living with kids | Holly Mathis Interiors

living with kids

Jan4
31 Comments
Toddler bed or not?
Posted in: bedding, living with kids
When you love working on your home sometimes its easier (and more fun) to think about what you want to do to your house in the new year rather than exercise! My head has been filled with thoughts of a master bath redo with a closet finally…refinishing floors, painting kitchen cabinets, etc…and the more urgent, getting Henry out of his crib and into a big boy bed! I think I have ruled out the toddler bed idea because he needs more space!
But I do love this little custom toddler size bed! Image source.

And the TATE toddler bed Restoration..swoon.
But I think i will either do bunks that can unbunk later or plain twin mattress frames (no headboard) because space is SO TIGHT!
I love this candy cane duvet from Land of Nod..they were so cheap and soft..all gone or i would link!
Yep those headboards on the inspiration board are decals..also from Land of Nod, click here to see options.

Pretty cute huh and talk about space saving..I think I may have our art student babysitter paint them on since i need custom size of course;;
What has your experience been with toddler beds, bunk beds etc?? Would love to hear!
Dec5
15 Comments
Monday misc…
Posted in: Christmas, living with kids
It’s a cold rainy day here today and my oldest is home sick, poor fella. So not much time for blogging (although i do have a gift guide in the works) but I will give you a sneak peek of some ornaments I made for the tree.
I am not usually one to do a different tree decor each year..i just add and edit a little each year..no real color theme just Christmas ornaments. Well our toddler is in major destruction mode this year so i knew, NO GLASS…come to find out i cant even use shatter proof balls because he has discovered they bounce. So i made the plaid hoops and lots of silhouette ornaments…more on how later..easy and I actually love them and they work with a few of our non glass keepsake ornaments so its not totally a theme tree. The plaid feels really festive and cozy, especially on a day like today. Later this week I will be on the Jenn Rizzo Christmas tour and will have more photos..its not extravagant but i love sharing my home with you. Check out Jenn’s stop on the tour today by clicking here.
I love these mason jar snow globes, so stinking cute! And Morning T and Funky Junk are on the tour today as well..enjoy!
{edited to say, stroller sold and photo removed}
Have a great Monday!
Dec1
17 Comments
Client’s entry + decorations
Posted in: clients, living with kids
My client Jenny in Oklahoma is a photographer so she has an excellent eye and sense of style! She likes to stick to a fairly monochromatic palette in her home and i am loving how its turning out. She emailed me a few months back about her small entry… She had bought the black locker unit from somewhere like walmart.com and was looking for ideas to style it up.
I suggested the wooden boxes (bought unfinished at a kraft store and then painted with numbers) and a bucket for each member of the family…
We also knew we wanted to lean art against the wall on top of the piece but have already used so many of her wonderful photographs in the main living spaces, we wanted to do something different here. I suggested a map and she immediately thought of favorite family places to frame, including their honeymoon locale. Maps are a great thing to use for inexpensive art when you have used words and photos already..mixes it up. And of course we had to have silhouettes..perfect vertical spot for four larger square ones in a row!
Jenny used the design tutorial/idea for silhouettes from Jones Design Company.
She and I are a good match because we both REALLY love silhouettes (my husband says I have a sickness, wait till you see our tree)…well Jenny included some “Christmas decor” photos with her recent email to me and look at her new darling SILHOUETTE stockings…so cute..from etsy of course..click HERE to go to the seller. Silhouettes are so graphic and they really go with her family room so well…plus they are fun! (BTW I do have more photos of Jenny’s house and i will post soon)..
Her pretty tree . .
Love those Ikea AINA drapes..and her darling packages..already wrapped..not sure how she already has this done!???
{All photos by Jenny Collier Photography for Holly Mathis Interiors}
Thought y’all might like to see inside Jenny’s home..thanks for letting us look Collier family!
Oh and if you are wondering about the vintage skates in the cabinet…their family owns a skating rink!
Nov14
16 Comments
My Christmas favorite
Posted in: Christmas, living with kids
I posted this last year under the exact same title…it remains, my favorite!
from Southern Living 2009 I believe….
love the stockings and cushions….
and this cutie in his pjs!
. . .no fancy ornaments, just lots of colorful ribbon and simple touches.
this is my inspiration for our tree this year…since Henry is in the terrible 2 s big time right now (he literally broke a shutter off the hinges a couple of weeks back), I am not even getting out much of our Christmas….my plan is to buy a TON of cheap “non shatter” balls in bright colors..he will love it and it will be safe and save tears if a sentimental glass ornament gets broken. this was him last year, i thought he was destructive then, he was just pensively interested.
Boy things have changed in a year! These book page ornaments arent totally henry proof but i want to make more..very easy and I don’t say that lightly, see here. My friend from The Brown Shed taught me how to make these..i am sure she will have some great stuff on her blog this season so keep checking her blog.
What do you have planned different or special for decorations this year?? I know i know, Thanksgiving first!;
Oct21
35 Comments
Drew’s Army party
Posted in: baby boy, living with kids
Well here we go..let me preface this saying I am not a fan of violence, guns or war but i have sons and they are Wild at Heart, so we had an army party. And my son was very excited. in fact, his words that night were “how do you spell AWESOME?!”
The basic green army man was our theme and i used great invites from here and kraft envelopes..you know i gotta have my kraft paper!
We started by marching them over after school which apparently was something they were excited about..luckily my mom lives within a block of the school so very convenient!
So on our way to Nana’s house we go..Drew later said his head was about to explode with excitement during this walk;;
Yes, nana’s house is VERY bright yellow, I love it and think its really cheerful..I think she wants to repaint.
So we marched them over and when Drew rounded the corner what did he see?
THIS TRUCK! Borrowed from a friend of a friend we are so thankful we were able to get this cool truck! Over the top? yes! but so glad we went to the effort! Once they came into the party they got camo packs (the little nylon bags) from Oriental trading with cheap camo fishing hats and bandanas..i loved the things they did with those bandanas!
We used the side of Nana’s shed/garage for refreshments and handing out “gear”
She had a huge American flag we hung on the side of the garage..i love how it looked on the yellow!
Hats and dog tags!
I found a place online to make the dog tags super cheap…the girls really like them..of course they got all tangled on me…Oh and Drew loves this poster..he requested it be there..you know the poster with “the man:
and then we fed them nachos and fruit and started the obstacle course.

