At two weeks from my due date we’re checking off a few more lingering nursery updates, like painting the closet door a bright happy color, organizing the clutter within…
… making/hanging some more art, and changing our minds in the curtain arena (you know we love a good final-hour switcheroo).
The green closet door was heavily influenced by Clara, who kept saying “my baby will like a colored door like mine but not pink” – and since a bold green door was originally in our plan back in January (which we mentioned to Clara, hence her obsession) we decided to stop hemming and hawing and just go for it.
After hanging our apple-green curtains and adding a kelly green sheet to the changing table, we worried a bright door between them would be too much. But the realization that we already had some breezy Ikea curtains from our last house meant we had nothing to lose by tossing those up to see how they looked (they used to hang on the deck sliders, but came down when we got french doors).
Although I couldn’t recoup the time I spent making the colorful curtains, they were under $10 a pop, so it seemed silly to stay married to them at the expense of losing something else we had all looked forward to in the room. And I pulled off the faux-changing-pad-cover (just a fabric remnant I tossed on to picture what a green cover might look like) when we decided a bright closet door was too hard to resist.
We still think the curtains need something (I want to line them in blackout fabric, and maybe trim them on all sides with black or brown ribbon – maybe green? Not sure) but we’re getting closer I think. And of course we still need to get a real changing pad cover, so that’s on the list.
As for picking a green door color, we relied on our usual method of taping up contender swatches to see which one we liked best in a bunch of different lighting scenarios (early morning, afternoon, late at night with the light on, etc). The winner was Irish Moss by Benjamin Moore. Not too dark, not too light, not too neon, and not too yellow or blue.
I only needed a quart to get it done (I went with semi-gloss), even though it took three coats to get a nice shiny finish with good coverage. Bold colors like this tend to look horrific for the first coat or two and then magically shape up at the end. Tinted primer probably could have saved me one coat (in exchange for one coat of that) but I didn’t have it on hand, so I just did three coats of paint instead. I applied the first one with a brush…
… but switched to a brush + small foam roller combo for the second two coats, just to knock things out a little faster. It’s the same method we used on Clara’s door (three coats of paint applied with a roller/brush combo) which has held up well for the last five months with heavy use so that’s nice to know.
As for actually getting the closet ready, that just meant organizing things (lining up shoes, putting a few empty baskets on that top shelf for future use, placing some extra toys in a bin on the floor, and transferring excess clutter to the hall closet). The hall closet is a more spacious double-doored closet, so things that we won’t use for a while like a bumbo and the play table can go in there. We’re sure the nursery closet will evolve into more sophisticated storage as the baby grows (might add some cubbies, a basket system, or a reading area on the floor depending on our needs as we go), but it’s nice to have a clean slate in there now.
We also had two nice wood frames that I wanted to hang on the curtain wall, so I was inspired by this no-longer-for-sale pear poster and just drew the shape in pencil on white foam core and used green & brown finger paint from Clara’s stash. I’m sure as the bun grows we’ll switch it out for a family picture or a subject/animal that he loves – but it’s sweet to have something there for now.
To make the lettered “Love You Forever” message below that, I took inspiration from this print from a no-longer-in-business Etsy shop, and used black construction paper and a pencil. I sketched out the letters roughly, cut them out, and laid them on another white piece of foam core. I tried to keep them all similar in height, but I didn’t get caught up in perfection, thanks to the charming irregularities in the inspiration print.
When I was done I showed John and he came up with the idea to add some color to the V’s, so I used decorative paper from my craft closet and a glue stick to attach them all to the foam core. We both love how it came out – and you can’t beat the price (free) or the amount of time it took (around fifteen minutes).
Since Clara has a print in her room that says “You Are So Loved” it feels nice to have a similar sentiment hanging in our son’s room. Sniffle.
Aren’t those wood frames nice with the stained top of the built-ins and the dark hardware on the drawers?
They also tie-in to the frames of the bike art and the changing table on the other side of the room, so there’s more balance going on.
Speaking of wooden things, we found this cute rocker at a local thrift store called Consignment Connection for $15. Clara is obsessed (even though it looks fragile it easily holds her weight) and thinks her brother is going to LOVE it. Can’t wait to see if she’s right.
