Colorful and Energetic Nursery for Newborn Twin Girls
Animal-inspired decor, geometric patterns and clever storage are among the highlights of this New Jersey nursery
When Maxine and Chris Garret found out they were expecting twins, they relocated from Brooklyn, New York, to a Victorian house in Maplewood, New Jersey. The new home had more space for their growing family, but it needed updates, so they hired designer Swati Goorha to add her distinct style. “They were familiar with my work, which tends to feature lot of colors, patterns and layers,” she says.
Goorha was hired before the couple knew the gender of the twins, so she was tasked with creating a fun, energetic nursery that also would be gender-neutral. The result is a feast for the eyes that balances lots of colors and patterns in a sophisticated way that will allow the nursery to transform into an older girls’ bedroom as the twins grow.
Goorha was hired before the couple knew the gender of the twins, so she was tasked with creating a fun, energetic nursery that also would be gender-neutral. The result is a feast for the eyes that balances lots of colors and patterns in a sophisticated way that will allow the nursery to transform into an older girls’ bedroom as the twins grow.
Near the end of the project, the homeowners learned the gender of their twins and gave them their names, Avery and Riley. To celebrate the news, Goorha incorporated the names into the room design in the form of a custom neon light fixture above each crib.
Goorha also used the gender reveal to influence the color of the window and molding trim. “I always knew I wanted the trim to be something other than white, but when I found out they were having girls, I didn’t jump directly to pink,” the designer says. “Instead, I selected a peach hue that works well with the other colors in the room and adds a more subtle feminine touch.”
Window trim and molding paint: Jovial, Sherwin-Williams
Goorha also used the gender reveal to influence the color of the window and molding trim. “I always knew I wanted the trim to be something other than white, but when I found out they were having girls, I didn’t jump directly to pink,” the designer says. “Instead, I selected a peach hue that works well with the other colors in the room and adds a more subtle feminine touch.”
Window trim and molding paint: Jovial, Sherwin-Williams
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The cribs are a Scandinavian design and can be converted into twin beds when the girls are older. “A few pieces, like the armchair, will have to go, but overall the nursery can easily transition into a bedroom for two growing girls,” Goorha says.
A white campaign-style bookshelf with drawers holds rattan baskets that are ideal for storing baby necessities. “You can never have enough storage for a baby, and it’s even more important when you have twins,” the designer says. “I included lots of different storage options for the parents.”
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A white campaign-style bookshelf with drawers holds rattan baskets that are ideal for storing baby necessities. “You can never have enough storage for a baby, and it’s even more important when you have twins,” the designer says. “I included lots of different storage options for the parents.”
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Goorha transformed a small closet into a custom built-in with cabinets, drawers and a flat area that can be used as a changing table. The built-in is made of a wood-look melamine that makes for easy cleanup. The gold cabinet hardware is in the shape of birds on the upper doors and dachshunds on the lower drawers.
A small wall sconce provides light above the changing table. “It’s nice to have a small light there,” Goorha says. “If they need to change one baby at night, they don’t have to turn on the overhead lights and risk waking up the other one.”
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A small wall sconce provides light above the changing table. “It’s nice to have a small light there,” Goorha says. “If they need to change one baby at night, they don’t have to turn on the overhead lights and risk waking up the other one.”
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Nursery at a Glance
Who lives here: Maxine and Chris Garrett and their twin daughters, Avery and Riley
Location: Maplewood, New Jersey
Size: About 150 square feet (14 square meters)
Designer: Swati Goorha Designs
One of the design themes for the nursery is animal-inspired, which shows up in a variety of ways. The walls are covered in a black-and-white wallpaper featuring rabbits. The custom Roman shades have a bird print. And the throw pillow on the swivel armchair has a bee print. There are also stuffed animals throughout the room.
Another major design theme for the room is geometric patterns. The colorful wallpaper on the ceiling and the wool area rug have geometric patterns with different scales. “Similar geometric patterns on the ceiling and the floor help keep the eye moving throughout the room,” Goorha says.
The small cabinet that serves as a nightstand between the two cribs also has a geometric pattern.
Wallpaper: Hutch Cream, Hunt Slonem for Groundworks; ceiling wallpaper: Prism, Cole & Son
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