Sunday, September 23, 2012

Color in the Nursery

Love color but don't know how to use it? We've got 7 easy ways to incorporate vibrant shades into your kid's room.

Chocolate Cravings

Go beyond baby blue and pastel pink when planning your nursery scheme -- don't be afraid to draw from whatever bold hues reflect your colorful aesthetic. (And here's a bright-color bonus: infants see dark and light contrast best, so you'll be creating a stimulating space to boot.) Check out these seven ideas for creating a vivid, playful, and totally-you nursery.

Brown? In a baby's room? We can just hear your mother-in-law now. There, calming blues and greens provide a counterpoint to earthy chocolate, and the deep walls contribute to a cozy, comfortable vibe. Mod plywood cutouts create interest in an unexpected spot -- the ceiling.





Primarily Yours

We love it when nothing matches but everything goes, like in this room, which mixes primary colors in a variety of shades and patterns.


Color Block

Can't decide on a shade? Pick a few of your favorites and create a color-block wall mural. How-to: Pencil in your grid with a level, then section off squares with tape. Be sure to press the edges of the tape with your nails to make sure the paint doesn't blend. Extra added bonus: You'll basically never need to paint again, since whatever bedding and accessories you use in the future are bound to match.




Tickled Pink

You're having a girl, and you do love pink. Here's a way to make pink unexpected: Pair it with a rusty orange for a slightly retro, totally chic feel.


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Friday, September 21, 2012

Cheap and Chic Nursery Picks - Part 4

Think you've got to spend big bucks -- and shop at tony design stores -- to get a chic nursery? So did we -- until we checked out our local big-box retailer, Wal-Mart, and saw these gorgeous, mod buys from Wal-Mart. Our favorite part? Nothing here costs more than $300 (including the cribs).

Bold and Beautiful

Trust us -- you're about to spend a lot more time on the floor, so you want it to be comfy. We love how this Polynesian-inspired rug works with creamy yellow walls.





Basket Case

Celebs like Christina Aguilera love the Cariboo Bassinet -- at $300+ a pop. Get the same minimalist look for a non-celeb price with this bassinet. The suspended basket gently sways and responds to baby's movements, and the canopy can be removed.




Window Shopping

Crib -- check. Changing table -- check. Rocker -- check. Take your nursery to the next level with crisp finishing touches like this bubbly valance.


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Cheap and Chic Nursery Picks - Part 3

Think you've got to spend big bucks -- and shop at tony design stores -- to get a chic nursery? So did we -- until we checked out our local big-box retailer, Wal-Mart, and saw these gorgeous, mod buys from Wal-Mart. Our favorite part? Nothing here costs more than $300 (including the cribs).

Phat Crib

This two-toned crib combines dark chocolate brown with white, giving you lots of options to coordinate the other pieces of furniture in the room.





Pretty in Pink
This soothing, subtle bedding set -- fem without being over-the-top girly -- is so chic you'll wish they made it in queen.




Rock Star

A new-mom essential, a comfy, stylish rocker need not break the bank. Choose from an array of colors for your slipcover, add a matching ottoman, and, um, rock on.


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Cheap and Chic Nursery Picks - Part 2

Think you've got to spend big bucks -- and shop at tony design stores -- to get a chic nursery? So did we -- until we checked out our local big-box retailer, Wal-Mart, and saw these gorgeous, mod buys from Wal-Mart. Our favorite part? Nothing here costs more than $300 (including the cribs).

Stick 'Em Up

The easiest way to get the look of a mural, no artistic ability required? Slap these number wall decals up for an instant wow effect. If your artfully random arrangement isn't quite working, peel them off easily and try again.





Show Your Stripes

Dress up a dresser with this sleek Jonathan Adler-esque lamp. Tip: Use it with a low-wattage bulb, so the next time you do a late-night feeding or changing, the room will be cozily low-lit.




Going Mobile

We like how this small, understated mobile blends into your overall look without overpowering everything like some of the other loud and flashy mobiles can. This one plays "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" too.


