Nursery Tour: Ashley and Family Welcome a Girl
Name: “the newborn baby sister” (that’s what her brothers call her)
Age: Coming this week!
Location: Oklahoma
If you told us this nursery was put together by an interior designer (it wasn’t) we’d be impressed. If you told us this nursery was put together by a mother with three young boys underfoot (it was) we’d be really impressed. If you told us this nursery was put together by a pregnant mother of three boys expecting her first daughter any day now (it was!) well, we’d be sort of awed. Here Ashley has made more than just a gorgeous room. She’s filled it with handmade gifts, keepsakes and reminders of family – a quilt sewn by an aunt, an art print designed by a sister, a mirror received as a wedding gift, antique handkerchiefs from a grandmother and great grandmother, a treasured photo of beloved grandparents – that will surround her daughter and welcome her into the family fold.
Inspiration:
Everything that isn’t blue or involve a form of transportation!
Favorite Element:
The reading pallet bed…I just love every thing about it.
Biggest Challenge:
After decorating with the male gender in mind for so long, I was overwhelmed on where to even begin with a room solely for a girl.
What Friends Say:
“It reminds me so much of you. I love how the room is a picture of the wonderful legacy passed down to your little girl.”
Proudest DIY:
The room is brimming with DIY projects from 5 generations of my family…I am most proud of seeing all of them in one room.
Biggest Indulgence:
Installing and painting wood floors.
Best advice:
Decorate with the things you love…the things that make YOU smile.
Dream source:
My great-grandma’s and grandma’s homes.
What was the very first thing you bought, made or received for your daughter’s room?
I originally had planned on not using pink as a color, but I purchased the ball lanterns (hanging over the bed) for a Little Dresses for Africa party. I hung them from my living room ceiling for decoration and loved having such a girly touch in the house that I didn’t want to take them down…so I decided to use them in the nursery and from there the color scheme came. [tips for how she hung them here]
You’ve chosen some of our favorite colors and patterns, is there a trick for making them all work together whilst avoiding looking matchy-matchy?
My mom jokes with me that my house matches because nothing matches. I wish I knew a trick, I just pick out things I like and try to keep them some what coordinating or complimenting of each other. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.
Many of us admire painted wood floors, but don’t dare take the plunge – did you have any doubts about it yourself?
I had no doubts…my husband who helped me tear out carpet and install the floors had his doubts, but I won him over. I’ve always loved painted floors so I was estactic to finally be able to try it out. We installed pine for the low cost – I’d never have the nerve to paint my oak floors. My family would disown me if I did that. I love the result.
You may have guessed from the beautiful photographs that Ashely is a professional photographer (visit Ashley Ann Photography to see more) so we asked her: What one thing can parents do to take good photos of their own child’s nursery or room even if they don’t have a fancy camera?
Take the photos on a sunny day when the sun is not directly shining in the room. Open the blinds and curtains all the way to let as much light into the room as possible. If there is enough available light, turn off your flash.
The nursery is the only room in our house with one window. I intentionally painted the floors, ceiling and walls white to make the room brighter so I could get better photographs of her in her room one day. I also intentionally positioned the reading bed across from the window because I knew I would be taking lots of pictures of her (and her brothers) on it in the years to come. In a way I planned a lot of the room with photography in mind…
If you’re wondering where the baby will sleep:
The crib will be added to the room in a couple of months, when her brother is moved out of it….it is a simple white crib with white bedding.
Resources: • Paper lanterns and pom-poms by Martha Stewart for Walmart (and here and here) • B is for Brothers print designed by Lesley Zellers • Pretty Little Things poster by Paper Relish • Many fabrics used are designed by Amy Butler including Full Moon Polkadot in Tangerine for the curtains.
Thank you Ashley for sharing this stunning nursery on Ohdeedoh! We look forward to hearing news of your daughter’s arrival very soon. Readers, you can learn more about this nursery on Ashley’s blog, Under the Sycamore, which is a wonderful visual treat and filled with great ideas and inspiration.
(Images: Ashley Campbell)