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Entry #8 Baby-O's Ode to Color

Name: Baby-O, age unknown (pending adoption from Vietnam)
Location: Ypsilanti, MI

Why I chose these colors for the nursery:
When it came to the nursery, I wanted something that was child friendly, but could "grow up," too. I also wanted the room to be fairly gender-neutral so it can be used for future children. The bedding and walls are sky blue, but I wanted to incorporate more color in subtle ways with touches of lime, chocolate, orange, and pink throughout - combinations that compliment one another, but are a bit unexpected for a nursery.


 
 

These colors, when mixed with playful textures, are young enough for a child's room, but will not seem too "baby-ish" as the child grows. This particular room in the house gets beautiful morning sun. I knew I'd be up early with the baby, so I wanted to be in a room that would make me happy to be awake. The crisp blue color makes the room feel so fresh and alive in the morning.

2007_10_24_BabyO2.jpg

Two Good Color Tips:
When selecting paint colors for the walls of your home, take a look around your closet! I tend to wear colors that make me feel good and enjoy rooms painted in those shades as well.

Consider the mood you want to experience, the type of lighting, and the activities that take place in that room. While I may choose a deep, warm grey for a cozy guest room that only gets evening sun, a warm, buttery yellow works best for our active living room that gets bright mid-morning sun.

2007_10_24_BabyO3.jpg

Color(s) and brand(s) of paint used in the room:
Lowe's American Tradition in River Mist

Tags

Nursery Colors 2007 - entries

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Comments (31)

This room is impeccable. I love the balance of refreshing colors and pop! colors.

Bravo.

posted by Lady J on October 24th 2007 at 6:55am
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I'm from Ann Arbor, and I'm looking at the same teal glass lamp from Target as I type this at my desk. :) Good find.

I love the room - beautiful, happy colors and an overall great design. Good luck with the adoption!

posted by Joy R. on October 24th 2007 at 7:16am
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Once again, the Shag disney prints win me over :]

posted by exxon23 on October 24th 2007 at 7:29am
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This is one of my favorite rooms so far. I love your quilt - I would also love to know more about your Ikea Poang chair cover - did you make this? If so, give the details!

Best wishes with your little one soon to join the family.

posted by susan01 on October 24th 2007 at 8:34am
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hi susan - yes, i made a slip cover for the Poang chair... i bought 3 yards of amy butler fabric and made a cover similar to those that go over pillows with an overlapping slit in the back... no zippers or buttons... four straight lines. :)

posted by kristino on October 24th 2007 at 8:37am
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Absolutely beautiful! Well done... your baby will have a such a peaceful, colorful, pleasant environment in which to grow.

posted by Trugre on October 24th 2007 at 11:05am
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love it

posted by nicolej on October 24th 2007 at 1:43pm
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Congratulations on both a beautiful room and even more so the impending adoption!
I really love the refreshing colors....I wonder who makes your crib? We are expecting a baby boy and I keep trying to find a really nice clean lined crib, and that one fits the bill!

posted by ophelia on October 24th 2007 at 2:03pm
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ophelia - thanks for the nice comment! our crib was from target and has, unfortunately, been discontinued... i knew i had to have it, too, so we grabbed it as soon as we decided to adopt!

posted by kristino on October 24th 2007 at 2:45pm
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Beautiful room, she is going to love it!

posted by scottra on October 24th 2007 at 2:48pm
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Love it!

posted by findalicia on October 24th 2007 at 4:27pm
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Hope you win!!! I'm loving the window treatment. May BabyO be in her award-winning room soon!

posted by zen on October 24th 2007 at 5:47pm
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The colors in this room are the best yet! I've seen a lot of baby rooms in my days, but none with such a dynamic color scheme.

posted by joleksin on October 24th 2007 at 6:30pm
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I love your colors!!!!! where did you get the crib sheets and the quilt?? it's exactly what I'm looking for

posted by Anny on October 25th 2007 at 10:25am
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I *think* this is my favorite room so far! Great job.

posted by Melissa Reed on October 25th 2007 at 10:52am
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Anny - Thanks! I made the quilt, but the crib sheets are Dwell Baby... this color has been discontinued, but you may be able to find them on ebay... that's where I found this set.

posted by kristino on October 25th 2007 at 11:06am
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I imagined that!! it's too cute to be found in a store!! congratulations everything is beautiful!!!

