The Nursery Reveal!

Psst -- If you haven't checked the blog in a few days, scroll down for an appointment update, The Bump Chronicles post, and a post on baby showers!

At long last, I'm ready to post pictures of the nursery! It's been ready for weeks, but I've delayed the big reveal so that I could take pictures with my new camera (see here for a sneak peek with details of some of the fabric another items). It arrived about two weeks ago, and then I waited thinking I needed to learn how to use it before I took pictures. I finally just decided last night I can't delay any longer, so forgive the bad quality of the photos -- I am going to learn!

I've mentioned before that this map from the Future Mapping Co. was the inspiration for the whole room, color palette and (loose) theme. I bought it earlier in the year for our living/dining room only to receive it and realize the orange was far too bright to work in that room. I didn't want to send it back (it came from England), and it is still really cool, so the nursery ended up being the perfect place for it. It's magnetic, too, so we can put little magnets over the countries and cities that are special to us or that Baby G has visited (he has already been to five countries in utero!).

Hazy picture of the nursery! You can't see the changing table or one of the windows... Or the closet... Maybe I need a wide-angle lens? Or maybe I need to learn how to use my camera first. :)

Reading and rocking corner. I hate the look of these types of chairs, but I hear they actually are pretty wonderful for rocking a baby and they don't cost a babillion dollars like some of the really high end ones that don't look like rockers. And ours is pretty comfy. The forward-facing book racks are spice racks from IKEA. I think I saw the idea on Pinterest.

Another view of the nursery. I DIY'ed that bench in front of the chair; it is part of a vanity set, but it was sort of beat up, and I use a different chair with the actual vanity. So I painted the legs and reupholstered the seat, and now it's an ottoman! The print on the right side of the chair is an ABC wall hanging from somewhere in Asia. It looks really old, but it's probably artificially aged since I got it at World Market for like $2. I got it years ago... It hung in my bedroom at my first apartment when I was 19. I don't know why it never occurred to me that it's kind of youngish (ABCs); I just like the way it looks.

The map and changing table. Changing table baskets are a mess right now; I'm going to wash and fold all of the cloth diapers in the next week or so, then it will look much tidier.

Different angle of the nursery.

Closet! I love his closet. So sweet. Just ignore the stuff crammed up at the top. ;) The drawers on the left have newborn stuff in them, babywearing stuff (a couple of slings), and all of the instructions, manuals, etc. for baby gear. The drawers on the right are pretty much empty since most of his clothes are hanging at the moment. Not pictured: A hanging organizer on the right side of the closet that has shoes, socks, hats and the like. (Oh, and see that baby quilt that's draped over the arm of the rocker? I won that in a blog giveaway!)

Wider view of that same wall.

I made a little bunting out of samples I collected while fabric shopping. The flash cards are just there to obscure his name, which is in the center of the bunting, until he's born. They're not permanent, although they kind of look cute!

This art was a DIY. A couple of years ago Brad and I were wasting time in Borders and found a GIANT copy of Corduroy, which we both loved as kids. It was on clearance for $4, and I thought it would make good art in a kid's room someday. So I hung onto it, got some cheap RIBBA frames from IKEA, stuck photo corners on the mat, cut out Brad's two favorite pages, and boom! Cheap and adorable art.

Another DIY. IKEA had KVARTA clocks on sale for about a dollar each (maybe $1.99?), so I bought one. I just didn't like how the face didn't have numbers on it, so I decided I'd print a different face for the clock. Popped off the plastic cover, made a little clock face in Photoshop, printed it on card stock and stuck it in there. Then I used some of the laminated cotton I had left over from lining the changing table and tacked it onto the front. It's not perfect, but I needed a clock, and this one certainly matches (in addition to the changing table, the bench/ottoman in front of the oatmeal-colored chair has this same pattern, but the cotton is not laminated).

Here's part of the bookshelf that I DIY'ed last month, now with a few kids' books on it. You can also see the bottom of the curtains my mom sewed. I had bought some ivory, blackout-lined curtains from J.C. Penney on clearance, and hoped to lengthen them by adding a panel of fun striped fabric at the bottom. While shopping for the fabric, I managed to get the pom pom trim for a steal. It came together nicely! (Thanks, Mom!) I do notice from this picture I need to steam the curtains though. They're just a little wrinkled. Oh well. The storage cube at the left holds some of Baby G's toys.

Wider view of that same corner. There's a door next to the tall lamp that leads to the bathroom. The sailboat over the bookshelf came from the nautical-themed shower Brittney threw for me. I made the upholstered cornices at the top of all the windows; the fabric on the cornices matches the crib skirt.

A view of the sweet crib. Mom made the box pleat crib skirt. We velcroed it on to the mattress frame.

