Cordelia's Nursery

Every mother obsesses over a nursery leading up to their first baby, right? You have to make sure everything is perfect and you're ready to welcome the little one home. Well, that's exactly how I ended up with six different inspiration boards for my daughter's nursery! Let's just say decisiveness and pregnancy do not go well together. 

Of course, I started with a focus on function and never wavered from my original floor plan.  It consisted of a crib (obviously) strategically positioned in the one spot in the room that wasn't under a window (we do live in a glass house, after all, but don't worry we recently installed 3M safety film on all the windows), bookcases lining one wall and rounding the corner, and a chair plus ottoman. Pretty simple. 

The Classic Ouef Crib was locked in, as was the Billy bookcase storage solution from IKEA which would get a birch top (an IKEA-hack since the corner solution doesn't really work with the low bookcases). I had spotted the Britten Nummer fabric, also from IKEA, and envisioned it as the perfect backdrop for the bookcases (simply covering the back panels with the fabric adhered with a little non-toxic Modge Podge). I had also spontaneously selected a light turquoise for the walls when the painters were here to cover up the oh-so-hideous hospital green walls that the previous owner had somehow thought were a good idea.  

So, those were all the decisions that had been made up until the third trimester.  In the mean time, I was distracted with all the other projects happening, which is really just my excuse for not being able to make up my mind. Designers designing for themselves is sometimes a fatal combination. Add in the pregnancy hormones and you're doomed.  

Then, a trip to the Rose Bowl Flea Market turned up a Ralph Rapson-style rocker (which I have to imagine was the inspiration behind IKEA's Poang rocker you'll see pictured in the first collage) and the room finally began to take shape. I had all the major furniture pieces. Although that still didn't stop me from contemplating repainting the walls (as you'll notice in the 3rd collage). So without further ado, here are the many variations on the nursery's color palette, textiles, lighting and decor. Can you guess which one of these five inspiration boards was the winner? 

Clockwise from top left: Mythic Paint in Turquoise, Sunny Outlook, and Sherwin-Williams 'Bubble', Jonathan Adler Havana Sconce, Frazier + Wing Mobile, Britten Nummer fabric and Billy bookcase from IKEA, Room and Board Henley floor pillow, Hable Construction fabric, IKEA Poang rocker (similar to Ralph Rapson-style vintage rocker scored at the Rose Bowl), Jonathan Adler Initial Pillow, Kate Quinn bedding, CB2 Birdwalk rug, West Elm side table, Oeuf Crib

Clockwise from top left: Puka Puka mobile, Thomas Paul sconce, Sherwin-Williams 'bubble', IKEA Britten Nummer and Billy bookcase, Oilo crib bedding, Amenity deer pillow, West Elm stump table, Monte Luca glider, Flor carpet tiles, Ouef Crib

Clockwise from top left: Puka Puka mobile, Mythic Paint in Blush of Dawn, Kate Quinn Bedding, IKEA Britten Nummer fabric with Billy bookcase, Multi-boxes, Crate and Barrel glider, West Elm Martini table, CB2 rug, Oeuf Crib, Jonathan Adler Initial Pillow

Clockwise from top left: Jonathan Adler Havana sconce, Summer Infant organic crib sheet, Puka Puka mobile, IKEA PS table, IKEA Britten Nummer fabric and Billy bookcase, Hable Construction fabric in charcoal, Modernica 'Grasshopper' chair, CB2 ottoman, Thomas Paul 'Parasols' rug, Sherwin-Williams 'Bubble', Oeuf crib, Inhabit wall hanging

Clockwise from top left: Jonathan Adler 'Havana' sconce, Sherwin-Williams 'Bubble', Puka Puka mobile, Jonathan Adler initial pillow, IKEA Britten Nummer fabric with Billy bookcase, Kate Quinn 'Clover' bedding, Multi-boxes, IKEA Poang rocker, PB Teen rug, Oeuf crib, Kartell Componibili storage unit

It's Hip to Be Concentric Squares

There can be genius in simplicity.  Just take Josef Albers' "Homage to the Square" as an example.  These pieces of artwork, that he began in 1950, are so simple yet mesmerizing because of his experimentation with color and how different combinations create different effects.  Artists and product designers are still inspired by this motif and concept today and there are a variety of goods, in a rainbow of colors, for your home.

