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It’s been a while since we did a nursery post, but that’s only because there hasn’t been much to write about. Until now…
Boom! Ok, it’s just a crib and some color samples but it’s progress nonetheless.
I’ve been mulling over all the amazing comments you guys left on our nursery design post last month (seriously, I think it was one of the most commented posts ever) and fine tuning my thinking about what the space should be. We’re still on board with the second scheme (the darker walls, vintage dresser, glider and blond crib), but with a few adjustments. First of all, we decided to get the IKEA Gulliver crib instead of the Oeuf. After hearing so many positive comments about the Gulliver, we knew it was the right choice for us.
So with the bedding already on hand (an organic Naturepedic mattress and Aden + Anais crib sheet that were gifts from my dad and stepmom), I couldn’t resist the urge to go ahead and put it all together. The crib was actually really easy to assemble, taking me no more than 34 minutes. Seriously, I probably spent more time removing the safety stickers on the top rails. (Hint: they come off way easier if you wet them with a hot washcloth first.) So far, I’m really impressed with the quality of construction and finish. In the realm of IKEA, this is one of the better products I’ve seen.
Now, on to paint colors. I was first inspired to go dark by this image from the Oeuf website (and have since pinned a few other dark-walled nurseries). Maybe it’s not the most conventional color, but I like it. To me, it’s more cozy than brooding. Also, because the nursery reads more like an alcove off the living room, having the darker color against our otherwise all-white walls will help add some much-needed depth and texture to the house.
Oh, and I’m sure it will make baby Zerbey feel like she’s back in the ol’ womb and want to sleep for long stretches of time. (This is sound logic right?)
So with a direction in mind I grabbed a stack of paint chip contenders and then narrowed my favorites down to these 5. (Ok, they probably all look the same to you but I did my best to show the colors as accurately as possible…just think dark blue-gray). On Friday I picked up some pint-size testers from our local Benjamin Moore store so I could do larger-scale mock-ups. (This wall will eventually be covered by the wardrobe, so I’m not worried about any potential inconsistencies in texture, etc.)
Kyle and I both have a favorite, but what do you guys think? [Click to enlarge.] Again, I’m sure it’s difficult to see the subtle differences on a computer screen, so if you pick by most awesome name I’ll understand. The plan is to stew on it this week and then pick something so I can get to painting (ugh) next weekend.
In terms of baby stuff, we’ve been making some good progress. Now, I’m not exactly a seasoned pro when it comes to baby loot but I have done a good deal of research and listening. My approach may not be perfect, but so far it seems to be working. Going into this whole baby thing, I knew I wanted to focus on the things we really needed or that would make our lives easier. I also wanted to place an emphasis on products and items that were well-made and could be used again (for us or someone else). Oh, and I didn’t want to spend a lot of money.
My first step was just to do a crap load of research. I read blogs, looked at checklists, talked to friends and even ventured to almost every baby store in the greater Seattle area. During that time, I set up a universal online registry as a brain dump of sorts. (I quickly realized that there would be no way I could register at one or even three stores, so universal was the way to go.) Over the period of a month or so I added and deleted things from the list and then sent it to a few other new moms for vetting.
Once I felt like I finally had my brain fully wrapped around the subject, I moved on to the next step – consignment sales. There are several shops around town, but I quickly discovered that the big events are where it’s at. (Honestly, I rarely buy used clothes for myself but I’m 100% behind the philosophy when it comes to baby and kid stuff.) Armed with a good mental list of what I needed, on two occasions now I’ve worked my way through throngs of people to find most of the items you see above. (I’ve also gotten a handful of thoughtful e-mails from local readers alerting me to specific Craigslist deals or popular message boards – I had no idea there were so many great networks for parents out there!) My favorite is when I find a slightly used version of a registry item for about 1/10th of the price. In a small way, I feel like I’ve beat The System.
In addition to the mattress and bedding (and lots of books!), we’ve also received a few amazing handmade gifts so far. Like this baby quilt that my mom made:
It’s feminine, but not too girly and in true 21st-century style, it even has its own QR code (that lists the date it was made). My stepdad (a bit of an engineer nerd, but in the best way!) has been into creating and using QR codes lately and when he couldn’t convince my mom to quilt a QR code out of fabric pieces, they opted for this printed version instead.
My sister also knitted this adorable cardigan and hat. I love it. Living in Seattle, I see a lot of cardigans in our little girl’s future.
And that’s what’s going on in zerbebe land. I’m still stalking Craigslist for a used dresser, but no sweet deals yet. Actually, I’ve seen very few mid-century options in general. Am I looking in the wrong place? Is there some local antique store hoarding 1960’s dressers that I don’t know about? Help me interwebs!