At two weeks from my due date we’re checking off a few more lingering nursery updates, like painting the closet door a bright happy color, organizing the clutter within…
… making/hanging some more art, and changing our minds in the curtain arena (you know we love a good final-hour switcheroo).
The green closet door was heavily influenced by Clara, who kept saying “my baby will like a colored door like mine but not pink” – and since a bold green door was originally in our plan back in January (which we mentioned to Clara, hence her obsession) we decided to stop hemming and hawing and just go for it.
After hanging our apple-green curtains and adding a kelly green sheet to the changing table, we worried a bright door between them would be too much. But the realization that we already had some breezy Ikea curtains from our last house meant we had nothing to lose by tossing those up to see how they looked (they used to hang on the deck sliders, but came down when we got french doors).
Although I couldn’t recoup the time I spent making the colorful curtains, they were under $10 a pop, so it seemed silly to stay married to them at the expense of losing something else we had all looked forward to in the room. And I pulled off the faux-changing-pad-cover (just a fabric remnant I tossed on to picture what a green cover might look like) when we decided a bright closet door was too hard to resist.
We still think the curtains need something (I want to line them in blackout fabric, and maybe trim them on all sides with black or brown ribbon – maybe green? Not sure) but we’re getting closer I think. And of course we still need to get a real changing pad cover, so that’s on the list.
As for picking a green door color, we relied on our usual method of taping up contender swatches to see which one we liked best in a bunch of different lighting scenarios (early morning, afternoon, late at night with the light on, etc). The winner was Irish Moss by Benjamin Moore. Not too dark, not too light, not too neon, and not too yellow or blue.
I only needed a quart to get it done (I went with semi-gloss), even though it took three coats to get a nice shiny finish with good coverage. Bold colors like this tend to look horrific for the first coat or two and then magically shape up at the end. Tinted primer probably could have saved me one coat (in exchange for one coat of that) but I didn’t have it on hand, so I just did three coats of paint instead. I applied the first one with a brush…
… but switched to a brush + small foam roller combo for the second two coats, just to knock things out a little faster. It’s the same method we used on Clara’s door (three coats of paint applied with a roller/brush combo) which has held up well for the last five months with heavy use so that’s nice to know.
As for actually getting the closet ready, that just meant organizing things (lining up shoes, putting a few empty baskets on that top shelf for future use, placing some extra toys in a bin on the floor, and transferring excess clutter to the hall closet). The hall closet is a more spacious double-doored closet, so things that we won’t use for a while like a bumbo and the play table can go in there. We’re sure the nursery closet will evolve into more sophisticated storage as the baby grows (might add some cubbies, a basket system, or a reading area on the floor depending on our needs as we go), but it’s nice to have a clean slate in there now.
We also had two nice wood frames that I wanted to hang on the curtain wall, so I was inspired by this no-longer-for-sale pear poster and just drew the shape in pencil on white foam core and used green & brown finger paint from Clara’s stash. I’m sure as the bun grows we’ll switch it out for a family picture or a subject/animal that he loves – but it’s sweet to have something there for now.
To make the lettered “Love You Forever” message below that, I took inspiration from this print from a no-longer-in-business Etsy shop, and used black construction paper and a pencil. I sketched out the letters roughly, cut them out, and laid them on another white piece of foam core. I tried to keep them all similar in height, but I didn’t get caught up in perfection, thanks to the charming irregularities in the inspiration print.
When I was done I showed John and he came up with the idea to add some color to the V’s, so I used decorative paper from my craft closet and a glue stick to attach them all to the foam core. We both love how it came out – and you can’t beat the price (free) or the amount of time it took (around fifteen minutes).
Since Clara has a print in her room that says “You Are So Loved” it feels nice to have a similar sentiment hanging in our son’s room. Sniffle.
Aren’t those wood frames nice with the stained top of the built-ins and the dark hardware on the drawers?
