Vanessa Bruno Home

I was delighted to find in the summer issue of U.S. magazine Domino, a report devoted to a french stylist I love Vanessa Bruno.
Her apartment is a reflection of her clothes: casual and chic, mixing designers and Ikea, Vintage and modern furniture. A little cocoon in Paris'picturesque Marais neighbohood.
"My style is tipically parisian", she says to the magazine, "chic but very relaxed and easy", a description that equally suits her breezy yet expertly constructed clothing. "Everything is natural, homey and easy."
For her great style, her apartment had already been featured in the US Elle decoration.

The big idea to reproduce at home? Her home made garland of Ikea paper lanterns that hides the sound system."And if one lantern get ripped it's easy to replace."
" the results according to the magazine, "is an oasis that's peaceful, modern and yet delightfully easy."
Photos credits: domino magazine. Elle Decoration.

Decoration Trends for 2009

Twice a year, the Maison et Objet exhibition is the big Parisian event for professionals in decoration and design. It was held early September.
I was able to view f a small selection of 2009 trends on the website of the french decoration magazine Marie-Claire Maison.
I have fallen in love with these Japanese lanterns, designed by one of my favorite brand, Mimi'lou
She has expanded its collection, previously limited to stickers. New products for Comptoir d'enfance ... ?

I also realized that the theme of the Kokeshi, Japanese dolls, is a big source of inspiration for designers. See photo below the creations of the brand Jalla on this theme. The Kokeshi are found on Comptoir d'enfance through the collection of stickers from Poisson Bulle.

This is a little summary of Marie-Claire Maison on the coming trends deco in 2009 ...
There is a back trend to the retro style, fair trade, sustainable development ... a kind of what I am trying also to develop on my small shop.

"Simplicity is the major trend of the show, a way of life that becomes a legal entity, a desire to retire to the countryside to the detriment of the city, a new way of eating organic and local reflected by objects borrowing naturalism. Productions are artisanal, the material is visible or recycled (wood, rope and twine, straw, wool, newsprint), with a touch of handmade and environmental considerations (bamboo, traditional manufacturing, fair trade) ... "Marie-Claire Maison, in September 2009.


ma petite boutique.

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A french fairy

Camille Soulayrol is a fairy. Designing objects, she started working at the french magazine Marie-Claire Idees where she became a writer.

"I love "making" images, directing photo shoots, the placement of objects to tell stories, meeting people and writing portraits of designers...

I love the magical and dreamlike power of images...", she explains about her work on her blog.

On the left picture you will recognize Miya Butterfly and Mobiles in Silk and Bamboo from Petit Pan, available on Comptoir d'enfance. Some great atmosphere easy to reproduce with few accessories, furniture, touches of colors and your imagination!

New atmosphere

And because I'm not thinking only to the little ones, these are two atmospheres of teenagers'bedroom to get some ideas for their decoration at the beginning of the year.
This is still, like my previous post, from the french magazine Art et decoration in its September issue.




I'm happy to see that they focused on the cute cushions from Minilabo that are still in stock at my shop. Enjoy !
They also have the sofa from Airdeje, one of my new brand this autumn.

French and fresh atmosphere

How cute are these bedrooms !
They have been pictured by the famous french magazine Art et Decoration for the September issue on kids'bedroom.

I was happy and proud to find the cute Poisson Bulle stickers and the birds garlands from Airdeje (on the last picture), one of my new products this autumn.
With retro and folkloric inspirations, a touch of Bohemia with a clean contemporary look, Airdeje has found its place in Comptoir d’enfance universe.
Airdeje offers a new approach to children’s decoration and nightwear design with a thought for travel, detail in the cuts, color mixes and refined finitions.

Two weeks in Paris

Since mid july I have the great pleasure to be back in Paris for the summer after my first year in California.

After one year abroad, I had to discover many new shops and parisian spots.
First of all I was pleased to enjoy with friends the new Hammam pacha opened in the 6th arrondissement : luxury and a beautiful spa for only 35 euros.... with no limitation of hours spent in it.
You can also add some facials or body massage... a great pause after a day of shopping at the Bon Marche, Conran Shop, Cedre rouge and Grand Comptoir.. my favorite spots for decoration nearby.
Many new fashion and decoration shops opened this year in the 11th arrondissement, in Keller street. I found many articles from my favorite European brands such as Linum for the cushions or Rice for their fun dishes in Loulou Addict shop. In the same Keller street have a look at the beautiful tuniques of the new french brand "Des petits hauts".
I also had a look at the New Zara Home Collection with a unique bohemian and retro style and the beautiful design of Habitat furniture.
If you need to rest for a lunch just go to the Lina's coffee and the great sandwiches on the top of the big Etam store in rue de Rivoli with a beautiful view on the parisian roofs or at the salon de thé of Mariage Freres in the 17th or 6th arrondissement. Have a look at their beautifl tea list. Hard to choose only one to drink!

