Mother Stories
A Design-Savvy Mama Of 3 Tries Out The New DockATot x Morris & Co. Collab
Written by Katie Hintz-Zambrano
Photography by Photographed by Nicki Sebastian
Dec 11, 2020
Take one step into Haley Weidenbaum’s Los Angeles home and it’s clear she knows a thing or two about making a space sing. The interior designer-slash-entrepreneur (she and her husband founded the modern window treatments company Everhem just last year), is known for her sage use of color and prints, along with mixing classic and modern elements. Her unique design sensibility makes her the perfect mama to showcase the latest mashup between beloved baby brand DockATot and the iconic British brand Morris & Co. Plus, she has the cutest twin daughters (Blythe and Quinn, 3 months old) and playful big brother (Judd, 4) to model it all for us.
Check it out below, as we get candid about twin life, entrepreneurship, and more, while receiving a tour of Haley’s personal space—the dreamiest kids’ rooms included!—which features a number of pieces by DockATot x Morris & Co. seamlessly blended in. From whimsically printed Deluxe+ docks and tufted bassinets, to lush play tents and the prettiest breastfeeding pillow you’ve ever seen—take a look and build your wishlist accordingly!
This article is brought to you by Mother x DockATot.
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- "Why thank you! We moved in two and a half years ago. The bones of the house were beautifully designed, so all I needed to do was paint, wallpaper, update lighting, refinish floors, and furnish the space. It’s a Cape Cod style home but it was decorated very traditionally with a lot of shabby chic elements. Our goal was to blend the Cape Cod bones with more Scandinavian sensibilities and color ways."
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- "Judd’s room started with the wallpaper choice. We fell in love with Hygge & West’s City Toile Wallpaper in Parchment. We felt it struck the right balance of playfulness and maturity that Judd could appreciate at any age. We opted to go with a combination of moody blues, neutrals, and some shades of primary colors to keep it youthful yet sophisticated. It’s a little boy’s room right now, but we know he will grow into it without us needing to change very much."
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- "I think it’s important to know how to use colors and prints. You have to use them purposefully and subtly, not just for the sake of it. I also think it’s crucial to choose colors and patterns that feel unique and whimsical but also timeless. You definitely don’t want to pick things that you’ll end up sick of in 6 months. You want to choose things you know you’ll enjoy looking at for years to come. That’s the balance you need to strike for success."
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- "When I dress myself I tend to go with more iconic looks. I definitely play clothing safer, which is ironic given people replace clothing a lot more often than home furnishings!"
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- "It all started with the wallpaper (which is often the case). I looked high and low for all sorts of wallpaper. I didn’t want anything too girly or babyish that I’d end up having to change in 3 years. I stress the word timeless a lot but this was a great example. When I found the Serena & Lily Summerside Wallpaper in Evergreen, I knew it was a pattern appropriate for both a nursery as well as a teenage girl’s room. I was instantly obsessed and it helped to shape the entire design of the space. Growing up, my room had pink and green accents and my fond memories of that color combination helped inform the palette for this project. I wanted the girls’ room to have hints of dusty pink, strong shades of green, topped off with wood finishes and predominantly neutral colors, and natural textures and fabrics so that the room invoked femininity without being dainty."
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- "With any of my homes or the spaces I design, it’s important to me to make them feel lived in and cozy. I typically achieve this by layering finishes, textures, colors, and patterns. My own personal style evolves over time and I never want to pigeon-hole myself into one genre, but I definitely tend to skew toward a blend of California coastal elements, Scandinavian designs, and East Coast classic and timeless style."
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A first look at Haley's picks from the DockATot x Morris & Co. collection. The 2020 collaboration features some DockATot favorites—like these Deluxe+ docks—in beautiful prints from the storied British design house. The classically ornate designs depict swirling plants, flowers, and elegant gardens. For her little ladies, Haley chose two DockATot Deluxe+ in Brer Rabbit, which blend seamlessly into the girls' print-centric, pink-and-green space.
"Other than their cribs, the girls spend most of their time in these DockATots," says Haley. "We can be confident that they’re safe and sound when they lay snuggly in them. The gorgeous fabric design and subtle pink tints feel iconic and classic and always present an impromptu photo opportunity when the girls are in them."
Deluxe+ DockATot in Brer Rabbit, $205, DockATot.
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- "Simple floral prints are really speaking to me lately. I love bringing the outside in by adding floral patterns in wallpaper, pillows, and art. They make for great organic accents in the home. I also love mixing deep shades of blue, green, or black with whites/neutrals. It's a great way to add contrast to any room and bring moody, dramatic undertones to the fore. Layering these darker hues with light neutrals give rooms a perfect balance between serenity and vibrance."
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"In the summer of 2018, it just kind of hit me that I had become really good at designing custom window treatment solutions for my interior design clients but that it was a hard won skill. When I first started out, window treatments were always one of the biggest pain points and often one of the things that clients and I left for last only to have major sticker shock at the end. I figured if I had this problem as a burgeoning designer, I couldn’t be the only one. So I sought to find a way to make the process of designing beautiful, custom window treatments easier for customers and designers alike. I enlisted the help of my husband who has a background in both finance and graphic design oddly enough. Together, we worked on our business plan and laid the groundwork for the company for about a year and we launched in mid-August 2019."
