Hey Gossip Girl…Get your friends talking with this awesome DIY project!

I know, I oodle over those cute, girly custom tufted headboards but sometimes they are just a little spendy for a kid-room-makeover-budget. Plus doing this yourself will allow you to splurge for that must have bedding you have been eyeing for you little chicky or dude! Here is a DIY tip to create a lot of panache for just pennies.

The Faux Tufted Headboard

Supplies: Paint, Basic Wood Trim (I prefer the pre-primed trim; its easier to paint) Miter Saw, Tape Measure

A full-sized bed and measures 54″ wide. Make certain the width is at lease as wide as the mattress if you are using a different size. The height is totally up to you based on the look you are going for. Factor in the height of the back pillows to make sure it still can be seen once the bed is put together. Also make sure the finished height does not line up with anything else on the wall. Here the headboard is slightly higher than the mirror over the dresser.

I chose a harlequin (diamond) pattern for this room. With this particular design, the wall color and a pearly white were alternated. Then circles were painted on where the diamonds meet to mimic buttons. You can use real buttons or any embellishments you like to add more dimension and texture. Little freehand lines were added around the buttons to create “tufts”. The design was framed with a painted wood molding to finish the look . Get as creative as you like or if you get stuck for an idea, e-mail me at rebecca@projectnursery.com for help. Ciao!

Tags: DIY, Hand-painted, Headboards, Toddler Rooms

Cassie is a seasoned blogger, Etsy shop owner, graphic designer and crafter who officially added the title of Mom last week as she and her family welcomed Perry Avery into the world! Cassie’s nesting time was well spent creating a soothing, bird inspired nursery. “For the baby’s room, we decided to keep it understated, clean and modern with a folksy twist. I wanted a room I could personally seek refuge in and not just a character-themed nursery he would outgrow in a couple years…I’d say the room currently reflects my own style and not necessarily that of a baby boy.

The color inspiration came from a quilt Cassie made a few years back and the crib/crib bedding comes from Walmart. Fearing that the notNeutral wall decals wouldn’t properly adhere due to the room’s textured walls, Cassie created her own version with a quart of paint, stencils made out of card stock, and a roll of masking tape. The green paint on the wall is Valspar 6003-3B Martinique Dawn in eggshell and the green used for the mural is Valspar MS245 Spiny Sea Urchin in semi-gloss. For more DIY details, visit Cassie’s sweet blog “Twittering Bird“. Oh, and we must boast that Project Nursery inspired the darling, complimentary handmade bird mobile!

Cassie believes that anyone can easily customize anything with a couple quarts of paint and a few yards of fabric! We wanted a dresser instead of a changing table, so the little guy could use it for years to come. We were on an ikea budget and weren’t quite satisfied with anything we saw until we spied this dresser. It’s solid wood but the colors were anything but exciting, so we figured a few quarts of paint would be the perfect solution. The exact colors of the dresser are: Valspar 5004-9C Beach Sparkle (blue) and Valspar 6010-4 Amazon Silt - both in semi-gloss.“

Just one simple curtain panel provided enough fabric to make two valances. And the best part - The fabric was found on sale at Target for only three dollars! The dresser and shelf are both from Ikea. Some of Cassie’s favorite finds include the Amy Ruppel print (their first purchase once pregnant), the inflatable “Rody“, and the Bla-Bla knit toys.

Best wishes to both Cassie and baby! Thank you for taking the time to share with us. We hope you enjoy many peaceful nights in your beautiful nursery!

Tags: Boy, Gender Neutral, Inspiration, Paint, Wall Art

If this nursery hasn’t inspired you just yet, keep reading. It’s hard not to be impressed by the creativity, love and attention to detail Rebecca has put into creating her son Brandt’s designer digs for less than $1000!

When it comes to designing a blank canvas, Project Nursery often recommends a single jumping off point. Rebecca’s inspiration for baby’s first room was Land of Nod’s contemporary quilted crib bedding, Full Circle. Prints from Yuko Lau found at Allposters.com nicely compliment the bedding and provides a touch of whimsy.  Rebecca explains that her biggest challenge was finding a white crib that wasn’t too feminine or traditional. The discovery of Babi Italia’s Scandi Dropside Crib in chocolate and white from Babies R Us was the ideal find. We just love how Rebecca chose to carry the same look throughout the room with the other pieces.

