In the Nursery with Everything Erica

Today we want to introduce you to a dynamic duo whose partnership has produced some truly amazing results. Case in point: sweet Elia Harper’s feminine pink and gray nursery. Elia is the daughter of Erica Eckman, the creative mama behind Everything Erica, a popular food and lifestyle brand based out of Chicago, and trust us—both her recipes and baby gear advice are spot on.

When it was time to plan Elia’s nursery, Erica enlisted the help of Danielle Reidy, the founder of Sadie Road. With her expertise in home organizing and styling, she creates spaces for her clients that are equal parts functional and beautiful. When you pair an excited new mama with a talented designer, you can be sure that the collaboration is going to be one to watch—that’s why we’re so excited to share a tour of Elia’s sweet space with some stellar advice from both Erica and Danielle along the way.

Crib | Crib Skirt | Changing Table | Chandelier | Rug

Design inspiration can come from anywhere—what inspired your nursery design?
Danielle: As soon as Erica found out she was having a baby girl, she knew she wanted a blush and gray nursery. Seeing as these are my two favorite colors, I instantly knew this was going to be a dream project. We were on the same page from the very beginning and agreed the nursery should feel very serene, feminine and sweet. The crib was the first piece purchased and was the inspiration for the other furniture and accessories. It’s a statement piece and has the romantic, sweet look we were going for.

How did your design evolve when you transitioned from the planning phase to the execution of your vision?
Danielle: Originally Erica was reluctant to paint, so we were planning to incorporate the blush through accents and accessories only. But as we got further along, Erica decided to go for it and painted the blush accent wall behind the crib. I couldn’t be happier with that decision and how it turned out with the gold decal.

Wall Decal

How did your personal style influence your design choices?
Danielle: I worked with Erica on other areas in her home and knew she goes for a very clean, light aesthetic with contemporary, feminine touches. There is a nice blend of metallics and lots of light neutrals used throughout her home, so I knew I wanted to incorporate touches of gold and cream in the nursery to have it flow well with the other rooms. But it had to be the right type of gold—nothing too shiny or bold.

Did you have any unexpected obstacles when creating this room?
Danielle: We knew we wanted floating shelves on the wall opposite the crib, but we were having a hard time finding the right balance of cute and functional to store books and accessories. They ended up being customized and color-matched to the blush wall with a soft gold shade. The end result is perfection!

Now that the room is complete, what was your favorite part of the process? And what do you love the most about the finished design?
Danielle: The entire process was a complete joy to work on. I really enjoyed putting together a vision for the room and then shopping with Erica and collaborating on finding the perfect finishing touches to make the space unique for little Elia. I truly love everything about the space, but if I had to pick, my favorite is the crib with the blush wall and gold decal behind it. With the crib being the focal point of the room, that wall needed just a little contrast and something special behind it.

What is that one thing that everyone mentions when they step into this space?
Erica: They always mention that the simplistic design and feminine details make it feel very calm and welcoming. My designer, Danielle, is very big on keeping clutter away and curating a room that always feels clean and comfortable.

Heart Wall Decal | Rocker | Side Table

Storage Ottoman

If you had to choose one aspect of the design that is uniquely you, what would it be?
Erica: I am totally obsessed with elephants (they bring me good luck), so I made sure to incorporate them when I could. I have an elephant laundry basket as well as some elephants in the artwork. They are subtle, but they make me smile every time I walk into the room.

Hamper

Animal Prints

What were your nursery must-haves when you started? Has that changed since you started using the space?
Erica: To be honest, I was so overwhelmed when I first started. I didn’t even know what to get or where to begin. Danielle came in, looked at my raw space and provided me with a list of all the basics we would need. After that, we started talking design and just found pieces from that list that fit the aesthetic we were aiming for.

What is the one thing that you would tell other parents to consider when they’re starting their own nursery design projects?
Erica: Start early so you’re not in a rush! Get the big pieces out of the way first and then focus on the small details over time. Don’t buy everything at once either. I feel like sometimes you just need to get a few pieces in place and then look around and see what you need next.

Photography by Lindsey Kay Photography