Dad had a whistle and he was serious about the obstacle course! Look at his face and his whistle in hand…he is so funny. And such a great dad!
Then we had free play
{Drew’s expressions here crack me up..this is why I can even get excited about camo!}
and then cupcakes!
and a little tug of war! Dad even thought to get them gloves to protect hands..See what i mean..a great dad.
What a great group of kids…the girls has as much fun as the boys too!
And what else for the take home??? A box of army men!
Thank you Nana for allowing us to party in your backyard!

Doesn’t she look cute in her hat..so beautiful even without hair or eyelashes!
Sep29
8 Comments
Pictures from Round Top!
Posted in: good shopping, living with kids
Well i am not going to joke..its been hot and miserable out there in my opinion but i have been out three times anyway..first on sunday with my little boy.

All photos by Drew..he loves to take photos at these things..our first stop was the rug guys…amazing century old rugs from Turkey..amazing, dirty and expensive but amazing!
And then on to the tents, and taxidermy..it seems when you are touring Round Top with a six year old you notice things you would otherwise ignore, like taxidermy.
He loved the Jackolope but wasn’t as impressed with the HGTV booth…i thought it was super cute!
I didn’t buy a thing or really love too much but these LARGE lanterns were pretty amazing!
And Drew caught me looking at the price tags on loving cups…i love to collect those things!
Same booth. This old guy called Drew the paparazzi and offered to pose;
After only a couple of hours we were SO hot and tired. I am not exaggerating, it was hot…like 102 so we headed out..but not before i spotted this.
Not old but large and cool…perfect for a two story living room wall!
But little man was pooped..these pictures were not posed..you can hear the whining right?
So we hit the Coffee Bug for refreshement and hit the road.
See you next time Zapp Hall!

