Name: EM (8 weeks)
Location: Wilshire Center, Los Angeles, CA
We wanted the nursery to flow seamlessly with the rest of our home décor (no arresting shock of entering "babyland"). However, we also wanted to ensure the room was playful and stimulating for a child. My overall style is "Polished Eclectic," with a strong leaning to 30s Modernism (including French Art Deco) and Urban Ethnic (specifically New Moroccan & Mexican-Southwest)...all of this on a shoestring.
While the baby furniture selection was limited by functionality and cost, I think the room meshes well with the house, while creating a fantastical and stimulating retreat.
If the room has a theme, it is loosely based upon the Mexican Bingo game Loteria. We were inspired by the game's darkly whimsical imagery, as well as other animal imagery with just the right amount of macabre. The two key colors in the room are blue (my own favorite) and orange (my husband's favorite and the color of his father's '76 Chevy pickup). All of the bold colors found in Loteria (essentially the rest of the color wheel) work as accents in the room, making it toy friendly--so it will hold up in the long run. The walls are gray, like much of our home.
My favorite element in the room is the rug - I LOVE it! It was a flea market find that I nearly had a meltdown over. I paid full price ($70) because I couldn't maintain my poker face--can you believe how perfectly it fits our color palette?!! (Rugs are my weakness.)
The biggest challenge in the room was storage (we have a small home). I had wanted all the shelves to be child accessible, but had to put some fragile/dangerous items up high and had to store blankets and diapers somewhere, so they ended up in higher bins.
My proudest DIY project in the room is the Moroccan table. While we did not build it, it only came in a sloppily painted white. My husband painstakingly sanded it down, painted it with four coats of a color I had to mix myself, and then coated it seven times with varnish. Also, the glider. While a great Craigslist deal at $200, it began locking up once we got it home. The maker is no longer in business, so, with the help of friends and family, I tracked down new needle bearings and bolts (all parts were metric!) and my husband rebuilt it. It now glides like new!
My biggest indulgence was the ottoman which I bought for $100! I have had my eye on those at Etsy for a few years. I finally splurged and got one!
Source List:
- Moroccan Table: Wisteria catalog
- Loteria Card Prints: HammerPress in Missouri
- Arcade Fire European Tour Print: Burlesque of North America
- Crib: Dutailier via Craigslist
- Dresser/Changer: World Market via Craigslist
- Rug: Afghanistan via Long Beach Flea Market
- Moroccan Lanterns: Craigslist
- Glider: Nurseryworks via Craigslist
- Shelves: IKEA Expedit
- Ottoman/Pouf: aletafae on Etsy
- Pinata Bull Head: Amazing Pinatas in LA's downtown "piñata district" (custom job)
- Carved Horse Head: trip to India
- Prof. Rabbit Pigelphant Head: AICreatures on Etsy
- Metal Lamp: Pier One
- Orange Linens: Carousel Designs from Baby Bedding.com
- Orange and blue throw Pillow: Anna Paftika on Etsy
- Paint: Behr; 1:1 mix of Skyline Steel and Iron Wood
- Other art: personal collection
- Ferris Wheel: my father's toy from the 1930s
- Orange Humidifier: Crane
- Blue Tissue Ball: MollaSpace Paper Pot Tissue Holder
- Rocking Horse painting: Ford Ruthling, represented by Nedra Matteucci Galleries
Thanks Natalie - well done!
(Images: reader Natalie)
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Is the Nurseryworks glider the one designed by Truck? Love it!
Very Moroccan Bazaar.
while it looks really nice, not very practical in the long run....
Beautiful!
Archie29 - Why not? The elements in the room seem pretty simple. I can't see why it might not be practical in the long run.
I have to disagree with @Archi29. I think this is one of the most practical and transitional nurseries I've seen on this site. Well done.
Huh. "Shoestring" must mean something different to Natalie. I sure wish my "shoestring" budget was more like hers!
Perfection!
Archie29: I, too, am interested to think why you might not think it practical in the long run.
I am l doing a nursery now and definitely going for the 'no arresting shock of entering "babyland"' (love that quote!) look and while not my colours or tastes this is very inspirational in the way they have mixed an adult and childrens feel.
I say job well done!
I too would completely break down if I saw that rug on sale for $70. It's my dream to come across a beautiful rug like that for cheap...
Cute room...on a side note, i love the crane "cute" humidifiers, but i have purchased 5 of these in different animal styles throughout the years, and never had one work for more than 2 times...anyone else have that problem?
OMG and attractive glider, how on earth???? Jealous.
Em has some wise parents with excellent taste. Should easily rub off on her!
I think it all seems practical for the long run and cute.
Where is Wilshire Center? I've lived in the Mid-Wilshire / Beverly Grove / Carthay Circle area for many years and have never heard of Wilshire Center.
Oh, great room!
My 2 cents on why this not practical in the long run - from the pictures it seems the furniture is occupying a lot space w/o leaving much room for the baby to move around/ play, some of the stuff at the low level is not very practical. Again it also depends on the personality of the baby. My older one wld never touch anything once he was told not to touch, but the younger is completely opp....don't get me wrong - i absolutely love the decor because it is not screaming "babyland" - just that changes will have to be made sooner than later to meet the needs of a growing baby. hence not very practical in the long run.
LOVE! This is the best nursery I have ever seen. Period. I want to recreate even though I don't have a need for a nursery.
I am so jealous of people who find amazing gliders on Craigslist. I found one so far and then the guy decided not to sell it. The rest are disgusting and wooden with stained cushions. I love your nursery!
This room is adorable! I love the custom piñata.
Really well done. I think you found a great balance between interesting for a kiddo and pleasing to the adults;)
Beautiful! Watch the picture above the crib though... Maybe a canvas or textile is safer. My toddler would have yanked that down as soon as she could stand.
Except for a few nick-knacks on the smaller shelf I don't see anything here that isn't for the baby to not touch. I see books and blankets. Eventually the glider and the changing table will have to go but isn't that the same with all kid's rooms? The shelves will just get filled up with more toys and books.