Room of the Day: Peter Rabbit-Inspired Nursery for Twins
A designer uses wall art, wallpaper and accessories to create a storybook nursery for 2 boys and their parents
Jessica Sodeke
July 10, 2017
Houzz Contributor. I love spending time working with designers and homeowners to share their home journey. I am also a communications and marketing professional with extensive multi-platform content writing, graphic design and photography experience. I work full-time as Marketing Communications Specialist for a non-profit and also provide marketing consulting, writing, design and photography for multiple clients across the U.S. I've worked with many topics, but home design is my passion. When I don’t have my nose in a Macbook, you can find me hunting for deals, crafting, gardening, decorating, cooking, planning my next adventure and spending time with family.
Houzz Contributor. I love spending time working with designers and homeowners to... More
Photos by Regan Wood
Nursery at a Glance
Who uses it: Parents Shaira and Anand Sithian and their twin sons, Tej and Kairav
Location: New York
Size: 280 square feet (26 square meters)
Designer: Sara Touijer of Touijer Designs
The inspiration: This wall quote from Peter Rabbit, which is a vinyl decal, served as the room’s inspiration. It says: “Even the smallest one can change the world.” The twins’ mother, Shaira Sithian, loved reading stories about this character growing up and wanted to bring this part of her childhood into the room’s design.
Sofa: West Elm; Side table: Wayfair; wall decal: Wall Vinyl Art, Etsy; bookcase accessories: West Elm and HomeGoods; rocking bunny: HomeGoods
Nursery at a Glance
Who uses it: Parents Shaira and Anand Sithian and their twin sons, Tej and Kairav
Location: New York
Size: 280 square feet (26 square meters)
Designer: Sara Touijer of Touijer Designs
The inspiration: This wall quote from Peter Rabbit, which is a vinyl decal, served as the room’s inspiration. It says: “Even the smallest one can change the world.” The twins’ mother, Shaira Sithian, loved reading stories about this character growing up and wanted to bring this part of her childhood into the room’s design.
Sofa: West Elm; Side table: Wayfair; wall decal: Wall Vinyl Art, Etsy; bookcase accessories: West Elm and HomeGoods; rocking bunny: HomeGoods
Layout: Designer Sara Touijer began the design with the furniture, keeping in mind the pieces that were necessary and where it made the most sense to place them. She also considered the architectural restraints that dictated usable space, such as the windows and the radiator.
Pro tip: Touijer has designed other children’s rooms and nurseries, including multiple twin nurseries. For twin nurseries, she always starts with the location of the cribs because they are the key pieces in the room and you need to fit two. The size and location of the changing dresser is based on the remaining space. If you have the room, Touijer also recommends a glider and ottoman or a couch for late-night feedings.
Wallpaper: Brewster Home; wall paint: Tundra by Benjamin Moore; cribs, bookcase, changing dresser, mirror, rug, table lamp and pillows: Restoration Hardware
Pro tip: Touijer has designed other children’s rooms and nurseries, including multiple twin nurseries. For twin nurseries, she always starts with the location of the cribs because they are the key pieces in the room and you need to fit two. The size and location of the changing dresser is based on the remaining space. If you have the room, Touijer also recommends a glider and ottoman or a couch for late-night feedings.
Wallpaper: Brewster Home; wall paint: Tundra by Benjamin Moore; cribs, bookcase, changing dresser, mirror, rug, table lamp and pillows: Restoration Hardware
Wallpaper: This bold geometric wallpaper creates a feature wall for the two wooden cribs. After reviewing wallpaper options, Touijer chose the print because of its metallic touches and ability to transition with the boys as they grow up. The designer used muted grays and blues to soften the rest of the room.
Wall art: The designer incorporated the Peter Rabbit theme again by adding hand-painted bunny silhouettes above each crib.
Furniture: The key to any nursery is style and functionality, especially with two little ones occupying the space, Touijer says. That’s why she nestled the changing dresser between the matching cribs.
Hand-painted bunnies: Cindy Balthazor, Etsy
Wall art: The designer incorporated the Peter Rabbit theme again by adding hand-painted bunny silhouettes above each crib.
Furniture: The key to any nursery is style and functionality, especially with two little ones occupying the space, Touijer says. That’s why she nestled the changing dresser between the matching cribs.
Hand-painted bunnies: Cindy Balthazor, Etsy
Storage: Books inspired the room and needed their own place. This bookcase sits next to the couch and across from the cribs. It currently holds many accessories, but as the twins’ book collection grows, the family can remove the decorative items to create more space for books. The bottom drawers provide extra storage space for diapers and blankets.
Pro tip: Touijer suggests opting for furniture that has built-in storage, such as cribs with drawers.
Rug: A soft and durable rug covers most of the floor. It’s a dark shade, which will help hide stains.
“Functionality is one of the most important aspects of putting a space together,” Touijer says. “If there is no functionality in a nursery, I haven’t done my job.”
Wallpaper installation and painting: Contractor Joe Kapassakis
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Browse nursery furniture
Pro tip: Touijer suggests opting for furniture that has built-in storage, such as cribs with drawers.
Rug: A soft and durable rug covers most of the floor. It’s a dark shade, which will help hide stains.
“Functionality is one of the most important aspects of putting a space together,” Touijer says. “If there is no functionality in a nursery, I haven’t done my job.”
Wallpaper installation and painting: Contractor Joe Kapassakis
More
6 Nurseries That Wow With Bold Graphic Style
Where to Save and Splurge When Decorating a Nursery
Browse nursery furniture
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Lucky twins to have such a wonderful room and parents that love them. That changing table is amazing.
I remember back in the late 1960s, my best friend got married. Both she and her husband were in collage - she in pharmacy school; he in business school (CPA). They didn't have much money with school expenses and ended up renting an apt above a bar. Then along came the first. Oh My - what to do. They lived in one room. So, jr's first few months of his life was in a drawer of a chest. It worked nicely. They padded the large drawer. Their changing table was the one desk that all three shared! It worked. With school, part time jobs and love for each other and the future, it didn't take too long before they got a larger apt. After both graduated, the jobs came and so did a beautiful large house. There, my best friend and her hubby had one more boy. This time, there were 4 bedrooms. Quite a difference.
Our children's "changing table" was our bed or the couch. Worked fine. The crib was tucked in whatever room there was space for it. They all survived just fine. I think room is too blah for little ones. They need color!