Nursery Updates + Inspiration

Well, the sun finally peeked out today and I was able to take some photos of our freshly painted nursery! Even with the walls painted, the crib built and a few other key pieces of furniture in place, there is still quite a bit of work to be done before it is ready to welcome baby – but we are getting there! But before I show you the nursery, I thought I would share the inspiration image that I have had in mind while planning the nursery design…

This comes from a Design*Sponge sneak peek of floral designer Nicolette Owen’s home in Brooklyn – it is an image I had saved because I love every inch of her apartment, but it wasn’t until recently that I realized this is the sort of look and feel I want in the nursery. Not your usual baby’s room inspiration, I know! But the soft blue walls, natural materials and Moroccan accents seem peaceful and adaptable well beyond the baby-years. I am trying to avoid buying too many things that we won’t be able to use a few years down the road, so I really like the idea of basing the room on a few well-made, classic pieces that can grow with our child, or eventually be moved to another room in our house.

I chose a wall color lighter that the one in Nicolette’s home (“Pool” from Serena & Lily) and a natural birch crib. We left the trim white and the wood venetian blinds on the windows, but I will be layering on long, sheer white curtains to give a more diffuse light when we want it.

I already had the silver mirror, Ikea Expedit bookcase and vintage buffet, so I feel really good that we didn’t have to start completely from scratch. We will be filling about 1/2 the cubbies in the shelving unit with baskets, leaving 1/2 open for attractive toys and books, and the buffet will get a little makeover with white paint and a changing pad on top and a floating shelf above to turn it into a changing table. We still need a new light fixture (the existing one is an ugly old fan that doesn’t work very well), a comfortable glider and footstool, and an area rug. If money were no object (ha!) here is what I would pick out:

Now, the pendant lamp and sheepskin rug I think we will be getting, but there is no way I am shelling out the big bucks for that exact glider or leather pouf, so I will need to find substitutes! Any of you know of a secret source for affordable gliders or Moroccan leather poufs? Please share if you do :) This predicament reminds me of how important it is to at least begin by dreaming about what you really want. You can always forgo something that doesn’t fit your budget, hold off until you can save up the money, or find a creative substitute that has the same look – but if you set the bar too low from the beginning, it will never be as you envisioned it!

1. West Elm short drum pendant
2. Serena & Lily presidio glider
3. Moroccan wedding pillow featured on decor8 (but I can’t seem to find the shop it came from now – maybe it has closed down or moved?)
4. Serena & Lily white Moroccan leather pouf
5. West Elm sheepskin rug (I want the round one!)

Beyond the big pieces and other necessities, I also want to bring in a few beautiful framed prints from some of my favorite Etsy artists, healthy potted plants, a handmade mobile (I like the ones from Madeleine Sargent), cozy crib bedding, and a few items from nature like driftwood or large seashells.

What do you think so far? I would love to hear your thoughts on the direction this is going – and if you have any favorite shops or sources to share, that would be much appreciated!

{images: nursery photos Laura Gaskill; others linked to individual sources above}

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