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Cheap and Chic Nursery Picks

Think you've got to spend big bucks -- and shop at tony design stores -- to get a chic nursery? So did we -- until we checked out our local big-box retailer, Wal-Mart, and saw these gorgeous, mod buys from Wal-Mart. Our favorite part? Nothing here costs more than $300 (including the cribs).

Going Dotty

We love how the yellow, green, and brown design on this bedding works for a boy or a girl. The four-piece set includes a reversible comforter (stripes or circles), crib bumper, fitted sheet, and dust ruffle (not shown).





Crib Notes

The clean lines of this crib make it both modern and classic, so you'll still feel good about it for the next kid. Extra-bonus: It's a dead ringer for mega-$$$ brand Oeuf crib -- we won't tell a soul it isn't.




Space Saver

Space in short supply? Enter this combo unit, which will grow with your kid. Now it's a two-shelf changing table, but once you're out of the diaper years, you can remove the top and it transforms into a regular dresser.


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Tuesday, September 18, 2012

25 Nursery Design Ideas - Part 2

Great Wall Letter Sources

Many parents agonize over what to name their new baby -- or at the very least, they go through gallons of ink writing up lists and confabbing on favorites and "can't stands." Now that you've selected the perfect moniker for your little monkey, spelling it out on the wall of his or her nursery is a stylish accent to the room's decor. You can also use these hangable letters to spell out happy messages, such as love, laugh, sing, smile, and dance.

Catfish Bite
888-228-2483
For the artistic child, you can't beat Catfish Bite's bright pieces with curlicued lettering.
www.catfishbiteoutlet.com


Craft Cuts
800-705-4020
This is a great source for basic wood letters that you can finish or paint to match the decor of your child's room.
www.craftcuts.com


Tatutina
800-257-0471
Each letter in Tatutina's "bright" and "pastel" set is painted differently; some shine with stripes and dots, and others boast hearts, flowers, or stars.
www.tatutina.com


Twelve Timbers
435-893-0175
Specializing in simple and rustic typefaces, this company's wall letters add country charm.
www.twelvetimbers.com


The Well Appointed House
This Web site offers the largest selection of wall letter styles in a variety of colors and patterns.
www.wellappointedhouse.com

5 Unusual Products

Rust-Oleum Magnetic Latex Primer
800-481-4785
Turn a wall, cabinet, or play table into a magnetized surface with this new product. The best part: You can paint over the magnetic primer in any color! (Note: Small magnets are choking hazards. Use extra big magnets that aren't a danger in little hands.)
www.paintideas.com


Mascotopia
800-399-1587
Find puzzles, building block sets, and (our fave) mobiles featuring college mascots. Junior might still be learning how to stand on two feet, but that does not mean Mom and Dad's alma maters can't be a part of his world. (For the pro fans, Mascotopia also carries Major League Baseball and NBA collections.)
www.mascotopia.com


HaPe International
262-242-5077
Along with cool educational toys and games, HaPe has created the Bamboo Collection, the world's first collection of bamboo toys. Bamboo is highly sustainable -- once cut, it grows back completely in three years -- so these toys are environmentally friendly. The Bamboo Collection offers 14 games for kids 3 years and up.
www.hapetoys.com


MemoryBorders
Follow the directions on the Web site and your digital photos will be turned into a unique wallpaper border. You can select from themed designs in the catalog, or start from scratch with your snapshots. We love the border featuring a newborn's teeny inked footprints, interspersed with the child's name and date of birth.
www.memoryborders.com


JELD-WEN Custom Carved Interior Doors
800-877-9482
Create a unique design for a child's bedroom (or playroom) door -- virtually any symbol, name, word, or image can be routed into these MDF doors, available in a variety of sizes. The door comes primed and ready to paint. Choose from 70 designs or submit one of your own.
www.jeld-wen.com

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25 Nursery Design Ideas

Playful Decor

You thought that decorating was fun before? Wait until you start revamping a tired old guest room for your new baby, or giving that nursery a makeover when baby is ready for a "big boy" or "big girl" room -- the colors, patterns, fabrics, and wallpapers you get to play with are 10 times more exciting than "grown-up" decor. You can let your inner artist free in a child's room, because the more whimsical and colorful it is, the more they'll like it.

