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!
Phoebe says
I love the grey + yellow palette!
But what I love most? The gigantic bear. Where. the. heck. can I get one.
Dave says
Sorry Phoebe! My sister won it years ago as a child, over 20+ years ago! We are glad we saved it and it will make its home in all our of kid(s) rooms in the future! Ever is the first baby for our family, so we love that we can start a tradition! Thanks!
Jennie says
Try Vermont Teddy Bear Company! That’s where we got ours for our baby’s nursery? :)
Erin Oveis Brant @ Erin Oveis Brant Photography says
I LOVE this redesign so much! I’m obviously biased because I adore this family, but their incredible design sensibility goes well beyond this room. They are easily the sweetest and most stylish family I’ve ever met. I would gladly hire them to redesign my entire home!! Fantastic feature, YHL! And congratulations, Dave, Carrie + Sweet Baby Ever! xo
Carla says
I really love this room and the yellow boots. :)
I just worry about all these new products and paints. The chemical outgassing lingers for months. I’ve also read a report that sealed-off rooms used for outgassing have high levels of chemical residue on the walls. The recommendation was that the walls be scrubbed or repainted with zero-VOC paint.
Any kind of plastic contains chemicals, even the popular BPA-free plastics. You can taste them when water bottles are left in hot cars. And the plastics in cars themselves are another source of concern.
Lots of air circulation helps, but even when you can’t detect fumes, some of the more harmful chemicals lag behind undetected.
Oh, and there’s no such thing as “super low-VOC.” It’s either low or it’s not.
Dave says
WOW Carla, what a buzz kill you are! We did what we thought was best, and we hope she doesn’t decide to chew on any of the old wood work, go out in the sun, drive in a car, or ever leave our chemical filled home. Thanks!
Brit says
Dave’s response = Winning. Hilarious.
Janelle @ Two Cups of Happy says
They had me at handpainted trees! They turned out really, really well. Lots of detail. I have to say that the paint colour is such an improvement. The highlighter green was hard on the eyes. Haha.
Bella says
First of all responding to yesterdays who know peter meant you know what- hilarious
secondly a long time ago i read that you guys are using klean canteen bottles, i just got one today and I have been wondering wether yours are still in good shape or if not for how long you were able to use them before deeming them unusable :) xo, b ;)
YoungHouseLove says
Still have them all (we have 3 now and love them!).
xo
s
Bella says
thanks that’s encouraging because they were 30 euros which is like 40 dollars or something which is a lot for a bottle
Kristin F says
That is seriously one of the cutest nurseries I’ve ever seen. And other than the pops of pink, it’s gender neutral so it could carry over to a second child if need be. I wish I’d been that creative with my first!
gemma@thesweetestdigs says
Those little yellow boots are SO sweet! I think I’m going to need to copy the photo idea at our maternity shoot…
love it!
Tara Jane says
A great room, Holy Moly the Before is so crazy bright!
Lisamarie says
Is the crib the Baby Mod – Olivia – from Wallmart? The base of the crib from this blog post looks lighter than the base of the crib on the Wallmart website. I desperately want the Oeuf crib with a birch colored base, but I, obviously, don’t want to spend $1,000.00 on a crib!
HeatherMay says
I.LOVE.IT. This is such a wonderful place for their daughter to grow up. The colors are so great and the presonal touches make it a place I’m sure they are going to love to spend time in. Nice job!
michelle says
So much LOVE was put into this room! You can just feel it!! Ever is a lucky little girl!
Stefani says
Fantastic! I didn’t notice the little yellow boots in the blown up picture above the changing table at first, and when I did, I actually teared up. Soooo sweet.
I went and checked out the photo album, too, and I have to say, wow, the closet is amazing! You should have included a photo of that here as well! That’s my favorite part of the whole room I think.
Eileen says
For some reason I thought you guys subscribed to Runner’s World. There’s a link/code on the Krazy Coupon Lady that has a year for 5.99 for up to 4 years. Just FYI: http://thekrazycouponlady.com/style/runners-world-magazine-only-5-99-per-year-3/
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Eileen!
-John
Ashley K says
I am in LOVE with that room. Probably one of my favorites reader redesigns I’ve seen. Do you know if they have their own blog? I’d love to see some of their other stuff they’ve redone in their home. Beautiful!
YoungHouseLove says
I wish they had a blog (if they do we always link up)! I love sharing Reader Redesigns for folks who don’t have blogs too though… maybe all the kind words will encourage them to start one!
xo
s
Ashley K says
I’m happy you spread the love around, I think it’s important. Hopefully we’ll see more from them one day. And congrats on the new home! It’s bittersweet, but I can’t wait to see what you accomplish in the new space!
Shana Teng says
Hi! I’m a loyal reader of your blog but I’ve never commented before. Not to seem creepy but I’m pretty sure I saw you guys in the Minneapolis International airport on Tuesday April 23rd around 1:00 – 1:30. My sister and I were back home in MN for a funeral and we were flying back to Taiwan that day. I’m pretty sure it was you guys on the escalator in front of me. Sherry was wearing a black blazer and long blue earrings! I wanted to say hi but was too shy. Was that you?
YoungHouseLove says
So funny! It was! Wish we’d gotten to say hi! Next time for sure :)
xo
s
Cassondra says
We have lots of nursery plans, but this makes me want to scrap them and copy! Imitation is the highest form of flattery after all. That nursery is beautiful!
Heidi says
What a precious nursery! I love it! It’s a design that will be easy to grow with as well.
Erin @ His & Hers says
Oh my gosh! I know that photographer–we live an hour from Buffalo, NY! Too funny–and that nursery is too adorable! Love the pink and gray and yellow!
