INTERIOR DESIGN AND FURNITURE GUIDE

BABY FURNITURE IDEAS

Traditional Style Boy’s Nursery that Really Stands Out

February 25th, 2010

Traditional Palette
The color blue is the classic the classic choice for a baby boy’s nursery. Because it’s a cool color, it can help create a tranquil, restful environment for your child. Traditional style has an understated elegance that is adaptable. While you might want to skip baby nursery furniture that has a lot of “girlie” decorative detail, a traditionally styled room has proportion and symmetry that is soothing, welcoming and inviting. By opting for other forms of blue (shown here from Behr) instead of the more classic “baby” or powder blue shades, you can design a traditional style nursery that will really stand out.

The style of crib that is probably most often linked with traditional style is the sleigh crib. Since the crib will be the focal point of the room, the Young America GenAmerica Classic Cherry Mix & Match Stationary Sleigh Side Crib is the ideal choice. It has a classic sleigh bed profile, with soft, flowing lines that makes it very appealing.

The beautiful blues of the Go Mama Go Designs Wonder Bumpers Blue Damask 38 Set are rich and vibrant and totally “un-baby blue.” The damask pattern of this crib bedding set emphasized the crib’s traditional style.

The dresser and the changing table are two other necessary nursery furniture pieces you will need. Some manufacturers offer change tables that can be repurposed as dressers or storage chests, which makes purchasing one more economical.

The Child Craft Arbor Gate Dressing Bureau in Coach Cherry displays characteristic features of Louis Philippe (a traditional sub style) that will go well with a sleigh-type crib. By placing a changing pad on top of the bureau, you’ve magically transformed it into a changing table. When it’s no longer needed, you can still continue to use this charming storage unit as a place to store toys, clothes and other accessories.

With echoes of Louis Philippe, the Young America by Stanley GenAmerica Classic Cherry Door Chest combines all of the best features of an armoire and a chest of drawers together.


For your ultimate comfort, and baby’s too, when you’re feeding your child, select the Dutailier The Comfort Recliner Dolce Prestige Glider in Microfiber or All Leather. It comes in a number of colors, allowing you to pick the one that matches your nursery décor.

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Airplane Themed Toddler’s Room

February 24th, 2010

He’s ready to move out of the nursery, which means he’s learned to walk, has grown out of the crib and needs a bedroom that will stimulate his mind and encourage creativity. Airplanes are a popular theme for a boy’s room. And it’s an ideal theme for a toddler’s room since it’s not based on cartoon characters or other motifs he might easily lose interest in or quickly grow out of. Airplanes are synonymous with travel, transportation, adventure and exploration, all great sub-themes that can be added to the room’s main theme by accessories like a light fixture or an area rug; a toddler bedding set; or stencils, murals and framed pictures.

Opting for contemporary style children’s furniture creates just the right mood for our airplane theme room. A contemporary style toddler bed typically has smooth, clean lines that lend a bedroom – even a toddler’s bedroom – a calm and uncluttered appearance.

The DaVinci Modena Wood Toddler Bed in Ebony strikes just the right note: lines are simple; profiles are clean. To make it even more functional, it includes under-bed storage, perfect for stowing away extra bedding, clothes or even toys.

The P’kolino Organic Toddler Airplanes Bedding Set has a contemporary style that is fun and casual. The pattern is straightforward, allowing you to add other airplane elements that will work with bedding set’s blue and white color scheme.

Rounded corners and enclosed shelves (no hardware) makes the Smart Basics Kids Nightstand in Pure Black safe for toddlers. A nightstand is a must-have in a toddler’s bedroom, the perfect place for a night light or a lamp. Nightstands with shelves or drawers increase the functionality of a boy’s room by giving him more room to store away things.

Accessorizing your child’s room with a particular theme in mind is always fun, especially if you do it is as a mom and son project. Pick age-appropriate accessories to complement the room’s decor. Place the furniture against the walls and keep as much open space as possible to provide room for play and exploration.

Make the floor appealing with either the Olive Kids Trains, Planes and Trucks Round Printed Rug or the Fun Rugs California Kids Carved Flying Tigers Rug.

