Name: Aurora ("Rory", 7 months)
Location: Omaha, NE
I had been toying around with the idea to paint the nursery walls Tiffany blue. However, I knew if we had a boy I would always see a jewel box upon entering his room. When we found out we were having a girl I dashed off to the paint store and had the color custom matched.
From there we didn't really have a theme. My husband would say that our theme was "cheap." He had me tied to a very tight budget. We also had to work with a small room with no architectural charm. *Sigh*
Most of the elements in the room are handmade. I spent many hours with my mom working on nursery projects while I was getting ready to be a mom. We made the ruffled crib skirt, crib pillows, stuffed dog in the crib, window valance banner, and the ruffled lampshade. I created the wreath mobile from leftover flowers from our wedding decorations. I also hand cut the silhouettes above the crib, which were inspired by Restoration Hardware. The sparkly wreath was also made by my mom. The mirrored closet doors are a bit of an eyesore, but they can't be changed; I added a chalkboard decal to update them.
My mom made all of the little butterflies in the room out of old book pages, and my aunt crocheted the pink blanket. My husband made the bookshelves, inspired by the Pottery Barn Kids Collector's Shelves, for less than $5! Most of the artwork is framed greeting cards. (Secret cheap art!) The "I love you a bushel and a peck" artwork is from Mandipidy on Etsy. I love it because my grandpa said that to me when I was a baby. But my favorite thing in the whole room is the stuffed elephant on the shelf that my mom and I sewed out of vintage feed sacks. The pattern came from Matsutake on Etsy.
The dresser/changing table was found at a garage sale for $20, the end table was found on Craigslist for $5, and the rocking chair was free! The one big splurge was the reading corner chandelier. Overall, we spent less than $500. It has become a special place for Rory and one of our favorite rooms!
Thanks, Lauren!
(Images: Lauren O.)
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Hm. In the first and third photos it looks green, which I actually liked better than the Tiffany blue. I'm not sure if I'm missing something in the description...how did painting the room Tiffany blue for a boy remind you of a jewelry box but for a girl it was different?
WOW! Elegant, creative, and for once, a "budget," that the rest of us can agree is a budget! You really did create a lovely, finished look using your eye for quality, some work, and patience; not furniture that is lovely, but bought at prices most of us simply cannot or will not pay! It is perfect, and you will enjoy the dresser and end table, chandelier, and rocker long after Rory is grown! I would love to see the other rooms in your home. What an inspiration!
Are the silhouettes of people important to you? or just random children?
Very sweet. Looks much higher end than the budget, according to your report!
I don't agree that this room has no architectural charm: I love the sash windows and the long curtains you hung around them make them look really classy. Great job!!
Pi, I have always adored Tiffany Blue, and it has always been a glamorous girly color to me. I am sure others would agree that it would easily work for a boy, but my association will probably always be "girl." Chellyt84, the silhouettes are just random children. I don't think I am talented enough to create a good likeness of someone. Haha! It would be nice, though, if they were.
Pi - I think she's saying Tiffany blue seems feminine to her because it's associated with jewelry. So she liked the femininity for a girl, but didn't want to put a boy in a Tiffany jewel box - girly-looking room.
Ahhh, thanks for the clarification! Interesting. I've never associated Tiffany blue (or rather, robin's egg blue and similar shades) as being very feminine or masculine. It's one of those colors that seem very neutral to me.
Where is the sparkly pillow from?
LadyNocturne, the pillow cover is from Hobby Lobby. I used a coupon, and I think I got it for $5.
So so pretty! Where are the French cards from? Congratulations.
Such a pretty and well thought space. I like that it's not too baby-is and that Aurora will be able to grow into her room without many changes. I can definitely imagine a 5 yo girl in this room, just toss the changing pad once she's potty-trained, that's all! This is one lucky little girl...
Thank you, everyone, for the kind words!
Moimarcie, the French cards are from Rifle Paper Co. Here is the link: http://riflepaperco.com/item/Assorted_French_Cards/243/c30
When I bought them, I got a 50% off promo code from someone's blog. I don't know how often they offer that.
Love the room! If you ever want to add your daughters silhouette up there it's really very easy to do, here's a tutorial. http://www.thesitsgirls.com/diy/do-it-yourself-make-your-own-silhouettes/
lyndsay.j.becker, that is really clever! I will definitely be doing that!!
Good work! I think if the blue wall was blue and white vertical stripes, the elegance would shoot up another 50%
I love the flower mobile! Is that Eiffel Tower a lamp base by any chance?
Heather - The Eiffel Tower is a lamp base. Hahahaha! (It is almost impossible to tell after I made a few modifications.) My younger sister had it in her bedroom when she was in high school. She was going to give it to Goodwill, but I snagged it and pulled out the lamp bits. As for the mobile, I was inspired to make it after I saw this gal's lovely nursery: http://jonesdesigncompany.com/featured/audreys-nursery-part-two/.
This is room is so beautiful! I am interested in the curtains because I have windows side by side like yours. Do you have two curtain rods up there or just one? How do you keep the curtains seperated? I am hoping to re-create the look that you have there.
Gorgeous room! Can you share the paint color?
Christylove - Thank you very much! I only have one curtain rod, but because it is an extra long one, it has a support bracket in the middle. The support bracket serves as a nice divider and allows it to function like two curtain rods without the bulkiness that would otherwise be in the middle.
DC in DC - Many paint stores have those color matching machines. (I used Lowes.) Since I matched it directly to a little Tiffany's bag, there is no official color. Sorry I couldn't be of help, but thanks for the compliment! :)