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Kicking Off the Nursery Design!

This post is in partnership with Modsy. Use promo code YBH20 for 20% off a Modsy design package!

When I told my friend Shannon that our little family would be expanding, aside from squeezing me in a hug and making me tear up for the tenth time that day, she said, do you remember what you told me you’d do if you ever designed a nursery? I didn’t, as this was something I apparently told her when she announced the she was pregnant with her first girl – more than 6 years ago! She continued, you said that your dream nursery would be all white. No color, just a serene room with nothing but white, white, white. I had to laugh at that, because it further confirms that I’m the most predictable and consistent person I know. (My favorite colors, bands and authors are still those that I declared more than half my lifetime ago!) It was true, Scott and I had already been toying with a few ideas, and for the most part, many of our choices were shades of ivory and cream.

Although we had a general direction and feel we were going for in the nursery, we knew that we were leaning so heavily towards a quiet base palette so that we could ultimately inject color with artwork, accessories, books and, eventually, baby girl’s toys. Below, you can see that we already laid the groundwork with off white walls and bright white trim (remember when it looked like this? Holy cats!), and for the past few weeks, we’ve been shopping for the staples of the room – a crib, rocker and some sort of storage – but we were having a hard time visualizing rugs with curtains, and we were continually asking ourselves would this be too safe? 

Our narrow room had us nervous that anything more than a crib and a chair would feel too cramped, and it was around this same time that Modsy reached out to us and asked if we would be interested in using their design service to help us bring our room to life. We were familiar with their service, but we only got it once they sent us the first set of 3D room models piecing together all the various items on our wish list. PS: We’re sharing a 20% off promo code with all of you, too! Details at the bottom of this post.

The idea is simple enough: You send Modsy photos and basic dimensions of your room (phone photos are fine, and yes, so is clutter!), and they create a 3D mock up of an empty space. At that point, Modsy will offer you room designs based on your preferences, and you can then work on your own, adding and/or deleting items to the room while shopping from the most popular home brands. Items are all to scale, so you get a real sense of height and how one item relates to another – that’s huge! (How many times have you ordered something online, and when it arrived, you were shocked at the size?) You also have the option to speak one on one with a design consultant, which helped us tremendously. Through an online chat, I watched my designer’s screen as she swapped out rugs and upholstery fabrics, and afterwards, she sent me the renderings so that I could compare them with Scott!

The rest of the photos below are all Modsy room renderings (not photos!), but you guys, that’s our nursery! Everything down to the detail in our trimwork and the hardware on the doors is to a T, and the mirror you see hanging above the crib is the one we picked up from a local salvage shop; I sent them photos and dimensions, and they created a render of the item! All of the designs include this crib, this bookcase and this rocker with wool pouf and side table, but Modsy helped us to visualize the larger textiles in the room as well as our final upholstery choice. Let’s dive in!

Design|1

Due to the room’s narrow 7′ width, we love that this rug is available in a 6′ x 9′ size, which has been surprisingly hard to find! We like that it has a subtle pattern, and it looks so pretty with the rocker upholstered in ivory velvet. Speaking of the rocker, this is our little Goldilocks of chairs – not too wide, not too deep, and we’re crossing all our fingers that it’s just right in softness. (We sat in several others from the same brand, and they were so, so cozy!)

rocker | ottoman | rug | side table | curtains | bookcase | crib | sconce | vintage mirror | closet hardware

Design|2

The Anastasia rug has been a longtime favorite, and with its subtle hints of plum mixed with ivory, we thought this might be the perfect application for it. The rug pairs so sweetly with these blush velvet curtains, and as much as we love the overall look here, we have closet plans that might make this room feel too pink overall (if that’s even possible!).

rocker | ottoman | rug | side table | curtains | bookcase | crib | sconce | vintage mirror | closet hardware

