So I say the safer the better!

Artwork and Wall Treatments are the single biggest visual statement one can make in the nursery. It will most likely be in the space the longest (usually a crib and crib bedding goes away once the baby turns into a toddler)  Most artwork and wall treatments for babies are very safe and integral in creating a sweet ‘n’ stylish nursery- as well as an important element for stimulation and wonder… here are a few things I would keep in mind while choosing and hanging art work- or painting your baby’s room.  The following are a couple pieces of advice I give to my clients.

GO NATURAL!  NO STINKY PAINTS!  (just stinky diapers)
When painting your room- who wants that painty smell?  Especially- because in most scenarios- that smell means there are those evil VOC’s!  What is a VOC you ask?  The United States Environmental Protection Agency defines a VOC as: “Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) [that] are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects. Concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors (up to ten times higher) than outdoors.  VOCs are emitted by a wide array of products numbering in the thousands. Examples include: paints and lacquers, paint strippers, cleaning supplies, pesticides, building materials and furnishings..”
With such a focus on organic foods, bedding or clothing for baby- how about the biggest part of the baby room- THE WALLS!  Water based, zero v.o.c. paints are easy to find and very affordable!  I like and use Benjamin Moore Natura Paint.  For just about $5 more per gallon, (then their traditional line of paint), I think- it’s a no brainer!  NATURA  Paint comes in every gorgeous shade Benjamin Moore makes!  They go on walls with fantastic coverage, and have barely any – to none of that “painty” smell we expect.

Benajamin Moore Natura Paints have NO VOC's and are only $5 more then their traditional Regal line of paints! It's a no brainer!

KEEP IT OUT OF REACH!
While artwork is great to look at, and most is OK to touch- my big concern is babies grabbing a piece and knocking it off the wall- making them vulnerable to injury.
The newborn baby is unable to sit up when he comes home from the hospital- but soon he will be reaching, grabbing- and sitting up!  Babies are known to perform Harry Houdini like escape acts from their cribs, and one thing you don’t want them to do is use their wall art as a leverage point – while trying to sit up or get out of the crib.  A good rule of thumb is keep art work at least 16” above the top rail of the crib, (to keep it way over an arms length away). Most cribs have a mattress platform that  lowers as your baby becomes more mobile.  I say, Lower that mattress early!  As soon as baby starts to roll over or reach-  this is a sign the he is getting stronger- and will soon be sitting up.  Look out world!  Here comes baby!

Hang Artwork Securely at least 16" above crib- way out of baby's reach.

KEEP IT LIGHT! (weight)
Why would anyone hang a very heavy piece of artwork right over where their baby sleeps?? While I think the minimal modern look of the Spot on Square artwork is OK….it has sharp corners and feels about as heavy as a brick!  (Please note:  I love modern design!   However, this body of work is just impersonal and boring.)  After lifting this piece up,  I felt like doing curls with it- vs hanging it over a sleeping baby’s crib!!  Besides being dangerous- heavy artwork is harder to hang!  To hang this up I recommend wall anchors, or molly screws (which most people do not know how to use, and frankly are a pain to install). Heaven forbid one falls off the wall-  it’s heavy, hard, and has sharp corners!!!  I don’t even want to think about it!  My suggestion is:  Keep it Light! Go for art work on Canvas- which is  readily available, light weight, and very easy to hang securely.  Sam Simon says: If it feels heavier then your baby- don’t hang it over your baby!

This Spot on Square artwork is heavy, has sharp corners, and frankly just not that cute. Modern need not be boring.

Spot on Square's "Ray the Cat" artwork should go back to square one.

Hip to be SQUARE! (Where is Hewey Lewis when you need him?)
I double do it!  When hanging artwork- if it’s a canvas painting with a wire on the back (for hanging),  I use 2 picture hanging hooks (I like ook brand hooks) for double the safety.  As an added level of security I affix the bottom corners with 3m heavy duty mounting squares.  These are about $7 a pack, and available at most hardware stores.  Two main reasons why these are great below:

#1  They add another layer of security to the wall art, as well as, if a tossed stuffed animal hits the piece, it is stuck in place!
#2 Once you level the piece – the sucka wont move! This tip is also great for the rest of the home- you will never have to adjust your artwork again!

