Great job creating an eclectic nursery.
One question... the changing pad... I believe those things are supposed to be taller on the sides, to prevent the baby from rolling, like a u shape.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-for-Baby-Simmons-Kids-Contour-Changing-Pad-16x32-GREAT-DEAL-/281070795100?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item41711ff95c

I'm so confused about bumper pads. I keep reading they are NEVER to be used, yet they appear in every AT nursery post. Perhaps they are removed before the baby goes in the crib?

I love the elephant bookends! This also inspires me to use the gilded bamboo frames that I picked up from the thrift store and shoved into storage.

YTess, I am guessing that it is U-shaped and the cover is just pulled taut. Ours does that too before we use it after each washing.

And Kate, I agree! I wonder why so many parents are still buying and using bumpers -- and why they're still being manufactured. I'd rather risk a little bruise (my 10-month-old got her leg stuck between the bars for the first time last week) than something much worse.
http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/18/health/no-bumpers-cribs-sids-parenting

Lovely room! Is this an enclosed balcony? That brick wall is fantastic, as is everything else.

I have two of those twisty stools with a piece of glass on top as a coffee table - I like it as a fluffy seat too. :)

My ex-gf would love those elephant bookends! And the plush elephant too. I am concerned about the antelope busts on the changing table, with the sharp horns and all.

Oh my goodness, this is adorable! I love the color and the furnishings, but that brick wall really takes it up a notch. So pretty.

These colors are so great! This is a lovely room that's great for a child, but not too juvenile.

I hate to be critical of such a nice nursery, but I also don't understand spending money on a crib bumper that can only be used for decoration, and must be removed when the baby is in the crib. The fabric on the inside of the bumper is so pretty - I might have used that for the curtains. All in all, though, a really nice job.

The antelope heads caught my eye, in a bad way, too. I know they are just for styling, but I can't help imagining them interfere with function. The room looks just great, very fun and elegant.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, there is no evidence that crib bumpers protect against injury, but they do carry a potential risk of suffocation, strangulation, or entrapment because infants lack the motor skills or strength to turn their heads should they roll into something that obstructs their breathing. As a new mom, it really bothers me when I see bumpers in nurseries on AT posts, because it flies in the face of current safety guidelines based on actual data. Particularly when our interiors affect not only beauty, but also the safety of our youngest family members, should form not follow function?

Very pretty nursery! Love the colors, artwork, cowhide, and especially the elephant bookends.

I was going to defend Amanda by reminding everyone that there is such a thing as a breathable crib bumper, but then I looked up the etsy shop that made the bumpers. Not breathable. Amanda - they're cute, but they have to go.

I wouldn't worry about the kid impaling himself of the antelope just yet. Newborns aren't moving too much when getting changed. To be completely gross, I would worry about one of those antelopes being in poo-shot.
I've had to clear a lot of stuff off my little one's dresser after learning that the hard way;)

What a gorgeous room. I just wonder if there is a way to fit in a more comfortable chair so that you can nurse or feed the baby while admiring your masterpiece! Great work!!!

Agreed. Beautiful room! But the way my 3-month old wriggles around on the changing table, I wouldn't have those pointy things anywhere near him.

Bumper pads should not be used (breatheable or not). I was a therapist in the early intervention field- working with prenatal and postnatal mothers. Part of my job was to educate and instruct new parents on setting up their nurseries. The 'no bumper pad' guideline was only established about a year or 2 ago so this is still relatively new information for a lot of parents. But with that being said...I do love the concept of creating a nursery that is "sophisticated enough for grownups but still fun for a baby" as well.

Well, what do you know? APT therapy has covered the crib bumper topic already:

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/its-official-aap-says-no-crib-158888

So nice to see ideas for a seriously effing-small nursery for once. Those urban townhouse "second bedrooms" are tough!

Adorable nursery! Love the fabrics.

On a side note: I have two grade schoolers who survived their bumpers.

interesting that more than half the comments are chiding the homeowner about safety risks. Lots of parents use bumpers (americans and abroad) without causing any harm. lots of parents co-sleep without rolling over on their babies. lots of women eat junk food, drink coffee, eat sushi, drink raw milk during pregnancy without harm. can't we all just agree that people are allowed to do things their own way and keep the judgement to ourselves? it's annoying on a design blog.

regarding the design of the room - Amanda, i love the way you turned a challenging space into something perfect for a baby and beautiful for adult sensibilities! the fabrics are lovely, the collection of bamboo frames are a great way to display artwork, and that chest is a steal! great job - nice to see something different from the usual nurseries.