Design|3

This is the most neutral rug in the mix (also available in 6′ x 9′!), but it’s also the thickest and the most cushy. To bring in a teeny bit of interest, we opted for these pom pom curtains, which also have the most subtle stripe pattern running through the panels. Instead of the rocker in ivory, we also took a look to see how it might look in a putty basketweave.

rocker | ottoman | rug | side table | curtains | bookcase | crib | sconce | vintage mirror | closet hardware

In the end, we’re leaning towards design 1, but we’d swap the white curtains for the pom pom panels in design 3 – they’re just too cute! We’d love to add some greenery with plants, and we’ve been stashing away artwork that has been earmarked for this room for far too long. We’ll be treating the closet as the extension of the room, and it’s in there that we’ll see color(!) and a changing table, and we’re brainstorming storage + function for the long haul, too. More on that soon!

If you’re ready to whip one of your spaces into shape (just in time for all the family and friends that’ll be visiting for the holidays?), Modsy has design packages that start at $69, and as you can see, they’re so much more than the room planners we’ve seen before. With unlimited design revisions and the opportunity to chat one on one with a style advisor, it’s truly a fun and interactive experience! Use promo code YBH20 for 20% off your first design package, and let us know how it goes!

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  • Jennie10.3.17 - 6:20 AM

    Love the beautiful rooms!! However, I want to offer a cautionary tale. Our first child spit up all over the nursery room rug multiple times. I would consider saving one these gorgeous rugs for when she is past the spit up stage, and getting carpet tiles or some sort of placeholder. Our nursery room rug, frankly, looked disgusting after about 6 months and we ended up throwing it out when we moved to a new house at one year. Also, make sure that you sit it any rocker or glider before you buy it – you’ll be spending a lot of time there!!ReplyCancel

    • Kim10.3.17 - 8:59 AM

      Thanks, Jennie! It’s definitely why we’re choosing a high quality rug, as they’re extremely durable and typically stand up to the test of time – plus, we’ve got our wool rug cleaning game DOWN (thanks to the dogs, ha!). We also plan on using play mats and blankets on the floor a lot.ReplyCancel

      • Kimberlee Majdoch10.3.17 - 11:43 AM

        ohhhh please share how you clean your wool rug! I cannot get the dog hair out of mine to save my life. We have a nice Dyson too, but since we can’t have the brush spinning on the rug it doesn’t seem to pick up the hair.ReplyCancel

        • Kim10.3.17 - 11:49 AM

          Well, we definitely use the spinning brush. I know wool rugs say not to, but honestly, we’ve been using the spinning brush for years, and our nice wool rugs are still in excellent shape! For tough stains, we use Oxiclean Pets, otherwise, we use a spray bottle with water and a couple drops of dish soap for almost everything else. Dish soap is a miracle worker! Then we’ll prop the wet rug up using any nearby object (a cup, etc), so that it can dry thoroughly. Once dry, vacuuming helps to agitate the spot so that the fibers fluff back into place. We’ve yet to come across a stain we couldn’t get up!ReplyCancel

  • Mara10.3.17 - 7:03 AM

    I can’t tell you how much I love design #2. So happy for you both!ReplyCancel

    • Kim10.3.17 - 8:58 AM

      Those pink curtains, right?! Thank you, Mara!ReplyCancel

  • Laura @ Rather Square10.3.17 - 8:46 AM

    Love the neutral soft palette! One question though – are you putting a changing table/station anywhere?ReplyCancel

    • Kim10.3.17 - 8:58 AM

      Yup, in the closet! I mentioned it briefly in the end there. :)ReplyCancel

  • Julia10.3.17 - 9:03 AM

    My son also spit up on the nursery rug twice. And by spit up I mean full on throw up. Both instances I had to rinse it out with cool water, then use the steam cleaner, then Lysol, then let it sit in the sun for a bit. Luckily the rug is only 6×8 and wool with a cotton backing, so it survived and is still usable. So maybe just make sure it is sturdy enough and natural materials that can take water. I also highly recommend buying a small steam carpet cleaner for various spit up and spill uses.

