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:
Joanna says
Love how the room is shaping up. You are doing fantastic job!
Martha says
Is there anything from your lighting collection that would work? I would guess you both like everything in it.
YoungHouseLove says
To keep prices down a lot of those fixtures have bare bulbs and open shades (we think we’d like a diffuser) but it’s something to think about for sure :)
xo
s l
Julie says
The pear poster is still available, just not on that site. It is an Avalisa print.
http://www.art.com/products/p14491209-sa-i3047108/avalisa-pear.htm
I hope you guys do wallpaper or a stencil on the crib wall. I think it will look great!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Julie!
xo
s
Dana says
You look great! The absolutely love this room and the curtain change! This might be my favorite room that you’ve done.
Sam says
So glad you switched out the curtains! These look so much better. I hope your not thinking of painting that rocker. It looks gorgeous as it is.
Steph says
love love love the color!! Where did you get the ottoman from?
YoungHouseLove says
That’s from Joss & Main a while back.
xo
s
Brittany says
Wondering what it would look like to put the apple green curtains as a liner to the white ones you hung up? They would still peak thru a little but wouldn’t be quite as in your face? LOVE LOVE LOVE the green door! Congrats on the barnacle!! Can’t wait to see what Clara has to say about him once he’s finally here!
Erica M says
Love the green door! Glad you switched out the curtains for it, I wasn’t a huge fan of their color…maybe it’s just photos but they looked so bright/neon green it felt like they didn’t go with the rest of the room. It’s all coming together, looks so great. As do you Sherry!!
danielle says
That is adorable! Now I want to have another baby just so I can have a nursery like this!
Carla says
The door color is such a healthy shade of green for a young child, or for anyone, really. I’m so glad you replaced the curtains. Making them wasn’t a waste of your time. This is just the process it takes when you’re trying to create the perfect space for your new baby.
The changes you’ve made have really transformed the nursery into something wonderfully warm and cozy. I love that you removed the busy side table and replaced it with the adorable rocking horse.
This is now my favorite room in your house! So cheery and inspiring!
Kate S. says
Such a perfect, natural but sophisticated boy nursery. You guys have really done a great job. Love the colored closet doors in both kid’s rooms.
Theresa says
I LOVE these changes!! The room feels so much more complete! I wasn’t a huge fan of color of those green curtains, but the more neutral curtains and green door is so amazing!! I love it. I think adding a little to curtains will look great, can’t wait to see that. And I’m excited for the wallpaper or pattern you have planned behind the crib!
Lesley says
Sherry, I “blacked out” all my curtains too and learned a few things… 1) buy black out material ON SALE – UBER expensive. 2) buy wide velcro (2″ min) and sew hook side to black out fabric and the loop side of the velcro to the curtain backside. Why? Because you will wash the curtains and not the black out stuff. You don’t want the hook velcro on the curtains because it will mess up your beautiful curtains. Because then you will be able to reuse the black out fabric when you replace the curtains down the road. 3) Shorten floor length curtains/blackouts because they will capture dust bunnies and block cold/warm air vents. 4) If I did it all over again I would get black out blinds (nice ones with a weave finish) and skip all of the sewing and cutting! Curtains are heavy and while they are nicely “square” and in theory should be easy to work with, they are cumbersome and mine always end up crooked when I shorten them! That’s it! Take it or leave it. I do recommend getting something in place though. Babies need that dark room at night so they KNOW it is NIGHT! Wishing you a safe delivery and a healthy little man!
YoungHouseLove says
Great tips!
xo
s
Lauren says
This is hands down one of my favorite nurseries of all time. I’m in love with the pops of green – it’s a color I rarely use in my home, but maybe I need to start! I have a question about the door you painted: was the door previously painted? Did you have to do any prep to it before painting it? I want to paint some of my interior doors black, but they’re currently a white semigloss and I’m not sure what I need to do to them before I start painting. Thanks for your help! Love your blog!
YoungHouseLove says
We previously had primed and painted the door white, so I just went right to paint for the three costs of green. Primer and even liquid deglosser is a good idea if yours haven’t been primed :)
xo
s
Erika K says
This looks much better without the acid green curtains! Good job.
Vanessa says
First of all I love the room. Its a perfect NOT baby blue room for a boy. I love the color of the door, its perfect. Also, you look so great Sherry. I cannot wait to see baby boy Petersik and see Clara be the best big sister! Thoughts and prayers that everything goes smoothly- which I am positive it will. :)
Stacey says
My word…that rocking horse is amazing! This room looks fabulous :). All the best in the next few weeks!