I'm fascinated by comments from experienced parents about (what they see as) naive newbie parent nursery decor.

AT - I'd love to see a Before & After series of nurseries, with the Before being the nursery before the child arrives and the After being the nursery 6 months after life with the kid.

(If this seems impossible, I'll take B&As of our own nursery when the time comes.)

Love the room! Colorful without being childish. Most of all, I can tell it was made with love. The comments though....ugh. this room is styled (very well) for the photos. she even mentions it. yet, you all have to chime in with your safety issues.
lots of people buy bumpers and don't use them. i did with my first. it was silly, but i was giddy with my first baby. i never used it, and never bought one for baby #2 or #3. i don't judge new parents for doing it. you can't just look at the pretty pictures she set up for you? let her have fun, for goodness sake!

Love it. Well done!

this bebe will grow up with good taste

Mentioning safety issues of the crib bumper is not being judgemental- it is exactly what it is: mentioning a safety issue. Ultimately it's up to every parent (and every individual) to make the choices that they are most comfortable with. I can't speak for everyone else's motives but a person should feel free to state their opinion/observation without worrying about the defensiveness of others. My comments, specifically, were not meant to tear down...rather it was meant to inform. I've been on AT for a little over 2 years and I've seen comments about the safety of stair cases, glass decor, waxy floors, shelf placement...you name it. That home owner or renter probaby won't change a thing, and rightfully so- it's their space but if a person isn't open to hearing varied view points, then this probably isn't the appropriate forum for them.

Lovely room! Great job on all the DIY! I'm in the middle of designing my nursery and I'll be lucky I mine turns out half as nice as this!

By posting nursery tours which feature crib bumpers -- and listing where readers can buy them! -- AT is de facto agreeing with and advocating their use -- which flies in the face of recommendations and warnings from every single pediatric and consumer safety organization in all of North America.

It causes confusion for AT readers and is nothing short of irresponsible on the part of AT.

But hey, I've been complaining about this issue here for years, and nothing changes.

p.s. Every year in our city, there are one or two tragic cases of young children who fall out of apartment windows. All operable windows need child-proof bars.

If they were that unsafe, wouldn't they be taken off the market? My kids survived bumper pads but my bumper pads didn't survive my kids. The ties would always rip off from getting stepped and pulled on. I guess I feel kinda silly for having thought I needed to have them to prevent head trauma during naptime. And there will probably be loving moms who will feel equally silly some day --when their kids are safe and grown up-- for having worried over certain things.

In regards to the whole "my two children survived with bumpers" and "plenty of kids are alive who slept in cribs with bumper pads," there are many babies who don't survive and are suffocated in their cribs. Worst argument ever. Why anyone -- and I'm not saying this mother is doing it, because I don't know anything about her personally -- who is aware of the dangers would risk that for aesthetic reasons is beyond me. What is it going to take for this to become as unacceptable as riding in the front seat of a car cradling a baby in your arms?

And yes, AT is centered around design and decor but that does intersect frequently with functionality and safety. To say this isn't the place to bring that up is silly; it's exactly the right place to educate (and inspire) others, in my opinion.

Anyone know a source for Shumacher fabrics without being "Trade"?

Anyone know a source for Shumacher fabrics without being "Trade"?

Anyone know a source for Shumacher fabrics without being "Trade"?

What a sophisticated and lovely palette in such a cool space. Congratulations on your new baby! I'd love to see an update how the space changes once he's mobile. Thanks for sharing.

Love the use of colour!

So sorry about the multiple post. Operator error.

Love this tiny jewel box of a room. What a lucky little boy!

The ceiling track for the curtains is a nice professional touch, and so clean looking. This is a very well-curated space! The combination of colors within each piece of art creates a beautiful whole. Thank you for sharing your beautiful space.

Beautiful!

I'm 23 yo and I want this room!

Ditto on the annoying chiding and the thumbs up for the room.

Glad that the AAP took a moment out from kissing up to big pharma, not requiring it's members to know anything about breastfeeding and not supporting single payer to talk about bumpers.

