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Name: River & "Sweet Pea"
Age: 2 and due in December
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Color Inspiration: When we moved into a new home last year, we knew this nursery would have to serve double-duty, first for our toddler son (now in a different "big boy" room) then for the baby due in December.
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Color Inspiration continued: We wanted to keep the palette gender neutral, not only because we don't know Sweet Pea's sex but also because we want our children to be open to exploring all kinds of colors, not just those traditionally deemed appropriate for boys or girls.
We started with some pieces leftover from our previous home (the crib, changing table, rocker, hand-painted bug bins, and the hanging bookshelf) and chose the rug and wall decals to coordinate. Butter yellow walls offered a nice neutral background so we could go wild with the wall designs and accent pieces. Homemade pieces (River's artwork and footprint above the changing table, curtains, pillow, and monster in the crib) make the space feel personal and warm.
I love the palette and colorful vignettes of this room and, even after a year, I still find myself visually interested every time I'm in there.
Tip For Using Color: Don't be obsessed by "matching." I tried to find items that were in the same color families, but didn't worry about getting everything exactly the same. The blue stripes in the rug are brighter than any other blue in the room and the yellow of the rug is deeper than the wall color. I think those variances add dimension and visual interest.
Colors Used: Wall color: Benjamin Moore "Yellow Haze"; Area rug: Flor Tiles "Striped Poodle: yellow/orange/teal", "Toy Poodle: go fetch green", and "Toy Poodle: fifi orange"; Blik decals "Frondescence"
Ready to join in? The entry form is up through November 9 on our contest page.
This room is beautiful. Can you please tell me where you found the rocking chair? I love it!
view melnola's profile
SO cool!
view mere1975's profile
It's beautiful in many ways, I love the first picture, but some of the color combinations do seem like somewhat of a stretch. I think some color matching is required. Colors need to be anchored to something.
view Megan in AZ's profile
I love it. I would like to know where you got the book bin. Thanks.
view AZN's profile
Adorable! I love the color combinations and think this would be a wonderful and fun space to grow up in!
view jennifer18's profile
Fun room!
view Lizzykewl's profile
Thanks for the thoughts.
Melnola, we bought the glider at the Baby Furniture Warehouse in Reading, MA. We went in and picked the fabric and chair style out in person, but it's possible you could do it online.
AZN, the hanging book bin was an Ikea find (Allamala wall basket). I painted both the frame and the fabric to get the color I wanted.
view SummerDoyle's profile
Awesome looking room! The color of the drapes really enhances the "Sneetches" print.
view doylej09's profile
i love the sneetches print! great colors! what a fun room
view malcolmsmom's profile
I'm in love with this room! Great job! Where did you get the curtains? I am looking for ones exactly like that for our nursery. We are due in March!
Once again, you did a beautiful job. :)
view tikilicious's profile
Good job with the color coordination! I like the design on the closet doors especially, and with a two-year-old of my own, I also have a real appreciation of wall decor that is tamper resistant. *sigh*
view csc76's profile
Tikilicious - Congratulations! I made the curtains from a set of sheets I found at Target. (I loved the color and was glad I wouldn't have to go to the fabric store) It was really easy, if you sew a little bit. Cut the width to about 1.5x the space you want them to cover and hem the cut sides. I was lucky to have high ceilings so I didn't have to alter the height, but you could do that too. Then, you could fold over the top and stitch to make a space for a rod or do what I did and buy clips to attach to the top (a sew-free solution). Just remember to buy single flat sheets in the largest size, not fitted.
csc76 - With my first nursery (in a previous home) I spent months hand-painting the wall decor, which is indeed a great way to get color on the walls that won't hurt little bodies. This time around, the wall decals were a life-saver. I just didn't have time to do the painting by hand, and there are so many decal options out there you can get any look you want. The ones one the closet doors are from Linens 'n Things.
view SummerDoyle's profile
I love the room and hope all your hard work pays off!
view crystalvidal's profile
my son loves that little curious george so much we bought three! well four one was a larger one which he does not love! this room is super cute! huge fan of the dr.seusse (i always spell it wrong). wish i could vote more than once...i am preggers dosent that count? oooh you must let us know what you did for "sweet pea's" room. i have a 22 month old and a girl on the way. thinking a salmon pinkish color and aqua blue! or red and aqua blue.
view jackied302's profile
Love the Sneetches print and the colors from that print found in the room.
view megalega's profile
Great colors, love the Sneetches print and the overall theme in the room.
view vegaswomanl's profile
Thank you so much! :D Oh wow, all this time we have been searching like mad to find curtains in that exact shade, and we even looked at Target for them, and we never thought to look at sheets! Brilliant. Thank you very much for this great idea! I am dancing a happy dance right now! Big thumbs up on your room. Love it love it love it. Thanks again for the great tip! :)
view tikilicious's profile