This nursery that Dave and Carrie created for their daughter had us smiling from the second we saw the first picture. Not only is it bold and playful, it also has some sweet personal touches and a lot of handmade/DIYed goodness going on. Here’s their letter:
Hey S & J, We recently welcomed our first child into the world, Everly Harper. Before we even knew Ever (that’s what we will lovingly call her), we knew we didn’t want a typical nursery for her – and we definitely didn’t want anything close to what the room looked like when we bought the place.
My wife was inspired by a woodland themed nursery that we found through your site years ago, and the following is what we came up with. We knew we wanted to save money where we could, and we both love a good project, so we tackled whatever we could on our own over the last few months.
We started by painting the walls with Behr Ultra Premium Plus Flat Enamel (color-matched to the Sherwin-Williams color Grizzle Gray ) and then hand painted the birch trees in some leftover trim paint (Behr matched to Sherwin-Williams Extra White). We covered the old half hardwood / half painted subfloor with carpet tiles and then layered the white shag area rug from Target over that. The curtains and hardware are from Ikea, but we ended up hand painting those yellow stripes (Yellow Gold in Behr U.P.P.) because we couldn’t find reasonable yellow curtains that we loved.
The changing table/long dresser is a vintage dresser (thanks Craigslist!) that we sanded, and then stained, painted and polyurethaned. We added the changing pad frame and insert (Pottery Barn kids) which can later be removed so she can grow up with the dresser. The crib is new from Walmart.com.
The canvas on the wall is actually vinyl that we had our birth announcement photo printed on. I built a frame out of leftover lumber and stretched the vinyl like I would stretch a canvas. The local company that printed it for us is PrintLeader, based in Buffalo, NY. The photo itself was taken as part of a “Trash the Dress” shoot we did with our favorite photographer Erin Oveis Brant. We found out a few weeks before we had planned to shoot a five year wedding anniversary gift to ourselves that we were pregnant, so we asked Erin if she could incorporate some pregnancy announcement photos into our day. She was actually the first person we told, and those boots were our first purchase for the baby!
The Hunter boots are now a part of the décor until she herself can kick up a little mud of her own! Most of the other accessories have been collected over the last 10 months – like a fox and mushrooms from Target, a fabric wrapped tree from Anthropologie, and a diaper pail from Ikea.
So thanks for inspiring us on a daily basis, and thanks for letting us share our room with you! We hope Ever knows how much love we put into it! Best regards, Dave & Carrie
We love not only how this room looks, but all of the awesome thought that went into it. Everly is a lucky lady. And if you want to see more, Dave and Carrie have a photo album that shows off more corners of this colorful “woodland” room. Thanks for sharing guys!
Karen says
I continue to be envious of all the talent I see on your website. I always know what I love, but no idea how to ‘get there’ with my own house!! Thanks for sharing!!
Michelle @birdsofberwick.com says
I LOVE this nursery! The additional photos are fantastic too and I love the redesigned open closet and that blue chair adds another color component. I love a nursey that works for both baby and adult and doesn’t just scream, “LOOK AT ME I’M A BABY AREN’T ALL THE BUNNIES/DUCKS/BEARS CUTE??” :-) Great job, Dave & Carrie! And Congratulations!
katie says
I’m totally obsessed with this redesign. And the family photo is so perfect. Just wondering if it’s a canvas wrap or something else…
YoungHouseLove says
I think he goes into that in his letter Katie (it’s a vinyl print that he stretched himself I think). Hope it helps :)
xo
s
Stacey @ Likes to Smile says
How stunning and how special! I love the mix of grey and yellow and white. It looks perfect for a little lady!
Shannon says
I seriously LOVE this! I love seeing nurseries that don’t scream blue or pink! This is fabulous!
Vanessa B. says
Seriously?! I wish MY room looked like this (minus the crib – that would be uncomfortable). Definitely my fave Reader Redesign to date.
Lauren says
This is such an adorable room! I especially love the hand painted birch trees, DIY stripe curtains, and the pregnancy announcement picture. Congratulations to Dave and Carrie!
Anne D. says
What an improvement over the original room! I love those curtains. Great job!
Elissa says
Love this nursery!They did such a wonderful job!! Would love to know where they got the chair and ottoman. Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Hope they stop in with that info for ya :)
xo
s
Erin says
I think it’s the Nara by Babyletto: http://www.babyletto.com/nara-glider/
I looked at that one, but couldn’t ever find it in a store to see/feel in person. We ended up with the Monte Designs Luca chair and ottoman (http://www.montedesign.net/modern_nursery_glider.html). It’s a bit pricey (all of the modern ones we liked were, unfortunately), but it’s VERY comfortable for both me and my husband. And we’re 5’3″ and 6’4″!
Dave says
Thanks Elissa! We got the glider and ottoman at Babies R Us.
Candice says
Love it! Love the wellies. Love the gnomes. Love the colors. Love it. (We have that crib and my kitchen cabinets are that exact grey.)