Lauren says
Those curtains are soooo much better. Good choice!
Christine says
I just love it. That’s all I can come up with. I just love everything about this room!!!
Karen says
Have you named the barnacle yet? Or is it a case of seeing him first? My son was named while he was cooking…but my daughter was nameless for 3 days!!
YoungHouseLove says
We have some favorite contenders but we’re waiting to meet him to be sure!
xo
s
Dayna says
Funny, my daughter was nameless for 3 days as well, while my son (who is younger) had a name before we met him!
Kim says
cutest pregnant woman ever!! & WOW you have been uber productive for being THAT pregnant. KUDOS!!!
Kristen says
I think adding a neutral light fixture and changing pad will complete the room. It’s sooo perfect now. Don’t make it too busy!
Susan (Between Naps on the Porch) says
Love that color green, the nursery looks great! Sherrie, looking at your baby bump, I think that sweet little boy is going to grow up to be tall like his dad. I know you are ready to see him and give him kisses. I just became a grandmother about 5 weeks ago and am still in complete awe of babies right now…beautiful miracles. They bless our lives so much!
Michelle | Birds of Berwick says
I love the green door, the revised curtains, the spashes of color in the art and the accented darker wood tones. It’s good that you aren’t afraid of changing your minds and reworking things!
Sherry, I can’t believe you only have 2 weeks to go! I hope you are feeling well and you and barnacle have a safe and dare I say, “boring” delivery! (as compared to your last time…birthing babies is hardly boring, I understand!)
amy a says
I gotta say – I LOVE the white curtains, no border needed. I was not feeling the apple green ones and these look so much lighter and complement everything else in the room. The closet door color is fantastic – great pick – what a cool room for your little guy! Sending you good wishes/vibes for the birth coming up soon…
Jenna says
First I love this room! Looks great and I really like the green door!
Have you considered adding Navy Blue to the curtains? I think it would add a nice contrast, but still be a neutral and pull in colors from the mobile. Just a thought, I’m really on a navy kick right now! Love your blog, thanks for all you do!
YoungHouseLove says
That could be awesome too!
xo
s
Ceci Bean says
I love the green door so much more than the green curtains. I’m sorry, I know you worked hard on them, but the room really sings now!
(Maybe it’s that they just photographed weird? Same way the last house’s kitchen walls never quite read on screen the way you saw them in person?)
Rebecca says
Love everything! Your eye for pairing patterns together is so good. I would have never put those curtains together with that rug, but they look so good together. Can’t wait to see the new bun, I know y’all can’t either! He will love his room.
Lindsay L says
I am so glad you changed the curtains! Since you loved the apple green ones I didn’t want to say anything but they were too bright and distracting for me from the start. I love that you always stay true to what YOU like though, it looks great!! And I can’t believe you only have two weeks left Sherry, holy moly that went fast.
Ali says
I would love an update post on the personal shampoo, conditioner, soap, lotion, shaving cream, toothpaste, deodorant, products you use! Also favorite cleaning products! I remember back in the day ya’ll limited clutter by buying very few products! I was so impressed!! I probably have 20 different lotions in my home right now. It’s so cluttered! Looking for your tips!! Love, how budget minded & minimalistic & quality based ya’ll are! Looking for an update on this one of these days !! Love your blog & your style ! Happy for your family !!!
-Ali
YoungHouseLove says
We did one a few years back as an update and pretty much still stick with that stuff. It had cleaning products, personal care stuff, etc. I think it’s called The Simple Life. Hope it helps!
xo
s
Barbaera says
I think the chartreuse curtains would look spectacular with the green door! It is a child’s room, which gives you much more play. The white is DULL.
Sue says
Love how the nursery is turning out!
My birthday is the 15th. I won’t mind sharing with the Barnacle…
Steph Reiner says
I love this!!! The green with wood trim was such a good call but enough white thrown in that it doesn’t seem like too much! And it is so precious that both kids have “matching” colored closet doors. Makes me wish we had open/close doors instead of sliding doors in our little ones room! I’ve debated curtains instead to bring in some texture and color instead of the doors but we’ll see where we end up… Seriously, I’m loving all the wood accents in here. Praying for you guys as the due date gets closer! :)
Sarah says
I don’t know what you were thinking, but wouldn’t a growth chart (like Clara’s) be so cute in between the door and the window? Love the progress!
