When Ben and I started planning Lincoln’s nursery we found ourselves with, well, no plans at all! Not huge fans of traditional nursery designs and color schemes, we both could agree that we wanted a neutral-toned, calming room with light-colored accents that would send Lincoln straight to dreamland while we rocked him to sleep each night…plus neither of us wanted to re-paint the already taupe-colored walls. I know.
(PS is there anything more fresh than a baby in a white onesie?!)
At any rate, full of things we picked out from here and there, I think we’ve ended up with a very soothing and relaxing room that Lincoln can put his own touch on when he’s a bit older. Welcome to the nursery!
In one corner we’ve got the glider. If you remember, Ben and I went back and forth on this baby for MONTHS. I wanted something that glided, he wanted something that rocked, neither of us could decide if we wanted a chair that reclined… In the end we chose a glider/ottoman combo from Buy Buy Baby (so sorry I forget the name of it!) It glides like a dream and after a week or so the cushy padded seat started to settle and get more comfortable. I kind of wish it reclined a little, but it’s not a deal breaker. I’m happy with our purchase, and we were able to use their 20% off store coupon on it.
You may recognize the curtains from the kitchen in our old house. Drilled ’em in myself! Our new kitchen didn’t need curtains and the light blue, navy, and brown waves in the fabric design went perfectly with the rest of the room. I got them at IKEA a few years ago and I think they still stock them.
Above the rocker we hung a sweet print our friends Kristy and Jeff got us (locals it’s from Suite Dreams.) Again – the taupey-brown shade fit right in and I can imagine Lincoln and I reading it together each morning when he wakes up. : )
Across the way is a bookshelf I picked up from Target. The espresso finish matches the rest of the furniture and right now it holds Lincoln’s books, stuffed animals, and other odds and ends.
Oh hi!
Although he won’t be wearing shoes for many, many months, the little man already has quite the collection, from the shoes we used to surprise my family at the gender reveal (which I remember thinking there was no possible way a baby’s foot could fit inside because they were so little, and now that I realize how tiny his feet are they seem like oversized clown shoes!) his first pair of Air Jordans from our friend John, and even woven flip flops from our friend Lindsey. Squeal – too cute!
I loved, loved, loved reading as a child (seriously, loved) and I hope Lincoln does too. We’re slowly but surely building up his book collection. What are your favorite books to read to your babies? An assortment of loveys are all ready to go, too!
I know, I know – time for bed. I’m almost done!
Caddy corner to the bookshelf is the dresser/changing table. This is a dresser from Babi Italia’s Ashville line that I was gifted along with the crib I’m getting to next. This is a sturdy and beautifully-built piece that Lincoln will keep in his bedroom forever. Still trying to decide what to put above it. I’m thinking a giant map/mural of the world to pass my love of travel and exploring onto the little guy would look good.
We also have a Diaper Champ Deluxe which I like because it uses regular 13 gallon kitchen bags vs bags that you have to buy specifically to fit the diaper pail. Sometimes I wish it was a bit bigger, but then again, that’s probably by design!
On top of the dresser you’ve got the usual suspects – wipes, diapers, Vaseline, etc.
I went to Bed Bath & Beyond and raided the bin section for these guys, which have turned out to be so handy for holding everything from diapers and socks, to toys and bath time stuff. Use the 20% off coupons for each one and you’re golden.
Finally, zee main event – the crib! This is the Babi Italia Ashville Crib in espresso and Ben and I both just love it. It’s extremely sturdy and transitions into a toddler bed, day bed, and finally a full bed whenever he’s ready for it. So handy!
We usually keep this on the back of the crib, out of Lincoln’s reach, but I had to show you the farm animal quilt my friends at the Iowa Food and Family Project gave us when Lincoln was born. It is ADORABLE. I know L will love picking out each animal and making their individual sounds when he plays on it in the future.
Up above the crib is a set of prints I got from Etsy. Aren’t they great?? I love how the blue chevron in the third print matches the chevron in my favorite crib sheet. I heart chevron. : )
Lincoln does too!
Thanks for coming along on our tour!
Cristina 09.05.2013
Looks like such a peaceful and comfortable space. I love the books and the art!
The Rambling Fangirl
Maureen Gribble 09.05.2013
You have to get “It’s Time to Sleep My Love My Love,” “Where ever you are my love will find you,” “On the Night you were Born,” and the latest book from Nancy Tillman, “I’d Know you Anywhere.” They are truly the best! And trust me, you’ll love them even more when Lincoln is old enough to start reading them to you! Melts your heart!