Slowly but surely, this room is coming along – we even think we have a plan for the wall behind the crib after this post o’ brainstorming (thanks to everyone for their thoughts and ideas!). We might wait until the baby’s here to knock that out, but in the meantime everything from the toys on the built-ins to those elephants marching across the crib sheets and our new green closet door is making us more excited than ever to bring home this little man of ours.
Even though we’re not done in here, we worried we’d miss the chance to re-take our family picture before the bun is born (a tradition that we started with Clara), so here’s the one we took when we started on the room back in January…
… and here’s one that we snapped yesterday. Could I be more pregnant? I laughed and asked John if he inflated my bump in photoshop (or hid my legs). Turns out I just look like this and my belly really is that far out in front of me. #watermelonsmuggler
And just because I can’t resist a good waaaay back shot, here’s how the room looked before we moved in last summer.
Even though we still have a bunch of remaining to-do list items, it’s definitely feeling more like a baby-ready space.
So our to-do list officially looks like this:
- get a changing pad cover
- line the curtains with blackout liner and add some sort of black/brown/green trim detail?
- tweak the wall behind the crib with wallpaper, a stencil, slatted wood, or some sort of accent color (we have a plan… we think…)
- make a woodsy little cuckoo clock (since I made one for Clara, I’d like to make a charming little rustic one for the bun as well)
- add an overhead light on a dimmer since nothing’s there at all right now (wish we could check this off but we can’t agree on a light we both like)
- possibly add a softly colored ceiling someday? maybe sky blue to add another color to the mostly green/yellow/neutral/white palette?
- add sconces to wall between the built-ins in a few years (we’ve decided these will be more functional after the crib is swapped out for a twin bed, to be used as reading lights)
Is anyone else making art? Having a curtain change of heart? Or painting something a bold, saturated color? We never could have guessed we’d have a bold foyer door along with two in our kids rooms, but they’re proving to be somewhat addictive.
Psst- To read about all of the nursery updates from the beginning, here’s how we painted all the pink trim, laid new hardwood floors, got a rug, painted the walls and ceiling, added built-ins to each corner of the crib wall, tackled some baby bedding, hung some extra thick crown molding, filled up the built-ins, made some curtains, added a cabinet for open storage and diaper changes, and made a mobile for over the crib.
Psst- Wanna know where we got something in our house? Just click on this button:
Becca says
I just can’t get over how cute that room is! :o)
What about doing black, brown, or green bobble trim around the curtains? I’ve been seeing that on Pinterest and I think it is so cute!
YoungHouseLove says
That would be cute!
xo
s
Lisa says
I love the chair; is it navy or dark gray? I’m looking for something just like it for my family room…where did you find??
YoungHouseLove says
It’s a dark charcoal color, from Joss & Main a while ago. Hope it helps!
xo
s
Maddie says
CUTEST AND NICEST NURSERY EVER!!!!
Leah says
LOVE this adorable room… the green door was a GREAT choice, looks awesome!! And Sherry, oh my, you are PRECIOUS!!! Prayers for a healthy, uneventful delivery! Enjoy your last few days of pregnancy. :)
Teneka says
I love the nursery! We are expecting our son June 3rd and have received great ideas from you guys!
Quick question: how do you keep your house clean (baseboards, trim, windows, floors, etc.)? Do you have a cleaning routine/schedule? I know it may have taken a backseat right now with baby boy on the way, but in general how do you do it?
Thanks
YoungHouseLove says
We don’t have a specific schedule but try to clean as we go. I usually just use a swifter duster or a microfiber cloth on baseboards :)
xo
s
Heather says
Those curtains need some pom pom or tassel trim! Easy peasy with a hot glue gun!
Ashley says
I just noticed that your closet door only has two hinges. My house is around the same age as yours (built in 1976), and almost all the interior doors have just two hinges. Are your doors all warped like mine? Done anything to fix them? Our bedroom door won’t latch without a good shove, but others are not so bad.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh no! Warped doors stink! We had a few at our last house but don’t here. I think maybe since these are paneled (solid) and not hollow core? Anyone have tips for Ashley for warping doors? We messed with the latches on some of ours (moving them in or out a bit) in our last house and it seemed to help.
xo
s
Beth Craig says
Love it! So bright and fresh! We did our little girl’s nursery in preppy pink and navy, but we are moving, so I’m excited to do a new room! I’m thinking mint, eggplant, and chartreuse. Anyway, have you considered this overhead light for the room:
http://m.crateandbarrel.com/webster-slate-pendant/s633812
It may be more open than you’re looking for, but I think it’s so cool (and may pick up the mint one for my little girl)! Also, where did the little moraccan table end up? Just wondering:). Love you guys!
