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

Trouble viewing? Here’s the link…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtmZxakDFwE

Send us your videos, photos, questions and room details to melisa{at}littleappledesign{dot}com. We look forward to “seeing” you!

Tags: Baby Nurseries, Inspiration, Play Rooms, PNTV, Toddler Rooms, Videos

My mailbox is full of junky catalogs and value pack coupons daily. But every now and then I get a decent catalog. Today’s mail brought Garnet Hill. Sure, I know Garnet Hill, where respectable woman’s clothing and jewelry pieces are showcased but this time, the catalog was dedicated to kids. Not anticipating finding anything I would actually buy, I quickly thumbed through the catalog pages while headed to the recycling bin. I took a moment to read a sub-heading…”over 20 kids’ rooms by Garnet Hill Design Team” . Long behold, garnetHill.com/shopbyroom is chock-full of boys, girls and playroom ideas.

Wow! Inspiration for my growing child’s room beyond PBK. While the catalog still made it to the recycling bin, I’ve added them to my repertoire of online shopping stops. I am impressed by Garnet Hill’s offering of toys, accessories and wall decor. Maybe you will be too?

Tags: Catalog, Inspiration, Play Rooms, Toddler Rooms, Twin Bedding

It was the end of an era at Yankee Stadium tonight. I am not the world’s biggest baseball fan by any means (my father-in-law Zack, my husband Josh and inherently my son Austin, certainly are) yet I couldn’t help become emotional as the players rounded the historic stadium with glee while Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” repeated itself (18 times over). It was their last Yankees game ever in that stadium since 1923. Derek Jeter summed up the evening best when he said, “We have pride, tradition, and most of all, the world’s GREATEST fans in the world!” So let me introduce you to some of those fans: The Carrigan Family.

What would you do if you husband said, “I want the nursery to be a sports theme!”.  Here’s Megan’s gracious response & explaination, ”I am not really into themed rooms, but my husband had his heart set on a Yankee nursery so we met in the middle, drew up pictures of simple ideas and came up with this.” Way to mitigate Megan! Themed rooms can be risky but your contemporary twist (and the fact that Pam and I heart the Yankees from our NYC good ole days) is a home run!!! 

Megan purchased the lanterns, rugs, storage bins, polka dot fabric and curtains from IKEA. The piggy bank, red & black bins, hurricane glass containers are from Target. Even the vintage baseball baskets were leftover from Easter ($0.75 each on clearance) are a la Target. The frames were a find from Goodwill and spray painted red. And what baseball themed room wouldn’t be complete without baseballs from Sports Authority?!

As for artwork, Megan ordered vintage Yankees posters on ebay and cut out photos from an old Yankee calendar. The bulletin board was created from leftover wallpaper and chair discovered on Craigs list. All the Yankee memorobillia was a lovely gift from her mother-in-law. Megan worked extra hard to paint and transform peices to match with the Yankee color theme. Her favorite part of the room are the old baby books from when she was a baby.  And Project Nursery exclaims, “Kudos to the vintage items with the modern IKEA accessories that give the room an excellent blend and eclectic feel!”

Yankee fan Dad should be very proud of baby Sonny and MOMMY!

Tags: Baby Nurseries, Baseball, Boy, Inspiration

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

Loyal Project Nursery reader Tammy requested some design inspiration geared toward a safari-jungle theme for her future cub. Tammy describes her style as “Transitional”: Contemporary meets traditional. She wants an eclectic feel with warm earthy tones. Mom has already selected baby’s bedding with a jungle theme and fun, plush fabrics. The walls are tan and baby’s furniture is a natural finish. And Oh yeah! She’s not finding out the sex of the baby!!!

Themes…hmmm…we admit, we have mixed emotions about themed rooms. It’s waaay too easy to go overboard. So then, how to create a fun, vibrant theme for your child’s room without going O.T.T.? We are roaring to share what we at Little Apple Design came up with…

Our picks:

1. Mom’s inspiration: Beautiful Wild Safari crib bedding and rich textures (including ”Minky“) from Carousel Designs.

2. Something bright and jungle like: These Abaca Pendant Lights add a contemporary, earthy feel. Already have a ceiling fixture? Hang these in a cluster just above your rocker. While West Elm doesn’t necessary sell kid furniture, they are a great resource for cool kid design that your little one can grow into.

3. Such a popular pic from the Flickr Pool. What a great idea as an alternative to the common wooden wall letters above the crib. Collect nature from your backyard and bring it inside with homemade art.

4. Yes, another West Elm find but check out the amazing, subtle design of these Canterbury window panels close up. Natural Cream is a clean look and won’t clash with the crib bedding.

5. A 5-foot tall Giraffe by Melissa & Doug is what every child needs to complete their wild safari themed room. This would make an excellent baby gift (Hint, hint).

6. Monkey Tree Mobile found at Modern Tots adds some whimsy and imagination above the crib OR above the changing table.

7. Okay, so mom and dad want a comfy chair that reclines AND glides without spending a fortune. Go Dutailier at CNS baby. I know it’s sooo nursery but you’ll like it and if you have more kids you’ll get great use out of it. Take the lead from Becoming-Mom and throw a fluffy sheep skin over it to cozy it up and prevent fabric damage.

8. A shag rug is a must. How much fun will tummy time be in shag!

9. And our personal favorite! Wall decals by Elly Nelly found at Fawn & Forest. They don’t have to be clustered or take up the whole wall. Instead they can be used as a border across one wall or even better, spruce up a piece of furniture. Remember, they can be easily removed when your theme changes.

Tags: Gender Neutral, Inspiration, Safari

Sometimes I get really fascinated by a couples journey to parenthood. It’s so interesting to learn about how they got together, found a place to call home and eventually began their path to having a baby. I look back on my own time before my first baby was born with such fondness. You know you are on the verge of a huge life change and that this tiny person inside is absolutely going to be the best thing that has ever happen. We at Project Nursery are honored to introduce you to New York couple Ariana and Jeff.

They have done an amazing job designing and creating a serene and beautiful nursery for son Jasper. Ariana and Jeff are eagerly awaiting Jasper’s arrival any hour now! Ariana is a jewelry and web designer while Jeff is a toy designer and illustrator. So, it makes perfect sense that these two would create such a special place for their first child.

The couple decided early on they liked the soothing greens and blues of the Orchard Park crib bedding from Walmart. The clean and modern lines of the Baby Mod Park Lane crib works nicely with the lovely pale blue paint they used for the walls. They designed a custom wall mural featuring a wilow tree and darling hanging monkey which is featured on the wall next to the crib. The 8-dresser is from Ikea and the adorable Dwell Studio Zebra rug is from Target. Ariana and Jeff went into nesting overdrive and even picked up Wendy Bellisimo baskets for diaper storage and Ikea Kompliment drawer organizers to neatly store clothes, burpies and blankets. Everything is picture perfect and ready for little Jasper’s arrival. We are sure that they will enjoy many many amazing moments with their new baby in this very special nursery! For more details about this nursery go to Ariana’s blog,  Becoming Mom.

Tags: Baby Nurseries, Inspiration, Modern, Monkey, Tree, Zebra