Stef says
uuuuuuuugh I love the name Everly/Ever. It’s top of my list of future names.
Teresa M says
The painted trees are my favorite part of this beautiful room! I LOVE guidance on how that was done as it would look beautiful in any room or hallway.
Suzanne says
This honestly has to be my favorite Reader Redesign! Love the color scheme!
Hilary says
Super cute. I’m so impressed that they painted the trees themselves. We used some vinyl “trees” on our bedroom wall that we ordered through a shop on Etsy and we * heart * them, but I wouldn’t have thought of trying to paint them myself. Well done! They look awesome.
Janet says
love it! beautiful room….
Tim Moran says
The room looks fantastic. Also love those little boots.
ces says
The room is lovely but the effort they exerted to come up with this is even better. Lucky baby for having parents as thoughtful and creative as them.
lauren says
Wow! This room is excellent! I have been thinking about it all day and had to return to tell you how much I love the curtains! Thanks for sharing this nursery!
YoungHouseLove says
So glad to share it! We were so inspired when it landed in our inbox :)
xo
s
Genevieve says
Does this lovely couple have a blog? If not, they should!
YoungHouseLove says
I hope they’ll start one for sure!
xo
s
Becky says
The pink deer skull is pretty much the coolest thing I’ve ever seen! My husband thinks he wants to be a hunter, I could be ok with him bring home trophies if I can do that with them!
Anna, Sydney says
These people need to have a blog! I need AAAALL the tutorials for everything they did, and source list for everything they bought. Fantastic room. Would love to see what they’ve done with the rest of their house.
Jennie says
Very nicely executed! I actually did a double-take when I first read this, because our little girl’s nursery has the same: crib, birch decals, diaper pail, big bear, wall color, and little mushrooms. No wonder I love it! I will just go with a “great minds think alike” assessment, haha.
Jordan says
Oh my gosh!! Loooove this nursery BUT my favorite part of this is little Everly’s name… Because Everly is my maiden name! Too funny! Great name choice Dave and Carrie :)
Carrie says
Ha, thanks Jordan!
Jen says
I think they need to give credit to mode blog’s son’s nursery. It’s almost exact, from the crib, to the wall color, to the tree decals, to the refinished dresser, to the curtains.
YoungHouseLove says
We’d love to see a link to that nursery too! We’re all about giving credit and sharing the love!
xo
s
Jen says
I meant Modg blog! Stupid autocorrect.
http://www.modgblog.com/2010/11/11/planktons-supah-fly-nursery-where-rockstars-are-made-who-like-aqua/
Her son’s nursery was my inspiration for my baby’s nursery too !
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh I love that nursery too! That blue chair in the corner is amazing!
xo
s
Carrie says
Jen, as Dave mentioned in the third sentence of our letter, we were inspired by another nursery that I fell in love with years ago that I some how was linked to or found through YHL. We wanted to share how their blog and sharing of ideas inspire so many of us. The refinished dresser in the inspiration nursery was actually inspired by YHL, so this has some how come full circle. Thanks!
Nicole E says
Love it! I can’t even begin to fathom how one would paint a curtain and paint it well! Fab job!
The rain boots are my fave! Such a simple yet strong detail!
Eva says
I love everything about this room!!! The color scheme, the crib, the curtains… the anthropologie tree… the giant white teddy bear. It’s perfect!!!
Monica says
What a pretty room.
Sarah says
What flor tiles were used? I never thought of putting a rug on top of flor tiles…genius:)
Carrie says
Sarah,
They are actually a commercial Shaw/Patcraft tile. We used three coordinating tiles, just not sure of the names. Their site has a bunch of eye candy!
Cassi says
Love the dresser! And the curtains. And the painted trees. Too much DIY goodness!
Stephanie says
I love it! We are doing the same thing with gray and birch trees in our daughter’s room – great to see an example so I can show my husband before painting the wall so dark. Thanks!
Catherine says
Hi guys – well, actually more Sherry than John… though he’s of the same vintage as us, so he may enjoy this too…
Sherry – a friend sent me a link to this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=1glM0LgjCOY) – Best of 1999.. and when I got to Eminem I thought of you!
Have a watch it you have time… brings back memories!!!
-C
YoungHouseLove says
Woot! Off to check it out!
xo
s
Megan-Jade Elliott says
I am in love with this room. I’m about to start updating our main bedroom to convert it into a shared room for my 2.3 year old son and my 9 month old daughter (gulp) and this is inspirational! I love the birch trees, if me or my hubs tried it, it would look like we tripped and threw paint on the wall. An amazing job guys!
Em says
Wow, what a cool and creative makeover for the room. I admit, I would have never thought to paint the walls grey, but it really works.
Jennifer says
Love the painted birch trees and the canvas pic–especially the adorable yellow wellies! Great redesign! Thanks for sharing.
Avone says
Thrilled to see a Reader Redesign from someone who doesn’t blog (I assume?)! Great job Dave and Carrie; I love it!
Kathryn says
Love the dresser too! And the curtains are the perfect touch.
Beth says
Unbelievable transformation. I love the theme, could go either way for boy or girl, but totally personalized for their little Everly. BEAUTIFUL!
Katie says
Just want to say I love you guys! Keep up the good work :)
Dora Taylor says
WOW!
So cute.
& great idea with the curtains. LOVE THAT!
Lisa says
Cute! I love the grey, yellow and white colour combination.
Shelley @ Green Eggs and Hamlet says
Love those baby wellies! The whole nursery is so cute, great job, Dave and Carrie.
Christy says
Must comment. That room is beyond. Love it, love it, love it.