    Also, regarding the curtains – many sleep consultants and books urge parents to put in blackout shades. I thought this was silly until I tried it and my 8 month old’s napping and night sleeping improved DRAMATICALLY. Sleeping is basically the holy grail of every parent ever, so I recommend you make plans to have some discreet and sleek blackout roller blinds or Roman shades installed underneath your lovely sheer curtains but outside the frames of your windows so they actually can do their job.

    Any nursery has to be beautiful but supremely functional – and I agree that your chair needs to be sat in in advance. At the beginning you could spend 6 hours a day in that chair and I’m not joking. The reason those gliders are ugly as sin is because they have the function you need – a high back where you can rest your head at 3am when your daughter wants to nurse for 45 minutes, a gliding footstool so you can elevate your feet and glide with a minimum of effort, and very cushy seats so that your poor postpartum toosh can roost with at least a modicum of comfort.ReplyCancel

    • Kim10.3.17 - 9:10 AM

      Thanks for all the tips, Julia! We are 100% putting blackout shades in here, and we have sat in a LOT of gliders (we spent an entire day going from store to store just sitting and criticizing every last chair). In our case, we’re also dealing with a huge space constraint, so it’s a bit of a give and take as well. We feel comfortable with where we’ve landed. :)ReplyCancel

  • kim10.3.17 - 9:12 AM

    I love 3, and where is the changing table?ReplyCancel

    • Kim10.3.17 - 9:18 AM

      It’s going in the closet! :) I mentioned it briefly in the closing paragraph.ReplyCancel

  • jenn aka the picky girl10.3.17 - 9:14 AM

    Those pom-pom curtains are TOO cute! I adore them. They add a bit of fun to an upscale nursery, and of course, I’m very excited to see the colorful closet plans.ReplyCancel

  • Cathie Streator10.3.17 - 9:31 AM

    Beautiful Kim! My first memory of you is in a bright pink shirt with a bright orange shirt under. I had never before seen those two colors together and somehow they have always reminded me of you since. Maybe a little orange giraffe might show up as a baby gift…ReplyCancel

    • Kim10.3.17 - 9:39 AM

      And pink and orange remain my two favorite colors! Great to hear from you! :DReplyCancel

  • Kate10.3.17 - 9:40 AM

    Congratulations – love room #1! One thought – if you’re going to extend the room into the closet, perhaps think about a narrow dresser and use the top of it as a changing station. Much more functional than a changing table, and possibly able to be moved out into the room afterwards.ReplyCancel

    • Kim10.3.17 - 9:49 AM

      100%! You’re reading our minds. Sharing more on our closet plans next week.ReplyCancel

      • Stephanie Reiner10.3.17 - 3:42 PM

        We did a changing pad on a dresser for our first. Now with #3 I change her on our bed, the couch, the floor, haven’t used the changing pad once! ?ReplyCancel

        • Kate10.4.17 - 11:46 AM

          Oh totally. We have a three floor rowhouse in Philadelphia, and there was a changing area on every single floor of the house – even if it was a travel changing pad and a small basket of cream/wipes/dipes.

          Also? another tip – hang a bag that you can sling over your shoulder or a basket with handles at the bottom of the stairs so that you can grab/tote stuff up & down while holding the baby. Lifesaver.ReplyCancel

  • Shannon10.3.17 - 9:43 AM

    I love the direction this room is taking! So beautiful and yes, those pom-pom curtains are swoon-worthy. I LOVE the sconce, but would make sure it’s adjustable (It may very well be) in that you can point it AWAY from the rocker, if necessary. Your sweet baby girl will be looking up and you don’t want the sconce shining right into her little eyes….just my first thought when I saw these renderings. BEAUTIFUL room and thank you so much for sharing your journey with us.ReplyCancel

    • Kim10.3.17 - 9:48 AM

      Definitely something we thought of (I also have the most sensitive eyes EVER), and yup, it swivels!ReplyCancel

