Design Reveal: “Rock Star Duchess”

We were recently introduced to Sharon Taylor Designs. When Sharon’s latest nursery design popped into my inbox I literally clapped and cheered “Bravo!” Interior designer and event planner Sharon Taylor has an exciting, funky-fresh style. She’s a master at “up-cycling” thrift store finds and is clearly fearless when it comes to bold color. Whether or not this is your cup of tea, there’s no denying the WOW factor this nursery design offers. Sharon, you had me at the green ceiling stripes!

Here’s the full scoop as told by Sharon:

This mom-to-be, who owns a wonderful boutique apparel shop here in the Midwest, wanted her baby’s nursery to be calm, but magical. Sophisticated, yet hip. Inspiration started with the chandelier and the pelmet/canopy. The pelmet/canopy fabric and design defined the palette of the room. The canopy drapes are reversible, so that the little girl can have options as she grows into her room. I love filling a nursery with things that the child can keep forever. The drapery is made from a remnant designer fabric @ $5.99 a yard, {found at a local wholesale fabric store}.

Most of the furniture in the room is white, except for the slip-covered rocker. I had the letter “C” embroidered onto the capri blue colored fabric before the seamstress made the whole slip-cover. The “C” font mimics Coco Chanel’s logo. This chair was only $80…so by the time we had the custom slip-cover made, the total cost of the chair was a small fraction of the cost of some of the designer rockers we were looking into purchasing from an on-line catalog. I love making thrift store finds into expensive looking one-of-a-kind designer pieces! Not only does it save money, it’s more unique!

I cannot believe the vintage faux bois pair of lamps I found! They have these amazing collapsible alluminum shades that are in perfect condition! I painted the bases capri blue and added the russian nesting dolls for a touch of “fresh fun”.

The vintage Heywood-Wakefield pram is an “up-cycled” project. It was an icky green, so I lacquered it in a high-gloss black and added rhinestones to inset of the wheels. The pram is now being used to store the diapers until the little one can use it for play when she gets a little older. On a side note: This pram was used in the baby shower I designed which was highlighted on Hostess With The Mostess. (PN says: We had noticed and we loved it! )

The custom-made wall art was made by my sister, an artist…Millie Johnson. To make these wonderful collages, she used old crate boxes, suitcase lids, other odds and ends found in flea markets, jewelry trunks, and old wallpaper books.

I think we achieved just the look we were going for. One friend said “Its a room fit for a duchess and/or a rock star.” That’s exactly what I wanted to do.

For product links and a chance to rate this nursery, please visit our Real Rooms Gallery!

Photography by Dawn Shields