Little Mason and Bruce are enjoying the Calabasas, CA sun while lounging on the Outdoor Chaise with Umbrella by KidKraft! Needless to say, Bruce is a little big for the chair but the pair sure does look cute.

Made from weather-resistant wood, this piece is perfect for the back yard! KidKraft has all sorts of adorable kid-sized outdoor furniture as well as playroom furniture, storage and decor, just for kid’s rooms. To see the full collection, visit RosenberryRooms.com or click here.

Congratulations to the top 5 boards from Meghann Clatyon, Angela Tanner, Ashley Owens, Brittney Reader and Carlee Smith! Check out the boards below but remember to vote for your favorite board(s) on our Facebook page by clicking “like” on the board(s) of your choice. The board with the most likes by 11AM EST on May 18th, will be announced the winner! The owner of the winning board will receive a bedding set* of their choice from Caden Lane’s new collection as well as a design consultation with celebrity interior designer and creator of Caden Lane, Katy Mimari! Katy has designed nurseries for celebrity moms such as Brooke Burke, Ashlee Simpson and Tori Spelling!

Now, here is a sneak peek at our top 5 boards. You can also click on the picture to see the full board on Pinterest.

Meghann Clayton chose to design her room around the Ryleigh Crib Bedding.

Angela Tanner designed her board around the Asher Crib Bedding.

Ashley Owens created a girl’s room out of the Ikat Pink Bedding.

Brittney Reader selected the Gage Crib Bedding for her boy’s nursery.

Carlee Smith also chose the Ryleigh Crib Bedding for her room design.

Congratulations to the top 5! Now we need our fans to help us choose the winner. Head over to our Facebook page, “like” Rosenberry Rooms and then vote for your favorites and encourage your friends and family to vote too. To vote now, click here!

Thank you again to all of those who entered the contest. We will be hosting similar contests in the near future and hope you will join us again. Until then, happy pinning!

*Winner can choose from any of the four new Caden Lane crib sets (Ryleigh, Lila, Gage or Asher) OR a new Caden Lane kid’s twin bedding set (Ikat Blue or Ikat Pink) all found here. Twin size set includes duvet, sheet set, and one sham. If the winner chooses to pay the difference for a full size set, he or she may do so. The design consultation includes a consultation over the phone with Katy Mimari to learn about your design ideas and a follow up email with two design boards including product and paint choice suggestions.

For those of you that would prefer not to use a bumper, Annette also created her collection of Perfect Fit Crib Sheets! These sheets can be used on the crib with or without a bumper (your choice!) because each one has a ruffled or piped edge designed to give your crib the aesthetic look of a bumper without the need for one.

India Toile Turq Perfect Fit Cribsheet with a Classic Stripe Maize Crib Duster.  Shown with Classic Stripe Maize Curtain Panels and a India Toile Turq Reversible Quilt.

Annette tells us, “Recently our customers have expressed an interest in a new look for the crib, a clean and modern style, minus the traditional bumper. I am constantly trying to improve and refine our products, so I went back to the design studio to drum up some ideas how to accommodate this new trend in baby bedding. The result was the newest edition to our line, the Perfect Fit Crib Sheets. I love the new twist on our patterned sheets. This is a great way to still keep our beautiful patterns together as a collection and offer just the crib sheet as a way to dress the crib. With every new mom having her own style and product choices, making up new ways to “dress” your new baby’s nest is what we love to do.”

To see all the available patterns in this new design trend, check out Annette Tatum’s full collection on RosenberryRooms.com or click here!

Enjoy!

What inspired you to start an interior design firm specializing in children’s spaces?

Alessia - I always had the idea in my mind and when I got pregnant with my son I realized how challenging it can be setting up a tastefully designed nursery, especially when your life is busy as it can be in New York City. Nowadays the market offers many options – yet creating the perfect nest requires a lot of effort. Meeting Julie at a dinner one night we instantaneously got on so well and saw the same void and decided to go with the idea and see where it would lead.