Josef Albers 1950

Josef Albers 1964

Josef Albers 1968

Jonathan Adler Pillow

Chroma Lab Rainbow wall clock

CB2 Wall Art

Proud Mary 'Raya' Pillow

Flor 'All Square' Carpet Tiles

Trifecta nesting tables

Channel your inner Josef Albers and paint these Wallter peel-and-stick wall squares any combination of colors that your heart desires and create your own art!

Nursery Know-How

Last Friday, I posted some of my favorite nurseries and promised to share the resources with you, so that you can pull some of those looks together.  First up, a favorite from the March 2007 issue of Domino magazine.  I'll provide all the links to those exact products. Then, I couldn't resist having some fun of my own, using the Serena and Lily houndstooth crib sheet and green and turquoise color palette to inspire my design.

This room is totally baby-safe and easy to care for, with no-VOC paint from Olympic (Faint Flicker #D64-1), organic materials, and sensible selections like the carpet tiles ("Toy Poodle" from Flor) that allow you to simply replace individual tiles, instead of the whole rug, when stains happen.

Sustainable-wood 'Sam' crib and stool from Duc Duc, Ceramic-earthenware 'Early Bird' pendant from Perch Design, 'Butterfly Jubilee' fabric for roman shade from Mod Green Pod, 'Natural Lee' chair from Lee Industries, Organic-cotton 'Ticking Stripe' from Mod Green Pod, Collapsible jute basket at 2KH, Vintage wallpaper giraffe from Inke Heiland at Romp Store.  'Mini Library' storage unit from Oeuf, 'Eco-Sheepskin' rug from Kaiser can be purchased from Child Organics.

For my design, I wanted a space that would easily grow with the child.  A convertible crib and sophisticated storage were a must and I wanted a unique color palette that didn't revolve around traditional nursery colors.

Take the turquoise and celadon from the inspiration photo above and add a twist, using black as an accent throughout the room.  Paint the entire room a soft celadon and save the bold turquoise for a surprise splash of color inside the closet or paint the back panel of a white bookcase to add depth.  Pull the turquoise into the rest of the room through accessories like the adorable owl pillow.  Add an orange rug for an unexpected pop of color and position the mother and her ducklings waddling across the wall above the changing table.  Use the black and white fabric for floor pillows that offer a soft place to sit during playtime.  The bentwood wall sconce casts a soft glow that is comforting to baby and adds just enough light to navigate the room during those late nights.

Clockwise, from top left: Offi 'Nest' Crib, Not Neutral 'Seasons' rug, Dwell Studio 'Owls' pillow, 'Habibi' fabric from Rubie Green, LZF Orbit Sconce, Blu Dot 'Modulicious' Storage, Dvider ducks wall decal, Serena and Lily's 'Rory' Bedding, Dunn-Edwards Paint (DE5829 Frozen Wave) and Serena and Lily paint in 'Sprout', Luca Glider by Monte

A Little Bit Rock 'n Roll

When a music-lovin' friend (a single guy in his mid-20's) came to me asking for help with his new downtown loft, I instantly knew that I wanted a sort of 70's rock 'n roll aesthetic mixed with a few current pieces.  I wanted the space to be masculine, with some hard, clean lines, but decided to add some curvaceous pieces, so it wouldn't be too tough. As with any room, finding the perfect color palette would be oh-so-important.  This inspiration room from New York designer, Miles Redd, became my jumping off point.

What do I admire about this room?  For starters, the ethereal blue walls provide a great backdrop for the lacquered black furniture.  Then, a punch of red, with that piece of artwork, and a graphic pattern like that black and white rug give the room some edge.  So, how can you pull off a similar look and keep your budget in check?  Try these options:

Clockwise from top left: Jimi Hendrix 3'x5' canvas ($795), Farrow & Ball 'Borrowed Light' #235 ($85/gallon), Flor Carpet Tiles in 'El Tigre' ($5.20/sq ft), IKEA 'Ange' chair ($129), West Elm 'Links' Side Table, CB2 Avec Sofa ($1199), West Elm Hideaway Media Bench (Currently $449, Normally $549)

Try mixing in some wood pieces like this Walnut Hexagon Coffee Table from Room Service ($995).  The smoke glass top screams 1970's, but in a good way.

Add a bit of sparkle to this tough space with the Anemone Ceiling Lamp from  Jonathan Adler ($525)

And there are many affordable black lamps to choose from, but this one with its curvy shape fits particularly well into this room, Room Service 'Beverly Hills' Table Lamp ($175)