The ELK Lighting Novelty Prop Plane Semi Flush Ceiling Mount gives the décor a touch of whimsy that contrasts well with the bedroom’s contemporary look and feel.

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Around the World: a unisex nursery design

February 23rd, 2010

There are many reasons for not wanting to know the gender of your child. Or even if you do know or plan on knowing, you might prefer to design a nursery for your newborn that is not gender specific. The easiest way to get started is to avoid themes such as airplanes, trains and fire engines or fairies, butterflies and ballerinas, and of course, the colors pink and blues. Choose instead a theme like world travel, which will allow you to add old world touches like framed maps, a globe or trunk-shaped toy chest.

Select softer, more neutral-toned colors. Yellows, greens, light browns and tans are all good choices. Any one of these shades (from Behr) has the added benefit of adding a calming and tranquil feel to the room. Or if you would like to go bolder, colors like gold, orange and even red are great alternatives for a non-gender specific nursery.

When furnishing your nursery, select baby furniture that is not too light or too dark, since white is often associated with baby girls while black is a popular choice for a boy’s nursery. Cribs like the Orbelle Convertible Mini Portable Crib N Bed in Natural that have a natural or light to medium wood finish are ideal for a non-gender specific nursery design. This crib is very multipurpose – place a changing pad on top of the set of drawers and you have a handy change table; the crib converts to a toddler bed with under-bed storage; and the set of drawers detaches from the unit and can be used as a nightstand.

“Neutral” themed crib bedding is a must in a unisex nursery. The colors of the Bebe Chic Around the World Baby Crib Bedding Set are warm while the antique map pattern of the crib bumper makes this set visually interesting.

Any way you can add storage to a nursery is always a good thing. The Badger Basket Natural Barrel Top Toy Chest has the simple and economical shape of a classic steamer trunk.

The Fun Rugs Supreme Collection Kids World Map Rug uses all of the colors that the crib bedding set does. You can also tie this area rug into the walls by a wallpaper border with a map or other world travel theme.

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Victorian Nursery for a Baby Girl

February 19th, 2010

Victorian style, while traditional Victorian furnishings tend to be oversized, ornate and heavy, is essentially elegant and romantic, ideal characteristics for a girl baby’s nursery. Because of their penchant for excessive ornamentation and accessorizing, it should come as no surprise that the Victorians loved to decorate with as many different textures as possible. A typical Victorian parlor would comfortably mix velvet with nubbed wools, plaids with stripes. This will give you free rein to create a nursery that reflects the opulence and romance of the Victorian era.

Victorian Palette

The colors used to paint Victorian rooms were rich and vibrant. Choose berry and jewel tones for your baby’s nursery. If these colors are too bold, tone them down by selecting paler versions of the same color family. This particular color palette (from Behr) was chosen to match a particular “rosy” crib bedding set.

The delightful Young America Caroline Mix & Match Stationary Crib in Victorian White has a floral theme, a common motif for Victorian bedroom furniture. Combined with a scalloped apron, decorative molding and bun feet, this crib possesses a fanciful and romantic feel that is perfect for a Victorian styled nursery.

Because the language of flowers, using flowers in a bouquet to send messages, was a popular Victorian pastime, anything floral related such as rosettes, trailing vines and pansies are popular themes for fabrics as well as for furniture. The Bebe Chic Bella Baby Crib Bedding Set will provide a soft meadow-like environment for your baby to sleep.

You might prefer a more traditional rocker for your nursery, but if this accent chair appeals to you it will add a truly delightful Victorian charm to your nursery design. The Natart Verona Chair in French White and Silver echoes this era’s love of flowers and floral motifs with its delicate decorative accents.

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Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear

February 18th, 2010

Teddy bears are a source of delight and comfort and both adults and children alike enjoy collecting (and cuddling) them. There aren’t many us who didn’t have a favorite teddy bear or stuffed toy when we were young. So it makes perfect sense to create a nursery with a teddy bear theme for your new baby boy. For a fresh take on a motif that is often paired with traditional, vintage or country styles, this boy nursery design pairs nostalgic charm with a few contemporary twists.

