Daniel’s Vintage Airplane Nursery

Description

We were using this empty upstairs bedroom as a workout room and had done absolutely NOTHING with it since we bought our home 4 years ago. When we found out we were expecting our first child, we wanted to make it a very special space for our baby to grow into. My husband and I worked for 3 months measuring, sawing, painting, and planning and I think we did a great job for carpentry novices! The room is a very small 11x11 so we wanted to add a lot of storage space and make it bright and airy. The closet was fairly deep, but not very big overall. When we took the doors off to paint, we found that it really opened the room up, so we decided to leave the doors off and design a built in wardrobe in the space instead. Additionally, we added panel style wainscoting and a built in storage bench on a wall that wasn't very usable. When we found out we were having a little boy, we decided on a vintage airplane theme and classic colors. We absolutely adore this room and hope you do too!

Design Inspiration

We wanted something classic and not too babyish so that he could enjoy the room for years.  We found the vintage airplane mobile at Restoration Hardware Baby & Child and drew our inspiration from there.  I love the classic colors and vintage feel of the room, but also love the crisp lines and modern style. 

Decorating Style

I am drawn to a mix of traditional, contemporary, and rustic/vintage styles.  I like clean lines, symmetry, bold accents, and rustic charm.  I also prefer to use natural materials like stone and hard wood in lieu of manmade materials. 

Project Details

This was truley a DIY project.  We didn't have really any experience with carpentry, so we had to learn how to do everything as we went.  My advice for a project like this is to take your time planning and pay attention to the details to make sure it comes out the way you want it to.  Buy the right tools the first time, and use the internet as a resource.  And DO NOT be in a rush to finish.  This project took us 3+ months to complete, but it was worth it!

We purchased the crib and dresser, as well as the bedding, airplane photos, and train toy box, from Pottery Barn Kids.  The glider and ottoman are from JC Penney.  Other accessories mostly came from Restoration Hardware Baby & Child, Pottery Barn, Hobby Lobby, and World Market. 

Favorite Items

One of my favorite items in the room is an original piece of art created by my nieces and nephew (11, 8, and 6) especially for baby Daniel.  It is a very special piece.  And I really adore the crib and dresser.  It took me a really long time to find one that I liked and I love that it doesn't look like all the others out there.  It's wood tone and rustic charm are perfect for this room. 

Advice

Try not to overdo it with a theme.  We went with just a few airplane pieces and I think it turned out better than if we had tried to add more.