Crystal 09.05.2013
I absolutely adoreeeee the idea of the world map over his crib!!! It made me have so many more ideas about when I finally decide to have a nursery to decorate :) The nursery is beautiful!
Caroline 09.05.2013
Beautiful room, I love the color! We have baby #2 on the way in January. So much to do to get his or her room ready. Yikes!
Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe 09.05.2013
What a cute nursery, and what a sweet boy you have!
Sara 09.05.2013
My daughter loves “Ten Little Fingers” by Mem Fox. It may make you cry because is so very sweet!
Andrea @ The Fit Scoop 09.05.2013
I registered for those same chevron sheets – love them!
Lindsay @ Typically Late 09.05.2013
Your nursery is exactly how I imagine mine being someday – simple, soothing colors, comfy chair, low-key for baby. The furniture is absolutely gorgeous – classic and strong-looking! Great job :)
Katie 09.05.2013
Don’t forget to get the book “brown bear brown bear”!
Meredith 09.05.2013
My 21 month old daughter loves Bear Snores On, Bear Wants More, Bears New Friend, etc. all by Karma Wilson. It is so much fun to read because of the rhymes and the illustrations are gorgeous. When she is fussy at bedtime, we’ll talk about bear and his friends or read one of those stories, and she settles right in.
Lynn 09.05.2013
I read Love You Forever to my children when they were young. The mother in the book say, “Love you forever, like you for always, as long as I’m living my baby you’ll be”. My babies are now 24 and 22 and it is very true, they will always be my babies.
Stephanie 09.05.2013
I love that print you have in Lincoln’s room. Would it be possible to get a link or something so I can snag one for my daughter’s room as well??
Stephanie 09.10.2013
I’ll take that as a no?
Iowa Girl Eats 09.10.2013
Hi Stephanie, I’m waiting to hear back from the people that gave it to me so I know for sure where they got it.
Stephanie 09.10.2013
Thanks!
Iowa Girl Eats 09.10.2013
Hi again, the print actually came from a local shop called Suite Dreams, but they don’t have products listed on their website. So sorry!
Jayme Beyer 09.05.2013
Baby’s Box of Fun – Karen Katz set of 3 books (Toes, Ears & Nose, Where is Baby’s Belly Button, & Where is Baby’s Mommy?) All four girls LOVED them and it’s my favorite shower gift to give! :D
Sarah 09.05.2013
We have the same diaper trash can and we just use plastic bags from Target and Hy-Vee. They work great with the handles over the middle blue part and it’s one less thing to buy!
Sarah | The Cyclist's Wife 09.05.2013
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein is a great book. We also like Corduroy, Giraffe’s Can’t Dance, This is not my hat, Trash Trucks….the list goes on! Enjoy. :)
Theresa 09.05.2013
Oh the books we choose to fill our children’s mind with is such an important thing. I try to be very intentional in the books we read. I am constantly finding new books we love and cherish, but my current favorite is A Second Is A Hiccup:
http://www.amazon.com/Second-Hiccup-Hazel-Hutchins/dp/0439831067/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378402437&sr=1-1&keywords=a+second+is+a+hiccup
The book starts out very practically – it explains units of time (a second, a minute, an hour, etc…) in terms kids will understand (a second is a hiccup, a minute is a small song, an hour is building a sand castle, etc…) but as the units of time get longer, the children in the book grow older and the ways the time is measured becomes more and more sentimental and special. I get teary-eyed almost every time I read it to my now 4 and 6 year-old. I am thinking Santa may be leaving this under our tree this year as we are constantly checking this book out of the library again and again. Definitely worth reserving a spot on the bookshelf!
Alex 09.05.2013
According to my parents, my favourite book as a small was Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb (the non-board book version! it’s longer and better)
short, board version:
Catherine S. 09.05.2013
We’ve been reading the “I Love You” keepsake storybook collection. It has 5 short (think bedtime) I love you stories. My 3 year old son loves it, especially “I love you Stinkyface” and I hope my one on the way will too!
Erika @ aglobetrottersfare 09.05.2013
I am in love with your farm animal quilt!! I wish I could get one for my new baby boy, too!
Christine 09.05.2013
Very cute nursery! And so versatile. A couple of my favorite books are “Mommy calls me Monkeypants” and “Daddy calls me Doodlebug.” Love them!