Get to know your ABC's

I am not sure if it's because my daughter started school this week or not, but at Mark Cutler Design we are big fans of the alphabet, and one of the things I like most about it is that it is something that almost anyone can do.

The lower image is of an alphabet that is an antique print and is a bit more expensive, but the one on the top is an alphabet based on everyday images, some from street signs, some from plant shapes. It is one of my favorites because not only does it teach the letters but I would like to think it makes you look at the world in a different way too.

I Found Just What I Needed

I have been looking lately for a small book case (well calling it a book case may be overstating the need) but somewhere to stack books in my daughters nursery. As you can tell Orange is pretty much my only accent color, so trying to find just the right thing, can prove to be a bit of a challenge. 

This morning I was looking through the new CB2 catalog and there it is!! the perfect piece.

My order is already placed, I can't wait for it to arrive.

Nursery Room

I have designed many rooms over the years for children. I have done Boys' Rooms, Girls' Rooms, Theme Rooms, well you get the idea. During all this I have never really spent a lot of thought on what I would do if I had children of my own. Well the time has finally come, my partner and I are in the process of adoption, so now I am faced with the dilemma of how to make the perfect room for a baby. I am sure my thoughts will change, but here are some ideas for those of you also looking to add to your family.

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  First of all the baby doesn't care. I have never met a newborn whose first words were "who was the decorator who did this???!!!??." The design of the room is fundamentally for the parent, a place to hang at 3 in the morning when precious starts to cry and needs to be fed. So design the room for you, and this is your chance to create a fantasy Nursery.


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  Plan the room like you would a kitchen, with military precision. Consider the work patterns, of where they sleep, need to be changed, where you will read etc etc. Aside from how it looks, it needs to operate in a way that makes sense for you.


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  You may want to consider a place in the room for you to sleep, and don't expect that from a chair, a nice daybed would be a great addition.


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  As far as color, keep it soothing, but fresh. I like lots of white, maybe a nice graphic pattern would be good too.


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  Add dimmers to all the lights in the room, there are times when you will want it bright and easy to see, and other times you will want soft mood lighting. Dimmers will give you the most control.

Good Luck!

Fresh Wallpaper Ideas

Like most things, it is often the simplest solution that is the toughest one to achieve. Take wallpaper for example, how many times have you looked at a pattern and thought it was pretty but it was too much to use over all four walls? Well that doesn't have to be the case, here are some ideas that you might not have considered:

• Try, like I did in the room above, to use the wall paper on just one wall. Feature walls received a bad rap in the 70's but they are now back as a legitimate tool in the designers arsenal.
• Still not enough, on the room above, a nursery, I used alternating rolls of paper in different colors.
• If you are luckier enough to have paneling in your room, try wall papering just the insides of the panels.
• I think that ceilings are underrated, you may want to try papering the ceiling, don't be afraid of pattern there.
• Wall paper doesn't just have to go on the wall, what about a piece of furniture, a great way to put those flea market finds to good use.

Well good luck with your paper adventures!