I love the mobile over the crib. It's from Restoration Hardware, and it's one of the only non-gender-neutral items in the room, which is kind of nice. Supposedly they are replicas of WWI fighter planes. I dunno, I just like it. Plus they kind of fit with the very loose "travel" theme in the nursery (map, boat, planes...).

Sweet little soft friends in the crib! Don't worry, I'm going to remove them before the baby ever sleeps in there (safety first), but since he'll be sleeping in our room for a while, it's kind of cute/fun to put them in there, like they're waiting for their buddy Baby G. And yes, everything still has the tags on it... I'm a freak about removing tags from anything in case we have to take something back for any reason.

So there you have it! The nursery reveal is complete. I'm proud of how it turned out. It's sweet without being overly babyish, it's not too boyish with footballs and camo and trucks, etc., and it's just kind of lovely. Depending on how long we stay in this house, our kids may end up sharing this room, so I like that it's gender neutral, if the next Baby G after this one is a girl. Not to mention that since Brad, Mom and I did a lot of the work ourselves, it didn't cost a fortune. Sure, we had to buy a crib, a couple of chairs, and a rug, but beyond that most of my money went toward fabric, which I got on sale, and the rest was just a matter of reusing pieces I already owned.

List of the DIY projects in this room:

• Curtains
• Upholstered cornices
• Crib skirt
• Bench/ottoman
• Lamps (painted)
• Ceiling fan (painted)
• Artwork
• Clock
• Bookshelf
• Fabric bunting

List of things we already owned and moved into the room:

• "Changing table" (actually a nice shelf from Horchow that I bought second hand last year)
• Map
• Storage cubes
• Lamps (I painted these - see above)
• Side table
• Asian ABC wall hanging (over oatmeal-colored chair)
• Bench/ottoman (owned and refinished - see above)
• Corduroy "prints" (pages from an owned book)

Other no-cost items:

• Pottery Barn picture frame on top of bookcase (won in blog giveaway)
• Baby quilt on arm of rocking chair (won in blog giveaway)
• Sailboat over bookcase (was a shower decoration, along with the little blue pail on the bookcase; it holds pacifiers)
• We were also gifted the books in the room, the stuffed animals (except the lion, which I bought at Anthro with a gift card and coupon), the light-up soother thing in the crib, the blankets... 

Bought:

• Chair and a half
• Rocking chair
• Rug
• Crib
• Airplane mobile
• Fabric
• Paint
• IKEA spice racks (BECKVAM - on sale for $2.99 each)
• IKEA clock (KVARTA - on sale for about a dollar or two)
• Large IKEA frames (RIBBA - on sale for $17.99 each)
• Wooden chests of drawers for closet (IKEA RAST - on sale for $29.99 each)

Nursery Sneak Peek

I just attended my last class as an SMU master's degree candidate last night. What an incredible feeling!

With that chapter coming to a close (I expect to have my grades within the next week, and I'll be graduating May 14), I am, of course, THRILLED to move on to the next chapter: motherhood!

As you know, I've been highly anticipating getting to work on the nursery. It's FAR from finished -- Mom is coming to help me with a few sewing projects not this weekend but next -- but progress has been made!

Brad found himself with a free night last Tuesday and decided to paint the nursery. What a guy. He had not painted a room in about 8 years, but he kept reading articles about how babies and pregnant women are exposed to too many household chemicals, including the VOCs in paint, so he insisted he tackle that project. Almost six hours later, during most of which I was at class, the room was painted.

The crib was delivered the next day, and he assembled that in no time. HOORAY!

Ceiling fans... What can I say about them? NEED them in Texas -- plus babies should have good ventilation in their rooms because of SIDS concerns -- but man, are they ugly. I decided to try to make the ceiling fan in the baby's room disappear as much as possible by spray-painting the fan blades white (don't worry, I used a mask). I took before and after pictures but I can't find them on my camera... Oops! Trust me, it's a subtle improvement.

I also made over a little bookcase that my grandmother had used for cookbooks for years. It's a great size and shape - nice and narrow for small spaces - but it has probably seen better days. I decided to paint it celery green (low odor/low VOC paint) last weekend, then distress it and apply a sort-of aging glaze.

Before:

After:

It looks yellow in this picture, but it really is sort of a bright, spring green.

Right now it has mostly childbirth/child-raising/breastfeeding books on it (ha!), but soon I will get some more baby-appropriate reading material, as well as a cute basket, and stage it nicely.

Finally, we randomly bought a chair on Saturday... I moved the dark brown chair and ottoman from our living room into the baby's room, leaving a giant furniture void in that corner of our most lived-in room. I had a $150 Groupon to a furniture store in North Dallas, so Brad and I headed up there just to see what was available. They had a pretty reasonably priced, neutral arm chair, so we pulled the trigger and bought it. Once we got it home, however, we realized it was GIANT and made our couch look really dinky. So, another switcheroo, and now that chair is in the nursery and the brown chair is back where it was in the first place.