3m Heavy Duty Mounting Squares- are fantastic!

The Sam Simon color of the week!
The perfect baby blue award goes to……. Sweet Bluette #813 (Benjamin Moore Natura Paint / Eggshell finish). In my experience most classic baby blue textiles veer more towards chambray like periwinkle vs greenish blue aquas.  I like this specific hue as it is definitely a color on your wall- however it is not overpowering or heavy.  Because of its light value- it will go with many shades of blue- and give the room a dreamy and visually soft feel.  I did a color wash on these walls, giving the traditionally flat paint a soft undulation.

Benjamin Moore's Sweet Bluette #813 is the perfect Baby Blue, color washed on walls with hand painted border by "Sam Simon"

Benjamin Moore's Sweet Bluette #813 is the Sam Simon Perfect Baby Blue. I use the Natura line of paints from Benjamin Moore in Eggshell finish.

Please ask any design questions!  I love reader mail! sam@samsimonprojects.com

(I’m expecting an angry one any minute now from Spot on Square)

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I am currently working on a bedroom/bathroom suite for an 11 year old girl.  While this is different than a nursery project, the design fundamentals are the same.  A design scheme that will be appealing to a preteen client but have the staying power to carry her through her college years is required.  My eleven year old client had one request–a purple and green room.

The first thing I had to consider was how the space was going to flow.  For the bedroom, we would need ample storage, a desk/work area, display space for all the things little girls collect, and a bed.  For the bathroom, a vanity with plenty of counter and storage space was a requirement.

With a color scheme in place I began the design process with the selection of bedding.  I selected a ready made duvet cover and pillow shams from one collection and combined it with sheets from a different collection. I’ve also mixed in some fabrics that will become a custom bed skirt and accent pillows.

I selected a carpet with a small pattern to be installed wall to wall. A carpet with pattern is a great way for hiding daily wear and tear, but also allows an additional design element.

From left to right:  The purple and green large print is the ready made bedding we seleceted, The plaid will be used for a custom bed skirt, the large stripe and floral will be used as accent pillows.  The small diamond pattern is the carpet we chose.  The final photo is the schematic board.

Bellini Boca Sold This room Love Is In The Air ~ Love it

One of my favorite sets of the Nava’s Design’s collection is “Love Is In The Air”
At times I feel like sending a winner set a “Thank You” note~ smiling and I am ever so thankful for my winner “babies” like Love Is In The Air and Bellini keeps selling it again and again~
It’s such a joy to get an image from one of our Moms with her pride and joy Baby’s room image~ like this image which Amy from Bellini Boca got from one of her Moms , to share with us. We love it and we thank you Amy~
Please, please if you have any great image of your Baby’s room with Nava’s Designs bedding on a Bellini Crib e-mail it to us. We will love to share your great rooms with the whole world~ and nowadays when we say the whole wide world ~we mean it~ smiling
Enjoy your baby ~ celebrate your baby as after all how many celebrations we have in our lives?!

Date: Aug 31, Tues

Place: Bellini NYC 1305 Second Ave, NYC, NY

Time: 4:30-7

RSVP: NHERING@360i.com (Nicole)

I know I need to Blog of what I am designing today and believe me I am designing today , but I really want to take the time to reflect on my first and only job ever in the USA, as a “Bellini Girl” the girls , in today terms the “Bellini ladies”~ you see, I came to the USA with a dream to “make it” all the way from Israel so I can become the images of the TV shows I was watching at a time as a kid, the power of TV who says TV is bad for you? Not for me! It was great the “juice” that drove me to move to the USA, with a dream started as a sale person with a lot of pride as I was so thankful for the job at the time ~ I moved up to store manager, designing, helping with colors and shape of furniture. I then began to help with opening of more and more Bellini stores across the United States, the time was so right and what a great idea it was, and still is!