  • Brianne Franklin10.3.17 - 10:02 AM

    Cute design! I second the black out shades/curtains. LIFESAVER. also, I think that bookshelf will feel dwarfed in the room–doesn’t it have tall ceilings? It’s only 5′ on the LON website.ReplyCancel

    • Kim10.3.17 - 10:14 AM

      Ceilings are almost 10′ tall, but we have a big piece of art we’re looking to put above it!ReplyCancel

  • Mary10.3.17 - 10:27 AM

    Modsy designed some beautiful nurseries for you. But I noticed that their window treatments didn’t reach the floor. Please don’t follow their lead. Take your panels to the floor. Or else it will look like you cheaped out.
    #petpeeveReplyCancel

    • Kim10.3.17 - 10:31 AM

      Haha, you totally know we’re bringing those curtains all the way to the floor!ReplyCancel

  • Alison Davis10.3.17 - 10:30 AM

    TOTALLy agree with the comments on blackout shades and spitting up. Ivory Velvet for a chair sounds lovely, but not very baby-proof :{ Also, don’t worry about not being able to fit a huge glider. I had a plain old wooden rocking chair and foot stool for nursing my two children. If you can rock and put your feet up, you’ll be fine! I vote for the rug from #2 and the pom-pom drapes!ReplyCancel

    • Alison Davis10.3.17 - 10:34 AM

      But being able to lean your head back against something is KEY!! Really, give it some thought :)ReplyCancel

      • Kim10.3.17 - 10:40 AM

        We hear ya, but taller chairs are just too deep. (We’ve discussed it to death on our end!) It’s okay, I promise, we’re used to smaller scale city living!ReplyCancel

        • Jennie10.5.17 - 9:25 AM

          Have you looked at Dutailier for a glider? Not the wooden ones, but the upholstered ones? Knowing you guys and research, I’m sure you have. But they do make some smaller scale gliders with tall backs, such as the Pico, which is 34′ deep (though a few inches wider than the one linked here). I can vouch for it, because we have it and its been great. It’s a slightly different look than what you have, but they also have some other options.ReplyCancel

          • Claire10.6.17 - 4:22 PM

            I hate to jump on the bandwagon, but being able to sleep in the glider is great if there is any way to make it work. My daughter is 2 1/2, and due her having a bad cold I spent part of several nights last week sleeping upright with her in my lap. We have the Monte Luca glider- it is slim and narrow. She also slept in a mini crib (PB has them) until she was well over 2, if you are pushed for space, it is worth considering! Oh, and I never got a changing table- changing pad on the floor always did the job, she was a wiggly baby!

  • Paige Flamm10.3.17 - 11:06 AM

    I LOVE MODSY! They have the best design rendering of any other company!

    Paige
    http://thehappyflammily.comReplyCancel

  • Ann10.3.17 - 11:41 AM

    I like all the ideas for your baby girl’s nursery, but! I think the mirror about a foot above the floor so baby can crawl up to it and discover herself would work out great for this room.ReplyCancel

  • Nicole10.3.17 - 12:28 PM

    I always love the way you put a room together! So beautiful and classic and comfortable. Quick thought, from a mama of six – my littlest is a year and a half old, and the climbing is crazy. SO crazy. Which is what I thought of when I saw that bookshelf. I’m sure you’ve considered that, but because preventing the crazy indoor climbing is our daily, minute-to-minute reality right now (which I always manage to forget about between babies), I thought it was worth mentioning. I’m excited to see how your beautiful nursery turns out!ReplyCancel

    • Kim10.3.17 - 12:39 PM

      Thanks, Nicole! Funny, because that’s something that I mentioned to Scott when we were looking at bookshelves. But… the storage is invaluable! When we get to that point, it’s going to be one of those things that we’ll need to focus on. Any tips from other parents to discourage all the climbing?ReplyCancel

