Design Reveal: Pink Butterfly Nursery

I love the process of collaborating with other designers. You know, sometimes a design salad is exactly what is on the menu. On this special project, I was very excited to work with Bracha Schulhoff of Petit Pram in Cedarhurst, New York. She is the firecracker of nursery design, and Bracha’s passion for the business—not to mention the speed at which she speaks—is seriously unmatched. If you’ve ever seen her in action, you too can attest that she is a force of nature. When she calls me in on a project, it is always a thrill because I know it’s on!

To me, wall treatments are so important to the look of every interior—they are not just the frosting on the cake. It’s bigger than that for me. I mean, come on, the right paint color, wall covering or decorative wall art is literally the visual glue that ties the whole shebang together.

We were presented with the design goal of creating a pretty and chic nursery that was fitting of the grand scale of the modern architecture. Petit Pram furnished the space with the Sparrow Crib from Oeuf, Savannah Changer from ducduc, Ricki Bookcase from Newport Cottages and a gorgeous chandelier, and my studio, Sam Simon Projects, worked our magic on the wall treatments, window coverings, hardware and one very special accessory—it’s a bunny nightlight that I just could not resist!

Initially all of the walls were painted a pale pink hue. We then painted variegated horizontal stripes on one wall and even width vertical stripes on the adjacent wall. All of these stripes were painted in white or feather gray using a color wash technique, and they were edged with thin pearlescent silvery stripes.

I wanted to create a modern take on a classic motif, so large scale butterflies were painted in an asymmetrical composition on the main wall. These winged icons were layered in metallic silver paint and then collaged with fragmented sterling silver leaf. Each butterfly is detailed with an outline of clear Swarovski crystals. Who doesn’t like a little bling bling?

I wanted the draperies to look grand and impressive while remaining chic, so I went with simple abundance. I chose double layered floor length draperies constructed of shimmering gray silk. I love this fabric for its small scale, modern square-on-square pattern because it pushes the aesthetic. The sheers are comprised of frothy layers of translucent white organza from F. Schumacher and Co. and detailed with tiny flowers comprised of sewn-on glass seed beads. Can you say eleganza?

Sam Simon Projects takes on all kinds of design projects large and small, and the home owners on this project asked for our consult on hardware for the home, specifically doorknobs. I quickly fell in love with this crystal doorknob. The overall shape is very tailored, but the crystal ball is just magic—it adds a very eye-catching detail.