apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Let's let Laura tell you about the room in her own words.

I really wanted a room that was warm and personal. To accomplish that I used all sorts of hand-made goodies. Lucky for me I have some very talented friends and family.

The biggest challenge was blending a girl theme and a boy theme. I didn't want to give up my 6-year-old's flowery girl paradise when the baby came. So I divided the room into 2 spaces using color. Lily's side has lots of orange, brown and pink. Luke's side has lots of orange, brown, and blue. Using orange and brown throughout marries the 2 sides. The pink and blue give each side a distinct flavor. I also divided the room thematically: puppies for Luke, flowers for Lily.

I think the easiest and cheapest way to transform a room is with paint. I painted the walls cantaloupe, a surprisingly good neutral. I used acrylic craft paint to paint Lily's Flowers. This made a bold statement. It was also an easy way to decorate a sloped wall. And I did 2 paintings on canvas, one above the bed, the other above the chair.

Favorite resources:

I love Urban Outfitter bedspreads!!! I used one to slipcover the chair ($29). And one for the curtains ($10).

Another great find was the pattern for my little yellow scotty dog. It's a free download.

Laura's advice for putting together a nursery:

Finish it early. It's lovely to have it all finished and anticipate the new arrival!

Well done, Laura! (See more of her art at her website or follow along in her adventures in parenting at her blog.)