More coming soon on Royer’s new Pie Haven and the Rachel Ashwell blogger lunch!
Aug5
11 Comments
New issue of House of Fifty!
Posted in: blogs, Inspiration, living with kids
The new issue of e-zine House of Fifty is now out…and i want to thank Emily A. Clark for including me in her article on short drapes!
Those of you who follow my blog may be sick of seeing this room…sorry! I must say it was a thrill to be featured in an article alongside Erika of Urban Grace Interiors..i love her office kitchen below. In fact, this style curtain over a kitchen sink has become one of my favorite looks thanks to her! And those metal cabinets!
This issue is so rich, the darling Kim Miles has a column and you can go to her website and even help name it!
Congratulations to Janelle of Isabella & Max rooms, founder of House of Fifty, her vision has truly come to life. Check it all here including the first issue!
Jul25
13 Comments
Boys room on Ohdeedoh
Posted in: children, living with kids
I was so surpised when Apartment Therapy’s Ohdeedoh (kid site) asked if they could feature MY boys room…uh OF COURSE…i love Apartment Therapy.
Here is the link..enjoy. And i have to say this sort of funny considering the complete wreck their room is right now..they are both growing like WEEDS (cute weeds) and in need to cull and organize boys clothes in a bad bad way..it is constant isn’t it!? Especially when your closet is three feet wide!
Have a great day! and THANKS Apartment Therapy!
May16
12 Comments
Pottery barn = theme room?
Posted in: bedrooms, children, good shopping, living with kids
I recently worked on a beachy theme room for a young boy but didnt want it to look too themey…my solution, use items from PB, target, etc with a touch of nautical feel but avoid the catalog, theme look by NOT using the PB bedding..this is what i came up with, drapes, bed light and accessories from PB but I recommed plain tan or blue bedding from Target or TJ maxx, really just a quilt and sham and then add ONE big accent pillow in the chevron or ticking!…THE MAIN POINT..consider just a TOUCH OF THEME! A little goes a long way.
PB even makes the map wallpaper stuff now…called decals. Oh well, i still love the mix. I DO think throwing in bunting from etsy (I LOVE COASTLINE via the Grace Happens blog) or a vintage piece from ebay or a local shop can make convenient items from PB and other big box sources go a long way!
and you know what, Grant would probably prefer the themey beach bedding! It’s good either way you go..the important part is doing something special for your kids and making space for them to grow and love and learn!
[metal bins from Restoration kids, light from Barn light electric, paper bunting from Coastline or Olive Manna, wire basket light from PB kids, driftwood mirror, anchor and fish from PB teen or kids, blue chevron fabric is called ZIG ZAG from premier, available at fabric.com]
May5
8 Comments
Silhouettes in Houston!
Posted in: art, living with kids
{from the new book UNDECORATE by Dwell founder Christiane Lemieux}
Y’all know I love silhouette art and one of the BEST is coming to Houston soon! Nest & Cot, a wonderful baby store in Rice Village is hosting Erik Johnson, a third generation Silhouette artist, on May 24…email or call Nest & Cot for appointments..the cost is only $25 and i have one of Johnson’s silhouettes…the detail is amazing! !
from here
So if you live in Houston or the area, good luck getting an appointment! I will be taking Henry, maybe we can have a play date afterwards?! Did you know Crave cupcakes has moved to a location on Kirby near Rice Village and next door to AREA..that would be a fun day. Oh wait, what am i thinking, Henry is NOT allowed in AREA..that would be a disaster!;; Too bad Houton doesn’t have a MOOMAH like NYC! We could always go to the Children’s Musuem ANYWAY, back to silhouettes
And for those of y’all who are freaked out by silhouettes, I am so sorry for posting about this YET again, the images below are for you! ha ha!;;
(these are not by the renowed Johnson artists!)
REMEMBER!
May 24th
10:00am – 4:00pm

5” x 7” Silhouettes are $25.00.
Duplicates of the same person are $15.00.
Framing options available.

Nest & Cot
2402-B Rice Blvd.
Houston, TX 77005
p 713.429.5246
f 713.429.5314
M-F 10am to 6pm / Sat. 11am to 5pm
www.nestandcot.com
www.facebook.com/nestandcot