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July/August 2006 Features

Tout Sweet

by Leslie H. Cummins

Robin Lyons’ search for a decorating diva began the morning three-year-old Brooke suddenly appeared in the kitchen. “Look, Mommy!” Brooke announced. “I got up all by myself.” And she had—by climbing out of her crib and teetering down the home’s long staircase.

“I’m very cautious about the activities we choose for our children,” explains Robin, “and if it’s not totally safe, we don’t do it.” Finding her toddler unexpectedly downstairs in the kitchen was a warning for the Mandeville stay-at-home mother of two. It was time to design a space for Brooke that would fit the person that she was becoming. That day, Robin began her search for the right interior designer.

Cherchez la Femme

Knowing that she wanted only the very best for her toddler’s new room, Robin Lyons began with the most important thing that would go into the room—Brooke herself. “Brooke is very feminine,” says Robin, “and her favorite color is pink. Before I thought about anything else, I knew that her room would be pink.” The other thing that Robin was sure of was that she wanted the room to be a safe, secure place in which her daughter could grow up. The room would have to be stylish and timeless enough to grow along with Brooke’s needs as a young woman, as well. Robin turned for help to Charisse Kentzel of Môme Boutique in Mandeville.

“The theory of nursery design has changed since the 1990s,” says Charisse, who gave up a career in health care to pursue her passion for design. “At that time, parents would choose a theme like ‘Noah’s Ark’ or ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb’ and the room would be designed around that theme. Today, the emphasis is on good design, and the tenets of design that make a good living room will make a good nursery, as well.”

Môme began as a children’s clothing store. Charisse explains, “My philosophy has always been to provide a line of clothing and accessories that is unique. I make an effort to find European manufacturers, and to be sure that I am their only outlet on the northshore—or even in all of Louisiana. The workmanship has to be excellent. My customers don’t want to take their children to school and find every child in the class wearing ‘their’ new outfit.”

When she decided to expand the boutique’s product line to include furniture, she held tight to the same guidelines. The cribs, toddler beds, chests and armoires are made-to-order for her clients. While she will happily sell the bumpers off the beds and the artwork off the walls, Charisse believes that most of her customers come to her because they like having the opportunity to participate in the design process.

Using swatches and photographs, Charisse helps each customer choose fabrics, furniture, and artwork that work together for that top-end, all-pulled-together look. “Each design is different,” she says, “and there is no ‘right’ way to put the pieces together. You can find modern, classic geometrics and shabby chic all in the same swatch book, and every bed and chair will look completely different. It’s that unique process that my customers want."

Robin Lyons was a long-time customer of Môme and was attracted to the boutique because of the quality and style of the clothes. “I knew Charisse’s taste, and I knew that she and I liked the same things. When I approached her about finding furniture for Brooke’s nursery, I was positive that she would understand exactly what I wanted.”

Bonne Chance

“Robin owned two hand-painted end tables that she loved,” says Charisse. “She knew they would go into Brooke’s room, but she didn’t know how to find furniture that would play up the style. I was going to market to buy furniture, and she asked me if I would shop for Brooke while I was there.”

Charisse had only one day free. She walked up and down the aisles, searching for just the right thing for the toddler’s perfect bedroom. “I turned a corner, and there were the very same end tables that Robin had already purchased. In the booth next to them was a new line of furniture that featured hand-painted and hand-rubbed finishes that were tailored to each client. I knew instantly that we could design the perfect furniture for Brooke’s room.”

Charisse brought back photographs and samples of the painting techniques. Robin fell in love with the line immediately, and ordered the furniture on the spot. In keeping with the hand-made, hand-painted design of the inspiration pieces, the new furniture is antique white, with gold edges and French-style flourishes. The pieces are reminiscent of the French Provincial style, although definitely bulked up. “The new furniture is very well made, and very heavy and stable,” says Robin. “I don’t worry at all that Brooke would be able to pull the armoire over or move the chest.”

In fact, Robin made sure that many safety features were in place before moving her daughter into the room. The bed has a low-profile box spring that is half the height of a regular box spring, making the bed several inches lower to the ground. Bed rails were installed to keep the toddler happily ensconced. A stepstool allows Brooke to safely climb in—and out—of bed by herself.

Pièce de Résistance

Robin notes that she was lucky that the furniture in Brooke’s infant nursery matched the pieces in her brother’s room. “We simply moved [a basic armoire and a chair] from Brooke’s nursery to Mason’s, and the new furniture was delivered and set up in no time.” The room was nice, but there was something missing. Again, the Lyons family turned to Môme Boutique for a solution.

The store carries a line of artwork that is personalized for each client, and features the child’s name or includes hints of a favorite pastime or activity. While Robin and Charisse were looking for something feminine, it also had to carry out the French theme of the room. A personalized piece featuring a pink harlequin motif was their first choice. Finally, a distressed white chandelier with sparkling teardrop crystals and pink beads was hung from the ceiling over the end of the bed.

C’est Magnifique!

By making choices that were appropriate for the child who would live there, Robin and Charisse designed an environment for Brooke that she will enjoy for many years. Safety and security, which are paramount now, have not taken a back seat to comfort. Featuring timeless design and classic style, the room became the unique environment that Robin Lyons had envisioned for her daughter. N’est-ce pas?