See an Arizona Nursery That’ll Never Get Old
Age appropriate but not childish, this baby boy’s room will grow with him without a redesign
Becky Harris
January 19, 2014
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia.
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More
The design of this boy’s nursery began with a Labradoodle. “My clients, who were expecting their first child, are crazy about their dog. She’s really their first baby,” says Joanna Gick of J & J Design Group. “I wanted to include her somehow.”
After nailing down a color palette that popped green, navy blue and a dash or two of yellow against a neutral backdrop, Gick found a fantastic Labradoodle print on Etsy. She also got crafty herself, adding many special, personal touches. The result is a room that will serve this North Scottsdale, Arizona, family for many years to come.
After nailing down a color palette that popped green, navy blue and a dash or two of yellow against a neutral backdrop, Gick found a fantastic Labradoodle print on Etsy. She also got crafty herself, adding many special, personal touches. The result is a room that will serve this North Scottsdale, Arizona, family for many years to come.
“I like to create an accent wall on the crib wall,” says Gick. “Then, when it’s time for a big-boy bed, it can easily transition into the headboard wall.”
She added another layer atop the accent wall: a collage of artwork to accompany the Labradoodle print. She found several pieces on Etsy and crafted a few herself. “I love Etsy — it’s a great way to search for talent and unique pieces,” Gick says. She made the bow tie piece from an Ikea shadow box and scrap fabric. She found the vintage “t” on Etsy and painted the stripes on it herself.
On the adjacent wall, she brought in full drapery panels to add some height and softness. She recommends adding a blackout lining to drapes if you don’t want the sun to wake up your baby.
She added another layer atop the accent wall: a collage of artwork to accompany the Labradoodle print. She found several pieces on Etsy and crafted a few herself. “I love Etsy — it’s a great way to search for talent and unique pieces,” Gick says. She made the bow tie piece from an Ikea shadow box and scrap fabric. She found the vintage “t” on Etsy and painted the stripes on it herself.
On the adjacent wall, she brought in full drapery panels to add some height and softness. She recommends adding a blackout lining to drapes if you don’t want the sun to wake up your baby.
“We love to add touches that are personal and unique,” Gick says. Her own daughter’s “Read to Me” T-shirt inspired this custom piece, which she made by cutting up vintage children’s books. It has been such a hit that Gick’s firm will now do it for you, too. Each piece is original, as different books are used.
The book rail is another touch that has become a signature for the designer’s company. “People love to see the books, and it creates a wonderful display,” Gick says.
The book rail is another touch that has become a signature for the designer’s company. “People love to see the books, and it creates a wonderful display,” Gick says.
Gick repeated the driftwood wallpaper behind the changing table. She found the vintage dresser and painted it green herself, adding new white porcelain knobs from Hobby Lobby and a changing pad with a cover found on Etsy. This piece will age with the child for many years to come; if his favorite color changes, all it will take is another paint job.
Tip: When playing with patterns, Gick recommends mixing rectilinear and curvaceous patterns in a variety of scales. As you can see in this nursery, the pattern on the curtains is large, the rug pattern is medium, and the bedding and ottoman patterns are relatively small.
Tip: When playing with patterns, Gick recommends mixing rectilinear and curvaceous patterns in a variety of scales. As you can see in this nursery, the pattern on the curtains is large, the rug pattern is medium, and the bedding and ottoman patterns are relatively small.
“I felt guilty spray painting the Jonathan Adler giraffe sconces at first, but the white just didn’t look right against the driftwood wallpaper,” Gick says.
Being a mom herself (she has a daughter who is 4 and a son who is 18 months) has given Gick keener insight when designing nurseries. For example, she’s found that not everyone needs a rocking chair. “Really nice gliders are very expensive; often it’s better to pick a cool chair for a fraction of the price, that he can use in his room for reading and homework when he’s older,” she says.
While the nursery’s occupant wasn’t even born when the room was complete, Gick designed the space to grow with him. “It’s important to design a nursery that will age with the child; if you’re paying a designer to do a nursery, you certainly don’t want to have to do it all over again in a few years,” she says.
More: Oh, Baby! 12 Ideas to Get a Chic Nursery Rolling
Being a mom herself (she has a daughter who is 4 and a son who is 18 months) has given Gick keener insight when designing nurseries. For example, she’s found that not everyone needs a rocking chair. “Really nice gliders are very expensive; often it’s better to pick a cool chair for a fraction of the price, that he can use in his room for reading and homework when he’s older,” she says.
While the nursery’s occupant wasn’t even born when the room was complete, Gick designed the space to grow with him. “It’s important to design a nursery that will age with the child; if you’re paying a designer to do a nursery, you certainly don’t want to have to do it all over again in a few years,” she says.
More: Oh, Baby! 12 Ideas to Get a Chic Nursery Rolling
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When it comes to the famous baby crib bumper pads. Yes, most healthy expert advise against using them, there's been 27 deaths between 1985 and 2005. But the bumper pads are used by many parents, in most of the cases without any issues. However, if you really want to play it safe, I have found other better options: http://babycrib101.com/why-crib-bumper-pads-are-not-safeand-4-alternatives/
We have the vertical crib bumpers. They work and look great. Try to go for the ones made out of organic stuff, they are more expensive but I believe it's worth it. My soon always sleeps with his face very close to the pads, so I don't want him to inhale whatever chemicals the material is made out of.
I love this space! So many colors and textures that all work seamlessly together. I understand all of the concerns, but I also understand a mother's desire to create a beautiful nursery that speaks to her. After all, a nursery really isn't only for the baby. It's also for the parents that will be spending a lot of time in it. It's a nesting experience for the mother to be. I know I myself, and many of the parents that I've designed for don't even use the nursery for several months after the baby is born (just as this couple did). When the time comes they make the necessary changes. But till that moment comes, it's a relaxing room to come to, rub your belly and dream of all the great moments you will have with your child. And then when baby is born, it's a great place to rock, feed, and play in such a magical space. A lot of parents don't use them for sleeping till several months in. I also think pictures above a crib are perfecting fine as long as they are properly secured. Great job on a design well done!