And the best part: There's no rule that says your child's space has to match the rest of the house. So let go of the style rules that have ruled your roost and decorate with abandon!

Wallpapering Tips

Don't rush it. Wallpapering takes time. Plan on about four hours of wall prep, depending on the condition of the walls, and 10 hours to paper a small room.

Focus on preparation. Wallpapering over a painted wall? First, sand the wall to dull the glossiness of the paint. Wipe with a tack cloth to remove dust. Then wash the area with a strong household detergent, let dry, and start papering.

Create a smooth surface. Wallpapering over a bumpy or textured wall? You have two options: Either cover the wall to be papered with a thin coat of drywall (honestly, this is best left to the pros, or to an extremely experienced do-it-yourselfer), or simply hang wallpaper liner. Follow manufacturer's instructions and you'll have a smooth wall to be papered in a few hours.

Plan carefully. You want your last strip to end in a low-visibility part of the room, because it may be the one place where you cannot match the paper's pattern exactly. A good place for the mismatch is against a window frame, where it may be obscured by window treatments.

Get a good start. Use a plumb bob to ensure the first strip you place on the wall is perfectly straight. That strip locks in position all that follow.

Chalkboard Paint Tips

Use it everywhere. Chalkboard paint is best used on previously painted surfaces. It comes in cans or spray paint versions. Try it on walls, of course, but also on old play tables, backs of doors, or drawer fronts.

Apply it correctly. Plan to paint when the air and surface temperatures are above 50 degrees. Make sure you have plenty of ventilation, and wear a safety mask.

Plan on multiple coats. Chalkboard paint works best when you layer three to five coats painted in different directions (if using a brush). When using the spray-paint version, spray back and forth evenly to produce the best finish. If you linger too much in one spot, you'll get ugly drips!

Make cleanup easy. A damp sponge cleans up the finished surface and cuts down on chalk dust.

Add a frame. Once you've painted a wall area, you can frame it with molding or paint a border around it. This can help very young artists understand that not all wall surfaces can be drawn on. Stenciling or stamping the chalkboard along the edges is also a great way to create a frame. Simply allow the chalkboard paint to dry completely before applying the stencils or stamps.

5 Fun Art Sources

T-o-o-o Cute
404-886-2121
We love the wispy, detailed characters that artist Nicole Lathouse creates, from Bella Bug to Theodore Frog. The images captured in the framed prints are also available on infant loungewear and accessories for your wee one. Lathouse's giclee prints are surrounded by handmade painted wood frames, in various sizes, finished to impart a cottage-style look.
www.tooocute.com


Murphy Smith Designs
425-376-0252
With the motto "Art to inspire your child" and a special knack for classic storybook style, artist Roxane Murphy Smith creates pieces that you'll love long after baby is out of diapers. She also gives her painting new life on furniture and growth charts as well as canvases for wall hanging.
www.murphysmithdesigns.com


Studio Avo and Oopsy Daisy
619-640-6649
The artists represented in these partner art collections are too numerous to mention. But if we had to pick a few faves, we'd direct you to the ultra-colorful work of Stephanie Bauer, Maria Carluccio, Caroline Blum, and Max Grover.
www.studioavo.com
www.oopsydaisy.com


Muffy's Room
203-389-5865
Artist Muffy Pendergast must grin all day long in her studio, because the creatures in her paintings all seem to be smiling from the canvas, teaching us our ABCs or just being silly. Coming soon: Clothing, furniture, and other items painted with Pendergast's signature, color-saturated look.
www.muffysroom.com


American Postcard Art
941-954-3124
Get a mug of tea ready, because once you're on this site, you won't want to leave. American Postcard Art promises quality art prints made from vintage postcards. There are hundreds of topics appropriate for kids -- we noted the nursery rhymes from the early 1900s. Getting your art is easy: Follow directions on the site for choosing the finished size of the print and the desired medium.
www.americanpostcardart.com
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