They also tie-in to the frames of the bike art and the changing table on the other side of the room, so there’s more balance going on.
Speaking of wooden things, we found this cute rocker at a local thrift store called Consignment Connection for $15. Clara is obsessed (even though it looks fragile it easily holds her weight) and thinks her brother is going to LOVE it. Can’t wait to see if she’s right.
Slowly but surely, this room is coming along – we even think we have a plan for the wall behind the crib after this post o’ brainstorming (thanks to everyone for their thoughts and ideas!). We might wait until the baby’s here to knock that out, but in the meantime everything from the toys on the built-ins to those elephants marching across the crib sheets and our new green closet door is making us more excited than ever to bring home this little man of ours.
Even though we’re not done in here, we worried we’d miss the chance to re-take our family picture before the bun is born (a tradition that we started with Clara), so here’s the one we took when we started on the room back in January…
… and here’s one that we snapped yesterday. Could I be more pregnant? I laughed and asked John if he inflated my bump in photoshop (or hid my legs). Turns out I just look like this and my belly really is that far out in front of me. #watermelonsmuggler
And just because I can’t resist a good waaaay back shot, here’s how the room looked before we moved in last summer.
Even though we still have a bunch of remaining to-do list items, it’s definitely feeling more like a baby-ready space.
So our to-do list officially looks like this:
- get a changing pad cover
- line the curtains with blackout liner and add some sort of black/brown/green trim detail?
- tweak the wall behind the crib with wallpaper, a stencil, slatted wood, or some sort of accent color (we have a plan… we think…)
- make a woodsy little cuckoo clock (since I made one for Clara, I’d like to make a charming little rustic one for the bun as well)
- add an overhead light on a dimmer since nothing’s there at all right now (wish we could check this off but we can’t agree on a light we both like)
- possibly add a softly colored ceiling someday? maybe sky blue to add another color to the mostly green/yellow/neutral/white palette?
- add sconces to wall between the built-ins in a few years (we’ve decided these will be more functional after the crib is swapped out for a twin bed, to be used as reading lights)
Is anyone else making art? Having a curtain change of heart? Or painting something a bold, saturated color? We never could have guessed we’d have a bold foyer door along with two in our kids rooms, but they’re proving to be somewhat addictive.
Psst- To read about all of the nursery updates from the beginning, here’s how we painted all the pink trim, laid new hardwood floors, got a rug, painted the walls and ceiling, added built-ins to each corner of the crib wall, tackled some baby bedding, hung some extra thick crown molding, filled up the built-ins, made some curtains, added a cabinet for open storage and diaper changes, and made a mobile for over the crib.
Psst- Wanna know where we got something in our house? Just click on this button:
Meredith says
Oh, this room in INCREDIBLE! You absolutely nailed it with the closet door color.
Liz C says
Wanted to toss in my two pennies’ worth re the curtains – was thinking black & white stripe or dot ribbon trim would look really cool on those lovely breezy lighter curtains. Would tie in the hardware in the room (ORB knobs, curtain rod, etc) with the dots on the crib atm, plus I personally think that bright kelly green with black & white dots or stripes is super-chic in a kate spade-esque sort of way that seems to also fit y’all’s aesthetic. :) Love from Chez Cadorette/Yarngeek land.
Kristen says
We have found that black flat bed sheets work great as blackout liners for curtains. You can even just clip them behind the curtains with the rings to save yourself the sewing :)
The room looks great!
Audrey says
Hi Sherry & John.
This room is turning out so lovely, it looks really warm and inviting. The colours you’ve chosen are great….especially the Irish Moss on the wardrobe (closet) door – me being an Irish girl I got a kick out of that :-)
Best wishes for your impending arrival in a couple of weeks. I hope you all enjoy getting to know your new baby and I’m sure Clara will be a fantastic big sister x
Molly says
Hi y’all! With our first (also a boy) due in under three weeks, I just wanted to say thanks for letting me live vicariously through your nursery design! We’re in a one bedroom (and, disregarding Patrick Swayze, we WILL be putting baby in a corner) and moving at the end of May, so not a lot of nesting going on. It’s been a delight to see what y’all have done with your little man’s space. All the best in the coming weeks!!