Julie - As the only architect in my group of friends, people were always asking me for help with their apartments and advice when decorating. As my friends started having babies, I became the go to helper with the layout and color choices for their nurseries – I realized that this was a field that was largely saturated with product but under serviced by designers. When I met Alessia at dinner one night we began talking about it and exchanged e-mails, and then a few days later when we ran into each other by chance on the streets of NYC we decided to meet to talk about it, and over our Upper West Side dinner the idea was flushed out.

What is your favorite part of your daily work … when you reflect on the day, what is most rewarding?

Alessia - For me there are 3 very awarding milestones.  Firstly finding the right pieces and accents for the specific rooms is a very rewarding quest – locating just the right chair or pillow to complete a vision always makes me feels like I just won a prize.  That moment that all the pieces selected read coherently together is very rewarding.

I also love seeing the designs come to life during implementation and finally – the best part – is to see and hear parent’s reactions.  When we see a moms and dads excitement as their visions have become the spaces for their little ones we really feel good about our job.

Julie - For me it’s the meeting when we we’ve already gotten to know the parents (And sometimes kids in the older children’s spaces) and we show them the scheme and suddenly they get so excited. When the words and visions they had shared with us start to take form as plans and selected pieces on a page. I also love to see which particular element a client will fixate on.

What is your most memorable design project?

Alessia - Last year, we worked on 3 rooms and a playroom all in the same townhouse. Each child had a different age and personality and creating different worlds to reflect their inner world was extremely exciting.

Julie - This is a hard one – we have been fortunate to have such great clients and have enjoyed every room, space and project. But I think for me I loved working on a romantic nursery for a little girl Stella. I am not a “Girly girl” so it was really stepping outside my comfort zone and aesthetic – and embracing pink.  The room is so romantic and special and feels like the perfect space to welcome the beautiful little girl we got to meet a few months later.

If you could design a room for anyone in the world, who would it be?

Alessia - I would love to redecorate rooms in children’s homes, hoping that some fun decor and colors could bring some light in their life.

Julie - We often discuss bringing our talents to people who could use the brightness in their lives – I would like to help enhance and decorate the spaces for children with cancer –they are often home in their room’s way more than their peers and we would love to enhance their environments as much as we can

What thing/place/event were you most recently inspired by?

Alessia - I usually like to work with colors and spring is definitely the time of the year that inspires me the most. I leave near Central Park and when I take my children there, ideas starts spinning in my head away.

Julie - Right now I am sucked into the “retro trends”, I love the bold patterns and the bright colors that are back in fashion and am a longtime fan of the mid-century modern furniture trends.  I always keep a camera on me – a hangover from architecture school days – and take pictures of buildings, people – and very often food compositions that inspire me.

Where is your favorite place you have traveled to?

Alessia – Tibet, the colors I have seen there are quite unique.

Julie – Istanbul – the city is so rich in history and culture and yet also has a very modern and current movement developing. It’s truly a city that embraces, engages and indulges all five senses and I find myself over stimulated and continually enthralled whenever I am there. I always say it’s a city that gets under your skin and into your soul.

Where in the world are you dying to go next?

Alessia – Japan. Japanese design is one of the most inspiring!

Julie – Bali – I am a beach baby at heart and when there is a rich heritage and vernacular style and culture to experience it’s a bonus.

What is your favorite Rosenberry Rooms product(s)?

Alessia – The Jennifer Delonge Parker Chair in Aqua Velvet.

Julie - The fabulous yellow Rococo Dresser and the Coast Guard Patrol Search Lamp.

Do you have any news that you would like to share, perhaps about upcoming events or projects?

Early this week we worked with Project Nursery to design two nurseries for the Big City Mom’s Biggest Baby Shower in NYC! We designed 2 vignettes – a modern boy’s room and a vintage girl’s room with vendors such as Serena and Lily and Ducduc and muralist Sam Simon. We had so much fun putting these rooms together!