      • Laurel10.3.17 - 2:49 PM

        Remember that every kiddo is different, too. My almost-2-year old son loves to run and jump but isn’t that much of a climber. One suggestion might be to limit that amount of time your daughter spends alone in her room, especially around the climbing age. Want to climb? Let’s go do stairs! Or go to the park! You can always close the door to at least put an obstacle between her and the shelves. And, you can also rig up something that will anchor the shelves to the wall so IF she climbs, the shelves won’t tumble on top of her.ReplyCancel

        • Kim10.3.17 - 2:53 PM

          Thank you so much, Laurel! And so true, we plan on strapping the bookcase to the wall regardless.ReplyCancel

      • Kelly10.3.17 - 4:06 PM

        I can’t tell from the renderings, but will she be able to reach items on the shelf from the crib when she’s older?ReplyCancel

  • Lindsay10.3.17 - 12:52 PM

    Our rocker (the Nursery Works Sleepytime Rocker) doesn’t have a super high back, and it’s fine to fall asleep in. I was stubborn about wanting one that I liked aesthetically, and paired with a good ottoman, you can definitely get comfortable in it. Instead of a pouf, though, you might want to consider something with more surface area. Our nursery is pretty small, too, so it serves as extra seating when my husband wants to sit with me, is a convenient spot to set the baby if you just need to lay him down for a minute or change his clothes, and serves as a good surface to fold clothes, etc. We have this one from Target (looks like they are super limited on colors right now), and it’s very very functional in the small space: https://www.target.com/p/rectangle-ottoman-velvet-tufted-cushion-and-gold-metal-x-base-homepop/-/A-50612873#lnk=sametab&preselect=50541114ReplyCancel

    • Kim10.3.17 - 1:04 PM

      Such a good suggestion, and one we considered, for sure. When we really thought about it though, if we all want to hang out together, our home is set up in such a way that there’s a big, cozy couch about 4 feet from the nursery door. :)ReplyCancel

  • doorot10.3.17 - 1:33 PM

    This is going to look beautiful, no matter which option you choose.

    You know, I bought all the fancy things for my first born and ended up nursing him (and his brother and sister) out of the comfort of my own bed :) Much comfier, lots of space.
    Of course the crib was in our room in the beginning, which also made it more convenient.
    That rocker looks perfectly comfy!ReplyCancel

  • Katherine MacLennan10.3.17 - 2:28 PM

    First, these 3-d mock-ups are UNBELIEVABLE. So realistic!! And of course the design is beautiful.
    Second, re: changing table location: I have a weird-sounding suggestion. Would you be able to fit a changing table in the bathroom?!? I saw this set up once in an open house and I can’t get it out of my head! It makes perfect sense; all diaper mess (and particularly the smells) contained, close to faucet for any spills, no rugs to be pooped/peed on accidentally for whatever reason. Also, if you’re cloth diapering and you could set it up to put the table near the toilet, you could just plop the poop right in!! (Sorry if that’s tmi- you don’t have to worry about it until baby starts eating solid food!) Unfortunately my bathroom doesn’t accommodate the width of a changing table otherwise I’d be all over it. I think all home bathrooms should have space for a baby changing table!!ReplyCancel

  • martina10.3.17 - 3:40 PM

    Have you noticed yet that as soon as a baby is in the picture people have OPINIONS! I can’t believe someone didn’t warn you to make sure the mirror is affixed to the wall so it won’t fall during one of those, all too common, Chicago earthquakes! ;)
    I ignored a lot of, very well meant, advice when I had my kids. I didn’t use a diaper genie, despite a friend yelling (!) at me that I was insane not to have one. I preferred to breastfeed on the couch than a rocker, etc. And… we all survived! Listen to your instincts and don’t get caught up in all of the advice. You know how to be a mom in your heart and your gut, trust that! I read a long time ago a quote from someone whom I’ve forgotten. The gist is that every kid who walks in the Olympic opening ceremony was raised in a different way, but they all turned out pretty well anyway.ReplyCancel

  • Phoua10.3.17 - 4:05 PM

    It looks SO good Kim! I love a more neutral look for nurseries just like you! My fav is number 1 but with the rug from #2 and the pom pom curtains from #3.ReplyCancel

  • Jane10.3.17 - 7:17 PM

    Not only am I thrilled you finally get to make this a nursery, I’m also thrilled that you shared Modsy, because they apparently do what I am SO terrible at doing in my head. I can design an awesome inspiration mood board, but it never works quite as well in real life. Probably because I have a terrible sense of space.
    I’m totally going to use this for an upcoming project!