YoungHouseLove says
Lots of votes for that! Would be cute!
xo
s
Laura M says
lovely! that wall space between the window and the closet would be perfect for a DIY growth chart :)
Tish says
I was thinking that, too!
Neyir says
Love it!!!! Can’t wait to see which plan you eventually go with for behind the crib. I think I would also want a tiny line of colour on the curtains. I spy a lovely dark marine blue I believe on the changing table shelves – I think that could work beautifully as a strip on the outer edges :-). Mmm I wonder if you could find it in a jaunty but boyish fringe….
YoungHouseLove says
That sounds awesome.
xo
s
Nicole T says
Hiya!
Nursery looks great. I’m also in the middle of designing my nursery and wondering what paint you are using on the door ? I want to make sure I am using something safe as I am thinking of painting the inside of our door as well.
Thanks for you help! And all the best in the next few weeks :)
YoungHouseLove says
We love Natura paint by Ben Moore (it’s no-VOC) and I used the semi-gloss finish for the door.
xo
s
Katherine says
Is there any significance for the fan on the changing table? Or was that just the only spot for it? I noticed you had the same set up in Clara’s nursery. We are expecting our first in July and the nursery is still a blank slate at this point. Love getting ideas from ya’ll!
YoungHouseLove says
It’s really nice to have moving air in a nursery (we put Clara’s fan on every time she slept for the first few years, no matter the season). So we hope to do the same for this guy.
xo
s
Diana says
I didn’t have a problem with the old curtains/white closet door but I have to say I’m LOVING this look. We have weird closets in this house but I wish we didn’t so I could paint them a fun color!
Wendy says
Would you consider a reader poll for the light fixture since you can’t agree? Everyone seems to love them.
I have been reading your blog for several months now and am amazed by your creativity, productivity and inspiration (the spray paint cans have made their way out of my basement several times thanks to you!) Look forward to reading your post every day.
YoungHouseLove says
That would be fun! I think we would have to be ok with any of them (if everyone voted for one that I loved and John hated I’d feel terrible forcing something he doesn’t love into the house). Our “full agreement” agreement makes us go slower but it’s nice because one of us doesn’t hold anything against the other person since we like to wait to agree.
xo
s
Anne says
What a blessed little boy! Love it, Petersiks. Thinking of you in the homestretch, Sherry. That’s a beautiful bump you’ve got there! :)
Stephanie says
Dear Sweet P’s,
I love it all SO much I ALMOST long for a new baby…but since that shop has closed I’ll ooh and aah over your baby! In looking at the room and that little space between the window/wall/and door: how about a growth chart? Perhaps it has been suggested/considered, and if so, I’m sorry to be redundant. We had just that amount of space for one in my girl’s bathroom and she loves to mark her measurements. Sending lots of love and happy wishes from Iowa for your family!
xo Stephanie/Des Moines
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Stephanie! Such a cute idea.
xo
s
Tish says
Everything looks SO cute in there, and I love your decision to go with the green door. I am due with a little girl next month, and I am hoping to knock out painting the crib and changing table this weekend (they are thrift store finds and hand-me-downs so they don’t match and are two different types of wood). It is encouraging to see your progress…I need to get to work!
Stephanie B. says
Oh! It’s so lovely! We’re beginning to plan seriously for a family and this makes me ache for a babe in our house, too!
Haley says
I love the idea of the curtains with a deep, bright blue. Blue goes with any color, it’s a happy, but calming color, and there are bound to be a bunch of blue sneaking into his toys. I may be a little bias, as I have been using a lot of blue lately.
Love the added touches and homemade art. He’s going to love it! I certainly have fond memories of my childhood room and all my mom did to make it beautiful for me.
Dhini says
woow… big and nice room
Amy Bull says
I love the new curtains so much more! It’s so great that you both work from home so you can really tag team the two kids thing. I’m so happy for you!
Cindy says
I love the shade of green you chose for the door, and the curtain change too!
Lindsay says
I love, love, love the closet door! I’m also a big fan of the curtain switcheroo. Not that I hated the apple green curtains, but these just seem to fit so much better. Your latest family photo is adorable! Sherry, you look great!
Paula says
Love everything about the room you guys! Can’t believe d-day is only 2 weeks away! Time flies when you are not the one growing the baby. And you look amazing Sherry! I have never been more excited for a family I don’t know in real life!!!
YoungHouseLove says
You guys are all so sweet! Thanks for the kind baby wishes. We are so excited to meet this little man.
xo
s