A Colorful, Cozy, Nursery Rhyme-Themed Room for a Baby Boy

Name: Roman Anthony
Location: Mar Vista — Los Angeles, California
Room Size: 12.5′ x 11′

First there were two, Amy and her husband, Corey. You may remember their inspiring Echo Park home. Then baby Marlowe made three. Remember her playful nursery? Now the couple are ready to welcome the newest addition to the family, baby Roman, in a new Mar Vista home. Amy put all of her creative stylist skills to work on decorating his academia-themed nursery. The results add up to a resounding A+!

How would you describe the look and feel of this room?
Once I knew we had a son on the way, I kept thinking about an old nursery rhyme…”little boys are made of frogs, snails and puppydog tails”. I found a vintage frog anatomy chart which became the focal point of the nursery. That piece inspired a second “academic” theme. I pulled in a vintage globe we bought years ago in upstate New York, framed a tear from an old textbook about snails, added the geometric mobiles, american flag, and chalkboard wall.

What is your favorite piece or element?
Painting the wall with black chalkboard paint felt like a big risk, as it’s hard to undo. The black wall gave the room so much depth and really helped the crib and mobile “pop.” Living in an earthquake zone makes it dangerous to hang anything substantial near or above the crib and the black wall was the perfect solution. In the end, it’s hard for me to say what I love the MOST…the frog chart, the rug, the wall or the flag by Cortney Heimerl.

What was the biggest challenge decorating this room?
The room is small and will still serve as a guest room when we have visitors. We needed to incorporate a futon and a large shelving unit from IKEA in order to have storage. His crib and a changing table took up the remaining free space, so there wasn’t much room left to bring in anything that wasn’t super functional. When I designed my daughter’s room, I chose a rocking chair based on looks as opposed to comfort and functionality…it was my biggest mistake. I didn’t realize how much time I would spend nursing and rocking! This time around, we did a lot of research and finally settled on a glider from Room & Board that we could use years beyond the nursery. It takes up a lot of floor space but will enable me to fall asleep while nursing and sit with both kiddos.

What do your friends say about the room?
I’m not sure…we’ll have to see what they say when this post comes out, only two people have seen it in person! Those two friends have been very complimentary.

Do you have any advice for parents creating a room for their child?
Don’t get stuck on “baby” only items. Think about longevity and how a piece could evolve with your home or as your child gets older. Invest in pieces that you could see in other areas of your house.

What is your proudest DIY?
The best DIY in the room was not created by me. I made a weaving that I planned on hanging but in the end it felt too bohemian. My incredibly talented Mom (her grandbabies call her Mimi) decided to learn how to quilt shortly after Marlowe was born so that she could make blankets for her grandchildren. She and I picked out fabrics together and she made him the coolest quilt, which she will finish with his name and birth date once he makes his arrival.

What is your biggest indulgence?
I’m a big fan of Justina Blakeney and had probably looked at over a thousand (no joke!) rugs before discovering her collaboration with Loloi and falling MADLY in love with their Fable Collection. Once I saw it, there was no other rug that would do. It’s more that twice what I’ve ever spent on a rug but SO WORTH IT.

If money were no object, what’s your dream source?
Dwell Studio, Kalon Studios, Land of Nod, Room & Board

• Green Campaign Dresser & Felt Bins: Land of Nod
• Frog Chart: Scout and Forge
• Colton Glider: Room&Board
• Throw pillows: Land of Nod, Ikea, Overstock.com, Vintage
• Rug: Justina Blakeney for Loloi
• Crib and Wall Shelf, Wooden Bins, Abacus: Ikea
• Crib sheets: Dwell Studio
• Mobiles: Artecnica
• Futon & Floor Lamp: CB2
• Original Rody Horse and Striped Flag Garland: Plastica
• American Flag: Cortney Heimerl
• UglyDolls: Gund
• California Pennant: Three Potato Four
• “R” Custom Letter: Junk Art Gypsyz
• Wool Blankets: Pendleton & Vintage
• Piano: Schoenhut
• Globes: Vintage
• Changing Pad: Keekaroo
• Storage Ottoman: All Modern
• Books: Vintage Set that belonged to me, Puffin Classics, assorted vintage and new
• Hanging Planter: Umbra

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