Pillows subject to change. I like both of these pillows, but not necessarily together.

More soon! I can't wait for the sewing to commence. I am putting myself on a spending freeze this month, so it may be a while before there is much more to show. I've got an IKEA shopping list at the ready...

Nursery Progress

The title of this post may be over-promising a bit. There is actually no progress. Still a basically empty room with primed walls, waiting for a makeover.

But I have started buying! And I've nailed down my design concept, more or less.

After debating a nautical theme and an adventurer theme, I've landed on "whimsical adventurer," I think. It's really not going to have a theme, honestly, and it's going to be something that feels like a kid's room without being babyish. Hopefully it will grow with our little lad for a few years. I want it to be a room that I can tolerate and enjoy (not overloaded with muscle cars, dinosaurs, jungle animals, footballs) -- fresh but boyish, bright and cheery but not over-the-top silly.

I have lots of ideas, including thoughts on storing books and toys, a lamp redo, possibly making some paper lanterns and/or pendants, and of course I've been thinking about the art on the walls. But for now, I'll give you a sneak peek of things I have bought or already own that will end up in the room. Before you look at all the fabrics and think "pattern overload," I have plans for simple ivory drapes, an off-white or tan rug, and generally just lots of spots for the eye to rest. So don't worry. :)


WALL COLOR
"Water Mark" by Behr

What can I say about this color... It's exactly what I wanted. And its name is the same as my church's name (Watermark). It was meant to be. Hopefully I'll love it when it's on the walls! I am crazy about the fact that it's a COLOR, but it reads kind of as a neutral. Totally soothing.

FABRICS
I have plans for most of these fabrics, at this point. I own them all. Some will turn into bedding, some will line shelves, at least one will be a book/toy sling... You'll just have to wait and see!

The next three fabrics and the trim are from Hancock.

I bought this hexagon fabric in both cotton and laminated cotton. 

This stripe will run vertically, as I envision it. I'm pulling a lot of the colors for the room from this (grassy yellow, aqua, ecru, bold orange).

I tried to find a swatch of this fabric online and couldn't; it's the same exact fabric/pattern that's on this journal, only it's in fabric form, obviously--not a journal.

This is a trim I will be using on the curtains. It's not as day-glo as it looks here. It's just a fun, vintage-looking pom pom fringe. 

All fabrics below this point are from Tonic Living. Highly recommend the online store's selection.

This one with the kids playing is so precious. It actually looks a lot better in person than it does in this picture.

EXTRAS

 

Knobs for the closet doors. I love them. They are actually already on, so I guess that is one thing I've done in the room. From Anthropologie, of course! 

A bowl that was on sale at Anthro. Figure I can use it to hold pacifiers or something.

 Jelly Cat corduroy lion from Anthro (I had a coupon and a gift card).

This world map served as the jumping off point for the whole room. I had originally bought it for the living room, but the orange was way too bright. It's magnetic and has a nice white frame. Baby G has already been to five countries since he's been incubating, so we'll put magnets over those. From Future Maps Co. online.

 

I have two of these IKEA pails for diaper purposes. Thinking about spray-painting them, but maybe not.

IKEA faux sheep skin for layering over... stuff.

FURNITURE

Jenny Lind crib in white. I bought it off Amazon the other day. A little earlier than I planned, but I noticed it said it takes up to three months to ship (?!?). Oh and don't worry, I didn't get a drop-side crib. It's stationary. I just used this picture because it didn't have bedding on it.

Grainy image of a storage cube. I got two of these after I mistakenly bought a Groupon to Ashley Furniture. Well, buying the Groupon wasn't a mistake, but I thought I could get lamps and -- long story. Anyway, I have two beige storage cubes now. 

This isn't exactly the chair I have... but it is close enough to give you an idea. Also has an ottoman. We might add a rocker (TBD) in addition to this chair. 

Weird picture, but that white shelf behind the lady is what I'm going to be using as a changing table. It's just the right dimensions, and we don't have a place for it anywhere else. I bought it from one of my favorite bloggers in October, intending to use it as a bar cart, but I realized once I got it home that it was not the right size for the space I hoped to put it in. Supposedly it was sold through Horchow and retailed for $500 (I got it for MUCH LESS than that). Probably sacrilegious to use it as a changing table. Oh well.

More updates soon, I hope!

Baby Boy Gaultney Nursery, Take 2

Yesterday's news has me thinking about a nursery!