Check out more the details over on ProjectNursery.com or click here!

Now, just for fun:

Favorite Food

Alessia – As a true Italian: panino al prosciutto crudo e mozzarella

Julie – Any cheese plate with a fresh baguette and some quince paste

Favorite TV Show

Alessia –  ’Downtown Abby’: brings me back to my days in London.

Julie – Mad Men – it indulges my retro obsession, but I am also newly addicted to the Voice (and spontaneous Monday night dancing around my apartment to some of the songs)

Favorite Movie

Alessia – “Respiro”: just reminds me home.

Julie – “St Elmo’s Fire”, we’ve been together for 27 years

Favorite Weekend Activity

Alessia –  beach, beach and beach!

Julie -  beach, beach and beach!

Favorite Musician/Band

Alessia – I have a few so it really depends on my mood and on what I am doing. Now I am obsessed with: ‘we are young’ by Fun.

Julie – Black Eyed Peas– I am also a huge fan of the 80’s and 90’s

How would you define your company’s style philosophy?

Our philosophy is to create a beautiful and unique piece of functional art.

What inspired you to become a designer and start a business?

I have always been creative. Oddly, I found myself in a corporate banking career which really starved me of creativity. I started my company in 2006 in my basement. I am energized by how many people love my pieces.

While still working as a commercial banker, and running my handpainted art business, I was still hungry for more creativity! I started Gray Dog Pet Photography in late 2010.  Capturing the bond between a dog and their people is so incredible and I am honored to provide this in the form of art. I have a camera and will travel outside of Central Virginia!

Why did you choose to design hand painted switchplates and outlet covers?

Didn’t someone once say if you can’t find it, make it and sell it? Well, my story goes something like that. I tried to find a cute switchplate cover for my new niece and nephew’s room and couldn’t. So, I started making them!

What is your favorite part of your daily work when you reflect on the day, what is most rewarding?

I love the shipping part as much as the painting! It is so cool to package these babies up and send them on their way to their new home!!! I also love opening the kiln to see the final product as they look completely different than the way they went in. It is pretty neat!

If you had to pick a favorite piece from your collection, what would it be?

Well, I am a farm girl, so of course I love the cow. But, I’d say my very favorite switchplate design right now is the giraffe or the firetruck.

What sets your company apart from other designers in your industry?

I’d say that the main difference is that my CEO and CFO have 4 paws and a tail.

Do you have any news that you would like to share, perhaps about upcoming designs or introductions to your line?

Yes! Long at last, new designs are coming by the end of Summer 2012! Check back!!!!

Here are few more adorable shots from Michelle’s photography! Check out her photography website here! 

Now…Just for Fun

Favorite Food (plural)  Ice Cream–Coffee flavored, Peach Pie, Rice Krispie Treats (I do eat healthy, really–but those foods aren’t my FAVORITE)

Favorite TV Show The Closer

Favorite Movie Oh wow….too many! Wedding Crashers, Pursuit of Happyness, The Blind Side

Favorite Weekend Activity Hiking with the Weimaraners, Making French Press Coffee, and a nap

Favorite Band Train, Paolo Nutini, John Mayer

Here are a few of my favorites for girls.

These Road Trip canvases are so cute for your little car lover! Staying true to their style, each of these canvases can be personalized with your child’s name for a unique touch and you can even select your favorite font. If you want to get really serious, they even do custom color matching!

I just love these initial prints! They would look great in a shared room above each child’s bed.

These few photos only cover a very small percentage of this fun new collection of canvas art for kids! Be sure to check out the full line on RosenberryRooms.com or click here!

Over Easter in the good ol’ RVA we discovered Anne’s parents had just chopped down a large tree in the backyard. A few minutes on Pinterest and we were inspired enough to throw two 100+ lb tree slices into the back of our car for the ride back to Raleigh.  A lot of de-barking, sanding and drilling later we have two tree trunk tables!

Main tools you will need  - chisel, power sander and a mallet.