And be patient! I found many new french designers for our New Collection available in september.

Frida's touch

I loved the movie on Frida Kahlo's life directed by Salma Hayek.

I missed the exhibition on her paintings in San Francisco..

So I'm pleased to find her universe in the new summer edition of the web magazine Small.

A very trendy one with beautiful pictures to read and admirate on line... for free.

Get some inspirations!

Have a good summer!

Daddy's turn!

Lat minute idea for father's day ? These mini stamps designed by Fifi Mandirac to print and stick on a card, a gift.

In french and to download here.

Happy birthday to LZC

Happy birthday to Atelier LZC.
The french trio of designers was created ten years ago. Now they are a reference in French design with their cult product such as birds of paradise or wall decals.
The french magazine Journal de la Maison in may 2008 described their style as "naive, fresh with bright colours", the LZC touch which has made their success.
Find a great selection of their products on Comptoir d'enfance.

My favorite blogs!

New on this blog some links on the right to my favorite blogs all other the world. A little bazar to enjoy!

Happy Mother's day

In France, Mother's day is this week end.
Living in California, I had yet my Mother's day presents by my girls.
This week-end it's my turn to celebrate my Mother's day who lives in Paris with this postcard from the french designer Fifi Mandirac.
It's time to print it and send it... far away!

The Kokeshi arrived!

Fun to add a japanese touch to a room.
Kokeshi are traditional japanese wooden dolls. They have a simple trunk and an enlarged head with a few thin, painted lines to define the face.
Comptoir d'enfance just welcomed them this week.
There are three different boards of stickers.
Illustration by the french drawer Annelore Parot.
Made in France.
Have also a look at our new lutins and fairies for a baby gift and a sweet atmosphere for his/her bedroom.

Celebrate earth day!

For Earth Day, enjoy 10% discount on our green products on Comptoir d'enfance: Kapla wooden toys, Biodegradeable Stickers and our cute Organic Babywear Collection. Enter the coupon earth when you check out.
All of these products are made with natural products from earth : wooden plank from french forests for Kapla toys, biodegradeable potato starch for the stickers and organic cotton for the babywear collection.

Mix and match on the wall !

What a great mix and match of pictures by our favorite illustrator, Fifi Mandirac, on the walls of her daughter's bedroom. You will find some postcards in our collection of stationery.
A nice idea to put together memories, photos, illustrations. Another way to tell stories to our kids ...
Photo Credit: oh-c-chou.

Spring everywhere!

I love when I find ideas to make both sides of the Atlantic. You obviously recognize the Ikea plastic cups that we all bought one day. Now they can have a second life !
The magazine Femina had the idea.

* 1 wooden plank
* 6 colored plastic cups (there are good Ikea and then those found in any Target)
* Acrylic paint white
* 1 roller or brush
* 1 screwdriver and a drill
* 8 screws

Creation, photographs and illustrations: Nicole Maubert

1. Paint a wooden board with white acrylic paint. Let dry and make a second layer if necessary. Drill the cups at the bottom, center, with the help of a drill.

2. Place the cups on the board and secure them with screws.

3. Make a hole at each end of the board so that they can be attached to the wall. Good job!

And a little thought for my friends in Paris where "sometimes it snows in April".
Waiting the first blooms of spring, fill your flowers-pots with windmills alternating heights and sizes.
So cute!

Barbapapa costume!

What a wonderful home made costume for your kids!

If you don't know already the french character of Barbapapa, have a look at our whole collection .

the Barbapapas are a family who can change their shape as they want.

Spring time !

My best friend will tell me again that I have only inspiration for little girls but it is spring !
And at this period of the year I want more than ever pink for my interior. the author of the french blog Lilafanfreluche seems to be in the same mood when I look at this picture from her album.
I like the poetic atmosphere of this bedroom. And it will be easy to find the same furniture at Ikea. If you want to "cover" a furniture with nice linen, you should go to Anthropologie. They have some beautiful embroidered dishtowels from the new collection which will make lovely sheets for a doll bed, a nice cover for a cushion or a furniture.

A visit of Tricia Guild interior

Designer of the english brand Designers Guild, Tricia Guild is the one who knows how to mix colors and patterns. The french deco tv Show "Interieurs" has made the visit of her London home. And... the video is online here.
It's in French but you will just love it if you already like her turquoise, Parma, anise from her collections.
Since the entrance, shimmering greens welcome you.

