Looking for stylish children's bedroom furniture and accessories but feeling dismayed by the unimaginative offerings on the high street? Seek out the Paris-based mail order shop Laurette. Specialising in chic children's bedroom buys, this is a one-stop shop for creating fun, inspiring yet tasteful schemes. Forget cutesy teddy bears and boring pink or blue; instead, think industrial storage crates, vintage desk lamps and smart designer bed linen. Shopping for small people doesn't mean you have to make sacrifices in the style department. Mais, non.
There are fabulous metal armoires, for example. They come in smart clay or grey and you can have the interior painted in one of nine hot shades. For teenagers with tonnes of clutter, have a look at the very practical but elegant storage beds with under-bed drawers and built-in lockers.
Don't miss the beautiful musical Russian doll cushions, sewed from dainty Liberty print fabrics - so sweet grouped together on a little girl's bed (or a big girl's sofa?). Forget boring paper lampshades. Here, there are colourful floral ones for a striking focal point even when the light's off. If you're looking for something unique and quirky, check out Le Coin Brocante, Laurette's second-hand department, packed with 1960s lamps, utilitarian filing cabinets and mid-century-modern chairs.
Elsewhere there are toys, but not the kind you'll want to tidy away. These are treasures to display every day, from the likes of the knitting queen Donna Wilson and the designer Gwénaël Malcorpi. The French brand Mimi'lou is stocked here, too, so there's a great range of fun wall stickers. I like the little bird houses best. There are stunning wallpaper panels, too, with digital images of French children's storybooks, and a mind-boggling array of school satchels.
It's hard not to shop for yourself at Laurette. I've got my eye on the retro Ercol-style desks, the metal bedside units and the elegant wall shelves in hot fuchsia pink. Have a peep.
For shipping rates to the UAE, visit www.laurette-deco.com or call (00 33) 01 46 99 04 19.
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