Name: Kristin
Location: Ypsilanti, Michigan
As Kristin and her husband anxiously await the arrival of Baby O, from Vietnam, she already has a beautiful nursery all set. What first struck us about the room was how warm and inviting it was, while still having bold touches throughout the room as shown in the various Mod elements that Kristin is fond of.
Of her design style, Kristin says:
When it came to the nursery, I knew right away that I didn't want a "theme" room, and I wanted something that was child friendly, but could "grow up" as well. I wanted room to play, a place to read or listen to music, lots of books, and room for diapers.
There was a great amount of forethought into her nursery decorating process. For instance, she chose this room in her home because of the beautiful sunlight it gets in the morning and it was already painted blue. Kristin says, "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 room feels so fresh and alive in the morning." Kristin also planned on making the room gender-neutral so it can be used for more children in the future.
She continues, "I don't usually have a lot of disposable income that I can earmark exclusively for decorating, so I'm always looking for a deal or figuring out a way to make something 'work' without spending a lot." For example, Kristin tells us that the wire basket on the changing table is actually a shower caddy she's had since college, the rug was something that was already in her home and the Target Thomas O'Brien clear blue lamp previously resided in her office.
Among the items we really loved in Baby O's room were a sweet flower growth chart by Melissa Sweet for eeBoo; the "mod" prints by Shag; the photo clip mobile found at the D.C. Museum of Modern Art and Ikea's Hemnes chest.
As always, homemade items give any nursery a unique, personal touch. Kristin used her great DIY skills in making the window treatments, the chair slipcover, the crib pillow and the pretty quilt using a pattern from the book, The Modern Quilt Workshop.
Kristin's advice on how to approach the nursery-decorating process is:
Take your time and start early. Visualize the style you'd like and then keep an eye out for pieces that fall into line with that vision. Then, only buy what you love. It will evolve. Stores are always coming out with new things, so you may not find everything all at once. I've found that if I force pieces, I usually end up spending more money on things I don't really love, but if I start early, and collect slowly, I'm usually much happier with the end result. I also don't limit myself to baby or children's items. I try to take unexpected or grown up items and make them work in a young room.
Good advice! Thank you so much for sharing, Kristin.
More Nursery Tours on Ohdeedoh:
(Re-Edited from 2007-9-7 - CB)
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
what a beautiful space. I love all the colorful details and the wall color is so soothing. Where did you find that orange frame?
view kellybeegee's profile
beautiful!
view dcmom's profile
This is a great room! I love the recovered chair and the way you used those window clips for a short window treatment. You're so right about having a nice place to go to EARLY in the morning.
Where are the prints with the children you used found? All I can find on that website are nudes and people with cigarettes- not exactly ones I want hanging in my child's room.
view K's profile
other than the valences, very nice job!
view joebelt's profile
I wanted to ask where you got the brib sheet, the blue dots one? I have seen brown ones at dwell, but I just love the blue!!!
view jtroupe's profile
Love the Shag prints! We have the Adventureland print in T's room!
view exxon23's profile
It's lovely - I love the mobile! I bought the same boom box for my daughter's room, and it's been very useful. A little Norah Jones sometimes puts both of us to sleep!
view Marla Good's profile
I have a baby "O" myself. The room is awesome. I love, love, love it.....where did you get the two little dolls with no face. They are so adorable and unique. Also I love your quilt. I wish I had sewing skills to make one myself. Good Luck with your new little bundle of joy. Babies make life beautiful!
view nicolej's profile
I love the window treatments and the color blues throughout. Beautiful!
view pooka's profile
This is absolutely one of most beautiful baby rooms that I have seen here (and that's saying something!) I love that it is clean and fresh but still has so many interesting and beautiful things to look at. Great job! Lots of inspiration for my own baby's nursery... an ongoing process.
view Jacinda's profile
wow! thank you all for the wonderful comments. i'm so flattered...
now, on to your questions!
the orange frame: ikea (i believe they are still in stock)
the shag prints: these were a special edition for disneyland. i managed to find a set on ebay a few years ago, but they are no longer sold on shag's site
the crib sheet: this is dwell baby, though it may also be discontinued. i found one on ebay...
the faceless dolls are a "wee wonderfuls" make along pattern from hillary lang (also featured on AT)... she sews faces, but i skipped that step...
thanks again for your kind words! we can't wait to show our daughter around her new digs!
view kristino's profile
I absolutely love the framed "year of the boar' placard! where did you find it?
view heppony's profile
the year of the boar placard was actually a 'happy new year' card from a family member who's wife is from thailand. i LOVED the saying below the boar and hoped it was prophetic about your adoption this year! i'll try to find out where she had the cards printed...
thanks!
view kristino's profile
What's the paint color? I love it!!
view Kathleen's profile
Sorry- one more question. Where'd you get the crib? I love that it is modern without looking to jail cell like.
view Sarah in Nola's profile
Congratulations! Baby O's room is so fresh and beautiful!
view cc's profile
Very serene, but as a new mother myself, I'd advise you to install real shades or curtains for the windows. Light when the baby is awake is great, but for naps and early bedtimes (especially during summer), darkness is the best sleep-inducer. Trust me on this.
view sammie2's profile
hi sammie2 - there are "room darkening" roller shades hidden behind the valances, but thanks for the heads up.
sarah - the crib is from Target, but has unfortunately been discontinued! i was so disappointed to see that... it's a great crib.
view kristino's profile
kathleen - i'm so sorry... i've been looking everywhere for the paint chip i used, and i can't find it. a few weeks ago, i used up the rest of the paint to touch up nail holes, so i don't have the can either! i do know that it was a lowe's 'american traditions' color and i think it had the work 'mist' in it, but i can't be sure... it may have been rain or cloud... it was the lightest color on one of the blue sets of three-color swatches... i hope you're able to track it down!
view kristino's profile
i found the name of the paint color! :) it's 'river mist' from lowe's american tradition paint.
view kristino's profile
Very nice. I hope baby O arrives soon. =)
(And as the other poster stated, I was relieved to hear about the shades. The light is beautiful but most babies prefer to sleep in deep darkness.)
view JudiAU's profile
Great room - Super neat old school disney prints - where did you get them???
view jenyoung's profile
Ok Ohdeedoh bloggers, what's with posting these nursery tours as if they're new? I love them and all but can we either get some new material or can you at least say that these are reposts?
view Sarah in Nola's profile
I remember this post from last year... How about an update since Baby O's arrival?
view Shasta's profile
There is not a single thing in this nursery that I do not love! It looks amazing...the colors are cheery, the furniture and accessories are transitional! For crying out loud...I would move right in...job well done!
view Maternally Posh's profile