Deluxe+ DockATot in Brer Rabbit, $205, DockATot.
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- The printed pink DockATots pair perfectly with custom window treatments by Haley's company, Everhem.
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- "When the pandemic first had us all locking down with safer-at-home orders, we really didn’t know what the future would hold for us and for Everhem. We anticipated that we’d have to cease production for a little while until our workrooms could safely open again. And we also anticipated that people would probably be really tight with their money for a while, saving it for necessities and the seeming price increase that was coming on toilet paper. But the toilet paper shortage was short-lived. Our workrooms found a way to open safely, keeping staff socially distanced and in masks and enforcing strict disinfection protocols at work stations. We were able to get through our backlog of orders. We ran a sale throughout April and May. It generated a lot of business. But all through the summer, even without the sale in place, sales continued to roll in. It became clear that people being cooped up at home was causing them to focus on previously overlooked and long overdue home improvement projects. And that spelled good news for us. The trend has continued all the way through 2020. Our lead times are a bit longer because we’re operating short-staffed for safety reasons. But most customers are understanding."
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Another favorite from the DockATot x Morris & Co. collection—the multi-functional La Maman Wedge, which can be used as a nursing pillow and a decorative pillow that'll fit into your home well past the baby years.
"The DockATot x Morris & Co. pillows work perfectly paired with the other existing pillows in our more formal living room," says Haley. "They elevate the space and add a new velvety layer of texture which makes the room that much more inviting and comfortable."
La Maman Wedge in Strawberry Thief, $90, DockATot.
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- "We already had a nanny for our toddler but she would commute every day. When we got pregnant we asked her if she would be open to moving in with us. As fate would have it, her planned move-in date was about one week before the first lockdown in Los Angeles. She is an absolute godsend and we couldn’t possibly run our own business if she wasn’t in our lives. When we learned we were having twins, we knew more help would be needed. We enlisted the help of a night nurse who has been with us since the twins were born and is staying on until early 2021. Our hope is the twins will be sleeping through the night by the time she leaves us. At that point, caring for all three will be done much as it is now: by committee, just with more responsibility given to each member of said committee. Breaks throughout the day to spend time with the children will be both welcome and necessary."
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- "The biggest highlight has to be watching our son and the way he looks at his new sisters with such awe and love in his eyes.
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- "The biggest challenge is finding ways to divide time among them all evenly and fairly and make sure none of them ever feels left out. I imagine this is a challenge for all parents of more than one child, regardless of whether there are twins involved."
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One of the biggest pieces from the DockATot x Morris & Co. collaboration is the statement-making Tent of Dreams, which comes in five vivid patterns and matching Futon Royale pillows to go inside. A thoughtfully designed secret hideaway with whimsical touches, this tent is the perfect place for little ones to play, dream, and create.
"The play tent and cushion haven’t left our family room since we got them," says Haley. "The strong shades of blue set against the muted pink background perfectly complement our family room sofas, rugs, and pillows. The craftsmanship is impeccable but also durable enough for toddlers and dogs (who also make use of them frequently). The cushion itself is so soft and cozy that I have found myself lying down with the twins not wanting to get up!"
Tent of Dreams in Pink & Rose, $475, DockATot.
Futon Royale in Pink & Rose, $200, DockATot.
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"Our twin girls are what most people call identical twins. The medical term for this is monozygotic twins. I guess the biggest surprise is just how much of a misnomer the term identical is for describing monozygotic twins. My husband and I have been able to clearly tell them apart since day one. They certainly resemble one another strongly, but they are distinctly different individuals in terms of looks and we are sure, when personalities begin to emerge, their differences will only become stronger and more obvious. They may well be able to play tricks on the rest of the world, but they are sure to never fool us."
Tent of Dreams in Pink & Rose, $475, DockATot.
Futon Royale in Pink & Rose, $200, DockATot.
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"If you’re having twins, be prepared that they are likely to spend time in the NICU after birth. Twins are almost invariably born premature. In my case, we had planned a c-section at 36 weeks, but my placenta basically gave out and we had to go in about a week early. So our girls were born at 35 weeks and had some breathing issues in the first few days after birth. Thereafter there were concerns about making sure they could feed on their own before they were allowed to come home. In total, they were in the hospital for 11 days. Our son was a singleton born at 41 weeks, but he ended up in the NICU for 7 days for entirely different reasons, so we were NICU veterans. It is a stressful, emotionally draining experience. The only advice I would give to twin moms is to be prepared for it and to know that it is for your babies’ own good and they will soon be home even though it seems endless when you’re going through it."
Tent of Dreams in Pink & Rose, $475, DockATot.
Futon Royale in Pink & Rose, $200, DockATot.
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This luxury bassinet, from DockATot's sister company, Aristot, is an absolute stunner. It comes in four new Morris & Co. prints with a choice of tufted or untufted finishing. It can be further customized by adding one of three bases in black, rose gold, or rondo gold. Haley chose hers in the Willow Boughs print with a modern black base.