In the living room, Design chairs are covered with her beautiful fabrics. Embroidered and Indian-inspired cushions flourish the sofa.

The kitchen / dining room overlooks the garden. This great garden, so lucky she is to have one in London, has taken the atmosphere of the Parisian Luxembourg with the Fermob chairs.
The garden also comes into the house with the flowers throughout the house.

Finally her office is a very personal place because it has on its shelves all the objects that she loves and inspire her.

Watch with pleasure this little guided tour available on line.

Vintage furniture for spring

Do you want to flourish a little ahead before spring your interior ?

Just recover with wall papers vintage furniture left in a corner of the basement or found at the last flea market.

Look at this beautiful chair of the french blog "Dans ma roulotte". Its author is an expert in the art of recycling!

A clips holder !

I've always wondered how to storage my girls hair clips. I just found the solution today on Kelli's blog
Two solutions for me now. I am a lazy mom or too much occupied in writing some posts and managing the shop and order the whole thing : the cute hair clips and the holder.
Or I make it myself simply with a cork board that I just bought at Target, in the one dollar section, and add ribbons !

Retro kids

Let's have a look at the retro kid group on flickr. They are interested in illustrated children's books from the mid-1940's through the mid-1960's, give or take a few years. As long as it has that cool, mid-century modern stylized look that was so popular during that time. They are not limiting to just children's books, but also anything that was illustrated for kids at that time: albums, 45's, commercials, magazine ads, games, toys, etc. Their purpose ? If it's retro, and it looks cool, let's see it!

Where to put the children'draws ?

I was inspired by this photo (taken for the french magazine Elle) of the house of the french designer of Les petites emplettes . I use the same method at home. It's very pretty. Simply take a string and hang your child's draws, notes, poems with trombonnes, small wooden clothespins.

It's very retro-style and your child will be honored to see his/her art hung on the wall....

And now for the boys a cardboard Space Ship

Yes I have two girls so most of the times my ideas are a little bit girly. But today I found an idea on Martha stewart's site for boys so enjoy
'All you'll need is the right stuff: cardboard, glue, tape, and a big dose of aeronautic creativity.

Pour a small amount of quick-drying tacky glue into a jar before you start. Use a shipping tube for body of ship. Cut three fins out of corrugated cardboard, and then cut three slits into bottom of tube (slits should be as long as straight edge of each fin). Apply glue to straight edges of fins, and slide them into tube slits; secure fins with masking tape while glue dries. To make nose of ship, tie a pen to end of a piece of string. Measure circumference of tube with string, then lay string against edge of a piece of thin cardboard with pen at one end. Holding string's midpoint firmly in place, draw a half circle with pen (as you would move a compass). Cut out half circle, and then fold it into a cone; secure with glue and tape. Glue cone to top of ship, again taping to secure pieces. Once dry, remove tape. '

Home made doll house

In the march issue, Cookie's magazine editor, Meryl Levin, describes how she made a dollhouse for her niece out of foam core board. She put graphic wrapping paper on the walls, cut clocks and pictures of out of catalogs and "framed" them with Sharpie, and her niece filled the rooms with her own toys. the result ? a personalized and fun house easy to travel with during holidays ! If you want to try this yourself, see on Cookie's blog how Meryl did it (use the diagram below as a reference).

Birds houses

After their travel on my computer (see previous post), my little birds need a house to rest... I had already noticed the pretty houses from Pottery Barn kids. I think they will inspire me to paint ones from Michael's with spring colors. After I will put some little home made birds ... There are models everywhere for Easter! A nice workshop for kids !

And I have seen that the trend of bird house is a big one this season. Have also a look to the lovely web site of Tamar Mogendorff.

Enjoy your easter decoration !

A new background for spring !

... Peas and small birds of our french designer Fifi Mandirac for your computer and free, available in several colors and sizes, downloadable on her new blog.

I wish that this new background gives you a good mood every morning!

Ps: find her whole universe and its stationery on my shop.

A quilt for spring!

Spring time has arrived with a few days in advance in Paris and California ... But as soon as the sun falls at the end of the day, it is a little cold for dolls and little feet! These are the solutions: beautiful plaids presented by a sweet french blog. To see the explanations click on the image below:) have fun !

Our idea: it can becomes a sweet play area for babies and easy to carry when you travel!

garland addiction, part two

In my previous post, I was writing about my new addiction : garlands ...
And the studio of Audrey answered to my wish: to give you a model of garland to be realized by yourself: go and see her slide show that explains very clearly how to make it.
It is composed of 5 pieces of 5.5"x4" each. So it may be at least 40 inches long. To achieve it, she creates different polka patterns with soft tones & soft of course! Hers is done in gray paper ... let your imagination give you some ideas!