If you ask us, Libby is a very lucky girl....when your mom is an accomplished artist, and your grandmother owns an interior design company, it is probably a sure thing that your room is going to be pretty fabulous!
We asked Leeza what inspired this room, and she told us that her inspiration came from her favourite colours (orange and lime, in case you weren't sure!), and the challenge of, in her words, "...stay[ing] away from the typical baby-pink as much as possible and creating a fun, vibrant nursery that she could grow in to." Equally inpsiring is a print that Leeza has owned for more than 12 years that finally found a home in this cheerful room.
Window treatments: The valances, that double up as shelving for the stuffed toys, consist of two pieces of 1 x 4” pine, and a couple of L-brackets. The fabric was cut into triangles, sewn and embellished with some beaded trim to add a touch of sparkle. The fabric fixes to each of the wood shelves with Velcro and is easily removed for washing.
Bedding: I had a hard time finding a bedding set that was interesting graphically, fun and modern. But went to the local fabric store and stumbled across a couple of swatches in colors that matched the cat print and my vision of orange and lime. Luckily, the store was carrying a 20% discount on all fabric that weekend. Trust me, it’s not hard to sew a straight line — I know that no-one’s going to be knocking at my door wanting to inspect the hemlines. Window treatments, bedding and pillows total cost was $200. You’re lucky if you can get custom-made curtains for that price for one window!
best ADVICE:
• Research, research, research. If you have a vision for the nursery or seen the perfect furniture, but sadly is out of your price range, don’t be afraid to get out and about and hunt through discount stores, regular home furnishing places, sales and outlets.
•Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Call on friends and family to brainstorm if you are struggling for ideas.
• Watch as many home-decorating TV shows as possible — especially the ones that feature no- or low-cost makeovers.
• Search your house/garage/basement/friend’s for items packed away that could serve a purpose. The two lamps in Libby’s room were from an old house that we lived in.
• I took my time during my pregnancy in collecting items to put this room together which also helped spread out the costs. I found the Berber area rug at Home Depot for $50; the mosquito net at Pier 1 Imports in a sale for $9; the orange and hot pink sheers at a fabric store for $7.99 each and some of the hanging decorations (which were displayed in-store as holiday ornaments) at Micheals craft store for around $3 each.
working with COLOR:
• Don’t be afraid to try something bold.
• Choose a light color in the same family for three walls and make your fourth a focal wall — add your splash there. Use accessories on the other side of the room in the same color as the accent wall for balance.
• Invest in a color wheel.
• If you have a print, painting, pillow, fabric or toy you love and wish to use it in your darling’s haven, use colors from that to be your starting point for the wall color. Choose shades that are least visible in the pattern, as this will help the inspiration item ‘pop’ more.
famous LAST WORDS: Most importantly, be yourself, let your personalities as parents shine though with creativity into the room and don’t be afraid to experiment. Afterall, you’re going to be spending a lot of time in there and will probably remember it much more than your newborn will, so make it a space YOU love, too.
Resources:
• Ikea: Frog chair, crib, wardrobe, changing table, toy chest and storage containers
• Fabricland: Fabric for the (homemade) bedding, pillows, and sheer netting
•Pier 1: Mosquito Net
•Babies 'R' Us: glider
•Home Depot: Area rug, and Behr paint (in 'Lace Corsage', orange and lime.
•The ceramic cat and frog were gifts from Mum in the UK, but Leeza kindly tracked down a source here for them: Cat (Tofufu) and Frog (Wasabibi).
Copyright © 2008 Apartment Therapy
The furniture was also a generous gift from the in-laws, which really helped us out considerably. I know people add furniture to their baby registries to help off-set cost so that's another money-saving tip. Thanks AT and Kristin for featuring Libby's room!!!
view leezy's profile
This is incredible!
I love how it is a girl's nursery but it isn't pepto-pink. It's so fun and funky, and will really grow with Libby. And I think Leeza made some very smart decisions with what she spent her money on. So many nurseries are centered around the expensive crib bedding, and they just look predictable. This is a breath of fresh air.
view exxon23's profile
The colors are bright, but at the same time very peaceful. I agree with exxon that this is incredible. also I love the DIY info and advice from Leza who is clearly an expert!
view JillMer's profile
i ADORE this room. we are also having a girl and have gone completely away from the all pink/princessy thing and your room just confirms why everyone should. Bravo!
view paperpusher's profile
Hello,
Sorry for my bad writting in English, I'm a frenchie girl. I would like to know if you have bought your rocking chair a long time ago? I went to the website of Toy's R Us and I didn't find anything. Have you bought it on the web without trying it?
Thank you,
Geneviève from Quebec City.
view Geneviève's profile
Salut Geneviéve Nous avons acheté la chaise du magasin, mais c'était disponible en ligne aussi. C'est le « A Rembourré la Bascule - la Chenille d'Ivoire », l'article numéro 118669. J'ai fait une recherche pour la « chenille » et défilé par à la troisième page et il est monté. Je me suis assis dans lui, mais je peux vous garantir c'est un de themost les chaises confortables je jamais me suis assis dans. Si vous choisissez tobuy l'ivoire, cependant, investir dans un bon protecteur de pulvérisation de revêtement. Les couvertures ne sont pas détachables. Puisque j'ai vaporisé le mien, il n'a pas été un problème. J'AIME cette chaise!
Leeza
Hi Geneviéve
We bought the chair from the store, but it was available online also. It is the "Upholstered Rocker - Ivory Chenille", item number 118669. I did a search for 'chenille' and scrolled through to the third page and it came up. I did sit in it, but I can guarantee you it is one of themost comfortable chairs I have ever sat in. If you choose tobuy the ivory, though, invest in a good upholstery spray protector. The covers are not removable. Since I sprayed mine, it hasn't been a problem. I LOVE this chair.
view leezy's profile
Pardon:
Je peux vous garantir qu'il est l'une des chaises les plus confortables que j'ai jamais reposé le po. Si vous choisissez d'acheter l'ivoire, bien que, investissiez dans un bon protecteur de jet de tapisserie d'ameublement.
Leeza
view leezy's profile
Super, je cours l'acheter...
Votre français est impeccable.
Geneviève, future maman le 1er octobre
...........
Great...
I will surely buy it.
Your French is very good. Believe me!
Geneviève, a future mom... in almost 6 months
view Geneviève's profile
From a practical standpoint, it is ridiculous to make a statement that if a pregnant woman can't afford a piece of furniture, to go out to sales, discount stores etc. and search, search, search. Pregnant women with jobs don't have the time or energy to devote themselves to furniture shopping and drapery making. We must live in different worlds. I do like your shelving concept though.
view sammie2's profile
Can you tell me the name of the furniture pieces that you purchased from IKEA? I like that it all matches. Also, is your diaper changing station a computer desk?
view jbugg's profile
Hi jbugg — the collection is called DIKTAD and no, the dresser is a changing table. The shelf above comes as a separate piece, the bit that looks like the computer table is the changing part. Imagine this without the shelf attached. That changing part folds right back flat when not in use, so it doesn't get in your way. It's too tall for a computer desk, you'd need a bar-height stool probably to sit at.
When Lib graduates from nappies (diapers) i'll take that off altogther, so it'll just be a dresser with a shelf. It'll evolve as she grows.. kind of like the crib which turns into an infant bed!
view leezy's profile
Leeza,
The nursery is absolutely beautiful, but I would expect nothing less from you.
;)
MM
view thomashi05's profile
Guess that is your Scottish artistic flair coming out of you,
Looks really nice, will be hiring to do mine one day.
view gpaton's profile