Nursery AW! And some more brain-picking WWYDs

[wawa]

For the near future - the nursery is done!

It's not exactly magazine worthy, but I love it.  It's cozy and cute and comfy and makes me smile.  And it has a door!  

from the door: 

the crib (which is too the left of the first shot, behind the door)

My super comfy but ugly chair, along with cute gifted homemade quilt and that little lamp I spraypainted.  Please take note of naked windows and see below for thoughts:

The owl prints!  The white plastic laundry basket (which is full of blankies and boppy) will be replaced with a more attractive and deeper basket/bin/something in the nearish future.  Please also take note of bookcase and see below for further thoughts regarding said bookcase.

Changing table/dresser.  Closet doors on left, hall door on right.  Needs art and/or shelves or something.  That's not urgent, but will happen eventually. .

So...first - naked window.  We're going to be throwing up some temporary light blocking "curtains" with some a pair of tension rods and either some scrap fabric or maybe even just towels sometime this week.  Hopefully at some point during or shortly after my maternity leave we'll find budget room for real window treatments.  What would you do here?  Just blinds?  (2" faux wood?  Bamboo?) Blinds and curtains?  Just curtains?  If curtains...high and wide?  Will it look cluttered with everything else on that side of the room?  Maybe just blinds?  I'm kinda leaning that way right now honestly, even though I'd been thinking curtains all along.  If you think curtains - color?  Pattern?  I need inspiration.

Second - that little bookshelf.  Honestly, despite (or maybe because of?) the total mishmash of woodtones going on in that room, I kinda like the bookshelf as-is.  But it's beat to hell.  It's got a million scratches, some very deep, and a couple of missing chunks along the bottom.  It needs some quality time with some wood putty and a sander, and with all the things to be patched it won't look good stained anymore.  So paint is in it's future.  Color??  I had originally planned to bring in a rich jewel tone tealy color as an accent in here, but instead I've been leaning more toward that deep yellow in the rug.  I could do that here?  Or plum (the walls read very gray in these picture thanks to the early morning cloudy sun plus artificial light, but it looks rather more purple at other times of day).  Or the teal that was my original plan.  I'd think whatever color I do I need to bring it in elsewhere too, but between the blank wall over by the changing table, possible future curtains, and the fact that I still need some storage bins/baskets I don't think that'll be too hard.  

[wawa]

btw...yes, I know that all those stuffed animals and the blanket need to vacate the crib. They look cute there for now and I like to sit in my chair and enjoy the cute.



Oh...the crib also needs a skirt! I want to use the under-crib area for some sort of storage. Any suggestions there also welcome.

[ktzmoh]

It looks very cute and I love how tranquil it feels!

In terms of window treatments - bamboo would be out for me, unless they are lined. Too much light gets through, so it doesn't work for nap time. I'd go 2" white blinds. Curtains would look nice, but maybe just something simple - like something plain to pick up the yellow color?

bookshelf - i think you should go crazy jewel tone. I'd go plum, but teal would be great too.

[sierramist03]

I think I ruffle curtain would be a nice touch over wood blinds.

[ssmjlm]

I would get some 2" white blinds and maybe do panels just for more light filtering. Everyone I've asked said light blocking is good in the nursery.

For the bookshelf, I think any color would work. Yellow or a jewel tone.

[mrslch]

I think plum for the bookshelf and I would do some sort of roman shade with a blackout liner.

[grey56]

Bookshelf, I might do yellow like the lamp you painted.

We also did an owl nursery! :-)

I wouldn't worry so much about the light blocking blinds. I was so gung-ho about them but then my LO went to daycare where they have cribs out in the open. It's kind of nice having a kid who will sleep without needing a dark dark dark room. Her room now has those bamboo shades. They let in some light. I think they're pretty so....boom, done. Just my thoughts. She also has "high and wide" panels to frame her window but we never pull them shut (Ikea Expedit 2x4 is in front of the window, so they can't pull closed).

Overall I think it looks really nice, cozy. Sort of like a cabin in the woods of New Hampshire, without being all log-cabin-y.

