Welcome to ‘Through The Peepo’ Style After Nine’s sneaky peek into the cool and exciting interiors of cool and exciting kids. What’s black, white and scandi-cool all over? Beau’s monochrome kids’ bedroom, that’s what. So, kick back and enjoy this Q&A with his stylish mama with tips on how to get the look for your little one.
Jessica Harris and her gorgeous Beau
Where? Surbiton, Surrey
Who? Beau, son of Jessica Harris Marks & Spencer Head of PR Women’s & Lingerie
“There are a few pictures of Beau too that I took with my phone and blew up, I use the site foto.com as they fit Ikea frames. I tend to change these quite often as it is a very cheap way to update the room.”
Q. You recently renovated your home. What did you consider when designing Beau’s space?
After a process of elimination, it ended up with Beau having the best room in the house! It is in the eaves, so the sloping roof didn’t really work for us as my husband and I are both quite tall. The space is quite a tricky shape so this did end up dictating how we worked with it, for example there is only one free wall for wardrobes. We were also on a very limited budget after renovating the whole house.
Q. How did you plan your kids’ bedroom theme?
I knew I wanted a black and white theme, with a bit of grey – I love grey! I did most of research on Instagram, following a mix of kids clothing brands with interior companies too. I find clothing brands’ showrooms or styled photography can give really good inspiration. I am yet to get into Pinterest, as I prefer an old school scrap book, it is filled with pages from Elle Decoration & Living Etc, two magazines I love. Also just general inspiration from travels, restaurants, bars etc, I am always taking pictures to add to the scrap book.
How Beau’s bedroom looked before the Harris’ renovations
Q. Do you think working in fashion influenced your design choices
I’m lucky to be exposed to a lot of creative influence’s and work with a lot of creative people, so I’m sure this had an impact when we were planning spaces for our home. My husband works for a digital design company, so is exposed to lots of creative people too. He had strong view on how the house and Beau’s room should look.
Q. Did Beau get involved?
A bit, he is obsessed with dinosaurs & animals so he wanted somewhere to display his toys, so the book shelfs are ever evolving but apart from that he tends to be very enthusiastic and says he loves whatever we do, happy client! Which is nice.
“The newest edition to the room is a printed suitcase which I picked up in Merci, a concept store in Paris, I would really recommend.”
Q. There’s a real movement for monochrome kids’ interiors, why do you think it’s so popular.
It makes a strong statement, quite bold but also very versatile and allows you to add fun pops of colour with it clashing.
Q. What was your starting point/ first purchase?
The bed and wardrobes, from IKEA, which I was not very keen on. I really wanted something more unusual, but they offered the best affordable storage solutions. I do plan to change these in the future, maybe for something more handmade and bespoke, although I not sure if my carpentry skills are up to it.
“I also like to buy artwork when traveling, the Black & White Skull picture was from Madrid. The Alphabet print is from Berlin, from an art collective called Urban Spree – you can buy some prints online. Berlin is one of my favourite cities and is full of brilliant interiors shops.”
Q. I love your artwork and stylish books, wherever did you find them?
I tend to always buy nice books when I see them, the artwork is a real pull for me, and sometimes the story doesn’t live up to how gorgeous the book looks. Some are from galleries (the Saatchi Gallery shop is brilliant) or from our travels – we like to go on city breaks which means we tend to end up shopping.
I also like to buy artwork when traveling, the Black & White Skull picture was from Madrid. The Alphabet print is from Berlin, from an art collective called Urban Spree – you can buy some prints online. Berlin is one of my favourite cities and is full of brilliant interiors shops.
There are a few pictures of Beau too that I took with my phone and blew up, I use the site foto.com as they fit Ikea frames. I tend to change these quite often as it is a very cheap way to update the room.
The newest edition to the room is a printed suitcase which I picked up in Merci, a concept store in Paris, I would really recommend.
“The ‘B’ light, as my very talent and creative Dad made it, he saw them in a shop, Heals I think and thought he could do a better job so did. We have had it for a few years and it is very special and also looks brilliant on the wall.”
Q. What is your favourite part of the room?
The ‘B’ light, as my very talent and creative Dad made it, he saw them in a shop, Heals I think and thought he could do a better job so did. We have had it for a few years and it is very special and also looks brilliant on the wall.
Q. What is Beau’s favourite part of the room
He loves the bookshelves which he can display his many many dinosaur toys. He also likes the reading corner and will often sit there flicking through the various, you guessed it, dinosaur books.
“We are reading The Twits at the moment, but other favourites are A Deal’s a Deal, Pom Pom Gets the Grumps, the MAP Book and The Book With No Pictures, which nicely fits with the black and white theme.”
Q. What does Beau want to be when he grows up?
He is very adamant that he will be a Paleontologist, which is quite a big word for a 5 year old, so I am quite impressed and of course very supportive even when he is digging up the garden.
Q. What’s Beau’s favourite bedroom book?
We are reading The Twits at the moment, but other favourites are A Deal’s a Deal, Pom Pom Gets the Grumps, the MAP Book and The Book With No Pictures, which nicely fits with the black and white theme.
“He is very adamant that he will be a Paleontologist, which is quite a big word for a 5 year old, so I am quite impressed and of course very supportive even when he is digging up the garden.”
Q. Any tips for getting the look?
For me Instagram is such a great source for inspiration. Some of my favourite people / brands to follow are –
Edit.58, Homeplaceonline, Minimigb, Scoutandcokids, Tinystore_berlin, Stadlandkind, Pomberlin, Houseenvy, Bodieandfouconcept, Thismodernlife, I also love Monoqi.co.uk – a great site for cool interiors furniture and accessories.
SHOP THE LOOK!
Like what you see and want to give your kids’ bedroom a black & white makeover? Shop on.
Get Beau’s cool monochrome kids’ bedroom style with statement and personalised accessories mixed in with sleek storage furniture.
From top clockwise:
- Next Alphabet Cushion £10
- H&M Cushion Cover £3.99
- ‘Where Do We Go When We Disappear?’ book £4.50 @ The Kid Who
- Bodie & Fou Berlin Print £35
- IKEA shelf unit £70
- Not on the High Street Light Box £39.95
The post THROUGH THE PEEPO: BEAU’S MONOCHROME KIDS’ BEDROOM appeared first on STYLE AFTER NINE.