At 7 months pregnant, Rebecca created the focal wall behind the crib with hip squares of color. “The blocks were created by using 1.75″ painters tape for the grid and are approx 24″x24″. The color palette came directly from the bedding and art. I used Behr paint from Home Depot (3 shades of blue - Euclayptus Leaf, Adriatic Mist, and a medium
shade between the two that was a custom color; 2 shades of green- Dried Palm and Corn Husk and 1 brown- Breakfast Blend”.

Now here’s where Rebecca’s the inner Martha Stewart really kicks in…

“The scalloped paint design above the changing table was created by tracing half of a paper plate and then painting the outline by hand. The dresser came from an old armoire base I had. I added a fresh coat of white paint and brushed nickel hardware. To turn it into a changing table, I purchased the chocolate wood changing top from Pottery Barn Kids. The window panels are made from aqua colored twin sheets; I added the 24″ strip of white fabric and then embellished them with coordinating ribbon. I would have to say that my favorite item would have to be my window panels….only because I made them. I was working as a designer and was surrounded by fabrics that were awesome and about $100/yard or more so to be able to make my own that coordinated so well for about $12.00 per panel, I was really excited!”

Finally, the chair, shelves, picture frames, and paper lanterns are from Ikea and the Star Shaggy Raggy Rugs came from Target!

Bravo Rebecca, you should be really very proud of the cool, contemporary and creative nursery you created. Thanks for giving us the scoop!

Tags: Baby Nurseries, Bedding, Boy, Drapes, Furniture, Inspiration, Paint, Window Treatments

We were delighted to introduce you to Nicole Worth and family a few months back. You made it known that you were just as delighted to view their son’s incredible modern nursery. And like us, you thought, “Hmmm? Do I dare copy this look? Is it really difficult?” So without further adieu, Nicole shares with us her mural making secrets and you don’t have to be a graphic designer after all…

Melisa at Project Nursery asked me to write a how-to on creating our alphabet mural for a nursery, and I am happy to oblige!  Being that my husband and I went to art school during the days when hand-lettering was a class, we decided to create a mural that not only reflected our son’s crib bedding but also let us take a step back-in-time and put our hand-lettering skills to the test.  Although we built our mural using alphabet letters, any design can be created to get the same effect.

Here’s how we did it:

We started the process by figuring out which colors worked best for our design.  Knowing we wanted to use a color that went with the Dwell Studio Bedding we chose, we decided on blue.  Using BEHR paint from Home Depot, we chose three shades of blue:  the base color- which covered all the walls- is Cumberland Fog and the other two colors-Little Dipper and Silver Strand-are a lighter hue and a darker hue of this same blue shade.

After painting our wall with the base color we started creating the design for our mural.  Being graphic designers, we decided to use Adobe Illustrator to layout our design. Knowing we were going to use two different color values, we designed the mural to have an overlapping effect for interest and depth.

Once completed, we then printed out the design and used this printout as the stencil for the wall.  Using a projector in the room, we projected the printout on the wall and proceeded to outline the design very lightly with a colored pencil.  Luckily enough my husband has an amazingly steady hand so he was able to handle all the large straight lines without a straight-edge.

Once the design was transferred to the wall, the real fun begins.  Using varying size paintbrushes, the design was then outlined in paint. Since we used two different shades, the light color was put down first so that the dark could overlap it.  After the light shade was all outlined, we used a small paint roller to fill in the color.  Waiting till the light color was dry, we then proceeded to outline and fill in the remaining letters with our darker color.

All in all it’s a simple procedure used in creating the mural.  A steady hand with a paint brush was the hardest trick, but the design can truly be translated into anything you want!

Nicole is kind enough to answer any questions and can be contact directly at nicole{at}formcode{dot}com. Stay tuned for more information on the official launch of FormBaby toward the end of this year.  FormBaby will offer one-of-a-kind wall art and designs especially for baby which answers our second most popular question, “Where can I get that monkey wall art?”

Thank you to Nicole and her beautiful family. We look forward to seeing more of your great designs!

Tags: Alphabet, Blue, DIY, Murals, Paint

Manhattan based mom-to-be Tamra recently reached out to us via our Share Forum and asked for our help in dreaming up the ideal nursery for her son who is due this fall. We were happy to help out and give Tamra extra kudos for being part of the Project Nursery community.

