Name: Gabriel
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Much to my husband's dismay, this is actually Gabe's second nursery. Yet, we didn't move...I just changed my mind.
See, I attempted a gender neutral nursery before he was born and we didn't know what we'd be having. But after Gabe was born, the birdie theme I went with originally seemed a little girly. And if it's possible for an infant to be totally masculine, Gabe would be it. So somehow I managed to convince my husband to paint the walls again and let me run with a new concept, Tiny British Gentleman. He agreed...as long as I spent minimal bucks.
Luckily I had a way to finance this project...I sold our glider. The glider that we found on Craigslist had seemed perfect while I was pregnant. But after trying to get out of it, while holding a sleeping baby, and not moving a muscle, I decided it had to go. I needed a stable chair. So I found a mint condition Ikea arm chair for cheap on Craigslist and have loved it ever since.
Now I had money for a gallon of paint, some new Target curtains, a Union Jack flag on clearance from Urban Outfitters, some Ikea frames, a few yards of houndstooth fabric for a cribskirt and a bunch of DIY artwork.
It may sound silly, but this room totally fits our boy. And I love it.
Thanks Shannon! Readers, curious to see what the girl-version of this nursery looked like? Head to Shannanigans for a peek and some more pics of Gabe's room.
(Images: Shannon W.)






Shaw's Original Fir...
Love it! I am glad to see this posted - I know SO many moms who try do a "gender neutral" nursery that inevitably swings the wrong way (too feminine for a boy, too masculine once little girl arrives) and want to change it. You did it, and made it work! Such a cute concept room.
it takes talent to create such a pulled-together room on a budget - nice job!
The link to the blog is not working. I wanted to see the before. The after looks really nice.
I like you Shannon. The first sentence sold me.
As an Anglophile, I *love* it. :)
We did a gender-neutral nursery for our boys, but I think it skewed a tiny bit masculine, so it worked out that they were boys and not girls. But I do think that a lot of gender-neutral nurseries tend to be on the girly side.
Oh wow, thanks for the nice comments guys! If any of the links don't work, it may be because I recently switched my domain to shannanigansblog.com. Feel free to come stop by!
Gorgeous!
Wonderful. I think is great theme and well execute. Hard to believe it was done on a budget. Great job!
I'm impressed. I struggle with decorating in general and nurseries seem especially hard. I personally don't care for extremely juvenile. I love how masculine and honestly, "grown up" this nursery it. Great job.
Where did you get the crib? It looks...not ginormous.
I love it! I would consider this nursery "gender-neutral". I think that "gender-neutral" nurseries go too feminine. I have also seen nurseries for boys that look like they were designed with Mommy in mind instead of baby.
@ GRACIAANN: I don't think you can ever go "too masculine" in a "gender neutral" nursery even for a baby girl. Baby girls do not need lace, ruffles, pink or anything of the sort to help them establish their identity as girls.
i love it!! it's a wonderful space.
I'd even decorate like that for a girl too! I don't like anything frilly or pink.
Beautiful! Very handsome.
LOVE the framed pics of Kipper and his pals. What an adorable touch.
This will transition nicely when he becomes a 'big-boy". Nice job.seriously.
Forgot to mention: Love that red dresser!