apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

It looks like you've got a really sweet retro-modern sort of look happening. I'd check out Repro Depot for fabric ideas. They have a huge selection, nicely sorted into decades and pattern groupings. I bet you can find some patterns that would complement the starburst design in your rug. Maybe a combination of stripes and solids in the same color family?

If your mom is inclined, I'd go with a twin-sized quilt. Baby quilts are adorable, but in my experience they don't get much use past the first year, whereas you can enjoy a twin for years.

you might get some good ideas from browsing through this site (i love looking at all the designs): http://www.flickr.com/groups/freshmodernquilts/

for fabrics, also check out http://www.sewmamasew.com/ and http://www.jcarolinecreative.com

http://ruralwritings.blogspot.com/2009/04/farm-news.html
In the above link you can see the quilt that my Mom made for my son's first Birthday. I don't think it's what you're looking for - I wanted a more vintage look. We chose repo. fabrices in red and blue.

A twin quilt is definitely ideal in regards to growing with your child, but we decided on a lap size - great for even an adult to cozy up with on the couch and will look great at the end of a bed one day.

Shopping for fabric is such fun!! Have a good time :)

I agree with TammyE that the quilt should be twin sized. Baby's don't sleep with quilts so until he has a big boy bed (around 2.5 yrs old) you can use the quilt on the floor for "tummy time" or hang it on the wall for artwork until you use it (fold in half tho.)

I like the rug you chose. Blues and oranges go nicely together. Maybe some orange storage bins for under the changing table.

You mention that you want the room to "grow with a toddler/boy" and transition for future. That is a GREAT idea. So stay away from too much baby blue (you can repaint his walls later if you decide--maybe chocolate brown) and definitely stay away from any boy themes (cars, trucks, planes, trains, construction, dinosaurs etc!!) His toys will inevitably be masculine enough.

As far as the quilt is concerned, I would stick with solids and stripes also. The crib bedding and rug are already pretty "busy" pattern-wise and quilts are busy by nature. Use coordinating colors and complimentary fabrics with various TEXTURES for baby (corduroy, satin tags, bumpy fabric, etc) Nothing too matchy-matchy.

I think the Single Girl Quilt by Denyse Schmidt would look great with the other things you already have. Here is one on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wisecraft/3376540650/in/pool-singlegirl
and here is the pattern
http://www.purlsoho.com/product_detail.php?type=patterns&id=3740&url_path=/products/patterns

Another pattern that is much easier is the Little Bits quilt which is from the Last-Minute Patchwork Quilted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson, I checked it out from my local library and am just finishing up this quilt for my sister. You can different versions of it on flickr.

i made a quilt for my son - i found a wonderful modern quilt pattern: http://www.ohfransson.com/photos/quilt_gallery/15.html

available through etsy. i also bought all the fabric on etsy, too.

Someone beat me to the punch - Oh, Fransson! is one of my favorite quilting blogs - browse through her site and I'm sure you'll find a pattern you like.

I love navy blue and dark brick red for baby boys - the colors are modern (especially when mixed with white furniture with clean, modern lines) and they work great with older boys too. I'm almost finished setting up my own son's nursery and will be posting pictures on my blog sometime this week. He has a few quilts you might want to see. If you're interested you can check my profile for the link.

I've heard conflicting advice on bumpers and quilts in baby cribs; many people I talk to say they can be chocking hazards or could tangle with the baby. But everyone on this site seems to be adding them to their nursery.

From some of the baby gear guide books I've read, they recommend against using them because the risks (as cited in studies) outweigh any perceived benefit.

My wife and I are building a nursery and have opted to go without bumpers - or anything else for that matter - just to be safe. But that's only because we're not sure.

What do the rest of the readers think? Does everyone use them... they must if all these pictures of cribs include them. Or is that just for show?

Here in France, you're not supposed to use any kind of cover until your child is about two years old. However, I knit a baby quilt about 1m x 1m, just for the fun of it. I get a lot of use out of it, to keep me warm and such.

We're expecting baby number 2 in a few months so our three year old son is (finally!) moving into his big boy bed. I wanted to do a quilt for his new bed too but I don't know anything about quilting and am really only able to sew in a straight line.

I wound up going to IKEA and buying a thin comforter. Then I went to Joann Fabrics and bought a bunch of fleece in colors that look nice in his room (moss green, dark turquoise, orange, brown, white). Then instead of a real quilt, I made a duvet cover for the comforter. Because of lack of skill, I had to keep it simple so I decided to do big stripes of various thicknesses in the front with a solid color back. It came together pretty easily and I'm happy with how it turned out.

SoItsComeToThis: About bumpers, we did eventually use one, but for the life of me I can't remember when we put it on the crib. He was definitely older, though. He did like to snuggle against it and it seems to make the crib cozier, but it really makes it a major pain in the rear to change the sheets.

Loora,
In France do the baby police come and take away the blankets if the baby is not yet 2?? I'm kidding.

The American Academy of Pediatrics also has strict recommendations about not placing pillows, quilts, toys or anything in the crib. After placing baby in the crib on his back, "light" blankets are ok and they recommend tucking then in around their belly and under the mattress.

@Soltscometothis:

We used a bumper for both of our children until they were finished with their crib (around 2.5 yrs)
Bumpers are tied to the crib, and IMO I think babies enjoy to cuddle up against them and mush their heads into them. If no bumper, then the baby's head hits up against a hard wood railing!
There is no contraindication from the American Academy of Pediatrics (whom I noted earlier) of crib bumpers. Big bulky quilts, yes. Down blankets, yes. Light baby blankets are OK. Dress your baby in warm pjs with feet or socks until they are around 18-24 months.