Next, begin removing the bark.

The de-barking was easy in some spots and painful in others. As you can see in the pictures a massive chunk came off with almost no effort. For the other parts be prepared for painstaking sanding and chipping away.

Sanding begins…

Hairpin legs can be expensive on eBay and it’s hard to find more than 4 of the same. We bought these from hairpinlegs.com and were very pleased.

The wood is gum which means they need at least a year to dry out so the teak oiling (and/or urethaning) will have to wait.  We imagine that they will be a great addition to a screened in porch or outdoor area as soon as we have a house. Right now they look slightly oversized but still awesome in our rental!

How great are these?! It definitely gives me motivation to actually make some of the things I see on Pinterest! What about you? Be sure to check out She Pins and He Makes for more DIY tutorials!

That’s Alyson Hannigan, star of American Pie and most recently, American Reunion and How I Met Your Mother, and her adorable daughter Satyana. Alyson is carrying Satyana’s Owl Zoo Lunchie!

Recognize this other famous red-head? That’s Desperate Housewives star Marcia Cross, and her twin daughters, Eden and Savannah. About to take a trip, what better way to store all her little one’s things than in the adorable Mouse Backpack by Skip Hop!

Anyone know this hunky celeb dad? Or the adorable little girl? You might know her mom a little better. That is Nahla Aubry, daughter of that French-Canadian model Gabriel Aubry and Academy Award winning actress, Halle Berry. Little Nahla loves the Skip Hop lunchies but we usually spot her with the Mouse Lunchie. Looks like she’s found a new favorite in the Bee Lunchie, though!

Did you guess them all? Be sure to check out the entire collection of these adorable backpacks and lunchies by Skip Hop on RosenberryRooms.com.

Celeb images via celebritybabyscoop.com

What inspired you to become designers and party stylists and ultimately to found Fresh Chick Design Studio?

We both hold degrees in interior design. We worked in the model home industry and as the economy took a turn, and the onset of having kids, we needed an creative outlet to allow us to work from home and still design.  The planning for babies started with designing graphics for our baby showers, creating the party decor, and then nurseries, there was just a natural progression which then led to birthday parties. Friends started asking us to design their party invites so upon that, our Etsy shop was born.

What is your favorite part of your daily work … when you reflect on the day, what is most rewarding?

Being endless in our creativity. The most rewarding part is the flexibility we have being our own boss and being home with our kiddos…we love that we get to do what we LOVE and inspire others along the way all while raising our families.

Do you have any advice for other working moms?

Don’t beat yourself up with mommy guilt. Working and finding time for you is an important component in life. We are both better moms because we are able to fulfill our creative desire with our business, add some financial support and most importantly, have some adult time.

What is your most memorable design project?

For both of us it had to be the nursery for our first babies. It was so special to be able to design such a neat space for a client we had not “met” but we were so connected to {wink}.

If you could design a room or event for anyone in the world, who would it be?

Eeek!!  Well…we’d love to throw a cocktail party for Chelsea Handler, a kid’s party or baby shower for Tori Spelling and design a nursery for Jessica Simpson.

What thing/place/event were you most recently inspired by?

I don’t think we ever stop getting inspired. We live our lives constantly on the hunt for inspiration. We love to browse fabrics for color and pattern combos.

Where is your favorite place you have traveled to?

Rebecca:  I love the simplicity and laid back feel of small beach town. My husband and I love Laguna Beach, CA

Shannon:  France, it was the ultimate experience in travel…the history, art, and architecture was overwhelmingly awesome.

Where in the world are you dying to go next?

Australia…but at this point we’d settle for a roadtrip to San Diego.

What is your favorite Rosenberry Rooms product?

ugh…there are so many fabulous items to choose from!!

Cake by Petunia Pickle Bottom  - The Society Satchel Diaper Bag, anything Jonathan Adler, and the Double Decker bedding by Designer’s Guild.

Do you have any news that you would like to share, perhaps about upcoming events or projects?

