Our house is coming together slowly, which is why I haven't really posted much about it. The nursery is now the most finished room, although there are still a couple things I'd like to do, like add curtains to the windows and different knobs on the closet doors. For the most part though, the nursery is done. When we moved in we called this room the Neapolitan room because the previous owners had painted it bright, glow-in-the-dark pink, and deep chocolate brown with white stripes. I decided to go with a much more calming color--hint of mint by Benjamin Moore. I wanted a calming nursery with fresh clean colors, but still some bright stimulating colors as well. I also needed a nursery that didn't break the budget. The crib was the most expensive thing, just over $100, but that is a very reasonable price and I wanted to go with a new crib I knew was safe. The mattress was free from my mother-in-law, the chalkboard was a gift from her, and she made the darling blanket hanging on the back of the crib. All the toys were my favorites as a kid that I have had stored away for years.
I knew a changing table wasn't an absolute necessity, but I have actually really enjoyed it because Ellie loves changing time and having her up higher next to me makes our laughing and playtime during changes more enjoyable than crouching on the floor. I also want to avoid changing her on furniture around the house because I haven't yet mastered the change without accidents. This one was reasonably priced from IKEA, the changing pad I got from a neighbor of my mother-in-law, and the cover was given to me at a shower. The baskets to organize I got at Gordman's for a few bucks each. The numbered bird cards on the wall were about $17 off of Amazon and I think they are very cute.
I made the mobile hanging over the crib with craft paper. The balls were really easy to make and the birds I just cut out without even drawing a pattern or anything. It was time consuming, but certainly cost effective. Ellie can finally see far enough to focus on it and enjoy it now.
This is mommy's little nook. I bought the chair of KSL for $5. It was HIDEOUS and smelled like smoke, so after painting the whole chair, nailing broken bits back together, buying new foam for cushions and sewing the covers, I think I have a fairly good looking rocking chair that probably cost me about $25. The table was a KSL redo from a couple years ago---modge podged with some of the same paper I used to make the mobile. The dog silhouette mirror (and there is one with a horse on the other side) I also made a couple years ago with dollar store mirrors and again, paper from the same scrapbook pad. It really is amazing what you can do with paper. The little lamp was $7 from IKEA and the painting I brought down from my old childhood room. I wanted to make a space that both Ellie and I could enjoy being in. Where we could feel safe and whimsical and fresh. For the most part I think I'm happy with the result.
Stay tuned (though it may be awhile) as I put finishing touches on the other rooms in our house. Summer projects abound...
