Room of the Day: Quick and Cozy Nursery for a Busy Family
New picks and old favorites transform a big brother’s playroom into a nursery in no time
Brenna Malmberg
February 21, 2017
The von Watts family, while very excited about their pregnancy news, felt a little overwhelmed by the changes their home needed before baby’s arrival. They turned to Caileen Uznis, a designer whose son goes to school with their oldest son, to help them design a nursery and rearrange their home. In less than a month, the von Watts family had a cozy nursery for baby boy Asher.
“Caileen made it so effortless and helped me narrow down ideas super fast,” Erin von Watts says. “She helped me streamline and stay focused!”
“Caileen made it so effortless and helped me narrow down ideas super fast,” Erin von Watts says. “She helped me streamline and stay focused!”
Photos by Chris Lorimer
Nursery at a Glance
Who lives here: Erin and Hamilton von Watts and their two boys, Izaiah, 6, and Asher, 11 months
Location: Malibu, California
Size: 99 square feet (9.2 square meters)
Designer: Caileen Uznis of Caileen Designs
The family wanted this new nursery to be able to grow with baby Asher, which is exactly how Uznis likes to design a nursery. “They are only going to be a baby for a little bit,” Uznis says. “You don’t want to have to redesign again soon, and to be honest, when you have a baby, you aren’t going to have time.”
They kept the space cozy and open, with playful touches in a blue, gray and orange color scheme. The rug, which Erin had purchased on a whim, served as the room’s starting point. From there, they decided to paint the bottom half of the room blue to liven up the space.
Uznis and Erin used their motherly instincts and previous experiences to lay out the room. The duo knew the changing table the family already owned would work perfectly by the window. “The window lets baby look around and keeps them occupied while you are changing them,” Uznis says. The crib, which was given to them by a friend, works best by the door because that way the parents can quickly — and quietly — peek in to check on Asher. The rocking chair needed a lot of space around it, which meant putting it in the corner. Plus, its proximity to the crib allows for easier transfer of a sleeping baby.
Sparrow crib: Oeuf; rug: HomeGoods; changing table: Pottery Barn; blue wall paint: Hudson Bay, Benjamin Moore
Nursery at a Glance
Who lives here: Erin and Hamilton von Watts and their two boys, Izaiah, 6, and Asher, 11 months
Location: Malibu, California
Size: 99 square feet (9.2 square meters)
Designer: Caileen Uznis of Caileen Designs
The family wanted this new nursery to be able to grow with baby Asher, which is exactly how Uznis likes to design a nursery. “They are only going to be a baby for a little bit,” Uznis says. “You don’t want to have to redesign again soon, and to be honest, when you have a baby, you aren’t going to have time.”
They kept the space cozy and open, with playful touches in a blue, gray and orange color scheme. The rug, which Erin had purchased on a whim, served as the room’s starting point. From there, they decided to paint the bottom half of the room blue to liven up the space.
Uznis and Erin used their motherly instincts and previous experiences to lay out the room. The duo knew the changing table the family already owned would work perfectly by the window. “The window lets baby look around and keeps them occupied while you are changing them,” Uznis says. The crib, which was given to them by a friend, works best by the door because that way the parents can quickly — and quietly — peek in to check on Asher. The rocking chair needed a lot of space around it, which meant putting it in the corner. Plus, its proximity to the crib allows for easier transfer of a sleeping baby.
Sparrow crib: Oeuf; rug: HomeGoods; changing table: Pottery Barn; blue wall paint: Hudson Bay, Benjamin Moore
Uznis wanted to ensure this seating area would be practical for mom and baby, but also for Asher as a toddler. The small table gives Erin a place to sit with a drink or the baby’s bottle while rocking. A floor lamp brightens up the room at night and will come in handy for bedtime stories for years to come.
Erin also requested something to prop her feet up on while sitting in the chair. They first tried a pouf, but it was too low, standing only 13 inches off the ground. Uznis returned it and came back with a taller gray ottoman that worked great for Erin.
To decorate the wall, Uznis used the client’s floating shelves and big letters. The letters originally decorated Izaiah’s nursery and spelled out his name. “I saved them when we switched his room over and was so excited I could use the ‘A’ for Asher,” Erin says. The ‘H’ is for Hamilton, the dad’s name.