Amy says
Love the room! I love the curtains as they are. And think a light grey changing pad cover would be cute! The room is
So darling! Good job!
Jaci says
Love the room! Can you let me know where you found the baskets for your square cubby storage? I am searching online to find cute options and so far all I found were the 3 sprout ones. What are the baskets and the boxes with lids? Thanks!!
YoungHouseLove says
The green baskets are from Target and the woven ones are Bed Bath & Beyond.
xo
s
Marybeth says
The room looks amazing! I love the rocking horse. That’s one luck baby!
Jon says
I saw the square closet light in one of the photos and immediately had to ask – are you planning on changing out that light?
I have similar lights in my house and the glass diffuser blocks more light than I’d like, but I haven’t figured out a solution yet.
YoungHouseLove says
I’d love to eventually! No idea how yet though…
xo
s
Melissa Breau (@MelissaBreau) says
Was thinking that the curtains would look great if you added a wide kelly green to the bottom — it would link the green on either side of the room without taking up the whole window… something like what Katie did in Weston’s room (http://www.bowerpowerblog.com/2014/03/from-urkel-to-urquelle/) but in green.
– Melissa
YoungHouseLove says
Love that!
xo
s
Tara says
This room looks incredible. The door color is spot on and I absolutely love the curtain swap, maybe I’m a little biased since I have the same ones in my office:). Every time you post about this room I become more obsessed with that rug. What a great find. Most of all, this room will be perfect for a little boy but most of the pieces will transition well as he gets older or have potential in other rooms in the house. An excellent bang for your buck.
Mary Lee says
Love the door color. What about one of those over-sized rulers to go on the wall between the door and window.
YoungHouseLove says
Lots of folks have been mentioning those. Cute idea for sure!
xo
s
KC says
Oh Sherry! I said it with the last pic you guys took in the nursery and I’ll say it again—you are absolutely stunning. Lots of good vibes going out to you all in these final weeks before your boy gets here.
Erin says
Oh, I like this so much better! I adore the door, and I really like those curtains over the green… it all just feels like it works better this way.
And your belly and your family are stunningly beautiful. Wishing you all happy healthy baby days ahead!
Lisa says
I love it! What a beautiful room you’ve created for your little man. I really liked the green curtains, but think the white ones with the green door look even better. Great job.
Sandy says
Hi Petersiks!
The new nursery is gorgeous – and so are you, Sherry!!!
You mentioned possibly painting the ceiling down the road – Benjamin Moore’s 2014 Color of the Year is called Breath of Fresh Air and might be just what you are looking for. It is a light blue. I’m going to use it in a guest bedroom with charcoal bedding and a turquoise-ish picture. It seems to enhance the greens in the picture. I painted a poster board as a tester for the room and it isn’t nearly as blue as I thought it would be, especially with sunshine – just very subtle. Anyway, just a suggestion.
Best wishes for a safe, happy and health delivery and new addition!
YoungHouseLove says
Great tip!
xo
s
Lydia K says
GAH I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS. I wanted to like those neon curtains, I really did, but I think you made a good call with the more neutral patterned ones. I do wonder though, what’s going on with the wall to the left of the wall-o-built-ins? I’m not sure if we’ve seen that angle at all yet!
YoungHouseLove says
It’s just blank and has the door and a floor lamp for now. I meant to snap a pic but forgot. Next time!
xo
s
N Shirley says
Good call on the green door and the lighter curtains. What a sweet room to bring baby home too! Don’t forget the receiving blanket trick you used when you brought your daughter home so your dear doggie can accept the new baby as readily. He is older now and I am sure more set in his ways!
