenny Hauser contacted me to design this very special room for Avery, we jumped on it. My extremely well organized and talented assistant designer, Lisa O'Brien and I worked for months meticulously planning the space which included a life-like tree, a custom designed reading nook that we now refer to as the "Fairy Fountain", a dress up corner, play house, tea table complete with tea set, an art station (not seen in the images, as it was back ordered) and a spot for movie viewing. We solicited the hugely talented Patrice Hoban to paint our fairy mural and she really knocked our socks off with the details! She added glitter and gems and the room really came to life with her vision! We thank Cheryl of Sweet Lullaby for designing and donating the sweet curtains and valances, Chris Jones of http://www.kidtropolisbuild.com/ for designing the Fairy Fountain reading perch, Levels of Discovery for their donation of the tea table and toybox, New Arrivals, Inc for donating the peg hook, and Creative Carpet Design for donating the  cute-as -a-button monogrammed rug. Avery and her family have a long road ahead of them. They will continue treatments at St. Jude Children's Hospital (to whom Jack and Jill Interiors has donated monthly for about 7 years now) and we will continue to love and pray for this wonderful and inspiring family. Please consider donating by following the link above. Thank you!

Chesapeake Home and Living Magazine

If you live in the Chesapeake Bay area, be sure to pick up the June issue of Chesapeake Home and Living Magazine. Not only do they have an overabundance of beautiful home images, they have also interviewed me (Jack and Jill Interiors) for an article on designing children's rooms and nurseries.