Start with a popular contemporary palette (from Behr) of warm neutrals. Once the walls have been painted, you can add the bear motif directly to the walls of the room in many delightful forms like Paddington Bear, Winnie the Pooh and Corduroy. Because teddy bear themes are so popular, you will be able to find wall mural kits, decorative borders and stencils should you wish to go this route.

The OFFI Bebe 2 Nursery Crib in Natural Ply is beautifully designed with clean, contemporary lines that are visually interesting. Gentle curves combined with straight lines are soothing and restful.

The OFFI Bebe 2 Nursery Collection includes the OFFI Bebe 2 Nursery Dresser with 5 Drawers in White. Its two-tone natural wood and white finishes, simple, architectural detailing and clean, flowing lines possess a distinctive contemporary style.

Begin with the Cotton Tale N. Selby Boys Only 4-Piece Baby Crib Bedding Set. The geometric patterns and the neutral colors are very contemporary and will give your nursery a fresh perspective. The color palette was chosen to match this crib bedding set.

Here come the bears! The Cotton Tale N. Selby Boys Only Baby Crib Musical Mobile starts to layer the nursery design with the bear motif.

If you have opted for just painted walls, the Cotton Tale N. Selby Boys Only Baby Nursery 3-Piece Wall Art feature three adorable circus teddy bears.

 

 

Accessories for a contemporary style boy nursery with a teddy bear motif should definitely include one or both of these cuties, the Melissa & Doug Cuddly Brown Bear Plush Stuffed Animal or the Cotton Tale Arctic Babies Polar Bear Plush Toy.

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Spring Meadow Nursery for a Baby Girl

February 17th, 2010

A nursery is of course, for your baby, but it is also for the both of you. When planning your baby’s room, it should be designed to create a harmonious environment and a place where you and your baby can form those important bonds that can last a lifetime. Choosing a spring meadow theme for your newborn’s first room will be soothing, comforting and inviting. It will allow you the freedom to introduce a variety of other nature themes that could include birds, butterflies, ladybugs and rabbits – anything to do with Mother Nature that is connected in some way to spring meadow.

Spring Palette

Colors (from Behr) should definitely be pastel soft and restful. Shades that echo back a fresh green spring meadow, a bubbling stream or the gentle tones of newly minted flowers are a good place to take your inspiration from when selecting a wall color for your baby girl’s room. Whatever color or colors you choose for the walls should appear in some way in the crib bedding, curtains and area rug that you select.

Since a spring meadow is mostly associated with the countryside, country style baby furniture would be ideal. The design of the Da Vinci Reagan 4-in-1 Convertible Crib in Pearl White is the ever-popular sleigh style. This crib has plenty of country charm, with its simple, gently flowing lines.

The soft pinks and greens of the Cotton Tale Taffy 4-Piece Baby Crib Bedding Set are as fresh and delicate as Spring herself. The crib will certainly be the focal point of the nursery with this crib bedding set giving it a lovely textured and layered appearance with its combination of plaids and dots. The dainty floral patterns add a touch of whimsy to the charming design.

The DaVinci Parker 2-Door Wood Baby Changer in Pearl White has a whimsical country charm that is perfectly suited to the nursery’s overall look and feel. A changing table is a must-have baby nursery item because it will provide a safe place for you to change your child while allowing you to organize everything you need to keep baby dry close to hand.

Accessorize as playfully as you want. What’s a spring meadow without rabbits? Start with the delightful KidKraft Rosebud Rabbit Canvas Art Painting Wall Decoration.

Especially if your nursery has a hardwood floor, warm up the area by the crib or the changing table with an area rug. The Cotton Tale Spring Fling Baby Nursery Accent Rug possesses all of the right colors. The “cottontail” pattern is reminiscent of baby rabbits a.k.a. bunnies.