The Bedding part was such a fun part of what I was doing and I need to thank one lady, who came in with a pillow that she needed to match bedding for. I went after work to look for fabrics for her, called around to my Israeli friends, and found a lady who could sew for us. At the time the colors were gray and peach. The furniture that Bellini was featuring was gray and white. Wow!! What a set it was!! We called it “Gray Tulip” what a silly name ~smiling ~ but it was a hit and since then I have found my calling….. Nava’s Designs… My love for fabrics, trims colors and “new messages” was my drive~ The early days of Bellini ~27 years ago was about the concept to give mothers-to-be the best of the best in shopping for their baby in one stop ~ I think with all the changes that have occurred in the baby industry in the past 27 years Bellini and Nava’s Designs continue on with our heads held high since I started with them in the 1980’s. There I am so happy to have my Bellini history and to be a customer bedding designer who was “born” at Bellini. When you have good people around you, good things happen, good ideas develop and memories are forever ~ now I am going to design a Gray and white set ~yes everything come back full circle if you give it enough time~smiling

me with my son Ariel 1990 ~ this set was called St Moritz (uglyyyy)

Im a blog virgin…a blirgin! (yes, I like to make up words), besides that very useful skill…I have been making artwork all of my life, and selling it for over 15 years.  I am the owner of Sam Simon Projects (www.samsimonprojects.com), a NYC art and design business.  My focus is on design and artwork for babies and children.  I am very lucky to have worked with a stream of style savvy parents, celebrities, and a host of amazing interior designers.

In the first part of every project proposal I have ever written I always state this:

My goal is always to: exceed expectations and take your space to a higher level of beauty, function, and design.

If you continue to read my posts, I hope to do the same for you.  If you have questions, I would love to answer them, I will always have an honest and clear opinion.  Some of these opinions may be strong, starting with this one below.

Most art and design for Babies and Children makes me cringe!

The world of nursery and children’s room decor is very much akin to many other creative industries, like Pop Music or Movies for example.  In general, most Top 40 Songs or Films are, to be frank, sub par.  You know the films like “Wild Hogs” with that insufferable Tim Allen- obviously made with one goal, to turn a quick buck.  The same can be said for my industry- Artwork for Children, The majority of what is available is quite saccharin, lacking in good design or soul-and its only concern is sales.

However just like when you came across Lady Gaga last year, or saw E.T for the first time, you get reminded that there is amazing stuff out there.  When we find that gem, we become inspired!

In this blog I am going to focus primarily on wall decor- because it’s closest to my heart, and I 100% believe it is the most influential element of how a space looks, feels, and functions.  I’m sure you have been in a room where the wall color was way off, and the entire space suffers. It literally hurts me to be in rooms like that.  On the flip side – when a color in right, it sings, it’s beautiful, like a dream- it visually flavors the air, and makes the room delicious.

So friends, here’s what you have to look forward to: I will wax on color, wall treatments, artwork for children, DIY projects, and of course good and bad design.  If you see something awesome OR horrible, Send it to me!  I love to call out the good, and point out the bad.  Someone’s got to do it!

At the end of each article I will leave you with my color of the week.  Today’s color is called Birds Egg #2051-60  I used a Benjamin Moore Natura Paint in eggshell finish.

  This hue is like a more pale, slightly smokey version of a Tiffany box.  These silvery undertones of the color give it elegance.  When you enter the space – the hue makes the air seemingly fresher and cooler.  Enjoy some photos below… and yes, that chandelier was humongous!
lovesamsimon

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Delores is gorgeous! Don't put her in the chorus.

All items available at most Bellini Boutiques (see local stores for details).

Bellini Collection-Espresso Color

Alex Crib

Jessica 54″ Dresser

Bellini Upholstered Tufted Glider by Dutalier-Yellow Corduroy

Serena and Lily Rory Bedding (this set is no longer available)

Shadow Boxes-Designed by our very own Chuck Soldano (buzz contributor & Bethenny’s Designer)

Canvas Artwork by Renditions By Reesa