Child's name: Gavin (7 weeks)
Location: Phoenixville, PA
Room size: SMALL. I really don't know the size. But it's our smallest bedroom in the house.
When Amanda entered (and won!) the Small Kids, Big Color contest, we all followed her into the woods and agreed that it was indeed awesome. The contest's five photo limit left many of you, not to mention us, craving more of this memorable space. Amanda and her husband welcomed the room's occupant, their son Gavin, into the world less than two months ago and she graciously spared a few precious minutes of new mom time to tell and show us more.
How would you describe the look and feel of this room?
It's a weird term for a baby's room, but I'll call it moody. The dark walls give it a really interesting sometimes mysterious look. But the bright colors popping off, I think give it a more playful feel as well. I love the combination of the two.
What is your favorite piece or element?
I really love the impact of the West Elm ceiling light fixture. However, I especially love the personal touches in the room. We have a hand-painted tree with thumbprints of those who attended the shower for "leaves". We have owls we bought in Russia for him. We have my favorite Green Day song which I made into a framed lullabye and hung on the wall. All of these make the room personal and less "show room"
The dark grey walls, while neutral, are bold in their own way - was this a hard decision to make?
The walls were actually already that color. We used the room for an office with white Ikea furniture. The rug is also white. We loved the contrast so we kept it. Also a little bit of laziness played a part in that decision. But I'm a big fan of bold color. My dining room is dark ocean blue.
What was the biggest challenge decorating this room?
I knew I wanted an authentic vintage dresser for the room because 1) we didn't want to pay store prices for a changing table and then get rid of it in a year and 2) I love the look of a mid century piece. Finding the perfect thing on Craigslist took months. But when I finally found it, we didn't hesitate.
Any diy projects to tell us about?
Well the dresser I just mentioned. It was a lighter wood and all one color. We sanded the whole thing down, stained and painted it. We got our inspiration from "Young House Love" blog.
What do your friends say about the room?
My friends were a big part of helping me design the room. I obsessed over each decision so I would ask them opinions. They love it and I think some of them may be purchasing that chair.
The room has a woodland theme - how do you know how much is enough and when to stop with a theme?
I actually didn't start with the theme. I started with color and the theme evolved from there. I knew I wanted these bright greens and blues to pop off of the dark gray, but I needed a neutral to tone everything down. I ended up with this brown color in the woods of the dresser and the bottom of the crib. From there "wood" became an accessory in the room. The wood grain is in the rug, the lamp and the ceiling light. From use of the wood, the "woods" theme was born. I think if I started with an "owl" theme or "woods" theme, I would have been bogged down by that when purchasing accessories.
Do you have any advice for parents creating a room for their child?
Make a room that you would love to be in and then add the kid touches later. Storage is way important so it's easy to clean up and keep it looking super. My best design advice though for any room is to utilize your computer. I'm not super techy so I use MS paint. I literally mock up the room before I add a new element. So for example, I'll "draw" the room with similar colors and then cut and paste actual images of the furniture I'm about to buy or fabric I'm about to use and place it in the room. I then try different colors and different positions until I know that it's right. Makes a purchase less scary.
Resources:
Paint: Benjamin Moore Anchor Gray, eggshell finish
Crib: Walmart Baby Mod collection
Changing Table: 30 bucks on Craigslist + 1 case of beer to get husband to refinish it.
Glider: Jennifer Delonge
Curtains: Joel Dewberry Fabric, custom made by my awesome curtain lady Amy Chic Boutique
Bedding: Joel Dewberry Fabric Modern Meadow, custom made by awesome Etsy lady Hush Baby Co.
Wall Trees: Decals fromDecal Guy on Etsy
Framed owl art: Matte Stephens Etsy
ABC Print: Rosenberry Rooms
Bed Mobile by Helen Ige: Modern Nursery
Changing table mobile: Awesome Asian on Etsy
Stacking owls: Russia. The country. for real.
Owl Bookends: Barnes and Noble
Closet boxes: Ikea
Rug: Overstock
Side Table: Overstock
Ceiling light: West Elm
Table light: West Elm
Ottoman Pouf: CB2
Stuffed owl on shelf: Etsy
Small green owl print, framed: Etsy
Wooden owl hung on wall: Urban Outfitters
Silver trashcans: World Market
Thank you Amanda! Readers you can find Amanda on her blog MODG. Curious what that stands for? Pay a visit and find out.
(Gallery Images by Amanda of MODG except where noted as Jessica Stern Photography)
Coming to Terms with a Knockoff: Original vs. Reproduction Furniture Design
Monica & Austin's Charming Bungalow
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Ercol Bar Stool
True Greek Recipe: Paximadi Bread Salad with Tomatoes, Feta and Capers
This room makes me happy. One of my all time fave nurseries I've seen online EVER! And your lil guy is so precious. Congrats!
