Love your home with kids…
Hello everyone!
It has been a while since we last posted a blog. I know a bi-monthly installment was promised but so much has happened over the past year that we fell a little behind. Well, a lot behind!
A personal project that has been lingering in the background for some time is finally complete.
We teamed up with a few of our favorite supply partners to create a kid and pet-friendly space. #loveyourhomewithkids
The aim was to use products that stand up to everyday life, are durable, and most importantly washable in most cases.
In my previous life (BK) before kids. It was all about light colours, beautiful natural linens, lots of accessories, and soft furnishings. Fast forward to 4yr old twin boys and our new dog called Pretzel.
I love the fact that they can enjoy time with us in our family space. But the constant handprints on the walls, and messing of food, snacks, and drinks were driving me absolutely nuts. Let’s not even talk about the drawing on the walls. I think that they have finally outgrown drawing on the walls, but the handprints are still a thing. As is dog hair and general messiness.
The word faux (fake) was a very bad word 4 years ago. But it honestly can be your best friend for now!
So what did we do?
Firstly, I contacted my friends at Dulux Zimbabwe. I explained the issues I was having with the paint finish on my walls and that it wasn’t washable. I don’t like shiny paint finishes that are wipeable and they suggested using a new product called Dulux EasyCare® with stain resist technology.
We did a few tests with different substances. Coffee, pencil, mud, juice, etc… I was totally amazed that these things were wiped off with very little elbow grease. I must highlight that this wonder paint is not completely resistant to everything. Oil-based stains are not that easy to remove. Since completing the painting, we have washed the surfaces many times and I remain amazed that it wipes clean and doesn’t leave swirl marks.
I met with the team from Dulux Zimbabwe. They offered great advise on all aspects of the project. From choosing the finish and colours down to technical advice on application of the paint. They even sent a technical expert to talk our painter though the process.
You would think that painting the entire area in a darker colour would be the answer to hiding the offending marks. I’m not one for dark spaces so we used a combination of 3 colours throughout. Darker on 2 walls and then 2 lighter tones which perfectly complement each other. We do have floor-to-ceiling white curtains which really helps the space feel lighter too. It is so important to test your paint samples in all areas of your home to see the effect of different lighting conditions. They can look a million miles apart depending on this.
Paint colours we used.
The Lounge
My goodness, this was probably the worst affected area overall. Our light-coloured sofa looked as if dogs lived on it. We didn’t even have a dog at that stage. I was so embarrassed at the state of it that we would quickly put throws on it if anyone came to visit. The walls had drawings all over them, the rug was probably the only thing that stood up to the boy’s mess.
Rugs- The trick is to use outdoor floor coverings instead of natural products. There is a huge range of rugs available which are synthetic and completely washable. We probably scrub the living room rug every week to keep it looking somewhat presentable. It has been washed several times and still looks okay. On that note- we removed the rug from the dining room as the table is too heavy to move all of the time so easier just not to have one for now. Take a look at Hertex for some amazing options in a range of sizes and colours.
Sofas- I looked into a number of different products that might work.
We opted for Faux leather that we can wipe clean. Cringe- yes Faux leather. This particular choice was completely water resistant. It may not be as attractive as other options. But it is completely wipeable. So basically, they can spill an entire bottle of liquid on it and it just runs off the surface.
Other very attractive options are fabrics like Fiber Guard from Home Fabrics or Carefree from Hertex. These fabrics have built-in fibers that resist liquid from seeping into them.
These fabrics are available through a number of reputable soft furnishing companies in Zimbabwe.
Soft furnishings- White curtains? You’re probably confused at this stage as to why I would opt for white curtains given what I’m trying to achieve here. You don’t need to completely give up on white. In fact, quite a few things actually work better in white if they are washable. You can easily bleach white fabrics to get them back to their former glory. With the curtains, I opted for a synthetic fabric and lining. These can be washed instead of dry cleaned. They won’t shrink. The options available can look amazing and totally natural. Even if they aren’t. We also have off-white cushions which are washed regularly. And then some other darker colours that you don’t see the marks on that easily.
The Dining room
Although the boys generally eat at the outdoor dining table, that isn’t always possible in the colder months. We originally had a wooden dining table which got quite a bashing from little forks during the early years, when they were learning to handle different types of food. I didn’t mind as it was old and they were just adding character as they went on their journey of food discovery.
Table- I love our new dining table which is made of a quartz tabletop and metal wishbone base. The quartz top is just truly amazing. Quartz countertops are highly durable, and resistant to scratches, moisture, and impacts. They are made with ground quartz - one of the hardest materials in nature - for a very hard, non-porous surface that is hardwearing and easy to clean.
We opted for Ezi quartz Bianco staturio from slabsalesafrica.com This resembles the real deal in marble. Obviously, marble would not be an option as it is porous. I absolutely love quartz for a range of applications. You can use it in bathrooms, kitchens, for furniture, wall cladding, and just about any area where you would use a natural stone but without the fuss. We work with Slabsales Africa on all of our projects as they have a huge range of quartz, marble, granite, and Onyx options available locally.
Chairs- The dining chairs have removable slipcovers in charcoal, which work really well as if they get grubby, we can just remove them and pop them in the washing machine. They are dark enough not to show any nasty stains. And if they do, we can just have new ones made at very little cost. So far so good! They have really embraced having new surroundings, and are trying very hard to be more responsible. Especially at dinner time.
Artwork and accessories- Objet de art (AKA Nic- nacks)- just don’t do it. My friends often tell me that I just have to say no don’t touch that! Well, that ship wasn’t just sinking. It actually did become the Titanic. All my beautiful little artifacts are either destroyed and what is left is hidden for now. If you can’t stick it to a wall or remove it, then beware- it is going to be broken. It’s only a few years before you can unbox and enjoy them again. Embrace the now!
Pictures- Not much to say other than make sure they are well hung and use double-sided tape to secure them at the bottom. That way the kids cant swing them from the base. It also helps to keep them level after cleaning and dusting.
One day my obsession with completely natural products, neutral colours and a serene home will return- But for now this is the route we are going to follow. Functional and as visually appealing as possible under the circumstances. I Love these 2 little whirlwinds and the dog called Pretzel!
I will do my best to update the blog more regularly!