[magdala]

So...first - naked window.  We're going to be throwing up some temporary light blocking "curtains" with some a pair of tension rods and either some scrap fabric or maybe even just towels sometime this week. 
Invest in good tension rods and add a coordinating fabric and you will be fine.  My BFF did this "temporarily" and her daughter is now four.    She used a cute fabric (chintz mini floral) and just kept it.  Good tension rods (heavier weight and good spring) will allow you to adjust the light for nap time and play time.   For the fabric, a mini print that coordinates with the gorgeous quilt, maybe a yellow to coordinate with the lamp.  

Second - that little bookshelf.   It needs some quality time with some wood putty and a sander, and with all the things to be patched it won't look good stained anymore.  So paint is in it's future.  Color??  Why not paint it the original teal using one of the teals from the owl prints?  I think that teal would be really pretty in that room.  If you want to give it more oomph, you could add molding along the edges of the book case.  

[sratsey]

I LOVE it. I REALLY love the accent wall behind the crib.
For the window, I would flank it with fabric panels and then do a roller shade that's light blocking.
I can't stress the light blocking enough.
DS had his light blocking shade on his windows from birth until we moved out when he turned 6.
DD had light blocking cellular shades.
Both of their rooms were pitch black in the daytime for naps.

Bookshelf: I would paint teal and yellow with that room.

[mrsemilys]

It looks so great!

[emoflamingo]

I love purple for that shelf.

And I would do a blackout roman shade or something. I wouldn't do anything that lets a lot of light through unless you want baby to never nap during the day.

[shopgirl07]

I like it!

I'd do yellow curtains (with or without pattern, whatever you can find). Make sure you hang the rod all the way up to the ceiling. You could throw up some blinds down the road if you think it the room needs light filtering.

I also think replacing the ceiling fan with a cute light fixture would go a long way too.

[wawa]

Feb 11, 2013 15:49:43 GMT -5 shopgirl07 said:

I like it!

I'd do yellow curtains (with or without pattern, whatever you can find). Make sure you hang the rod all the way up to the ceiling. You could throw up some blinds down the road if you think it the room needs light filtering.

I also think replacing the ceiling fan with a cute light fixture would go a long way too.

for the bolded:  No.

We don't turn on our A/C until we absolutely have to.  Ceiling fans are functional.

For the rest: 
thanks for the suggestions!

[FoxInFiji]

That looks great Wawa!

I'd do both blinds/shades and curtains but mainly just because I like the look and flexibility. You could start with blinds/shades for now and add curtains later. I like natural woven roman shades or woven wood shades myself. Get them with the looped cord so they are out of reach of little hands. Otherwise there are a couple brands that make cordless but they take up more space when fully open.

For curtains I just came across this the other day and I thought it would look great in a girls nursery but I'm not sure about the colors IRL vs. your room:

www.joann.com/upholstery-fabric-better-homes-gardens-ortona-heather/xprd851096/

IDK I think the stained bookcase looks fine. All of the wood tones go together well enough I don't think it's a big deal. If you wanted to paint it though the color you used for the stencil might be nice.

[wawa]

Feb 11, 2013 15:57:32 GMT -5 FoxInFiji said:

That looks great Wawa!

I'd do both blinds/shades and curtains but mainly just because I like the look and flexibility. You could start with blinds/shades for now and add curtains later. I like natural woven roman shades or woven wood shades myself. Get them with the looped cord so they are out of reach of little hands. Otherwise there are a couple brands that make cordless but they take up more space when fully open.

For curtains I just came across this the other day and I thought it would look great in a girls nursery but I'm not sure about the colors IRL vs. your room:

www.joann.com/upholstery-fabric-better-homes-gardens-ortona-heather/xprd851096/

IDK I think the stained bookcase looks fine. All of the wood tones go together well enough I don't think it's a big deal. If you wanted to paint it though the color you used for the stencil might be nice.

Oh, I like that fabric.  The plum color looks great...it's hard to say what that greeney taupe actually looks like IRL. The cost is way way too rich for my blood though.  I'll have to take a peek at it at the store though.  It says it's in stock at the nearest one, and then if I love it I could just wait for the next good sale+coupon possibility.