Jules says
I love it. The green door is adorable, and the cut sign too. I love the curtains as they are, they really let the other things stand out without trying to steal the show. Curtains are always the trickiest, I usually go through several pairs before I find the perfect ones. I’ve stopped sewing them, until I’ve had the fabric tacked up for a couple weeks and can feel really committed to it. (Not that they are hard to sew, LOL.)
Amber says
His room looks great! All it needs is the barnacle and it will be perfect. You guys will definitely be in my thoughts these next couple weeks!
Katie says
This room is looking awesome! I LOVE that green door!! Since I work at a lighting store I just can’t help myself here…but I’m envisioning an oil rubbed bronze fixture with some sort of clear or seeded glass. Maybe something like these:
http://www.hinkleylighting.com/product/Olde-Bronze-Gentry-Flush-Semi-Flush-Mounts-15
http://www.hinkleylighting.com/product/Oil-Rubbed-Bronze-Wingate-Flush-Semi-Flush-Mounts-20
http://www.hinkleylighting.com/product/Oil-Rubbed-Bronze-Congress-Flush-Semi-Flush-Mounts
As always, I can’t wait to see what you end up with :)
YoungHouseLove says
Cute!
xo
s
Jill says
I have the same rocker! It was mine as a kid and when my parents were recently moving, they found it in the attic. Can’t wait to put it in a nursery someday.
Samantha says
What about brown pom pom fringe for the curtains?
YoungHouseLove says
Cute!
xo
s
Sandy says
I’m so so glad you went with the green door and curtain switcheroo. It looks amazing! I am dying to paint something that color green. We are building an island in our kitchen and I really wanted that to be green but hubby vetoed that so now I’m looking for something else I can greenify. I think a narrow black trim on those curtains would look really good or even dark blue. Can’t wait to see what you decide to do on the crib wall too.
Christina says
Looks so great!!! So cozy and sleep-inducing (for your all’s sake, I hope so) :).
Jeanna says
Clara was right! I love the green door and the switch in curtains! It just feels right to my eye :) It’s an adorable room, can’t wait to see your new little one in there.
Addie says
Love the door! The nursery is really looking amazing. I have to say, I’m not completely sold on the curtains. Do you have any pics you could share of the green curtains + the green door?
YoungHouseLove says
I didn’t snap any but it was just a lot of color in one corner with a neutral built in on the other side, so it felt lopsided to us :)
xo
s
Lori Reed says
hey how about this for the white curtains…when Barnee (that’s what I call him ) comes home put sme little non tixic paint on his little non toxic feet-feets and stamp a border on the curtains? or alternate with his feet and Clara’s? Wouldn’t that be adorable??? or go from the bottom up with feet feet feet, next row hands hands hands about 6 or 8 rows up and trim with a little coordinating ball fringe….Want me to come on up from Florida and help you??????? The baby day is FAST approaching! xoxo to all!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha! Such a cute idea!
xo
s
Lisa says
Love the door. Glad you changed out the curtains — I wasn’t ever crazy about the apple green.
Andrea says
Love those wooden frames! Did you make those, if not, where did you get them? I’ve been hunting for frames just like them!
YoungHouseLove says
These were a gift but you can find something similar at Michaels and Target I think.
xo
s
Lisa B says
You guys are such a precious family. Thank you for sharing your lives through this blog. I wish you the best with your new little one. Now off to search if you’ve ever done instructions for a chalkboard wall…..
Katie says
LOVE the changes! Great decision! You know what would look super cute between that green door and the curtain is one of the over-seized, wooden, ruler growth charts!
Kim Hall says
I love the updates!! This is one of my favorite rooms that you guys have done. Those prints were too cute and I love how cheap and easy they were.
Manddi says
I love the bright door! We are working on a little boy nursery here too. I’m still trying to get a plan together for various artwork. Right now I am working on covering wooden letters with various patterned washi tape to hang his name over the crib. It is so fun to make a bright and bold nursery!
