the nursery.

let me share some details before we start the tour...  the nursery is half of a larger room.  the other half is my office/studio type space.  i knew i wanted to go with a yellow + grey color scheme from almost the beginning and simply searched out items until i found things i liked.  because the girl has her trademark animal of the owl, we also picked out one for our newest little one.  the elephant.  the nursery side of the room is now complete i just need to finish up some details on my office side but nothing i'm too concerned about at the moment.  something that drives my husband a bit crazy is that i wait to put things on walls until i find what i absolutely love.  i hate putting things up just for the sake of putting things up.

 

the view from the doorway looking at the nursery side.  another thing i want to change?  that light fixture on the fan.  love the fan, hate the light.  in fact, i could do without the light altogether but will likely try and simply con andy into putting a single fixture at the base instead of the three lights.  you'll also see some pops of turquoise.  i wanted some other color to mix with the yellow and grey and that's what i went with.

 

so starting around the perimeter of the room once you enter...  the changing table.  this is the same chest from ikea that the girl has, just in a darker finish.  love it as it's taller than a standard changing table, perfect for tall parents, and it has a lot of storage space.  love the print as well as it has the colors i was looking for and has some of the lyrics to "bright and sunshiny day" on it.  the door to the left of the changing table is a closet.  probably the biggest closet in the house - perfect for office stuff, baby stuff and random other storage like suitcases.

 

hard to get a good shot of the items to the left of the closet door.  the items i've been waiting for to complete the room, naturally.  

a little bit better view.  the height/growth chart i found from a company in australia.  then there's a clock and just a simple thing i made to put in the square frame.  something easy to change out when the mood strikes.

 

the piece that i made is simply an overlay - turquoise elephants, perfect! - over a sheet of scrapbook paper.  not sure that i'm in love with it, but it's a nice pop of color and works for now.  and i already had everything so i'm going with it for now.

 

the view of the crib from the office side.  i've had the print since probably october.  found it in my internet trolling somewhere.  decided to go with the trendy pom pons instead of a mobile and love the bit of color and interest they add.

 

to add more visual interest to this wall instead of painting it all a solid yellow i did the scalloped border.  lots of detail work with a sponge brush but i like how it turned out.  fun, but not fussy.

 

the quilt my friend susan made.  LOVE it.  it immediately went on the crib for a decor purpose now, actual use later.  i had shared with her what bedding i was getting earlier and she included those fabrics in it but also some that simply coordinate.  i love how it turned out.  if i was going to order something, this is exactly what i would've picked.  

and the rug.  on our trip to ikea i thought i'd easily be able to find a yellow rug.  not so much.  more internet trolling let to this find.  i was a bit unsure when i ordered, but knowing i could return it and i had a gift card for part of the purchase and i decided to give it a go.  love the herringbone pattern.  definitely meant to be.

 

the baby's view from the crib.  there are a total of ten pom pons dangling from the ceiling.

 

to the left of the crib.  the shelf was above where my computer desk used to be and i didn't want to take it out because i knew there'd be unsightly holes to cover.  so it stayed and matches the shelf on the other side of the room where my computer desk now sits.  instead, i sewed these book slings to put underneath.  great added storage and a fun linear element for the room.  my mind thinks linearly.  the girl already enjoys stealing books from here when i'm in here.  the blank spot on the shelf will house the alphabet initial of this baby whenever we decide what his/her name will be.

 

an up close shot of the book slings.  my only sewing project for this little one.  the girl got burp cloths, this one gets book slings.  i'm definitely not known for my sewing talents.  ironically, susan included this fabric in the quilt she made for the baby and she didn't know that i was using it for this project. 

there's a large bank of windows to the left of the book slings which i absolutely love.  even if it makes taking photos more difficult.  this might be the only shot that shows the pendant light over the chair.  this chair was given to us by the parents of a designer i worked with in missouri for andy's office.  i'm not a fan of recliners, but whatever as it was andy's and i never really had to look at it.  nor did i have to purchase said recliner.  i also didn't want to purchase another chair for the nursery either.  with a simple slipcover, a new chair was born.  and now i love it, go figure.  the ottoman has a small grey herringbone pattern to it that fit in nicely with everything else.

 

a better shot of the chair's new slipcover.  the chair was originally a darker taupe and it's still in fantastic condition.  so when/if the chair moves to another room of the house it can have the slipcover on or off and be transformed again.  the afghan was knitted by my aunt.  she knitted a blanket for the girl, even though she didn't think i'd want one because i can knit.  so not true.  she was making a kicking bag for this little one and also spoiled me/us with the afghan as well.  perfect for covering up this mama's legs during late night feedings.  the pillow in the front shows the outside fabric of the bedding a bit better.  the girl loves the second pillow because it has "balls" on it.

