In the Nursery with Olivia Capone Myers

This is our interview series in which we bring you the nurseries and kid rooms of successful designers, entrepreneurs and moms. Through this series, our featured guests will divulge some of their design secrets and share stories of how their nurseries came to be.

A Pea in the Pod is the premier maternity clothing collection for contemporary shoppers, and it’s known for its following of both fashion-savvy moms-to-be and celebrities. Naomi Watts, Jessica Alba, Jessica Simpson, Emily Blunt, Amy Adams and Salma Hayek all wore the brand while they were expecting. In addition to the namesake branded fashion designed by today’s guest, Olivia Capone Myers and her team, A Pea in the Pod’s collection includes clothing from the industry’s foremost contemporary brands, including Vince, Rebecca Taylor, Nanette Lepore, AG Jeans, Citizens of Humanity, Wildfox and Rachel Pally.

Olivia has been designing maternity clothes for A Pea in the Pod since 2001, and she has held the position of Design Director for the past three years. In addition to being a fashion designer and stylist, this trendsetter is a mommy and a wife, and she lives with her family in Collingswood, New Jersey. Today she’s sharing her son Greyson’s neutral safari-themed nursery with us. It’s easy to see how her talents at work transition well into nursery design.

What are the first steps you usually take in creating a successful project?

I always start every design project with a theme and color story, and that’s where I started with the nursery. I knew I wanted to keep the room very neutral, so I opted for graphic black and ivory with touches of gray and soft yellow. I fell in love with these safari animal prints I found and built the rest of the theme around them! Everything seemed to come together from there.

What features of a nursery were most important to you in planning Greyson’s first room, and what stands out now that it’s complete?

I wanted something light and modern that would create a happy, warm and loving space for my baby but also work with the other design elements in my home. I love the mural over Greyson’s crib. It was the touch that I added last at the suggestion of my husband who also works in a creative field. We knew we wanted something large and fun over the crib, but we didn’t want to hang any photos or frames that might fall and harm baby. The mural is actually a decal of a tree with flying birds and a birdcage. We thought it was a nice touch that went with the animal theme.

As every consumer and designer knows, savvy design is not only about looking good, but also being functional. We know you must have relied on your creativity to maximize this beautiful space! Will you share some of your solutions with us?

The space is quite small, and it was once used as a spare bedroom. My biggest challenge was finding enough storage space. The room gets a lot of light from the lovely bay windows, but they also take up a whole wall of needed space. I decided to utilize the space under the windows with a bookshelf. I also designed some great storage shelves in the closet to maximize that space.

Any tips for parents who are about to start a new nursery?

Designing my baby’s nursery as a first-time mom, I really didn’t have any idea how a baby would get into everything! I suggest keeping in mind that furniture should be solid and secure, and accent pieces and frames should be hung on a wall or out of baby’s reach. Obvious to many I’m sure, but not necessarily top-of-mind for a new mom!

Photography by Bob Myers

Do you know of a fantastic nursery or big kid’s room designed by a successful designer or business owner? Please send a photo of the room to Adrienne@ProjectNursery.com for consideration.