OH BOY! A HANDSOME NURSERY FIT FOR A LITTLE GENTLEMAN

Thank goodness Baby J did not arrive before I had the opportunity to finish his room. It could've meant trouble for me. How unfair it would be for his big sister to receive a new room, complete with canopy, and leave him with her leftovers? Unacceptable. I had to give this little gentleman a proper homecoming.

It's nice to know he's not waiting for me to finish his room. Instead we are waiting patiently for him.

Mission accomplished.

The daybed was replaced by the crib and the walls received a new wall color, Benjamin Moore's Northern Air. Isn't it amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do to transform a space? And how handsome is that light fixture? See Dad...no chandelier in your boy's room. I heard you loud and clear.

Semi-custom drapery were installed with a 3" ticking stripe banding sewn on the bias. It costs a little extra, but the diagonal stripe adds more interest to the panels. Woven bamboo shades replace the white wood blinds and instantly makes the space feel warmer. The double layered treatment gives Nesting Mama the advantage of full light control especially since the panels also have blackout lining.

The front of the pillow was made from a fabric remnant I initially purchased for my kids' playroom. When I saw how close the match was to Nesting Mama's existing bedding, I had to do the right thing and hand it over. I'm so glad I did. Did you notice the pillow piping has the same ticking stripe and the drapery? Yup, I meant to do that! Design is in the details!

Nesting Mama previously selected the crib bedding and I took the opportunity to customize it a bit by having the crib skirt made in the same fabric as the drapery.

"I really want a circular pillow for the crib," said Nesting Mama. Note: In case you didn't know you always give a pregnant woman what she wants. It makes for a happy baby --ok, I made that up, but I used to tell my husband that all the time. It worked for me but I digress. I found this orange dotted fabric while shopping at my new spot, Artee Fabrics. The opposite side of the fabric is the reverse colorway which we used on the button and piping! Lastly, Nesting Mama needed a tight spot to do the dirty [diaper] work. I usual don't like to hanging items over a baby's head, but these cardboard letters are harmless. Yes, I said cardboard. I simply applied a metallic faux finish technique I learned from Janell. This has to be the easiest DIY project I've ever tried.

There are a couple more things I plan to do in the space:

#1.

Having to deliver these pieces gives me the perfect excuse to visit once the baby arrives!

Are you making room for a new baby or need help with your kid's room? Contact me (404.507.6110 / info (at) erikaward (dot) com) today to schedule your consultation!

THE SOPHISTICATED NURSERY

Last week I shared a photo of the fabrics I'm using in my client's nursery. Almost immediately I got an email from another client who saw the post. She requested that I mark her file to use the same fabric in her unborn/yet-to-be-conceived baby. Funny, huh? In her email she explained how she loved how the fabrics didn't scream baby, but would appear sophisticated like the rest of her home.

I've heard mixed opinions about whether to decorate a baby's room in the traditional baby colors or update them for a more mature look. This room, which I'm installing today, will have a mixture of both. There's no shortage of baby animals in this space, but there is also a mix of fabrics [image right] that will grow with him. The brown and cream ticking stripe will trim the leading edge of chocolate brown drapery panels as well as the custom crib skirt. The multicolored polka dot fabric will cover a lumbar pillow for the glider. The orange dotted fabric will be an accent pillow for the crib. No worries, Mom knows to remove the pillow when the baby is in it.

The jumping off point for the room was this bedding my client already purchased. The customized cribskirt as mentioned above will really help to customize the set. Note: This is not the crib we are using.

I love the look of layered window treatments, so we're adding bamboo shades to the drapery mix similar to this:

via Jill Shevlin

I hate to keep you in suspense...really, I do. Will try to post a few snippits on twitter thoughout the day. Click here to follow me for updates! What are your thoughts on sophisticated nurseries?

Tastemaker Tuesday: Serena & Lily

Serena Dugan and Lily Kanter

Founders of Serena and Lily a
children's linens & decor boutique

The duo first met six years ago when Serena Dugan, a decorative painter and textile designer, entered Lily Kanter's Northern California children's boutique with portfolio in hand and hoping to get a few customer referrals. For Kanter, Dugan's work was love at first sight.

Their first line of products was crib bedding which launched 8 months after the company's conception. Serena and Lily success has been widely based on the ability to design baby products that did not look childish, but mesh seamlessly with the homeowner's design aesthetic.

Regarding overall style, Kanter says,"It's okay to make the nursery an extension of you. You have about two years before the kids start to have opinions."

Serena and Lily has also published a nursery design book, entitled Nursery Style. The 139 page book emphasizes the fact that a focal point of a baby's room can be anything from a pretty bumper to travel souvenirs.

{image credits: serena & lily}