Although Tamra knew she was having a boy, she wanted to keep the nursery colors soft and neutral just like the paint color she loved, “Breath of Fresh Air” by Benjamin Moore. While life in the Big Apple is full of fast city energy, the nursery needs to be soothing and peaceful. Amen! Tamra had already picked out a few key items and just needed help fine tuning the room. Her picks included crib bedding by Junior Q Collection, featuring sky blue elephants and a geometric pale yellow tile print, and the Amy Coe Westport crib and dresser from Babies R’ Us. With these items in place it was a cinch for us to pull together a stunning inspiration board for you Tamra (if we don’t say so ourselves). We hope you like our additions and just request that you send us photos when the room is complete!

Junior’s Nursery Recs:

1.Deco Pendant Lighting - Design Public
2.Benjamin Moore “Breath of Fresh Air” - Paint*
3. Wallter Circles Wall Application - Design Public
4. Resin Side Table - West Elm
5. Q Collection Junior Celestial Palace - Crib Set*
6. My Pal, The Elephant - Wall Art
7. FLOR Walking on Clouds Collection - Floor Covering/Rug
8. P’kolino Clothes Tree at Sparkability - Storage
9. Amy Coe Westport - Crib & Dresser at Toys R Us*

Tags: Bedding, Blue, Coat Rack, Contemporary, Cribs, Inspiration, Lighting, Wall Art

Julie Blanchard, owner of Lemon Tree Paperie, created a sophisticated and classic nursery for her son Weston that we are pleased to share with our readers. When planning the nursery, Julie was instantly inspired by Serena and Lily’s fabrics and decided on the color scheme of navy, indigo and lime right away. One of Julie’s goals was to keep the colors and fabrics simple and uniform so that she would be able to easily accessorize.  One of our favorite elements in the nursery is the custom paint design featuring little Weston’s initials framed by a crest style border. Very Preppy and cute! Julie says, “The custom paint design saved on buying artwork.” What a brilliant way to give the walls purpose without having to find expensive artwork.

Julie customized the crib bedding by mixing the “Charlie” bumper with the “Blake” sheeting collection, both from Serena and Lily. With some extra fabric, she was able to customize a sweet pillow with Weston’s name for the her Dutailer glider. In addition, Julie used the extra bedding fabric and ribbon to create an adorable wall hanging for over the changing table. Other Details include a Pali crib, and Pottery Barn Kids baskets and liners. The lamp is from Target and the bookshelf is a custom made piece. Julie did an excellent job of mixing and matching pieces to achieve this tailored space she dreamed of for Weston.

Besides being a nursery design maverick, Julie has a passion for fine paper and stationary. After spending many years in the business she decided to open her own online boutique, Lemontreepaperie.com which offers baby announcements, calling cards, personalized stationary, family labels and much more. Through her online boutique, Julie advises clients on a national basis, and is personally involved in each and every order.

We are excited to announce that Julie has offered Project Nursery readers $15 off all orders of $100 or more! Use code NURSERY when placing orders. Offer valid through 9/30/08. With Halloween coming up what a great opportunity to snatch up some amazingly cute cards for the family. Thanks Julie!

Tags: Art, Baby Nurseries, Cribs, Discounts, Green, Inspiration, Monogram, Paint, Preppy

Mandy Ford’s “This Girl’s Life” just got a bit more complicated for the better on May 30th, 2008, with the arrival of twin boys Ben and Landon. 

Kudos to Mandy’s on her choice of dark paint for the nursery: ”Tree Branch” by Sherwin Williams. Mandy says she was going for ”a subtle nature theme with owl accessories…the main colors being, sage green and chocolate brown, with aqua blue accents”.

We have to admit that the crib bedding found at Walmart has impressed us lately. We knew they are affordable, but had no idea that they offered such a modern, good-looking selection.

It’s all in the details, otherwise known as great accessories! The owl theme makes a sweet statement with an owl lamp from Urban Outfitters, owl bank from Target and cool owl rub ons for their wooden letters. Splashes of color brightens the room with a green clock from Restoration Hardware and aqua suitcases from Hobby Lobby.

