Room Tour: Nursery Becomes 'Modern Forest'
Bold colors and whimsy create a design that will last for years (and children) to come
When Sandy and Aaron Flores hired designer Jennifer Bishop to turn an everyday bedroom into a nursery, the goal was a gender-neutral space that would work for their next child — and the next one after that. Pregnant with her second child and hoping for a third down the road, Sandy didn’t want to go through the potential hassle of creating an entirely new space twice. So Bishop created this "modern forest," complete with kelly green walls, tree trunk decals and owl accessories.
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The green and aqua color scheme works for either sex and will also be appropriate as the baby grows up. “The secret to a great nursery is longevity,” says Bishop, who stays away from creating nurseries that feel "too baby.” “With the economy being in the state that it is, it just doesn’t make sense to have to redo an entire room only a couple years down the road.”
This piece of artwork by Avalisa from Art.com inspired the nursery’s color palette. “The colors were just so beautiful to me, and the quilt pattern was a great way to introduce a typical baby item in a more modern and subtle way,” says Bishop. Polka-dot upholstery on the glider is playful without being overly juvenile.
Bishop admits that the kelly green paint color was a bit of a risk. Thankfully, due to the room’s abundance of natural light, the color worked. “When it comes to certain bold colors, you really need a lot of natural light to bring out their true beauty,” she says. Two IKEA Billy Bookshelves with an Ekby floating centerpiece supply the room with shelving.
It’s hard to believe, but the nursery’s bulletin board was originally a gold and brown mirror found at HomeGoods. Bishop knew it had potential, so she began by painting the entire thing white, then painted each inset with colors she pulled from the aforementioned inspirational piece of artwork. Believing a bulletin board would be more useful than a mirror, she topped the mirror with stiff cardboard cut to size. She then cut cork tiles to the shape and spray-glued the pieces to the cardboard. Bishop removed the need for tiny, potentially dangerous pushpins by adding criss-crossed ribbon to the cork for tucking in photos and mementos. “Kids are always collecting things or are fascinated by certain interests,” says Bishop. “Bulletin boards give them a place to be creative and corral their inspirations in one place.”
“Always place breakable and collectible items on upper shelves,” says Bishop, “and leave the lower shelves for the toys and other things kids can grab.” A photo of the Flores’ is mixed among children’s books (found in the dollar bin at Joann Fabrics) and colorful knickknacks. “I always try to incorporate photos in all my rooms,” says Bishop. “Kids love looking at them, and they make spaces much more personal.”
A mirrored owl from Target keeps company with a stacked owl set from Urban Outfitters. “Knickknacks," she says, "are my favorite part of decorating.”
This stuffed dog is from World Market, but Bishop suggests scouring Pier 1 or Etsy for endless options of unique stuffed animals. “For something different, look for those made with materials like patterned fabrics or a tight knit,” she says.
Bishop created playful silhouettes by outfitting the wall with decals. Her application tips: Before applying decals, be sure that your paint is cured. Once you’ve peeled off the backing and stuck the decals to the wall, help it adhere by rolling a rubber roller over the decal while the front paper is still attached. Then, slowly peel the front paper off and use the rubber roller to smooth out any air bubbles.
The dresser, a hand-me-down, was originally a honey oak color with a floral detail carved in the top center drawer. By the time Bishop arrived on the scene, it had been painted white, but the floral detail remained. “I had them fill in the floral area and sand it down to create a flat drawer front,” she says. “Then, I took large sheets of paper that featured a wood grain and decopauged them to the drawer fronts.”
“The Flores’ knew my work really well, so they gave me free reign to do what I wanted,” says Bishop. “It’s the most daring I’ve ever gone with color, and it turned out great. It’s modern and bold, with just a touch of whimsy.”
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