Brenda says
I absolutely adore the gnomes! What a lovely room. I wouldn’t mind sleeping there myself.
Jeanna says
The nursery is just stunning! Just adored everything (except the scary pink painted animal skull, lol)! Such a lucky baby :)
Teresa @ wherelovemeetslife says
How STINKING CUTE!!! I will def. be checking out the rest of the pics!!
Angel says
daVE + carRiE = EVER
Cool!
YoungHouseLove says
Cute!
xo
s
Dave says
best comment! Thanks!
Amanda says
Love the trees! We also have birch trees in our little one’s nursery, and I just love the effect.
Robin says
There’s lot of beautiful, cute, clever, luxurious, and budget friendly nurseries online, but this one totally stole my heart with all its meaningful elements and hand-crafted love. I hope little Everly enjoys this room forever and always.
Amber L. says
I LOVE this! This is my dream nursery and can’t wait to use this as inspiration for our next baby. Thanks for posting it!!!
Chaney says
This is so, SO pretty! I’m in love! They did an amazing job! I took a look at the flickr album and saw an adorable glider and ottoman in the corner – do you (or maybe Dave and Carrie will chime in?) have a source for that guy?
YoungHouseLove says
Hope they drop in with that info for ya Chaney :)
xo
s
Dave says
Thanks Chaney! We got them both at Babies R Us!
Stephanie M. says
I’m in love with this room! So sweet.
katie says
the gnomes have to be my favorite part!
Sarah S says
Whoa. I kind of think the gray/yellow/chevron is a little trendy right now and not very well done (usually) so immediately upon opening this page I got a peek of the picture and was prepared not to be impressed. Buy BOY HOWDY. This is gorgeous. This is like the template for the gray/yellow/chevron movement. How to do it right. Someone has a great eye for design – the birch trees behind the crib and the tall lamp mixed with the white fluffy rug? perfect. I just love everything about it.
Becky B. says
How are we over 40 comments in an no one else has demanded that you guys crash the rest of their house?? If this room is so amazing (and it is) can we see the rest? Pretty please? With sugar on top? :)
Seriously. Total house crashing candidate.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, we’d LOVE TO!
xo
s
Donna says
I completely second that, Becky!!!
Dave says
Thanks Becky! We would love to invite you in, but we just bought the house, and Ever’s nursery has been our priority. The rest is a work in progress! We bought an older home with the original footprint dating back to 1830, so our list is a long one! We will look forward to sharing more as we “finish”! We appreciate the words!
Carrie K says
What Dave means as “a work in progress” is that his creative mind has been going crazy and he has started a million projects all at once.
Alison says
Agreed!! I can’t wait to see more from Dave and Carrie, this is by far my favorite reader redesign EVER!
Meredith says
This is darling! My favorite part is the long dresser. Makes me wonder why everyone doesn’t do it. It is SUPER practical and looks really fantastic.
Kristen @ LoveK Blog says
What a beautiful nursery!! The big picture they used as a pregnancy announcement might be my favorite part.
Ashlea Walter says
I absolutely love this nursery, thanks for sharing! I had to laugh at the white rug though – it’s obviously a first child’s room. Next time they might go with brown, ha!
Erin says
This is an adorable room! I love yellow and gray together and the way they made it kid-appropriate as well as sophisticated. Great job!
I’d love to know more about the carpet tiles – it looks like there are 2 or 3 different patterns? If you stop by, Dave and Carrie, can you share where they are from and the pattern names?
Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Hope they drop by! I’d guess they’re by Flor (sometimes they sell mismatched tiles that “go” but aren’t identical) – hope it helps :)
xo
s
Dave says
Thanks Erin! We used 3 different styles of Shaw/Patcraft 18×18 carpet tiles. I do not have the names, but their website is great! They also list coordinating tiles, so it is a no-brainer to pick three different coordinating tiles for some visual interest! We used commercial tile, so it will hold up to ANYTHING Ever (or our dogs Story or Chloe) can throw/spill/do to it. The tiles peel right up and can be washed in a sink, or with a hose.
Katie @ AdventuringAtHome says
Wow. I would love to live in this room, and I’m 24! I love the colors, and all the light, but especially the personal touches.
Kimberj says
Wow! That is one seriously gorgeous grown up baby room, lucky Ever. I love the trees. For anyone who isn’t confident enough to paint them, there are fabulous decals of trees, birds, phone booths, pretty much anything you can imagine available that are easy to put up and temporary if you change your mind or want to move them. Also perfect for an apt too.
However my favorite project in the room is the painted yellow striped drapes. I’m a textile artist and home DIYer so I’d love to know what they used and how they did it. They are truly fabulous!
Kimberj says
Oh and if they’re up for sharing… What brand and design of carpet tiles were used? Is it too nosy to ask how much they are?? Trying to budget a project over on my end and flooring is the real issue right now.