Beautiful room, would love to see it in 6 months ;)

A friend recently had to explain to the dry cleaner that the stain on the curtains he brought in was poop that had flown across the room.

The room looks great but someone needs to look up Chinoiserie decor. This is not even close. Fake taxidermy is a trend that needs to die.

This is a beautiful room. Safety marshals, you are incredibly annoying. If we were interested in your opinions we would read your mom blogs.

I think it's a perfectly nice room! We used a changing pad on top of a dresser that was much smaller than this one with no problems. And we never got poo on the carpet or drapes or anywhere outside of the butt-zone, so I don't know what everyone is going on about.

Probably one of the best nurserys on AT. A few tweaks & a twin bed & it'd be a perfect guest room. As for the stupidly repetitive safety comments; MYOBB-mind your own baby business.

I'm loooooving this nursery! Kudos. When did this crib bumper thing go into effect?? My twins are 5 and I have never heard of it....oops. :/ ??? Totally can see the reasons why tho but dang these people change "the rules" every few months it seems!!! I can't keep up!!

Wow, some of these comments are incredibly critical of people who are merely trying to bring child safety to the forefront. I'd find it fascinating, if it wasn't so disturbing that you feel the need to attack others for raising a valid point that could in fact save a child's life. That's "annoying" and "stupid"? Jeez.

Cute! (except for the animal carcass on the floor.)

A study of bumper pad safety that looked at a 20 year period (1985 to 2005) found that 27 deaths could be attributed to bumper pads. Some of those deaths were due to strangulation by the ties, and since then manufacturers have followed guidelines to ensure that ties are a safe length. There are also requirements for a minimum number of ties that bumper pads should have to ensure they don't come away from the sides of the crib. Of course homemade bumper pads (if the person is not aware of standards) could be more dangerous. There is some speculation that bumper pads can increase the risk of SIDS (presumably due to reduced air flow) but nobody knows for certain. I am completely comfortable using bumper pads for my children, but I do remove them once the child can stand up, as the National Safety Council recommends. Of course the death of any child is tragic, but 27 deaths over 20 years is not a lot. There are many more dangerous things in the world.

As for the nursery itself, it is gorgeous! And, yes, there are many chinoiserie elements in the room, which I love. I'm doing a circus-themed nursery for my next baby, and have some similar ideas that I'm going to include. Amanda did a great job with a small space.

@loveyall and @Jen Spends - the bumper pads are from an unregulated etsy seller who doesn't mention anything about adhering to safety standards or even the type of fabric used in the bumpers.

The study examined historical records, only identifying where the deaths were actually attributed to bumpers by the investigating authorities (i.e., coroner). If you read the full study, you will note that they write something to the effect that the actually number of deaths due to crib bumpers is likely many (many) times 27 over 20 years, but they have no way of determining or estimating the likely number. Add to that the issue of SIDS and air circulation...

I just don't get why aesthetics could ever trump the health and safety of a baby...

I don't believe parents remove the bumpers. Too much to put on and take off but I agree, no bumpers for the first 6 months of life (at the very least).

Wow, faux taxidermy, gilded bamboo, campaign chest, custom chinoiserie bumpers! And not a thought for safety?

Seriously, the argument that "I had two kids who survived bumpers" is a ludicrous one. My parents have two kids who survived being driven around in the car in a bassinet on the back seat* - would you do that too??

As more data is available, safety recommendations change. As bumpers are an identified SIDS risk, I just cannot see why parents would choose pretty bumpers over their child's life. Because that's the risk you're taking.

It upsets me seeing these posts - and so many of these posts - and other people poo-pooing the risks. Do you know anyone who's had a child die? You might take it a bit more seriously if you had.

*This being due to our ages, not irresponsible parenting!

I wonder how many babies died from, say, rocking horse accidents from 1985 to 2005. Not saying I'd use bumper pads, but I get annoyed by major hoopla over the darn things. No one freaks out over large stuffed animals. It'd be so easy for a baby to fall on one or crawl over to one and suffocate because they couldn't move themselves. Just sayin'.