YoungHouseLove says
Love that pendant, thanks for the link! As for the Moroccan table, I think it might end up in the living room downstairs. It’s nomadic like pillows and poufs in our house. Haha!
xo
s
debbi in Texas says
love that room and all the green….my favorite color; I call it Spring Green. Your drapes could look awesome with a band of color inserted in each panel, just under the window and to the floor, to match that door. Or not…I think you can go any way you want with the curtains and it will look great.
caroline [the diy nurse] says
The wicker horse [or whatever you want to call him] is just too adorable. I can’t believe you found that at all, let alone second hand. Such a priceless piece!
Jen F says
Dang, both mama and the room look amazing!
Heather Francis says
If you are up for it and can sew a straight line you could always make your own changing pad cover! You could pick out some soft fabric that matches the room decor and go for it! I followed a tutorial on pinterest here and it turn out great! http://www.theadventuresoffaith.com/2013/08/diy-changing-pad-cover.html
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the link Heather!
xo
s
Melissa says
Was definitely going to say green pom pom fringe, and then I clicked comments. Seems like others thought the same. The nursery is beautiful! Enjoy every second with Clara. I cried right before our 2nd joined the family last month. Just hard thinking that my one-on-one time with my big girl was dwindling. Being a mom of 2 is amazing, though, and you’ll rock at that like you rock at everything else!
Naomi says
Wow the room looks awesome and I love teh room with teh green door option. Your tummy looks awesome too Sherry. Can’t wait to see your bub soon. Yah! Good luck with everything.
haverwench says
Hmmm, here it is Monday and Thursday’s post is still the most recent one…anyone think the Barnacle might be on the way a little early?
YoungHouseLove says
Sorry, we have a bold message on the bottom of Thursday’s post that we wouldn’t be posting on Friday due to showhouse deadlines. No baby yet :)
xo
s
Vel says
Love the door, Clara is right ! Good luck with your big day Sherry!
Heather says
Love. Green. Door.
Linda Loo says
Can you share with me where you got those marching elephant sheets for the crib?
YoungHouseLove says
Those are from Pottery Barn Kids.
xo
s
Lisa says
I think I may have asked you this already on a different post, but here it goes again…. Can you please tell me the exact measurements for the pine you used on the IKEA cabinet? I know you said 1×6″ was used but I don’t have access to a cutting saw, so I will need my local Home Depot to cut it for me. I adore this room!! Thanks so much sharing!!
YoungHouseLove says
There are three 1 x 6? boards that wrap around the top, bottom, and sides of the Expedit – and the sides are 31 3/4?, the bottom is 58 3/4? and the top is 60 1/4? long. Hope it helps!
xo
s
Amy says
Love the green door! The whole room is wonderful! And how crazy…we had a rocking horse just like that when I was young.
Chad Phillips says
Love that green door. What a great way to add some color. Impactful but simple :)
Benita Giovannetti says
Sorry if this is a repeat question … Where did you find the grey chair? Love the room and your blog! Every time I need inspiration… I see what you’ve been up to and get advice! So happy you do this and share!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Benita! That was from Joss & Main a while back (a few years ago it was in our kitchen across from the fireplace).
xo,
s
Monnaie says
Fantastic interior designing and decoration, good furnishing too! I don’t know what else to say! really amazing!
Monnaie says
Lovable home interior designing! I like the decoration and furnishing too!
Kelly says
love love the nursery. Would you be able to let me know where some of the green buckets, green square boxes, blue wooden truck on the top shelf and the wooden frames are from? thanks!!
YoungHouseLove says
The wooden frames were a gift but Michaels has similar ones. The green buckets and boxes are Target, and the wooden truck was a thrift store find I painted blue and then Clara colored all over it.
xo
s