YoungHouseLove says
I’d guess they’re by Flor, so maybe check their website in the meantime :)
xo
s
Ethne @ Wom-Mom says
Holy Cats, I don’t even know if I could play ‘which part is my favorite’ with this room. I might try and copy that fabric covered tree for my own purposes, but otherwise, I just can’t pick! Good work!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, that’s exactly why we left it off! Can’t choose!!!
xo
s
Stephanie says
I’m hoping to have a nursery to start decorating soon, and I’d love to … have this exactly. The wall color and those hand-painted trees are so incredible. I’ll be coming back to this page for inspiration!
Samm Spangler says
This is seriously stunning!! Im nearly 5 months preggo myself and we find out the sex in four days!! I can’t wait to start decorating!!
Carrie K says
I’ve been looking for a diaper pail like that and I can’t find it on Ikea or a 5gal even on Amazon. Could you provide a link? We’re doing cloth diapers and I’d love to have that as part of our set up! Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Hope Carrie or Dave stops in with that info for ya!
xo
s
Allison says
Here’s the link: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90218924/
Hope that helps! It’s not really a diaper pail, but it certainly could be used as one!
Joy S. says
I absolutely LOVE this nursery. It’s really perfect. Might be my favorite reader design ever and I don’t even have a kid. I love that it’s so modern but also has the cute elements thrown in. I honestly love everything about it but adore the sentimental aspects of the canvas and hunter boots on display. Well done!
Lisa E says
Wow. I, too, think it’s my favorite reader redesign as well. So many awesome details that I love, but I have to say my fav is the canvas. Love the way their creative minds think.
Megan @ Rappsody in Rooms says
I totally want that as my room! Amazing! I can’t believe they hand painted the trees. I love the yellow curtains, the vinyl picture, and that amazing Craigslist find!
Justynn [ creative life antics ] says
holy cow!
RVANative aka RVA born and raised says
I am in love with this room. Heck, I’m an adult and I would want this to be my room. Minus the crib. I think I’m too big for that.
Wendy says
So cute! Gnomes and huge white bear! Wonder where they got the bear from. I don’t have kids yet but would love to do a nursery like that with such sweet personal touches.
mary @ bgjournals says
wow, that was a really rough color they had to start with, and what a stellar final product! love those curtains…what a lucky little tiny :)
angel says
Super cute! I love the dresser/changing table…so beautiful.
Donna says
This brought tears to my eyes, it was so sweet and touching! Not only have they created such a happy space for Ever, but she will know how loved and wanted she was from the start. What a great re-design!
amyks says
SHUT UP!!! I thought the picture of the nursery was the inspiration photo…that is one of the cutest reader redesigns I have ever seen. Love, love, love it! Too bad my baby making days are over, oops, was that TMI???
Whitney Dupuis says
Whoa! This is such a fantastic nursery! I have been wanting to do an animals/forest style nursery for our next child (not pregnant yet) and this helps me with direction. They did such an amazing job with everything. Oh, and that announcement photo is awesome. Love it.
Jen says
This room is stunning! Also, did y’all know that your book is being used in an Anthropologie display?
http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/shopnew-home/27210285.jsp
YoungHouseLove says
No way! That’s awesome! Thanks for the link. And what cute bookends too…
xo,
s
Joanna says
So adorable!
Ali says
I love it, every single bit!
oh Holland says
What? wait … the curtain stripes were *painted* on? Wowsers, the whole room is genius.
julie g. says
Sounds like folks have been able to also look at their blog but my Googling skills must be lacking because can’t find it. Do you know the blog name? Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
They actually don’t have one, but there’s a link to their Picasa photo album in the last paragraph of the post.
-John
Amy says
One of my all time favorite redesigns…but I really wanted to say, can we get a shout out to Dave for writing the post and answering all the comments?!I read “my wife was inspired…” but it still took me to the end of the post to realize a guy had written it. Maybe a man knowing the details is just way too foreign to me!..Carrie you got yourself a winner…What a husband!!!
YoungHouseLove says
Amen! Go Dave!
-John
Carrie K. says
Dave has the ability to walk into a room and know exactly what he wants it to look like. My response is always, “Can you draw me a picture. I have to see it.” He is so talented. Honestly the outcome of this room ended up better than I could have imagined, but it was the time we spent together working on it that is MY favorite part. Hand painting the trees together for hours and measuring, taping, and painting those curtains seemed like torture at the time, but I have now realized those are some of my favorite memories. I remember walking around Michaels 39 weeks pregnant (exhausted) throwing ideas around for the mobile. We had a great time preparing for Ever’s arrival and now we are enjoying life with her. Thanks for all of the kind words!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw that’s so sweet!
xo
s
Allison says
Love it all! I’m done with nurseries over here, but I’m helping my sister design a woodland nursery for her little boy coming next month. I’d love to know how long ago they found those mushrooms and fox at Target. Do I have a chance at finding them? Thanks!
Dave says
Sorry Allison! The mushrooms were from a few years ago in the garden section, and the fox is from their winter collection this past winter!