Gift Guide: Personalized Baby Gifts

I have a friend who is obsessed with these stretchy fleece personalized baby blankets by Admiral Road. She gives them as baby gifts to almost everyone. (Personalized baby gifts are the best; my son still has the red fleece baby blanket with his name and birthdate received at his bris.) She likes them so much she’s started working with the company (very small and based in Canada) to help them spread the word.

And that’s how I ended up with a personalized baby blanket from Admiral Road. As cute as they are (and they are totally cute and cuddly), I decided my now teenage sons were a tad too big for a new fleece baby blanket. So I ordered one for another friend’s daughter, Daisy.

Personalized Baby Gifts Admiral Road Fleece Baby Blanket

Turns out, when I asked them to hold the corner of the baby blanket for this photo, one of them requested a blanket for himself. Of course.

Personalized Baby Gifts Admiral Road Fleece Baby Blanket

Daisy’s fleece penguin baby blanket is so cute. Hopefully I will see her mom soon so I can give it to her!

Personalized fleece baby blanket by Admiral Road, $69

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Here are half a dozen more personalized baby gifts for you from StyleCarrot partners and others, in case anyone you know is having a baby. It seems like half the people on my Facebook feed are new moms.

More Personalized Baby Gifts

Personalized Baby Gifts Baby Blanket Lovie Booties

S H O P P I N G

1 Amor De Colores Pillow, $39.99 – $44.99 at Shutterfly.

2  Monogrammed Baby Moccasins, $45 at Soft Star Shoes.

3 Preppy Icon Tote, $44.50 at Pottery Barn Kids.

4 Adventure Map, starting at $50 at Minted.

5 How Do You Zoo Fox Sleeping Bag, $99-$106 at Land of Nod.

6 Farm Buddy Lovies by Apple Park Organic, $27 at mak•a•boo.

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Get the Look: 45 Faux Animal Heads

If yesterday’s post showcasing 29 interiors with faux animal heads inspired you, allow me to help you do a little shopping. The range of faux animal heads (or animal head trophies, animal head mounts, animal head plaques, animal head wall sculptures, or whatever you prefer to call them) is kind of incredible.

There are painted porcelain and tapestry textile heads created by fine artists, papier mache animal heads by artisans in Haiti, resin models done in neon brights with glittery antlers, metal animal heads. animal trophies made of cardboard, and a plethora of plush models meant for kids. I found a blow up unicorn head (what my 7th grade self would have given for one of those) and a modern wire geo-style animal head sculpture. There’s even an artist creating animal head sculptures out of upcycled farm equipment.

The variety of faux animal heads means you can hang one pretty much anywhere, in any style room. It’s hardly cabins-only decor. Here are 45 cute ones from StyleCarrot partners and other vendors.

Faux Animal Heads Trophy Mounts Taxidermy Wall Decor Faux Animal Heads Trophy Mounts Taxidermy Wall Decor
Faux Animal Heads Trophy Mounts Taxidermy Wall Decor Faux Animal Heads Trophy Mounts Taxidermy Wall Decor
Faux Animal Heads Trophy Mounts Taxidermy Wall Decor

S H O P P I N G

1 Papier Mache Giraffe Head, $63.99 at DwellStudio.

2 Wood Elephant Head by Fish McGill, $50 at 13Forest Gallery.

3 Papier Mache Trophy Head, $ at Ten Thousand Villages.

4 “Moose In the Woods” sculpture by Gatski Metal, $450 at Abacus Gallery.

