When I design a room, the first thing I do is pick fabrics. Picking fabrics is one my most favourite things in the world. Ask HandyMan, he knows I can spend hours at Designer Fabrics browsing all the samples. I really think fabrics can make or break a room. They set the tone and feel of the space and often determine the colour palette. So when I'm trying to set a direction for a design, I look to my fabrics first.

To create a look for the big girl room, my first step was to order some samples from Tonic Living. They did such a fabulous job with my master bedroom curtains, I knew they would have some fun options to consider:


When I think of kids' rooms, I automatically think of polka dots and stripes so I ordered some samples of that. I really liked the large floral print at top and the cotton blossom print at the bottom too. Yet, although these samples were cute, nothing was really grabbing me yet.

So off I went to Designer Fabrics (which never ever disappoints) and I borrowed these lovely samples:


Delish! Now things were coming together. It took a really long time to whittle it down to these samples though... do you know how hard it is to pick a fabric when you have no clue what look you're going for?? At one point, I had about 20 samples piled on a table, everything from navy & white gingham and other preppy fabrics, to durable outdoor fabrics covered in a vibrant sea blue & orange koi pattern, to sweet delicate tiny florals. And they only let you borrow 8 samples at a time so it took me a very very long time to decide!

Doesn't the top left pastel floral fabric remind you of this pretty wallpaper in the Miette candy store?

Photos from Design*Sponge

I love love love this store and its one of my main inspirations for the big girl room. Its a little bit vintage, a little bit modern. So which fabrics did I end up choosing? You'll just have to wait and see!