(emily)
If you’ve had the chance to visit our store in Richmond, you have probably noticed that we’re really into being sustainable and using reclaimed furniture for our displays. So when I shared with my coworkers the nursery that my sister designed, we decided it was too cool not share with all of you.
When it came time to design her nursery, my sister Grace was very clear that she did not want anything too “girly.” She didn’t like the idea of a lot of pink, even though she was having a girl. Grace and her husband Viktor are very fun and original, and they wanted their nursery to reflect their style. They’re also a bi-cultural couple, so many of their design choices are eclectic and culturally diverse.
Grace also became obsessed with elephants during her pregnancy.
Inspiration
Our great-grandfather Bernie loved the circus so much that when it would come to Waynesboro he would dress up as a clown and perform in the show.
Bernie passed away before either myself or Grace were born, but our great-grandmother Dorothy lived well into her 80’s and was a strong presence in our lives. She passed away when we were in our teens. When Grace decided she wanted to do a circus theme for her nursery, she chose to use those things our family inherited from Bernie and Dorothy.
Cost: $300-$500
Grace chose to make a lot of things herself or to reuse items and furniture already in the house. She’s also a great bargain hunter. The only things that she had to purchase were the crib, rocking chair, and changing table.
Difficulty Level: Easy
The hardest thing to do, Grace confessed, was create the big top ceiling.
The Room
The room was originally a guest room and office. There was a twin bed, mostly for our brother when he comes to visit from college. Grace took out the office furniture but kept the twin bed and a few odd tables and lamps. The bed she pushed against the wall to convert into a daybed.
The Changing Table
Grace took a used changing table and repainted it in a burgundy. The patterned sides were achieved by spray painting blue paint through pieces of lace.
Door Sign
The license plate on the door was our great-grandfather’s. Grace made the garland.
The Walls
The walls of the room are painted white, but a yellow
curtain at the window bathes the room in a soft buttery light during the day.
Behind the daybed, Grace and Viktor hung up a wall covering from Urban
Outfitters, which brings a
little of their style to the nursery. Wall decals of circus animal silhouettes
are placed strategically throughout the room. Foam letters spell out the baby’s
name over the crib.
Grace found the picture of the young girl and elephant
online.
To keep all of baby’s headbands and hair clips, Grace took a picture frame, removed the glass and back, and strung ribbons vertically down the back. Hooks were screwed into the bottom, and the frame was decorated in a variety of buttons, including 4 yellow giraffe buttons Grace found in our great-grandmother’s button collection.
The Clyde Beatty Cole Bros. picture is actually an old t-shirt of my mother’s from the early ‘80s. Viktor found it a couple of years ago and often wore it. Grace decided to retire it and cut the picture out for the frame, backing it with patterned paper.
Mobile
For the mobile over the changing table, Grace was inspired
by a craft she found on Pinterest to make her own. The shapes were cut out of cardstock.
Under the Big Top
Grace and Viktor strung red and blue tulle from the ceiling
to give the nursery the feeling that one was entering a circus tent. Grace also
made pom-poms to hang both
from the ceiling and the furniture.
I think they did a pretty good job. What do you think?
Got an interesting nursery you’d like to share? Snap a picture and submit it on our Facebook page (either here or here) or tag us on Instagram. (We’re @franklingoose.)