5 Wall Mounted Felt Tiger Heady by Fiona Walker, $145 at Shoptiques.

6 Water Hyacinth Buffalo Head, $39.99 at Target.

7 Gold-tone Resin Elephant Head by Near & Deer, $117.99 at Wayfair.

8 Resin Antelope Head by Near & Deer, $114.99 at Wayfair.

9 Stewart Birch Bear Head by Cardboard Safari, $100 at Etsy

10 The Alejandra Neon Pink Deer Head by White Faux Taxidermy, $99.99 at Wayfair.

11 Stuffed Elephant Animal Plaque by Cate and Levi, $55 at Etsy.

12 Plains Traveler Antelope Bust, $58 at Anthropologie. 

13  Toro Goyesca Bull Head by Gandia Blasco, $1,800 at 2modern.

14 Plains Traveler Zebra Bust, $78 at Anthropologie.

15 Polar Bear Trophy by Bend Goods, $120 at A+R Store

16 The Alexander by White Faux Taxidermy, $99.99 at Wayfair.

17 Stuffed Rhino Head, $24.99 at Target. 

18 Woolen Fox Wall Plaque by Karma Living, $19.99 at Oopsy Daisy.  

19 Green Deer Head by White Faux Taxidermy, $129.99 at Open Sky.  

20 Hipster Rhino Head by Weft & Whimsy, $400 at Etsy.

21 Plywood Dino Head Decor, $79 at Pottery Barn Kids.

22 Floral Fabric Faux Deer Head by Near and Deer, $194.99 at OpenSky 

23 Felt Rabbit Head Sculpture by Fiona Walker, $150 at Baby Bliss.

24 Plush Lion Head Wall Sculpture by Jenni Kayne. $99 at Pottery Barn Kids.

25 Plaster Cat Trophy by Lime and Iron Studio, $45 at Etsy.

26 Inflatable Unicorn Head, $22.99 at Hot Topic

27 Houndstooth Elephant Bust by Cardboard Safari, $80 at Bluefly

28 Felt Giraffe Head Wall Mount by Fiona Walker $160 at Bergdorf Goodman.

29 Mongolian Lambswool Ram Heady by Weft & Whimsy, $300 at Etsy.

30 Dinosaur Stuffed Trophy Head by BIBIB $92.23 at Harrods.

31 Plains Traveler Lion Bust, $58 at Anthropologie. 

32 Purple Deer Head by White Faux Taxidermy, $104.99 at OpenSky

33 Stuffed Deer Head with Gold Antlers at Tamar Mogendorff.

34 Bulldog Plaque by Lime and Iron Studio, $60 at Etsy.

35 Cardboard Unicorn Head by Flatout Frankie, $25.50 at Alex and Alexa.  

36 Copper Bison Head by White Faux Taxidermy, $139.99 at OpenSky

37 Stuffed Crocodile Head by Fiona Walker , $150 at Aha Life.

38 Walrus Head Wall Sculpture by Jenni Kayne, $99 at Pottery Barn Kids.

39 Audrey Headburn Faux Deer Head by Frédérique Morrel.

40 Wolf Head Mount by KingFour, $79.99 at Etsy.  

41 Resin Faux Deer Skull by WallCharmers, $79.99 at Etsy.

42 T-rex Resin Trophy Mount by KingFour, $99.99 at Etsy.

43 Paper Mache Rooster Head by BlueRoosterArts, $45 at Etsy.

44 Décor on Safari Giraffe Head, $69 at The Land of Nod.

45 Folk Art Deer Head by Roost, $440 at Mod•ish.

Design Diary: Boys’ Bedroom Makeover by Robin M. Anderson

On Sunday Boston Globe Magazine published a boys’ bedroom makeover I wrote called “Let’s Hear It For the Boys.”  The column features the home and work of local lifestyle blogger Robin M. Anderson, with photos by local Boston photographer Sarah Winchester of Sarah Winchester Studios, who also deserves a big thank you for pitching me this fun project.

Robin M. Anderson (she used to blog under Diary of a Yummy Mummy) lives in three bedroom condo in a converted school in Cambridge with her husband, two sons, and a guinea pig. became interested in design. When they first moved in, she hadn’t yet become interested in design, picking finishes she came to hate, and mundane furnishings, like the living room’s brown microfiber sofa. Eventually she picked up a paint brush, and since then, there’s been no stopping her.

Last September, they decided to move their 3-year-old son out of the nursery into a bedroom with his 7-year-old brother, so Anderson took the opportunity to execute a full-on boys’ bedroom makeover. She started from scratch, doing everything herself with help from the boys. The room is adorable and everything in it is affordable. Anderson says, “It’s their room, so I really wanted them to feel comfortable.” That says, she has a strict no sticker policy. “They’re allowed to put them on the back of the door, but nowhere else!”