"The Aristot is a truly special piece of furniture and I love how it looks in our space," says Haley. "From the shape and the tufting to the fabric choice, it was love at first sight. It seamlessly fits into the design of our living room and looks like a piece of furniture that was meant for the space all along. In addition to the fabric being beautiful, it is also incredibly soft and very durable. I put this cradle in our sunlit living room so that I can rock them while they enjoy looking out the window during play time."
Aristot Bassinet in Willow Boughs with Dondolo Base, $1,500, Aristot.
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"My own upbringing was extremely loving, but I got a dose of reality at a young age. I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes shortly after turning 5. I’ve been living with and managing the disease for nearly 30 years now. It taught me at a very young age how fragile and precious my own life is and I think that gave me a perspective a lot of other kids don’t develop until deep into adulthood, if ever. I grew up in the San Fernando Valley until about age 8 and then we moved to Beverly Hills. I have an older sister. My parents were very trusting until either of us gave them reason not to be. They were not strict, but yet we knew our limits and when we had crossed the line. Play for me, not surprisingly, was rearranging my bedroom furniture. I started doing this at a young age. I think it gave me a really great sense of scale and spatial relations, which, not surprisingly, helped me a great deal in my chosen profession."
Aristot Bassinet in Willow Boughs with Dondolo Base, $1,500, Aristot.
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"We try very hard to let our son be his own person and encourage him to pursue his interests to their full potential, whatever they may be and not force our interests or unfulfilled desires on him. Right now, he’s in a dinosaur phase that has lasted for more than a year and has only grown in intensity with time. We must have 50 books about dinosaurs, over 100 dinosaur toys, and we’ve watched every Jurassic Park franchise movie with him. We show him other things, but if he doesn’t show an interest, we don’t press the issue. He tends to make a mess with his dinosaurs as he lays them out in ways that make clear sense to him but which make for a disorganized play room. So we’ve found ways to let his creativity flourish while setting limits. He can keep the dinosaurs strewn about so long as he contains them within a certain area and he puts them away when we ask without giving us a fight. He builds these elaborate worlds for his toys and tells stories about what all of the characters are doing. To make him clean that up every day would probably stifle his budding imagination. I’m reminded of how my own parents gave me the autonomy to keep rearranging my room and how that shaped me into an interior designer. Perhaps Judd will go on to become a director, a writer, or storyteller of some kind because he was given the freedom to explore at this formative age."
Aristot Bassinet in Willow Boughs with Dondolo Base, $1,500, Aristot.
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"Home is everything. Family is everything. We’ve gone hardly anywhere else. We’ve seen hardly anyone else. In almost a full year. While we all probably know this in normal times and proclaim to value home and family above all else, when it’s all you have you really have to live those values. You have to cultivate and nurture your relationships with your children and your spouse. And you have to tend to your home and make it your sanctuary. If you do those things, the return on investment is well worth it."
"This time has also made us take stock of just how lucky we are to have a home and a family. It seems silly to complain about not being able to go out to a restaurant or spend time with a friend or go to a party when so many among us literally cannot afford a place to lay their head at night. Quarantine has shown us our privilege and good fortune. And it’s laid bare the lack of it for others. What we can do in response is twofold: first, appreciate it every single day, second, be charitable and give back whenever and however possible."
Aristot Bassinet in Willow Boughs with Dondolo Base, $1,500, Aristot.
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One of the DockATot x Morris & Co. decorative pillows blending in nicely in Haley's living room.
Quintessentially Morris Decorative Pillow in Blackthorn, $90, DockATot.
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"In speaking with our own parents, my husband and I think 2020 is, in a lot of ways, reminiscent of what they went through in 1968, both in terms of civil rights issues coming to a boiling point, political turmoil, and instead of an unpopular and unjust war, we have a raging pandemic. And in the age of social media, misinformation and disinformation spread far more quickly than the truth, which just exacerbates everything. It’s definitely a time fraught with anxiety and fear, anger, and general exhaustion and despair at the seeming hopelessness of it all to change. In that sense it’s truly been a year to forget. But I also welcomed two beautiful baby girls into the world in this trying and difficult year. So if someone offered me a deal where 2020 simply never happens, I wouldn’t take it under any circumstances."
"The biggest things I will take away from this year are that we are all humbled through meaningful service, we are all made stronger by sacrifice, and we are all given hope by the dawning of a new day. My husband and I say to each other often, 'this too shall pass.' And this particular year this saying has been repeated often and with great vigor. We would be wise to learn and never forget the lessons this year has brought us. And we have a duty to teach these lessons to our children so that they can forge a better world than the one we’re giving them."
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For more on Haley, her company, and her adorable family, be sure to follow her at @haleyweidenbaum and @everhem on Instagram.
To shop the stunning DockATot x Morris & Co. collection, visit DockATot.com.
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Beautiful! I would love to know where she purchased the bed canopy in the first photo. Thanks!
Are the blinds custom made and how much are they?