Description
A modern "Little Explorer" nursery.
Design Inspiration
For me it almost always starts with fabric. I can rarely find textiles I like in stores so I usually end up making the crib sheets, curtains, and changing pad covers. While browsing Hawthorne Threads (my FAVE online source for fabrics), I came across fabrics I loved in more feminine colors. When I found out it was a boy I decided to try to find similar prints in a more masculine colorway. Bravery and an adventurous spirit are attributes I want for our son and those are very naturally derived from the aztec/tribal prints I loved. Dax is our 3rd child and 1st boy. After decorating for girls for so long, I wanted something strong and masculine for a boy. I also liked the "brave" and adventure element because I knew those themes would transition easily from a newborn to a toddler. Having been through this baby phase a couple of times, we know all too well how soon the transition from 'nursery' to toddler room happens!
Decorating Style
I am still figuring this out! My problem has always been that I love a little bit of everything. I like modern, vintage, coastal, eclectic, and rustic.
Project Details
Since Dax was our 3rd and my husband was undergoing chemotherapy during most of my pregnancy the DIY details were limited. I typically love to paint furniture and incorporate lots of DIY but his nursery was mostly store bought. For sources on items visit my blog. I've also uploaded one DIY to Project Nursery (search "DIY Decorative Arrows").
Favorite Items
It's really hard to pick just one item! I think it might be the Lindsay Letters "Be Brave" print. As I mentioned, my husband was sick while I was pregnant and during one particularly rough period, I came home from the hospital to find the print in the mail. The print reads "Be Brave. For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11" I tear up just typing that. They were truly the words I needed to hear that day. Add to that, the beauty of the print and I'm smitten!
Advice
My biggest piece of advice is to trust your instincts. I tend to second guess everything and ask way too many people for advice. Ha! What I learned during this process is when I just listened to my gut, it all started coming together. Also- this tribal style can be SO easy to overdo. Although I love it, the nursery came out more theme-y than I intended. Because it's trendy right now you can find tons of items in this style but I learned less is more. I made lots of returns when I put everything together and had way too much pattern/color/texture going on!