 

lots of misc goodies by the chair including music.  the button under the table is a foot switch for the light above the chair.  i have one in the girl's room for her light as well.  also perfect for late night feedings as you don't have to turn on other lights to find it you just have to push it on or on with your foot.  no extra hands needed.

 

just a bit of my side of the room.  have i mentioned how much i love being in this space now?  the shelves were my wedding gift from andy nearly 8 years ago.  i had always wanted them in my studio space and i got my wish a couple of years ago.  perfect for holding all my stuff.  a lovely shot of my trash and recycling as well.  the girl likes to push them out of the way and play there.

 

my computer desk, printers, etc.  the blank wall waiting for the perfect something.  this side of the room used to be andy's office space.  his computer table was where mine currently is so the shelf was already there and matches the nursery side as well.

 

a better shot of my side of the room.  the door doesn't fully open as i have a large rubbermaid bin full of stuff i need to sell at the next scrapbook store garage sale.

whew.  that would be the end of the tour.  definitely my new favorite room in the house.  and not just because it's half mine.  why is it that my children's rooms are my favorite and most complete?

Comments

[sarah]

beautiful room mel! the second pillow (with the "balls" on it)...is than etsy find? love the look of it!

[melanie bauer]

etsy, of course!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/dedeetsyshop

[j.leija]

if/when i have a baby, grey, yellow and turquoise are the colors i'd choose to do a room in too! love love love how this turned out! how did you mount your book slings on the wall, btw? i've been looking for some off the floor magazine rack ideas and this one is perfect!

[Jen Gallacher]

Awesome, awesome, awesome!! I'm in love with the gray/yellow combo! You have such an eye for color, Mel!

[Missy]

Unbelievably adorable!! Great finds! I've been wanting to make some of those book slings for Josie's room - you've re-motivated me!

You should send your pics to Ohdeedoh - it looks just like something you'd see there.

[Gabby]

Hee-- great minds-- we hve mucho similar but HOLY COW is your nursery like a bajillion times cooler than anything I've ever seen. As always, you = the amazingest!!!!

[kelly]

this is so gorgeous, mel!!!
i want to live in that room.

[Shannon R.]

Gorgeous! I love the color combination. It's hard to pick a favorite part of the room but I really like the yellow scallop on the wall.

[Jo]

Did you make the pom poms????

the nursery is BEAUTIFUL!!

[Joanna]

I adore every single part of the nursery!!!!! Love it all!! Will you sew some book slings for us (in your spare time, in between having the baby and all...) Love it, mell! Especially the scalloped border & the pompons!

[elana]

The room is absolutely beautiful - thanks for sharing!

[Mary Rogers]

checking in on you today!! this room is so gorgeous mel!! I know you are going to enjoy it even more with a baby in that crib.

All the details are fabulous and I love the yellow with the gray - inspired me to create my next layout with those colors : )

hope you have a great weekend and maybe a trip to the ob floor.

hugs,

[Nichol Magouirk]

when can *I* move in????? I LOVE the room. LOVE.

[emily (justem)]

um...amazing.
if you ever need a new profession i think i would hire you to decorate my house!

[tracy]

oh, mel. that's equally as amazing as miss camryn's room. i love it!

[Laura]

Love every part of it. I need to know where that growth chart is from and that quilt is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Oh, and are you still pregnant? :P

[susan weinroth]

oh MELANIE!!!!! it is completely and totally amazing. YOU amaze me. i'm so inspired... and i have lots of Qs. which i will be emailing you ;) those fabric book slings are now at the top of my to-do list!!!!!

[NICOLE]

OMG! THAT IS THE CUTEST NURSERY EVER! I AM SO GLAD YOU SHARED!

[Courtney]

love your mod style and love that grey color! where did you get the bedding?

[shelby]

I love the room! The colors are so cool and everything looks really great. I can't wait to see pictures of the little one that will love this room!

[Jennifer]

I am absolutely in love with this room!! What a beautiful place for your baby :)

[Jill E.]

WOW! love it! every bit of it! so excited to hear about the newest member of your family- hoping for your sake that it happens soon! :)

[Emily S]

Stunning, Mel - I love every single thing. The book slings are genius. You have created the coolest nurseries!

[Sara]

LOVE LOVE LOVE. I'm so sad that I have ZERO space to do another nursery -- yours is so inspiring! I'm with Susan, MUST HAVE the fabric slings so please send a "how to" if you have it. I can certainly add those into one of the kids rooms! I cannot WAIT to see what baby fills this pretty space with life and LOVE! COME ON BABY!!! It has already passed my guess date! :) Hang in there! You did such a beautiful job, I can see why this is your new favorite room!