Cherished family details include a little green rocker that was Mandy’s Dad’s when he was a boy, an antique corner cabinet passed down from Mandy’s parents and curtains made by Mandy’s mother-in-law which are to include brown ric-rac on the bottom, eventually. You know, when Mandy has a free moment!

All the best to the Ford Family! Enjoy your boys and their new room. - PN

Tags: Baby Nurseries, Brown, DIY, Inspiration, Twins

I am totally impressed! Rather than hiring a designer, I can now stalk Jennae Petersen of Green Your Decor and I am likely to have my next room design served on a silver platter via the worldwide web. Her inspiration boards are sooo beautiful and she makes it so simple to buy. Best of all, it’s all green decor so you can feel good about some of her splurge item! 

Recently, Jennae posted two children’s room within her “Green Rooms in a Box” design series to dream about. Check out her Green Girls Room for under $2500 and her Green Boys Room for under $5000.  We cannot wait to see what she does with a nursery!

Tags: Designers, Eco-Friendly, Toddler

Leave it to some very creative Brits to design and produce some of the most beautiful hand-made wallpapers I’ve ever seen. So, of course I had to share it with our faithful Project Nursery readers. The company, Fromental, is headed by Tim Butcher, former Creative Director of world-renowned hand-painted Chinoiserie house de Gournay. If you aren’t familiar with the Chinoiserie style take a look at the de Gournay site and you are sure to be dazzled by the intricate patterns and detail of these papers.  They have recently added a children’s collection they call Brainchild.  The mini-collection is perfect for the most sophisticated of nurseries! 

The collection consists of three series: carousel, monkey or little birdie. There are several colorways available in each series and you can hang the panels together, like the schematic displays, to create a wall mural. With this paper up in a nursery the room is transformed into something darling and completely unique.  For more information on these papers and pricing contact Fromental at info@fromental.co.uk. 

Tags: Baby Nurseries, Chinoiserie, Wallpaper

Congratulations Project Nursery reader Johanna and her husband Gustaf on welcoming twins Casimir (8 lb / 20.5 Inches) and (Casper 7 lb 10 oz/ 20.5 inches) into the world this past Friday…WOW! The boys are very fortunate to be coming home to a most spectular nursery!

A “little less baby and a little more fun” was the route style-savvy parents took to create the nursery.  They did a wonderful job mixing family favorites with bright colors to create a room their boys could grow in. Johanna, shares with us all the yummy details…

“As they say double the fun…but also double the stuff! We had to ensure that we had enough storage so we could keep the room nice and tidy. Thus, my husband built the closet out with IKEA PAX. We complemented it with an IKEA HEMNES dresser which was made into a changing table. We also customized the dresser with specialty knobs from ANTHROPOLOGIE to give it a new spin.

We gave the boys each an IKEA BILLY bookcase. Since I collect model Fiat500s, I received these for each boy as gifts. I also bought them one each on our last trip to Rome. Instead of a rocker, we included a small loveseat (also IKEA-EKTORP) so both of us could feed the babies at the same time. The cribs were bought at GIGGLE. They are the OEUF SPARROW. The organic bedding is from GAP, and this is where we decided to incorporate the navy blue.

The paint color is SHERWIN-WILLIAMS, yellow twist (It’s HARMONY INTERIOR with low odor and low VOC, perfect for children’s rooms). We had the painter paint horizontal stripes to make the longest wall look longer, and also break up the yellow throughout the room. We found the rug at WEST ELM. It has a great repetitive pattern that freshens up the entire room.
Curtains and accent pillows are from POTTERY BARN. Both the waste basket and toy basket are from THE LAND OF NOD (Thank you Project Nursery!) including the airplane curtain rod that goes with their “boy” theme of airplanes (their grandfather is also a pilot!).

The frames over the cribs are my husbands from when he was a baby. They are 19th century Swedish Military portraits. We reframed them for a softer look. The mobile was actual a wedding gift to us that we decided to put in the boys room. The vintage airplanes are subtle and don’t have that plasticy look that many baby toys now have.”

So very fresh, fun and fascinating! We love absolutely everything about the twins “Lemon Twist Nursery”! Thank you so much for taking the time to share with us. We wish you and newest members of your family all best!

Tags: Baby Nurseries, Gender Neutral, Ikea, Inspiration, Twins, Yellow