Real Rooms: Fun With Dick And Jane

New parents Susanna and David, who hail from Louisville Kentucky, created a charming nursery centered around classic Americana from the Dick and Jane educational readers of the 1930’s to 1960’s. These beloved stories and illustrations show life as simple and pure, hopeful and uncomplicated. Fitting qualities for a baby’s first home! Susanna shares all the details on how she and David together achieved this beautiful nursery.

Our inspiration for the room were the old Dick and Jane readers that are on the shelf above the changing table. We love anything vintage and old which was perfect for the tiny room and tiny budget we had to work with! We used Benjamin Moore’s Navajo White on the walls for a fresh background with bright white trim. The primary fabric is Michael Miller’s J is for Jump in Cream that was used for the bedding, basket liners and balloon shades. We purchased this fabric in 100% cotton and in a laminated version for the changing table from JCaroline Creative and the Warm Biscuit Bedding Company. The Rugged Whale Quilted Stripe Bumper, Truck Nightlight, and Chenille Braided Rug in Primary are from Pottery Barn Kids.

The furniture is a hodge podge collection from local antique shops, attics, and garage sales with the exception of the Jenny Lind Crib in Golden Honey from Babies R Us and the Beadboard Small Pegboard Shelf from Pottery Barn Teen that was painted to match the other red furniture and hung above the changing table. The vintage mobile and hobnail milk glass lamp were ebay finds, and I matted and framed prints from the old Dick and Jane readers to group above the twin bed. The Wood Gallery Frames were ordered from Blick Art Materials.

The quilts on the twin bed were from my grandmother and my husband’s grandmother, and the musical lamp next to the rocking chair was in my brother’s nursery years ago. I’m drawn to color, and the more worn something looks the more I like it. If the paint is chipping, I’ll take it! As far as DIY tips go, when you have a tiny budget you’re forced to literally do it yourself! Look around for things you already have that can be transformed with paint or fresh fabric. Also, shop at local places for good deals on pieces that can be redone with a little elbow grease. Thank you Susanna for all the wonderful details. We are sure your newborn baby will be so happy hanging out with friends Dick and Jane.