Name: Josiah (due March 2013)
Location: Oakland, California
The limitations of this guest room-turned-nursery were that it had no windows, no natural light and no fourth wall. Additionally, the room's Lilliputian dimensions weren't helping the cause!
The design of the nursery came together rather organically. My husband and I compromised on this deep navy blue color paint, which works thanks to our lofted ceilings and track lighting. I then collected some vintage-y but new toys/dolls made of linen — foxes and elephants seemed to be the most masculine so I went with those. They all have the quality of a family heirloom, and I hope they become just that.
I tried to add some sophistication by putting an ornate gold frame above the crib and a whimsical paper mache storybook bust of a fox's head on the opposing wall. To maximize space, the console table with shelves serves as storage for diapers, books and a mushroom night light, as well as a changing station.
Source List:
- Leather suitcase: Pottery Barn
- Fox and owl linen dolls: Coral & Tusk
- Elephant doll: Etsy shop QuinnKnits
- Custom changing pad cover: Etsy shop DesignsByChristyS
- Fabric diaper storage bin: Etsy shop TheStorageLoft
- Mushroom doll: by Tamar Mogendorff
- Mushroom night lamp: Got it 8 yrs ago at "Radish & Rose" boutique in Hayes Valley, San Francisco, but long closed
- Plush fox: Anthropologie
- Custom crib sheets: bought at Pottery Barn then utilized a custom sewing job via Etsy shop AngelsWings
- Olive chair: Cost Plus, $200 on sale
- Lumbar pillow: Etsy shop JillianReneeDecor
- Lime green blanket with pom poms: Anthropologie
- Hand-crocheted grey and silver baby blanket: handmade by Mary Moffatt
- Letter 'J': Etsy shop REdesigningWomen
- Navy and gold frames: Anthropologie
Thanks, Lindsay!
(Images: Lindsay O.)






Commercial Flour Sa...
What a beautiful use of space! I love the walls, and all of the items you chose to incorporate into the nursery. And I LOVE the shelves/changing table, where is that piece from?
I love the blanket! It is beautiful.
Beware the pom poms though. I know I will sound ridiculous, but if the blanket was not intended for baby/ kid use, it hasn't gone thru the pull testing required of all baby/ kid items, so therefore could pose a choking hazard. I used to work in the kid clothing industry & the testing requirements are very, very serious. I understand how much of a nervous nellie I sound. Just beware.
Wheels on the changing table?!
Yes, there are wheels, but you can probably lock them.
It's beautiful, but much about this setup screams "first time parents." The changing "system" is impractical - try to change a flaily, squirmy baby on that thing. The baby will chew the pom poms off the blanket, and his new goal in life might well become pulling that picture off the wall.
Beautiful, though.
Love it! I, too, love the changing table with shelves and would love to know where it's from!
I like all the foxes
This is a very good point. But now I'm totally coveting that blanket for my own (grown-up) room!
This nursery is lovely and charming. The "woodland critter" theme is nice and is not over the top; the mushroom lamp in particular is adorable! I like how you have embraced the darkness inherent in a windowless room by painting the walls dark blue. Yeah, you'll probably want to move the cute display items off the top shelf of the changing table once you start changing your little one. But he may not show any interest in pulling down the picture (my daughter has never given a second glance to the framed picture that is within reach of her crib).
Nice to see a post so close to home.
It's nice to see a nursery that looks like a nursery. Nicely done.
I recognize sooo much Anthropologie. I love this!
I believe it's the Decker bookshelf from Anthropologie -- no locks on the wheels. Beautiful as a bookshelf, but not wise to put a baby on top of it.
I love it and I don't find it impractical at all. I had a similar size to my changing table and had no issues with it, besides you don't use a changing table for a long period of time. Once my little one started rolling and moving around we started changing her on the couch, floor and bed anyway. I think the wall color is very bold and unique and I adore the foxes. It is a very whimsical space, good job.
A very charming room! I love the navy and all the woodland animals esp foxes. Those mushrooms are very sweet too. Gotta agree with the changing table. The wheels don't bother me so much but it's very very narrow. It'll work for a newborn but very soon there won't be enough room. I always changed my babies on a bed or the floor (using a cloth) anyways for safety reasons. Thanks for the share!
The lack of windows and natural light makes me sad =/
However that lack of windows will be a boon when it comes to napping and sleeping later than 5AM.
I love everything in this room, beautiful job. The wall color is perfect.
I love the room, espcially the navy wall! Do you happen to remember the name of the paint?
Beautiful wall colour. I'm a bit bemused by the comment about masculine animals, though...
I believe that's the Aiden 3 shelf from Cost Plus/World Market for the changing area. I've got my eye on it for my new tv stand.
love the chartreuse throw with the navy walls. Fantastic color combo.
My husband is from Oakland and even though we don't live in an earthquake area now, the only thing he wanted over the crib was wall decals! I had to talk him into the yarn-covered cardboard letters I wanted to put there too, and I eventually convinced him that they would do no harm. So I'm sure you know this, but please make sure that fox print is very well secured.
I love this space.Very pretty accents. Lots of style in a small space. And yep, our first spent time in a converted closet/hallway and it was just fine.
where is the fox head on the wall from? my daughter's shared room is Fox and Deer themed... I must have that!
What's the name of that paint? I'm about to paint my bedroom navy and this is PERFECT!
Hey everyone- this is my baby's room. YES, the wheels on our console/changing
table lock. It's not from Anthropologie- it's called the Aiden collection from Cost Plus,
I think it was $280? The table is *very* stable and is secured to the wall with
bolts. Thank you for acknowledging that we are first time parents- however, we're highly aware that a blanket in a crib is not safe- it is there for staging purposes only, and because it was handmade by someone special to us. I wanted to highlight it for the photo, that's all. The picture above the crib is entirely out of reach for an infant who can't stand. Once he can stand, we plan to hang it a foot higher. We already thought of that- but thanks for your concern. The Pom-Pom blanket is on a chair & will never be used to cover the baby in an unattended manner- it's just a throw blanket to be used while I'm nursing. I'll have to look up the name of the Behr brand paint we used, for the reader who asked....stay tuned :-)
Panta: Yes! We had already considered earthquakes & had moved the crib about 8" away from the wall that frame hangs on. Thank you for concern! Much appreciated.
@ Emily Sontag: The paper mâché fox is from.....(drumroll please): Anthropologie! (I'm a total sucker for *everything* Anthro ;-)....It's called the 'fox bust'?
I mentioned the picture because babies differ. Mine was/is mechanically oriented, so he quickly figured out he could rattle the crib and make things fall. He flailed when changed, randomly reached for objects on the changing table and Did Things to them, chewed the crib, and learned to pull himself up and throw things on the floor that I thought were out of his reach! I know many much more placid babies.
Love that Navy!