[Sara Knoester]

Mel,
The nursery is beautiful!!! Will you come and help me decorate my kids rooms at my new house?? You are so creative, and found such perfect pieces for the room. Can't wait to meet the new little one! Anything new on that front?? You are now overdue, correct? Just what you were hoping for! ;)

[Carrie]

I love the room! I really like the non-traditional nursery colors. So refreshing! It almost makes me wish that we had a nursery for our babies. Mine still wouldn't be as awesome as yours, though. Enjoy the room!

[Joscie]

wowza Mel. I love it! so so fab!

[cindy strom]

LOVE it!! Can't wait to get the tour in person. :) Hope all is well!

[Emily]

I am in love! I want my room to look like this. Just fabulous!

[Kate]

sososososososo cute mel! I pompom-i-fied Josies room about a month ago and she LOVES her "flowers", I know your new babe will too!!! Better than any ole mobile!

[Kim Dampier]

mel, the nursery is amazing!! you are so talented...elephants were carter's "animal" too, i have found tons of cool ones all over!! can't wait to {meet} the newest babe!

[Jennifer]

I just found your blog and love the nursery! Where did you get that adorable growth chart? I love it!

[Becky Trump]

absolutely AMAZING, Mel! Love every detail and the color scheme is so perfect :) I esp. love the yellow bubble on the gray wall!!!!

[Nikki M]

Congrats to you on the baby...wow, she was HUGE! Great news that the girl loves the new baby. My 3-year-old was the same when we brought home her sister, and 2 years later, they still ADORE one another. Involving "the big" was crucial to building the bond in our house, but I am sure that EVERYONE has told you that!

This nursery is absolutely stunning! Those book slings are a wonderful idea. Would love to know where you found the pattern/instructions. Would love to try to make a go of them myself.

Again, congrats to you and your family and enjoy your time with the girlies!

[AllisonK]

The nursery is lovely!!!! So many wonderful details.

[Renea]

that is THE most adorable nursery I have EVER seen!!!! ♥ it!

[AJ]

This nursery is so stunning and welcoming! Who wouldn't love to live there!
I'm also doing a grey/yellow room, but for my master bedroom =D In fact I was eyeing the same rug online over the weekend! Do you know what stores carry it? I'm kind of unsure of the size & quality since it's from a teen line.
Oh and awesome book sling I'm adding it to my baby dream room journal!

Here's the sling tutorial for those interested:
http://pennycarnival.typepad.com/penny_carnival/2009/02/tutorial-hanging-book-display.html

[AJ]

Just saw you listed on Ohdeedoh- Congrats! Thrilled to see the rug line is carried at Target of all places! Glad I won't have to go thru the unknown retailer I was browsing. Thanks for sharing all your fab ideas & details!

[Jessica Witty]

Dude. This is so stinkin' beautiful I can't even stand it! Please, please, please tell me more about the pom poms! You've given me a vision for my daughter's room and now I must have them!

[Winter]

Beautiful room! I love it! The colors are AMAZING! :)

[amy]

Love the pompoms. Did you make them or buy them? Will you share your source?

[Brenda]

Hello! I am interested in how you created the book slings and then mounted them on the wall in the nursery? I think they are a phenomenal idea and I would love to replicate it in my nursery.

thank you so much!

Brenda

[Christen]

Hi there! My sister is expecting and loves these colors. I would like to get her/make her some pom poms similar to the ones shown in your nursery for her shower and then be transferred over for the baby. Did you make these, or were they purchased? Thank you!

[Christen]

Hi there! My sister is expecting and loves these colors. I would like to get her/make her some pom poms similar to the ones shown in your nursery for her shower and then be transferred over for the baby. Did you make these, or were they purchased? Thank you!

[Erin @ Domestic Adventure]

Hi Melanie,

Someone left an anonymous comment on my blog today stating that I "totally copied" my nursery design from you. While I gathered inspiration from all across the blogosphere when planning my nursery, your gray and yellow color scheme and your fun book slings certainly inspired me, so thank you! There was another nursery on Ohdeedoh that I did actually copy right down to the paint color! I gave credit throughout my planning process, and linked to your room on Ohdeedoh several times. And in my nursery reveal I flat out stated that not a single idea was original--that's the best part of blogging, after all!

Anyway, I hope you'll take a look at my nursery and feel proud that your great design inspired some of my choices!

http://www.domesticadventure.com/2010/12/the-nursery-reveal/

xo,
- e

[Lisa]

Hi there,

I saw your nursery and projects featured in Chatelaine Feb 2012. Love it!! How do you make the pom pom mobile and the hanging fabric wall shelf?

[melanie bauer]

hi, lisa!

the poms i purchased off of etsy from PomLove.  they were super easy to fluff into shape and hang.

i used this tutorial on creating the book slings.  my sewing machine and i dont get along very well but if i can do it, anyone can!