I mentioned in my last inspiration board post that I was re-thinking the Baby Boy Gaultney room because I need to go with a lighter wall color. I thought it would be a good opportunity to use some colors I don't normally decorate with, like orange and yellow. Not too blue, even though I love blue, and not too babyish. Here's what I'm working with today. I may change my mind before I actually start buying stuff and putting paint on the walls. I did order about 20 fabric swatches from a Canadian company, Tonic Living. I can't wait to put the fabrics to use in curtains, floor cushions, book slings, etc. I still want some punches of fun and whimsy, but these are the basics.

It's sort of an "adventurer room" and reflects Baby G's parents' love of travel! 

[click on the photo to enlarge]

Sources:

Chalkboard Globe, Etsy
Zigzag Rug, West Elm
Magnetic World Map, Future Maps Co. (already own)
Nutmeg Flags, Tonic Living
Remo Camel Sailcloth, Tonic Living
Pedigree Linen, Tonic Living
Jefferson Denim, Calico Corners
Poang Rocking Chair, IKEA
Brown Microsuede Armchair, already own
Paint (Forest 3 and Lazy Days), Valspar
Uncle Goose Hebrew Alphabet Blocks, Magic Beans
Sailing Ship Sketch, Anthropologie
Wonders Never Cease print, theblackapple (Etsy)
This is Texas travel book, Amazon
Ram head, Z Gallerie
Junglie Gorilla, Hanna Anderson
Jellycat Cordy Roy Lion, Hanna Anderson
Boppy Crib Sheet - Pinstripe Tan, Target
Skip Hop Mod Dot Fitted Sheet - Light Green, Target
Tiddliwinks Safari Fur Blanket, Target
Solid Chocolate Brown Box Pleat Crib Skirt, BabyBedding.com

Nursery Inspiration Boards

Aside from cleaning out the closets, I really haven't done much to prepare the guest room for becoming a nursery yet. I even have an unopened can of Kilz primer sitting in the room, waiting to cover up that deep red wall so that I can go over it with a nice gray-green or another calming hue. There's just something about nursery-izing a room... I guess it makes everything OFFICIAL. I don't want to get ahead of myself.

That's not to say I haven't been THINKING about what a Baby G nursery could look like. Depending on whether it's a boy or a girl, I put together a couple of options (click the photos to view larger):

Baby Girl Gaultney

Sources:

Niagra Blue, Valspar
Jenny Lind Crib, unknown
Pinwale Alphabet, Anthropologie
Sewing Basket Kids' Apron, Anthropologie
Quirky Heirloom Throw, Anthropologie
Buttonwood Curtain, Anthropologie
Venus Mirror, Anthropologie
Choisis la Joie print, Eva Juliet (Etsy)
Kitten Bandit print, theblackapple (Etsy)
Cold Toes Warm Heart print, theblackapple (Etsy)
Cori and the Bear print, Paola Zakimi (Etsy)
Coral Bay fabric, Calico Corners
Ellina Chintz fabric, Calico Corners
Hatteras Outdoor Buttercream fabric, Calico Corners
Wildflowers Double Hook, Urban Outfitters
Recycled T-shirt rug, handmade
Lotus Flower Chandelier, Viva Terra
Luca Glider, Real Baby Inc.
Natures Purest Sleepy Safari Knit Elephant, Baby Village
Hanging Paper Flowers, handmade
Acid Etch Letter, Urban Outfitters

Baby Boy Gaultney

Sources:

Deep Sea Curtain, Anthropologie
Royal Navy, Valspar
Denmark Crib, Natural, Amazon
Pique Nursery Bedding, Dark Navy, Pottery Barn Kids
Sailing Ship Sketch, Anthropologie
Brass Key Sample Set, Amazon
Brass letters, unknown
Wonders Never Cease print, theblackapple (Etsy)
Keep Calm and Sail On print, KeepCalmShop (Etsy)
Yacht Club Plaid fabric, Calico Corners
Sultana Lattice fabric, Calico Corners
Inlet View fabric, Calico Corners
Gazelle Trophy Wall Sculpture, Urban Outfitters
Devil Whale Wall Art, Urban Outfitters
Bone Finish Globe, Ballard Designs
Rope Knot Doorstop, Ballard Designs
Capel Shell Collection rug in Camel, Rugs USA
Industrial Cage Lights, unknown
Luca Glider, Real Baby Inc.
Uncle Goose Hebrew Alphabet Blocks, Magic Beans
Knit Octopus, unknown

I made those inspiration boards well over a month ago, and I've already pretty much changed my mind on the Baby Boy Gaultney room. I could still see it having a sailor/nautical theme, but that room doesn't get a ton of light, so I might need a lighter/brighter color for the walls. Whatever I choose, I want either room to be able to "grow up" with the little one and not be too babyish. I am in love with the little girl room, but I have a feeling we may be going with the nautical theme, if you know what I mean.

Oh, and I should mention that INSPIRATION is the key word here. Many of the sources I used are going to be WAY too expensive, but I'll look for something similar.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Other favorite sources I should check out?