Description
When we found out we were having a little girl we decided we wanted a sweet, soothing nursery. Our nursery is a little bird nursery because that's what we've been calling her all along. It's a mint green/blue nursery with pink and white accents and lots of birdie decor.
Design Inspiration
This is truly a Pinterest nursery- where was Pinterest when I got married in 2010?!? My husband and I have never shied away from DIY projects and I believe our nursery reflects that. Everything started with this bird canvas I saw on Pinterest but I didn't know where to find it! After searching google images for a while I found out it was called "Cherry Blossom Birdies" and I found it on Amazon under that name. I ordered that and it all started to revolve around it. I next found the Love Birds fabric at Carousel Designs and new I wanted that and the matching Damask fabric to be in the nursery as the bedding. Finally the first onesie we bought our little bird was a mint green color and I knew that was the nursery color. I knew I didn't want an all pink nursery, so the mint took center stage with baby pink and white accents. It's become my favorite room in my house.
Decorating Style
I'm not really sure what professionals would call my decorating style or if it even needs a label. I just wanted a sweet nursery for a sweet baby girl that I hoped would grow with her until one day she looks at me and tells me she's too old for the bird decor- which I hope is later rather than sooner!
Project Details
First we painted the nursery a minty green/blue color called Bay by Valspar at Lowe's. Next my husband did the crown molding and installed a new fan (also from lowes). Next came the dresser we found locally and he stripped it, sanded it down, repainted it (Barely Pink by Valspar), and added new knobs (Anthropology). I worked on the wall collage: I painted wooden letters white I found at Hobby Lobby, painted a canvas pink and added a quote from Winnie the Pooh, made a chicken wire headband frame, and bought some collage wall frames (from Michael's). I filled the collage wall frames with an ultrasound picture, a photo of my husband and I, one of our fb pregnancy announcement of our dog Daisy and a sign that says "baby guard dog duty begins September" (also DIY), and the final frame I copied a print I wanted from etsy. I took scrapbook paper and made a picture of three birds with a pendant banner above them and it turned out very cute.
The rest of the decor was a mixture of store bought items and homemade items by our family and friends. The quilt, drapes, wreath, "A" frames, crochet throw, little painted bird houses, the little dress hanging from the white shelf, the bird printed burp cloths, and the needlework doily under the birdcages on the dresser were all homemade gifts! The door silencer is something I saw on etsy that my mother in law made with leftover fabric after making the drapes and quilt. And the button "A" frame on the white shelf my friend Megan saw on my Pinterest board and made it for me for one of my shower gifts! I love how many hands have gone into making this nursery and how many people already care about this little girl.
The rest of the items in the room were store bought (whether by my husband and I, as a shower gift, or as decor from my showers that my hostesses wanted me to keep. I loved mixing these pieces with the homemade ones and I think everything works well together.
Baby Cache Heritage Crib: Babies R Us
Cherry Blossom Birdies Canvas: Framed at Hobby Lobby (Bought from Amazon)
Bird Mobile: Etsy
Bedding, Sheets, Rail Bumper, Changing Pad Cover all Love Birds and Love Birds Damask: Carousel Designs
Ruffle Crib Skirt: Target
Kacy Collection Preston Glider: Babies R Us
Love Birds Damask Throw Pillow: Carousel Designs
Large White Birdcage and White Porcelain Bird Figurine: Cracker Barrel
Favorite Items
It's hard to pinpoint one favorite because I love the way the nursery looks/feels as a whole when you walk in. But the most precious item to me in the nursery is the handmade quilt Aubrey's Nana made her. All I did was show my mother in law some fabric swatches I liked and she went from there. It pulls the whole nursery together and I love the way it turned out. I also love how it was a surprise how it was gonna look exactly. It's on the wall for now but it's toddler quilt sized for when we convert her crib to a toddler bed- it will be used as a comforter. Then after that she can use it as a lap quilt- so she will get years of use out of it!
Advice
Don't feel like you have to stick rigidly to your color palate. You'd be surprised when you introduce a pop of another color how it can bring out colors you didn't realize were already there and help tie everything together. And don't take it too seriously- this is supposed to be fun!
Anna
Monday 1st of September 2014
Just putting it out there that I'm aware the stuffed animals in the crib are a SIDS no no- they are simply decoration while awaiting Aubrey's arrival :)