apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

What was your overall inspiration or goal for Walton's space?

We wanted the room to be fun, not overly gender-specific or child-oriented, and filled with a mix of new things and meaningful old things. I’ve always loved trees and leaves, and I fell in love with the ABC and 123 posters that have birds and trees mixed in with the letters and numbers. The posters served as the starting point and inspiration for the rest of the space.

(Old paint color.)

Choosing a paint color is always tricky - did you get it right on the first try? Did you consider other colors?

I’m drawn to light blues and greens, so we honed in on those colors pretty early on. Additionally, my husband and I both went to UNC, so we’re partial to the color Carolina blue. Even though blue is traditionally thought of as a color for a boy, we ultimately decided on the light blue and thought it would work well regardless of whether we were having a boy or a girl.

What challenges did you come across while putting the room together?

We live in an old townhouse where the rooms aren’t very large, so we were overwhelmed by much of the “baby” furniture out there. It all seemed like it would overwhelm our small room. We were inspired by the simple crib in Baby M's Modern Nursery on a Budget and thought it would work well in the room.
I also found it a challenge to find a simple and modern crib bed skirt. Crib bedding is often sold in multi-piece sets, which seemed so wasteful since we didn’t plan to use the quilt or bumper. If I was more handy, I would have made a bed skirt on my own, but I realize my limitations :)

What are your favorite elements or items in the room?

I adore the ABC and 123 posters, the WALTON vintage wood type letterpress (from Etsyian Angie Pea), the stuffed animals my sister handmade, and all of the books.

Walton already has quite a book collection! Can you tell us more?

Books are so great. We started our collection with a big box of old books my parents had saved from when I was young. Then my sister and Mom threw us a book themed baby shower, where folks were encouraged to bring a favorite book as a present for the baby-to-be. It was such a superb way for Walton to build his book collection- with special gifts from loved ones. I think books become treasures when they include hand-written inscriptions on their inside covers. We picked up the rest of the books at thrift stores and yard sales.

Do you have any great resources to share?

Not meaning to kiss your butts, but in my book, Ohdeedoh.com is the best resource. You guys gave me so many ideas! And Etsy.com is such an unbelievable resource for almost everything you need to build a unique and special nursery- from bedding to stuffed animals to artwork.

What advice would you give to parents who are starting to put a baby room together?

Don’t feel limited by the “baby” furniture you find in stores. There are so many beautiful pieces of furniture at antique and thrift stores that work perfectly for a changing table or a dresser. Also, if you can fit a reclining glidder into your room and your budget, I would highly recommend it. I would live in that chair if I could.

Thanks Jen, Stockton and Walton!