posted by Anny on October 25th 2007 at 12:32pm
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sorry, another question, where did you get the fabric for the quilt?

posted by Anny on October 25th 2007 at 1:33pm
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anny - surprisingly, i found it all at joann fabrics... it was my first attempt at quilting, so i didn't want to spend a lot... the pattern is out of the "modern quilt workshop" book... i used 8 different fat quarters for the front and two other patterns for the binding and backing...

posted by kristino on October 25th 2007 at 2:52pm
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I truly love this one the best!
Good Luck! You have worked so hard on it, you deserve to win.

posted by jenmolson on October 25th 2007 at 8:44pm
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This is the best by far. The others look like something out of a catalog - anyone can do that. This is truly original!

posted by findalicia on October 26th 2007 at 3:56am
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Best looking Poang chair I've ever seen! Oh, and the rest of the room is great too! This is fun, stylish and realistic, in the sense that the child will actually be able to use this room. What I envisioned for my nursery while I was pregnant was pretty different from what really works (now that my son is 3). You've made the perfect mix of good-looking and functional - what good design is all about!

posted by greta on October 26th 2007 at 5:26am
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thank you greta! that's exactly what i was going for... i wanted the room to be very practical and usable without sacrificing the visual balance... i tried very hard to imagine what would actually be taking place in the room - reading, quiet play, getting dressed, changing diapers, etc... so i put the chair by the books, the books by a light, the crib by the radio, etc, etc...

i'm glad to hear from a mom that my imagination wasn't too far off!

posted by kristino on October 26th 2007 at 5:49am
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I *love* this room! I really need to know where you got that lamp. Could you provide a link?

posted by lolagrape on November 6th 2007 at 5:26pm
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Ophelia- I am expecting twin boys in February and was also looking for a simple (affordable since we were buying two!) somewhat modern crib, and we were having a difficult time finding anything. Then Ikea came out with two new cribs just in time for me to register for them. They are called Gulliver: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00116005 . I researched Ikea's safety stats before purchasing and was pleased with their commitment to safe children's products. Hope that helps!

To the entrant- very well done! Congrats on Baby-O, and good luck with the adoption process!

posted by design.is.good on November 7th 2007 at 6:26am
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thanks, lolagrape! the lamp is a thomas o'brien design for target... i found it on clearance a year and a half ago... so it's probably not there anymore, but it doesn't hurt to look... maybe check ebay, too??

design.is.good - thanks so much for the compliments and the good luck. we need it! :)

posted by kristino on November 9th 2007 at 6:39am
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What a beautiful room. I realize you made the slipcover for your Poang chair but do you, or anyone else, know where you can have them made? Sewing one is eons beyond my ability level but I'd love to change ours. I've checked Bemz online but they don't have them for the Poangs.

Thanks for any help.

Sherry

posted by Sherry M. on November 13th 2007 at 5:10pm
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sherry - i don't know where you could have it made... though, i would guess a tailor may be willing to make one? or one of the women at a local quilt shop? if you have a sewing machine, i'd be happy to email you more specific steps... it's definitely a project a beginner could tackle if you were feeling up to it. :)

posted by kristino on November 13th 2007 at 5:50pm
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Kristin,

I would love to take you up on your offer! Then I have a couple of choices. I can buy the fabric and do some cutting and then bring it along with me when I go visit my mom at Christmas (I've been doing this to her my whole life...). Or I could bring it to one of a couple of seamstresses I know to see what they would charge to do it.

Thank you. I'm not sure how we go about getting each other's e-mail...

It really is a beautiful room. I'm the mom of a 4 y.o. and a 1 1/2 y.o. and, frankly, I think it's perhaps more important for the parents to find the baby's room pleasing for the first year or so. You spend so much time in there tired and maybe a little confused so it can be a real comfort to look around and be comforted by what you see. And a comforted mom is important too! Also, we used the Poangs for our kids and they were great. We were able to find a 'rapid bounce' speed that put both our kids to sleep!

posted by Sherry M. on November 15th 2007 at 7:15am
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great! my email is on my website:www.trustudios.com, so just shoot me an email and i'll email you back with instructions... there is almost no cutting if you get a continuous 3yd piece and only about four straight lines of sewing... very simple!

posted by kristino on November 15th 2007 at 12:43pm
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What a gorgeous room! Great job! I was wondering where the dresser is from, it is exactly what I am looking for!

posted by fannie on August 12th 2009 at 2:18pm
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