Let’s tour Robin M. Anderson’s boys’ bedroom makeover:

boys-bedroom-makeover-robin-m-anderson-2

Step number one for the boys’ bedroom makeover was to paint. Anderson describes the walls’ original color as “ light Kermit green.” When they had a flood and had to repair and repaint anyway, she chose Farrow & Ball Parma Gray. The boys helped with the first coat.

She says, “Paint is my first thing because it doesn’t cost much, as long as you’re willing to put the time into it. The original paint in the condo was not well done. I realized I was repainting a color I don’t even like. Paint is amazing. Our bathroom has been like nine different colors. And the kids get into it.”

The teepee, a birthday gift when her youngest turned one, was originally set up in the nursery. Now it’s a cozy place for the boys to read. Anderson’s father won the surfboard that’s propped up in the corner in a raffle. It belonged to a well-known surfer, and he had it signed before gifting it to his first grandson.

There are five large, tall windows that needed draperies. Ten custom curtain  panels would have been really pricey, so Anderson purchased 10 white curtain panels and a few navy ones, and asked her dry cleaner to sew a strip of navy panel to the bottom of the white ones to create cost-effective, extra long colorblock draperies. “All my friends are doing this now too,” she says.

boys-bedroom-reading-nook-teepee

Anderson strung the teepee with owl lights from ModCloth that once adorned the family’s Christmas tree. The dinosaurs in residence are usually found in the bathtub.

boys-bedroom-makeover-robin-m-anderson-1

It was important to Robin that the boys’ bedroom makeover reflect the family’s heritage and interests. A Swiss flag, framed at the Central Square Blick in Cambridge, her go-to spot for affordable framing, hangs to honor her husband’s birthplace. “He’d love to move back someday,” Anderson says.  Authentic Swiss army blankets are another nod to his heritage. She says,”You get the blankets when you join the army, which is obligatory there.”

Over the other bed, school pennant is clustered with a photo of the Matterhorn in the Swiss Alps, a call out to the family’s love of skiing, and an autographed surfer photo that was a gift to her son from her dad. On the other wall, a deceptively luxe-looking red faux snakeskin frame (also done at Blick) displays a print signed by Dr. Seuss that Anderson found on a trip to New Orleans. She hopes her son will pass on to his own kids. She says, “It was my first and only legitimate art purchase.”

The shelves, which are actually floating shelves, needed brackets to accommodate the slightly curved wall here. Anderson says, “The white metal brackets looked awful, so I spray painted them navy. I’ll spray paint anything; it’s my M.O.”  She and her son painted the lower half of the wall with chalkboard paint. She struggled with the trim that caps it, going back and forth to Home Depot for supplies and assistance. She says, “It was the first time I used a level.”

Robin_Anderson-3low

The mid-century modern style Ellipse beds from Land of Nod are layered with a mix of prints. Anderson loves pattern on her clothing and in her decor. She says, “I used as many patterns as possible without being obnoxious.” The star sheets are from Pottery Barn Kids and the whales from One King’s Lane. The pillowcase in the back, with monsters on skateboards, came from Target; her son is a big skateboarder.

Anderson was able to incorporate inexpensive second hand finds into the boys’ bedroom makeover. She bought the dresser from friends for $50, lacquered the scratched top in navy, and swapped the knobs.

boys-side-table-with-globe

All the boys’ toys are in their room, with the exception of some Legos. Big canvas storage bins on the other side (not pictured) hold the Nerf guns and stuff. She had a closet company build out closet with shelves to accommodate all the toys. As soon as they outgrow clothing or tire of toys, Anderson ships off the stuff to her sister.

boys-bookshelf-soldier-bookend

Her older son made this baseball in an acrylic box at school, when somebody from the Red Sox visited the classroom. She says, “They dirtied the balls, signed them, and put in a box. It’s his prized possession.” Soldier bookends hold up current reading material.

robin-m-anderson-at-home

Robin Anderson and Phineas the family guinea pig at her feet.

boston-globe-style-watch-robin-m-anderson

 Boston Globe Magazine    Sunday, February 15, 2015