White slipcovered wingback rocker: Pottery Barn; ottoman: West Elm; lamp: Hayworth, Adesso; Snow-Capped table in walnut: Dot & Bo
Erin also requested something to prop her feet up on while sitting in the chair. They first tried a pouf, but it was too low, standing only 13 inches off the ground. Uznis returned it and came back with a taller gray ottoman that worked great for Erin.
To decorate the wall, Uznis used the client’s floating shelves and big letters. The letters originally decorated Izaiah’s nursery and spelled out his name. “I saved them when we switched his room over and was so excited I could use the ‘A’ for Asher,” Erin says. The ‘H’ is for Hamilton, the dad’s name.
White slipcovered wingback rocker: Pottery Barn; ottoman: West Elm; lamp: Hayworth, Adesso; Snow-Capped table in walnut: Dot & Bo
Clunky closet doors previously hid these drawers and open shelving. “The doors were enormous,” Uznis says, “and they fell off the tracking all the time. We decided to just remove them.”
With the doors out of the way, Uznis organized toys, books and baby clothes on the open shelves to give the area a clean, decorated look. She tucked the rest of the baby necessities in the drawers and large bins.
With the doors out of the way, Uznis organized toys, books and baby clothes on the open shelves to give the area a clean, decorated look. She tucked the rest of the baby necessities in the drawers and large bins.
A tiny pair of Ugg boots awaits baby Asher. Izaiah wore them, and now it’s Asher’s turn.
The wooden New York skyscrapers and Statue of Liberty were a gift to the family, and Erin, who used to live in New York, was delighted to see them pulled out again and on display.
The wooden New York skyscrapers and Statue of Liberty were a gift to the family, and Erin, who used to live in New York, was delighted to see them pulled out again and on display.
Izaiah, who is a drummer, loaned a drum set art print of his to his brother’s nursery. It stands next to a stack of Dr. Seuss books and a blue truck.
“We bought very little to decorate the space,” Uznis says. “I went around their home and pulled things that would work great in the space and matched the color scheme, such as that blue truck. I was basically shopping in their home.”
“We bought very little to decorate the space,” Uznis says. “I went around their home and pulled things that would work great in the space and matched the color scheme, such as that blue truck. I was basically shopping in their home.”
A book basket from the baby shower fit perfectly in the space after Uznis painted the red letters orange.
Having a mix of baby items and toys has also helped Izaiah transition out of the room. It used to be his playroom, and Erin says the family slowly removed his toys and created a play area in the living room. But he still makes his way back to this room, especially so he can play with his new brother.
Having a mix of baby items and toys has also helped Izaiah transition out of the room. It used to be his playroom, and Erin says the family slowly removed his toys and created a play area in the living room. But he still makes his way back to this room, especially so he can play with his new brother.
As part of the nursery project, Uznis rearranged a few other rooms in the home. The playroom, as mentioned, became the nursery. The playroom toys were moved to the living room-music room. The music room, shown here, moved to the dining room-sunroom. And the dining room moved to an outdoor patio. That’s a lot of room-shifting, but it’s what the family needed.
“In the end, it was all about making their home work for them,” Uznis says. “This setup might not work for everyone, but it works for them, and that’s what matters.”
See more of the family’s music room
More
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The 10 Most Popular Nursery Photos of 2016
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“In the end, it was all about making their home work for them,” Uznis says. “This setup might not work for everyone, but it works for them, and that’s what matters.”
See more of the family’s music room
More
8 Tips for Creating a Safe and Cozy Nursery
The 10 Most Popular Nursery Photos of 2016
Read more stories about kids’ spaces
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The flexibility is awesome. Love what you did with the "closet". It can easily transition into the toddler, young school age without much fuss. I do like the blue color in the new nursery with stripes and patterns to help develop young Asher's eyes and mind.
I'm impressed with Isaiah. As a big brother, he has some mighty fine responsibilities that he has already shown. Many kids aren't easily swayed to change rooms - to move over for little brother. He'll make a fine adult someday.
Thank you for showing the room.
Nice, clean looking layout. Very uncluttered and perfect to transition as baby grows! Love the no doors on the closet so everything is easily available with just one hand free.