I started dreaming up your nursery before you were even conceived. I knew I wanted it to be vintage inspired, I knew I didn't want it to be super "babyish" (so you could grow with it), and I knew I didn't want it to be too "theme-y" (like with character prints or pre-packaged sets).
I spent many months gathering ideas, but work on your nursery didn't begin until the third trimester. First, we needed to know whether you were going to be a boy or a girl. Once we learned you were a girl, I knew immediately that I wanted to do gray and blush pink. Originally I wanted to accent with touches of rose gold, but was finding it hard to find accent pieces in that color, and could not find a spray paint that was rose gold (so I could make my own accent pieces). Being that rose gold is a mixture of copper and gold, and I didn't want to accent with gold, I decided to use copper instead. It still has enough of the feel I was going for with the rose gold.
We selected the crib back in November, after we both fell in love with it when we saw it online. We loved that it converted to 3 different styles, which would make it easy to re-use for a second child, but have it look different. Plus, it's made from cast iron, so it would be very durable and should still look pretty new for a second child as well. In January I found it on sale for a super good price, so we decided to jump on the deal. Selecting which color to buy it in wasn't easy (it comes in slate, white, antique white/off-white, gold and pewter). Daddy really liked the slate the best, so I went ahead and got that one. I will admit I had a moment of buyer's remorse after we learned your sex, because I wasn't sure how the dark color would blend with the pale gray and blush pink palette I had settled on. But, I'm actually happy with the choice now. I feel like it makes the crib stand out, and I added some black accents elsewhere in the room to help tie it in (e.g. frames, curtain rod).
Our next purchase was the dresser. I knew I wanted a French Provincial style dresser. We found one on Craigslist for a really cheap price at the end of January. It had been fixed up and painted white (although, the paint job was crappy, so Daddy and Grandpa Rick spent a crazy amount of time repainting it). The dresser fit perfectly on the wall next to the door, and I loved that it had so many drawers for organizing your things (and, believe me, I filled them!).
Right about the same time, I found the glider and ottoman online, for a steal of a price. I loved that it had a vintage look to it, and was fully upholstered. There are these other gliders that are really popular right now, but I can't stand the way they look -- they're very dated looking, and not very attractive. There was no way mama was putting something ugly in your room! I was a little nervous buying it sight unseen, but when it arrived a few weeks later, I was pleased! It was a little darker than I was hoping (but once it was up in the room, I decided I liked it), but otherwise it was super comfy and I knew I'd enjoy snuggling with you in it.
I also decided early on that I wanted to make a book wall for you. I loved books as a kid (and still do), and hope to instill a love of reading in you too. The top shelf has a bunch of books that belonged to Daddy as a kid. Since I'm so short (that I can barely reach that shelf), and I wouldn't want you messing those books up when you hit that age that you start tearing pages out of books, I figured that would be a perfect spot. Unfortunately, I don't have too many books from my childhood -- most of them were passed down to my brothers, and later junked or donated. But, I have been buying some new copies of some of my favorites from when I was a little girl, like "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" and "The Velveteen Rabbit", and well as adding in a number of Dr. Seuss books that I have been collecting over the years.
At the baby shower, my mom used a bunch of old baby clothes that had belonged to her and me to decorate with, and afterwards, gave those items to me. I selected a few of them to create a display in your room.
On the upper left is a cardigan that belonged to Nana Shirley. Underneath, on the copper bow shelf, is a pair of pink and fur booties that belonged to me.
In the center is my Christening gown and bonnet, which Nana Shirley sewed for me. The hanger it's on is also one of my old baby hangers.
On the bottom right is a bonnet that belonged to Nana Shirley. And on the top right was the dress we brought you home from the hospital in.
Originally, I had planned on hanging a chandelier light in your room. But, as I looked around, I couldn't find one I like that wasn't super expensive. I ended up stumbling across a bunch of vintage ceiling lights on Ebay, and decided they fit better with the vintage feel I was going for. The light I purchased was made in the 1930's by a company called Porcelier. It has pretty pink and blue flowers painted on the porcelain fixture, and it came with the pink glass shade.
I planned to do a sort of gallery wall above your dresser. I started with the little shelves, and then figured the rest out from there.
On the left shelf is a cuddly, stuffed lamb from your Great Aunt Sandy. Next to it is a kitten vase that I had in my nursery when I was a baby. I purchased some silk flowers to make the arrangement inside. And then I added the little white butterfly from the flower arrangement your Grandma and Grandpa Guerra brought with them to the hospital the day after you were born. The little girl figurine with the "D" was something your Nana Shirley found at an antique store. And the "Baby's Nest Egg" was a gift from Nana's Shirley's friend Laurie, who found it at an estate sale and thought it would be perfect in your room (which it is!) Underneath is a frame I picked up from the Pleasanton Antique Fair in May, when I went there with Nana Shirley. We made the prints of your feet when you were 3 weeks old. Next to it is a little something I put together with some spare pieces I had. I used an extra embroidery hoop, spray painted copper, and added some leftover lace from making your crib skirt. Then I added a butterfly brooch I had in my jewelry box (for your Great Grandma Guerra, who I've been told loved butterflies).
The framed handkerchief was also something I found on Ebay. We weren't fully committed to the name "Daphne" yet, but I loved that it was pink and grey, and figured if we picked a different name, I could just keep it for myself. The picture frames I filled with detail shots of you, and a little silhouette I made of your face.
The mobile was also something I made a few days before you were born. The pink beads were left over from your gender reveal party (from the lanterns I made to reveal your gender).
Your closet still needs doors... but for the time being, I'm actually liking the open concept for ease of access to your stuff. Daddy built the closet out for you, including the new cedar floor. As you can see, you have no shortage of clothes for being a brand new baby! And that's not including all of the clothes (onesies, pants, socks, shoes, hats, etc.) that are hiding in the dresser drawers (4 drawers full)!
I put a lot of time, thoughts and effort into designing and decorating this room for you, and I'm pretty happy with how it turned out!