The BEST photo is of baby Gavin all swaddled in the blue chair. So sweet...
Agreed. I want to move into this room. :)
I particularly enjoy how the birds are not overwhelming but there. I love birds... we have been wanting to do a 'flight' theme (birds, airplanes, terradactyls, etc...) but don't want to seem so 'trendy'. I think this room looks vintage, cool, modern and cozy.
Congratulations on a beautiful baby and well-done room!
Gasp! This is a fantastic space. Is there room for me to come and stay? Lucky Gavin!
I agree, you did a great job, but it seems like you owe YHL a little more credit, don't you think?
http://www.younghouselove.com/2010/04/what-if-baby-p-was-a-he/
"changing table: $30 + a case of beer to get husband to refinish it" hahahaha
Thanks all! And I gave yhl tons of credit. Check the original entry. I'm also featured on their blog via baby center.com so they are well aware.
The nursery is just stunning! Well done. I love the picture of little Gavin on the gorgeous glider.
Love the room!! Hee :D we have a small bedroom with white ikea furniture that is white and pink. But if it is a boy I'm going to steal the blue wall color :) Just lovely!
Oh jeez. Stunning!
Congrats to you parents! Very nice nursery, and this baby is so Lovely!
Dude! This room is great. I am totally in love with that rug.
Beautiful! Such a wonderful and happy room!
This is the BEST nursery I have ever seen! That blue chair... That rug... The pouf... The best is your beautiful son in the last picture.
That's it. I'm ready for baby #2.
"Make a room that you would love to be in and then add the kid touches later."
Best. Advice. Ever.
Gorgeous room! Congrats on your sweet baby!
OMG, is it normal to see that last foto of Gavin in the chair and start crying? At 9 months preggers, I don't care if it is normal :D
Hormotional me!
Great room. I'll show it to my wife who is expecting.
The sweetest nursery! The baby will have years of inspired imagination! I love the photo of Gavin on the chair by himself.
Love the room. That is one lucky burrito!
Baby Burrito!!! So sweet- love the room, love the new babe. Congrats!
I think the gray on the walls is too dark. It's a bit depressing to me.
Love the baby pic and the room looks comfortable otherwise.
This is such a unique nursery! Love it!
THIRTY BUCKS for that dresser????? I am soo jealous. It is gorgeous! It glows!!!
So cute, so pretty, love love love it! Each detail is so beautifully done. Bravo.
ps. The picture of the burrito baby made me gasp because I was so distracted by the stunning blue chair and cool wall decals that I didn't see him there. Then I imagined someone sitting on him because he was so inconspicuous! lol I'm sure he's snug as a bug!
How has the glider worked out? I'm looking at some of Monte's and also a couple of Jennifer Delonge's, and while the former are easier to see/try out in person, there's something about the Delonge ones that's really appealing . . .
oh, and i love the idea of using the knit pouf as a footstool - totally stealing that and trying it out as a diy project. i think apt therapy actually posted this a while back, but figured i would add the link here for anyone interested . . .
http://www.pickles.no/puff-daddy-knitted-stool/2009/1/28/puff-daddy.html
Just perfect.
I love it. And although the dresser might be somewhat similar to the YHL one, it's a totally different overall room look. Plus, don't we all sit on chairs and sleep on beds? Eat off plates? You get my drift.
It's amazing! You've done really well.
GORGEOUS room! We have the same mobile at home, but we sprayed it white for a better contrast with our dark walls.
love love love. I have knock down finish on my walls.. so I don't think decals would work.. and I can't afford the glider... but I'm really considering using the dark paint color with pops of the bright blue in my 2 year olds room. Oh I so wish I could get that glider though...
Such a lovely, calming room! Congrats! Tell me, what fabric did you use on the glider and lumbar pillow? Was it one Delonge had in stock, or your own?
My god, that photo of him on the chair is insanely sweet...
Love it!!!!
Thank you for sharing this! we LOVE it and are going to use a lot of your ideas for inspiration for our nursery. :)
eeeeeeeee the pic of gavin on the blue chair is soooo cute
Wondering where you purchased the small owl decals shown in image #12? The ones placed along the baseboard?
you could not have done a better job! yeah for Gavin!!
You've done a fabulous job, this is just gorgeous! Just lovely! and Congratulations!!
Your nursery is awesome! You've inspired me to do our girl's nursery like this. For the curtains, did you use Joel Dewberry's Nap Sack in Sunglow or in Grass? And for the sheets and inside of the bumper, did you use Honeycomb in Sunglow or in Grass? thanks and awesome job!!!
What is the paint color?