Have you ever actually felt the truth to the saying "There's No Place Like Home."
I have experienced gratitude associated with this idea many many times. Aside from my love for decorating, colors and home, my new love for our son inspired me to try and create a comfortable yet boy-ish haven in little man's nursery.
My house clearly represents my love for Gray's and Whites and this theme automatically continued on into the Nursery. Although I love Gray...as in L.O.V.E... I am very aware of what a cool and somewhat 'lifeless' color it is. So Our first 'dilemma' with the room began. What colors were we going to acccent with in order to bring some life to the party.
I selected a dark wood Crib and Changing table/dresser to match the hardwood floors in our house, and felt that the natural grain of the wood would help liven up the place. With that small addition, and once we found out we were having a boy, my husband and I quickly decided that Orange would be a perfect color to accorize with to help contribute to the 'brightness factor'.
With our colors decided, I began shopping for "the big stuff," and with my husband's annoyance support, sifted through the many reviews, price points and pro/con lists of nursery furniture.
We settled on This Crib and This matching Dresser Set.
Aside from the color, we had the goal to select furniture that was Gender Neutral- at this point we were not aware that we were having a baby boy.
After we tackled the Crib and Dresser, we moved on to the next Biggest item...because what Nursery would be complete without a rocking chair???
I had a few ideas of what I was looking for and that included:
Leather- I wanted to make sure if we had any accidents or spills in the chair, it would be easy to clean, wouldn't stain and wouldn't become sour smelling.
Well Padded- I have always pictured spending a good amount of time holding sleeping, sick or fussy babies and rocking them for comfort. Although the comfort for them is easier to accomplish, I wanted to make sure I could survive those long beautiful moments as well so good support was a must have.
It took My husband a while to understand that When I said "Rocking Chair" I wasn't referring to one of these:
He just didn't understand why I was being so picky or why I didn't just buy one of these and move on with it.
This sweet man gets to deal with so many "specifics" with me that I'm sure it hurts sometimes. Although, to my everlasting gratitude...he humored me and walked through several furniture stores and browsed online with me until we found THE Chair.
The Gray Leather Overstuffed Rocker Recliner from Ashley Furniture.
We were on a quick getaway trip to St. George when I bribed asked him to walk through the Ashley Furniture store with me. We don't have one in Vernal, but our local furniture store can order in Ashley Furniture, so I thought it was perfect that we could walk through and test them out and have the one we wanted ordered in, and it worked like a charm...
The hunt for the Littler Details begain after that and included What kind of "wall piece" we would have for the room. Every room needs a focal point, and for me that was obviously above the crib.
I've never been crazy about the looks or funcationality of Mobiles, so I decided to opt for a more decorative yet meaningful piece to go above the crib.
(Side note- I was nervous to put anything at all above the crib, for the fear that it would fall and hurt the baby...So with the help of my very handy husband and about 12 sheetrock screws, we make SURE that this piece was secure.)
My husaband is an avid hunter and sportsman so I knew we would be balancing this centerpiece between Hunting and Baseball.
I've always loved the distressed rustic look of aged Antlers.
(Right now- I can hear my husband in the back of my head saying "They're Horns...Not Antlers")
Anyway... Since I didn't think that mounting a single or even a set of old shed horns would achieve quite the look I was going for, and the Euro Mount look isn't my thing... (Skulls gross me out)
I was happy when I found This Guy
The Faux Deer Head in White Resin
Thank Heaven for Etsy!!
I was also pleased to find an old Barnwood Shutter at our local Flea Market which we mounted Mr.Deer Head to and hung over the crib for the perfect eye catching, yet boyish (and not morbid) Centerpiece.
Next up was Bedding.
After hearing and reading about how dangerous Crib Bumpers can be and what a role they play in contributing to the Death of Infants via SIDS, we decided to go simple and just do a Crib Skirt and Crib Sheet.
After being inspired by the baby blanket in this (adorable) picture I found on Pinterest, I knew that I wanted to use Plus Signs as a patterned piece for his room.
Let me just tell you...finding anything similar to this at the time I was looking was incredibly difficult. After much searching, I finally found a webiste where you could design your own custom patterns and have it printed on different types of Fabric, so that's what I did and how I ended up with this Beauty.
While I was there, I also got to browse through the patterns that others had designed and I fell in love with a bunch of others which made me rethink my whole design, yet settle back to where I had started with This Fabric as well.
I have always been kind of a wuss when it came to using patterns or bold colors, so I felt pretty proud annoyed with myself to have chosen TWO patterned fabrics to try and coordinate into his room.
After ordering the patterned pieces from Spoonflower , I was on the hunt for the "Stunner" pieces in Solid Orange or with Simple Orange patterns. I found some at Joanns and so began the Cutting/Piecing/Hemming/Sewing and Quilting.
I aboslutely love how it all turned out.
I must mention, however, that since I went on such a hunt to find the Plus Sign fabric, that it seems to be surfacing all over the place.
I must be a trend setter :)
And Just this morning, I ordered This Adorable Organic Plus Sign Swaddle Blanket from the shop on Project Nursery's website.
So if any of you are looking for something similar-- start there, and you will have a much easier time finding all your must-have's
The finishing touches for the room include:
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| The TEJN Faux Sheepskin Rug from IKEA |
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| The Custom String Art I had made by a Friend and some Burlap Storage Baskets to be used for Diapers and Books from Lowes. Similar Ones found Here |
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| I also made him his very own Measuring Growth Chart to hang on the wall and chart his progress without having to draw on my walls/doorpost etc. |
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| And last but not least, a Handmade Bamboo Chair that My Husband's dad had made and brought home from Bangladesh several years ago when he worked there. |
And now, We are anxiously counting down the final 12 (ish) days until we can meet this beautiful little boy and bring him home to experience life with us. I hope he can grow and learn to enjoy this space and always have the warmth and love he deserves to have in his very own Home.