I agree that the wood tones actually work surprisingly well together, but the bookshelf is really very damaged.  It's pine, and it's got really deep gouges on the top and is actually missing several chunks along the sides on the bottom.  If you look at this picture full sized you can see more what i'm talking about: www.flickr.com/photos/wawajeanne/8465576804/sizes/o/in/photostream/

[bunnymendelbaum]

I think blinds for the window. I got some great light blocking bamboo ones for the playroom. They blocked lift really well! I'd do them now then add curtains later just for spice.
Let me find the link to the bamboo blinds.

[SusanBAnthony]

Whatever you do for the window, get light blocking for summer!

[bunnymendelbaum]

Link:
m.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=202025455&R=202025455

In my room:

[rajah07]

Ummmm...you stole my theme. ;-) I love it! I love owls so I have a similar plan for our nursery...a little different but similar....

[FoxInFiji]

Yeah I wasn't looking at the prices just trying to see what you'd like. I'm not sure if you'd be able to get that brand of fabric other places but I know JoAnn's has a 50% off any one item coupon every once in a while. Otherwise I've been saving a bunch of fabric swatches here.

There are also some IKEA curtains with what looks like a light lavender pattern:
www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80243410/

[pitterwoo]

it's all come together so nicely. how exciting! I tend to like the control blind offer, so that's my pick with or without curtains in addition.

I can get on board with just about anything for the shelf because I'm a color fan. Another thought would be to paint the outside something subtle like white or gray and use a bright color for the insides and back of it.

[stever]

Very cute. I like the woodsy theme and the owls.

[froggy76]

So cute! I love the color- it's so calming.

For DD's nursery window, we just did a valance and hid a cheap, light-blocking roller shade behind it. They will custom cut the width for you at Home Depot. Might be a good option if you want a cleaner look than curtains and don't want to spend a ton on blinds or roman shades.

I don't mind the bookshelf as-is. I'd be too lazy to paint it, but the teal color would look great.

[TBM]

I love the room. It is pretty, comfy and very well designed space. I would hang out in there.

I would put a mirror over the changing table. We've always done that and the babies love it. They look at themselves or at you in it while you are changing them, and they like looking at themselves and playing after you are finished. We always hold them up to see themselves and play with them. The first time they realize that they can see you in both places is priceless.

We purposely didn't go out of our way to use blackout curtains in our kids rooms (or keep things quiet, etc.. Our oldest came trained by nicu, and could sleep through anything, day or night. It worked so well that we did the same thing with our youngest. Her not sleeping had less to do with whether it was pitch black or not than it did with sensory issues, but we did try to see if it made a difference (nope). She could (and did) fall asleep on the floor in the middle of a party...still can. lol

[Deleted]

I have no opinions on your questions (cute room though). I have a completely unhelpful-to-you question. Did you end up re-oiling the dresser? It looks really pretty in the picture.

[wawa]

Feb 11, 2013 22:18:59 GMT -5 @juno said:

I have no opinions on your questions (cute room though). I have a completely unhelpful-to-you question. Did you end up re-oiling the dresser? It looks
really pretty in the picture.

Yep. Two coats of tung oil. It came out a little shinier than I was expecting but mostly it just made it look awesome. however I also got banned from making any independent CL purchases because the drawers all fell apart when mh pulled them out to work on. Oops. They seemed fine when I checked them before loading it in my car...

Some nails and glue and they're all better.

[Deleted]

Sounds to me like your DH broke the drawers and is the one who shouldn't be trusted 

Did you end up cutting it with anything and/or using heat?  I like the sheen on it from what I can see.

[wawa]

Feb 11, 2013 23:43:55 GMT -5 @juno said:

Sounds to me like your DH broke the drawers and is the one who shouldn't be trusted 

Did you end up cutting it with anything and/or using heat?  I like the sheen on it from what I can see.

That's what I said!  Why you gotta go and break my dresser dude?

Once we determined that it was stinky enough that it was going to bother me I just let him handle it.  So...I'm not 100% sure what he did?   We weren't using pure tung oil - just whatever "tung oil" product they had at HD, so I guess, yes, it's cut with mineral spirits and who knows what else.

[davescatch]

I just love how it turned out......looks so peaceful and tranquil. And later you could easily infuse more color when you feel like it. I actually love the bookshelf as is. Great job!