John says
So. Much. Better. A light fixture and the room is DONE.
Laura says
Looks really great. I love the green accents. Maybe to the right of the curtain you could make or buy a cool growth chart. I love those ones that look like a tape measure. Bower Power made a cool one too. You are rockin’ a big belly, but “So what, who cares,” as Fred Armisen doing JoyBehar would say. Best of luck for a safe and speedy delivery!
Stephanie @ Sandpaper and Glue says
I think switching out the curtains and painting the door instead made a BIG difference in how cohesive the room looks– and all the wood tones are great too :). Good luck with all things baby-on-the-way-related!
Shanna Gilbert says
The nursery looks darling! I love the green door. You look beautiful even though I’m sure you don’t feel it. I was a big swollen mess at the end of my pregnancy. I think most of my weight went to my face!
Aja says
Love, love, love it!! The painted door and neutral curtains & changing pad cover read much more sophisticated. And I’m drooling over your diy art and frames!
lizardmom says
Love the curtain switch and I’m going to go against the grain. LEAVE them alone- no pom-poms, no fringe, no color bands :)
A bright yellow changing pad cover would be a nice pop.
Good times ahead!
Mary D says
Love the green door, good decision! Is that the same fan from Clara’s nursery next to the changing pad in the fourth photo? I’m in the market for a new fan. I’m sick of buying cheap ones and having the motor burn out in a year so if you’ve got a lead on one that lasts I’m all ears!
YoungHouseLove says
She still has her blue fan in her room, so we have a silver hunter fan from our last house’s bedroom in the nursery.
xo
s
kari machal designs says
very very cute! i have been sending out lots of kelly green prints lately – must be the new nursery color :)
Stephanie says
Wow – it’s unbelievable how much those curtains make that one, solitary window look so much bigger! And I love the green door.
I can’t believe you’re so close. How exciting!
JW says
super cute nursery – love the rocker find! We must be like 2 days apart on our due dates (im having boy #3!) – it’s been fun watching your journey!
Keila says
I love your courage to go bold! I often hesitate and resort to using neutral colors throughout my house. However, this green door looks awesome and is inspiring me to try bolder colors in the future.
Beth M says
Absolutely adorable!! I love the green door and, I have to admit, I prefer those subtle curtains much more than the brighter ones. It’s coming together so nicely!! :) Can’t wait until he’s here!
Marci says
I love the closet door which brings me to my question. Our house has all cheap looking doors where the grain shows through the wood. Even if I were to paint them white, would I be able to get rid of that grainy look with a semi gloss paint?
YoungHouseLove says
Usually that texture shows through. Maybe try sanding first?
xo
s
Susan says
We just had the entire first floor of our house repainted, and not a single door was left white (ok, maybe the coat closet doors, but we’re replacing those very soon so it didn’t make sense to pay someone to paint them). They give the rooms so much more personality and really pull together the color schemes. And yes, the first coat of paint on the first door made me question my decision, but the magic happened with that third coat. No going back!
Courtney says
Just wondering why you didn’t remove the door knob when you painted the door. We have several doors that need painting, but I was planning to remove the knob first. Is that a trick to making it easier, because I’m all about making a project easier. :)
YoungHouseLove says
That can definitely be faster if you don’t like to cut in (you can also tape it off). I’m a true weirdo and I like cutting in, so sometimes I leave it on and just cleanly paint around it. But if you worry you’ll get paint on it, just pop it off :)
xo
s
Kristin says
I haven’t had the chance to read all the comments here so I don’t know if it has been suggested, but since you both liked the spoonflower wallpaper, why not get it as fabric and make curtains out of it? Not sure if the chair would be too matchy-matchy next to it, maybe not if you went with the lighter grey arrow print. Maybe that would clash with your crib plans? I thought that print would be perfect as a fabric for curtains as soon as you posted it.
YoungHouseLove says
That could be cute too! We were thinking about it for the changing pad cover…
xo
s