We recently opened a “brick & mortar” party boutique in our town called Petite Party Studio. We will be rolling out our on-line shop SOON!!

Now, just for fun:

Favorite Food: we LOVE Mexican

Favorite TV Show:

Rebecca:  I love anything design related and I am kinda a reality junkie

Shannon: Saturday Night Live (if I am awake long enough to watch and Justin Timberlake is on)

Favorite Movie:

Rebecca: I can’t name just one, but I love teeny bopper, chick flicks!  “Clueless” anyone?

Shannon: Too many to count in my Netflick’s queue…but I am a sucker for the Notebook.

Favorite Weekend Activity: Throwing a PARTY!!

Favorite Musician/Band:

Rebecca:  Dave Matthews

Shannon: Red Hot Chili Peppers

I am so thrilled to share our first guest post from our newest Creative Contributor, Paula Biggs of Frog Prince Paperie! She created this amazing Puff the Magic Dragon party for her son and his friends with all sorts of adorable details and fun games, perfect for a group of three year old boys. Enjoy!

A sudden infatuation with dragons brought about my son Brennan’s third birthday party theme. Big scary dragons and small children didn’t seem the best fit, so I looked for inspiration in an old Peter Paul & Mary song my mom used to sing when I was a kid – Puff the Magic Dragon.

This song about childhood imagination seemed wholly appropriate — where a cardboard box can become a boat, anything long and skinny will serve as a sword, and where ordinary objects become magical with a little storytelling. The song also sadly sings about how fleeting these moments of childhood all have to make the most of these days and celebrate them while they are here!

Desserts. Our party was small, and for once, I designed a table sized appropriately for our party. Lynlee’s Petite Cakes made the cutest little dragon wings and tails that popped up out of mounds of dragon-fire toasted marshmallow frosted brownies. She also made some darling monograms cupcake toppers.  The cookies came from the talented Renee at Bees Knees Creative—the detail she put in the patterns on Puff were amazing! We had oreo truffles (approved by Jackie Paper, of course) and a homemade version of Kinder Eggs.

The eggs themselves were made based on a Martha Stewart tutorial. After coating the insides in chocolate, I stuffed them full of candies and made darling little pom-pom baby dragons to put inside. The kids had to smash the eggs open to get to the treats; the adults seemed a tad more excited about this than the kids!

The kids’ table.  For lunch in the magic land of Honalee I chose a low to the ground table for the kids and used cushions (from Brennan’s 1^st birthday) for them to sit on. We served boxed lunches to the children. These are always a great option for kids, as they get excited about opening their lunches as they would opening a present.

Décor and activities. Puff traveled with Jackie Paper on a boat with billowed sails, so we painted our floor blue like water (really, we are about to put in a new floor so this was a happy chance to do something so crazy) and put up a ship in the living room.  We even had railing up to rope off the water area!

Three year olds don’t stand for organized activities in general, especially if there is a bounce house down the cherry lane in the backyard, so we put a treasure box of “Fancy Stuff” out for the kids to play with…pirate swords, bubbles and giants rings (hula hoops) were snatched up and run through the house. We had a crafty activity for the kids, making little sailboats, and set up a baby pool for them to go sail them in. There were a lot of shipwrecks in the bottom of the pool from overzealous tiny sailors, but the handful of 5 year olds there really enjoyed the little boats.

Favors. Since I didn’t overdo the dessert table, I made up for it with favors! Puff laid out his “treasures” for the kids and they got to choose lots of magic little things and put them in their box of dragon magic to take home.

Brennan really loved his dragon party and was very sad to watch the decorations come down. He and his playmates had such a wonderful time, and venture to say the parents, too!

Paperie + Styling | Frog Prince Paperie

Photography | John McLaughlin Photography

Fondant Cupcake Tops | Lynlee’s Petite Cakes

Cookies | Bees Knees Creative

Birthday Shirt  | A Stitching We Will Go

Vinyl Art | All on the Wall