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Vintage Style Nursery for a Baby Boy

February 16th, 2010

Shabby chic or vintage style is often associated with girl nurseries but this vintage look can work just as well in a boy nursery. While it does possess elements of romanticism, vintage style also possesses a casual old world charm that, even with its traditional heritage, it still is informally elegant. Shabby chic or vintage style is well-known for its floral patterns, but it also incorporates stripes and retro geometric shapes that have interesting lines and sweet, whimsical contours. Choose “boy” colors, vintage baby furniture and nostalgic wall art and other accessories, and you will have a vintage style nursery that will be a welcoming place for your baby.

Vintage style nursery baby furniture typically has decorative or structural design elements of a bygone era like Victorian, turn-of-the-century and the 1950s. A vintage style crib might have a white-washed or distressed finish; a change table could have wrought iron accents; a dresser may have hand-painted stencils or motifs. Another great thing about creating a vintage style boy nursery is that furniture pieces don’t have to match – in fact, it’s more “vintage” if they don’t.

Blue Palette

Predominate colors (from Behr) in shabby chic or vintage décor are pure white, cream and soft pastels like soft yellows, blues and greens. These particular color choices are designed to complement two specific crib bedding sets.

Just like in an adult bedroom where the bed is the focal point of the room, the crib you choose for your vintage style nursery will be center stage. To help create that vintage look, select a crib with inlay accents like the Bratt Decor Chelsea Lifetime Convertible Crib in Espresso.

Or if you prefer a crib in classic white, the Bratt Decor Dick Crib in White is the perfect choice. What makes this crib vintage are the simple lines and handcrafted appearance.

The first crib bedding set, the Caden Lane Modern Vintage Sean Bedding Set displays classic vintage floral designs but with a “boy style” flair. By pairing soft earth toned neutrals with a bright accent blue, this crib set possesses true vintage charm.

On the other hand, the Caden Lane Classic Blue Jack Baby Crib Bedding Set successfully combines vintage stripes with retro circles and polka dots.

The vintage style of the DaVinci Jenny Lind Wood Changing Table in Ebony is evident in its turned spindles. The turned spindles have the classic appearance a bed found in grandmother’s house.

Accessories for a vintage style boy nursery should have the look and feel of prized family heirlooms. Sepia photographs in burnished metal or cast iron frames would be one option for vintage style wall art. Or how about replicas or reprints of 1920s children’s books cover art featuring the popular bunny or fox stories of that era in wood frames with a distressed finish? Lamps will have scrolled metal bases with small checks, stripes or damask patterned shades. Any decorative accessory that has cherished, old world charm will be ideal for a vintage style nursery.

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Chocolate Dreams for a Baby Girl

February 15th, 2010

Chocolate cake with pink icing or strawberries dipped in chocolate or chocolate mousse paired with raspberry parfait – there is no denying that chocolate, espresso or other rich browns go well with any shade of pink, pastel or bold. By choosing contemporary style baby furniture with clean lines and a rich chocolate finish paired with a pink color scheme, you can create a delicious nursery that will be both functional and beautiful to look at.

Pink Palette

Our color palette (from Behr) will of course be pink. Deeper tones will make the chocolate colors in the nursery appear richer.

When designing a nursery, your immediate baby furniture requirements:

  • a crib
  • crib bedding
  • a changing table
  • a rocker, armchair or other type of comfy chair such as a recliner
  • clothing storage such as a dresser, a chest of drawers and/or an armoire

The Babyletto Newhaven Pine Wood 4-in-1 Convertible Canopy Crib Set in Dark Chocolate displays perfect contemporary style. It has the added appeal of being a canopy crib, allowing you to customize it with pink or chocolate draperies to create a unique, warm and intimate environment for your baby girl. Because it comes with a changing table/dresser combo, it will also be kinder to your budget.

The Go Mama Go Designs Wonder Bumpers Pink & Chocolate 38 Pack is intended to fit cribs with the standard number of rails, both round and flat up to 3 inches in diameter or width. Instead of regular, rectangular bumper panels these soft, malleable vertical bumpers are designed to increase air flow, keeping baby more comfortable and the bedding a little fresher. The Go Mama Go Designs Pink & Chocolate Collection includes a bed sheet, blanket and chocolate dust ruffle.