Just curious, but do pediatricians actually warn new moms not to use bumper pads? I think what people are so annoyed about is the ungracious language. Do you really believe that parents make a conscious, willful decision to choose the pretty bumper pad over their child's safety? I remember the days when I thought me, myself, and I alone invented parenting and it makes me a little ashamed. Most people are willing to take a second look at how they do things if they don't feel attacked and if the evidence is compelling.

For crying out loud many times over in the wee hours: let this mom have a moment of glamour because she knows, oh, she knows she'll be sleepless and tired and irritable. So let her have a beautifully adorned nursery, it's so unique!

@Lovelyall "Do you really believe that parents make a conscious, willful decision to choose the pretty bumper pad over their child's safety? I remember the days when I thought me, myself, and I alone invented parenting and it makes me a little ashamed. Most people are willing to take a second look at how they do things if they don't feel attacked and if the evidence is compelling."

I am more irritated by the fact that this site, aimed at parents, HAS made a willful decision to choose prettiness over concerns for safety. This is the umpteenth debate about cot bumpers on AT. So, the editors here are obviously NOT willing to reconsider in the face of evidence - is the fact that bumpers pose a suffocation risk to newborns not compelling enough? And if it's a case of courting controversy, then that is even more repugnant.

Great light in this room!

That is a really good point pearmelon--thank you!

Beautiful room, and thanks for highlighting a small one! My 3 yr old's room is about the same size (perhaps even a smidge smaller!) and I've wondered what I would have done if we lived there when I was pregnant (he never had a "nursery proper" since he shared my room until we moved about a year ago). I'd love to see what toy storage ideas these folks come up with - as that is the main issue us parents of younger kids have.

As for the bumper issue - I think parent-folk can be so judgmental. Making a comment about the AAP recommendations in the interest of being informative and being a finger pointing critical judge are two totally different things. The last thing you need when you're pregnant and hormonal is someone to judge a decision you've made so harshly. Amanda - do check the AAP's recommendations. Better to be safe than sorry.

So, because AT allows people to share their beautiful rooms, they are promoting bumpers? Or could it be that they are promoting people doing whatever the heck they want and sharing it.
Have you considered that maybe she has a baby movement monitor and maybe also a video monitor? Have you considered that maybe she will want to use them when her baby is like 10 months old and maybe pushes himself into the bars asleep thus waking himself up unnecessarily but she's got a close watch on his breathing and behavior?
Or maybe she wants to save them for when he's 18 months and still in his crib but moving all around and having some cushioning next to the rest of the crib, much like a pillow protects your head from the end of your bed?

Give mom some credit, if she's this resourceful in creating a beautiful room with only 64 sq. ft. and she lives in Boston, she's probably got some brains and can make safety decisions on her own. Do everyone at AT a favor and keep your safety concerns to yourself unless you're talking to a pregnant 16-year-old face to face. Not to mention, if one person has posted about the stupid bumper, why do you think the mom and everyone need to hear your negative thoughts on it too? Let's keep the comments positive and design-related people!

LOVELY ROOM MAMA, EVERYTHING IS PERFECT, SERIOUSLY.

I love this room. I love how she used the diagonal of the brick in her placement of the art. I love that the art is bright and fun and that it will grow with him through the years. Normally, I am not a huge fan of faux taxidermy, but I know how much my son loves them! Kids/babies love animals so much, so I'm sure that is going to be a hit with this baby.

My crib set came with a bumper pad. I agree with the critics that they can be unsafe, but I left mine on and took a bunch of photos of the nursery before my son was born. It stayed on until the day he started sleeping in his crib. I did, however, put it back on to take more photos after we found a rug for the room. I wanted the photos to be of the overall "design" of the room, not how it looks day to day. We don't know what this mom intends to do, and, honestly, it's really none of our business. I don't think any new mom is unaware of the risks, so blasting it on these forums is a little unnecessary (and yes, judgmental!).

And, @pearmelon, am I supposed to think that the campaign chest is somehow not safe? Really people...

I was not berating the parent. My 'judgmental' comment was directed at the author of this piece. Don't you think that a site like this, that promotes products aimed at new parents, should be a little more responsible? Yes, parents should do their utmost to inform themselves about safety, and articles like this one send mixed messages and muddy the waters. I would like to hear what Ms Pavao has to say.

Put a wooden rocking chair in the room and use the bumper pads as cushions on the rocking chair.