Having a comfortable and snug place to sit while you feed your child is important. The Dutailier The Comfort Recliner Adagio Prestige Glider will also make a great story time chair. If she doesn’t want it in her room as she grows older, it’s one of those armchairs that you can always find room for in another part of your home.

While you want the nursery to be pretty, it must be practical as well. Give careful thought to how to incorporate storage solutions to the room that will grow with your child. Anything with drawers like the South Shore Furniture Back Bay Dark Chocolate Double Dresser or the South Shore Furniture Back Bay Dark Chocolate Wardrobe Armoire automatically adds functionality to any living space.

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Country Cottage Style for a Baby Boy

February 12th, 2010

Country cottage style is warm, charming and comfortable. It is a day spent by the lake; an evening curled up in a comfy oversized chair by the fire; a farmhouse kitchen during harvest time. This same ambience makes for a welcoming and versatile environment in a baby boy nursery. You can opt to go with without a theme, choosing instead to focus on style-related flourishes like woven rugs in country colors, pictures of farm animals or pastoral scenes in simple wood frames and wicker baskets for smart storage solutions.

Boy Country

Country style colors (from Benjamin Moore) should reflect nature, the blue sky, the brown earth, the green grass, the yellow sun. Popular shades for baseboards, windows and moldings include pure whites, off-whites with a “washed” appearance and soft creams. The color you choose will set the nursery’s mood – the warmer the tones, the more inviting the room will be.

Country cottage baby furniture has the cherished, well-worn look of furnishings that have been hand-crafted and passed down through the generations. The emphasis is on comfort, in both design and style. Lines are gently curved, profiles are relaxed and decorative accents are “fun” rather than “fussy” like their more traditional counterparts. The Stork Craft Rochester Stages Oak Fixed Side Baby Crib displays Windsor chair-like slats, a camelback and gently curved sides and feet – all hallmarks of country cottage style.

Of course in a country cottage, plaids and ginghams aren’t restricted just to window treatments. As evidenced by the Cotton Tale Derby Plaid 4-Piece Baby Crib Bedding Set, chenille, plaid and check materials make for a happy “down home” mix.

A changing table makes any nursery more practical since it makes it easier on you to change your baby and it increases your storage solution options.

The Badger Basket Round Rattan Hamper in Natural with Sage Gingham Liner is the ideal accessory to have in a country cottage style nursery.

To add even more country charm the Cotton Tale Derby Plaid Baby Nursery Lamp and Shade will not only shed a little light, it will also complement the crib bedding set.

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Boy Story – A Blue Nursery for a Baby Boy

February 9th, 2010

blue nursery  blue nursery2 

You recently found out that you are expecting a baby boy and have decided that you do want to go the blue route. Blue is a cool, soothing color for the walls of nursery. While many people do decide to go with a particular theme, the color blue itself would be an excellent nursery motif. To make blue the shining star of the nursery design plan, choose tranquil and soothing earth tones (colors from Benjamin Moore) for the walls, window treatments and the area rug. This will provide a beautifully neutral canvas for blue crib bedding and other blue accessories. Should you want more color in the room, select a deep rich blue as an accent color, either for one or two walls. The whole idea is to design a nursery, from the décor to the baby furniture to comfy crib bedding that will be the ideal comfortable place for both baby and you.

Baby furniture pieces should have medium to dark wood finishes with a soft sheen. The Status Furniture Brookfield Stages Convertible Baby Crib is a transitional style crib that is extremely versatile. It can be converted from a crib to a toddler bed to a daybed. Ideal for a boy nursery, this crib has lovely decorative detail in the form of gently arched molding and the judicious use of ornamental molding.

Buying a baby furniture nursery set not only can save you money, it can also save you time in having to shop for each piece separately. The Status Furniture Brookfield Baby Room Furniture Set of course includes the crib, but also includes a dresser and a door dresser that can easily double for a change table just by adding a changing tray.

The Kathy Ireland by Thank You Baby Mr. Pete Nursery Bedding Set is not just blue; it’s blue that has been delightfully textured through the combination of patterns and other colors.

The Fun Rugs California Kids High Pile Spiro Gyro Rug will add even more textured blue to this nursery design.

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