    Second, though I’m basically your polar opposite when it comes to nursery design (hello primary colors galore!) I have a few images I wanted to share with you –
    In case you’re not sold on one exact crib, I got an amazing solid wood crib from Kalon Studios, and they are a really cool small business worth checking out.

    Second, I wanted shelves for stuff and I put them in the closet (Doors removed) with hanging clothes below them. This solved the issue of my baby girl climbing them, and also made the changing table/dresser easier to access or so I felt.

    Finally, I reupholstered my grandma’s rocker and added an ottoman and it was super comfy, even though it didn’t provide head support. It was just right for me to rest my head back against the top of it, so I bet you’ll be fine with the rocker you have in the photos!

    Haven’t shared these on the blog yet, so I threw them into a photo album and the link is below if you want to see how I did the shelves in the closet and the awesome crib.

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/ikv8pdbc4uDEpiN72ReplyCancel

    • Kim10.3.17 - 7:50 PM

      Jane, that nursery is amazing!! Closet organization for days, I couldn’t love it more! We have plans for the closet that would make a similar set up virtually impossible, but I am taking notes over here. Thank you for all the tips!ReplyCancel

  • Heather10.4.17 - 12:30 AM

    I love the ideas and know you will pull it together nicely. Lots of good tips/opinions…people just like to share what they have learned. There are chronic helpers among us that sadly can’t help ourselves ;) And on that note, my brother had 22 stitches on his forehead from climbing the bookshelf in my room. It obviously scarred me too as it was the first thing I thought of when I saw the cool free-standing shelf.

    Good luck, enjoy, and thanks for sharing.ReplyCancel

  • Breanna10.4.17 - 9:11 AM

    Oh my gosh I love your final choice so much it’s going to be gorgeous!! Those Pom Pom curtains are for sure a must! When we had our first, we still lived in a one and one so his nursery was basically a corner of our bedroom. I beat myself up before we came with all of the “recommendations” that I “had to have” but ultimately we just went with what worked for us and we adjusted as we went! You just gotta do what feels best for you guys!

    Also, vinegar water has worked wonders for me for cleaning our little mans spit up off of our new carpet (as long as it’s done right away)

    So SO excited for you guys!ReplyCancel

  • HeatherB10.4.17 - 10:30 AM

    I love it! I think first is my favorite, too.

    One thought to consider is whether the back on your chair is high enough. I had a lower backed rocker that I LOVED…until I was feeding baby while completely exhausted to the point I couldn’t even hold up my head and there was no headrest :/ Just a thought…

    Can’t wait to see how nursery turns out! Such a fun time.ReplyCancel

  • Julie10.4.17 - 11:23 PM

    I love all three designs and I’m excited to see which one you pick. I painted my daughter’s nursery yellow and used hot pink accessories ? It took me a year to paint over the yellow and nix the hot pink after I realized I wanted the space to feel calm and relaxing. Now my daughter is 5, and of course she’s requesting a hot pink room! For what it’s worth, I never used a glider and my kids never spit up! Kids are so different that although everyone means well with their input, you won’t really know until your baby girl gets here. My son has yet to climb his bookcase but yesterday he climbed the dinning table and stood on it proudly shaking the chandelier back and fourth. So there’s that! After having my first child I told all expecting mothers that they absolutely had to have a baby swing because it was a lifesaver. My second child cried hysterically every time I put him in that stupid swing! I stopped giving advice to expecting mothers.ReplyCancel

    • Kim10.5.17 - 8:36 AM

      Haha, I figured that’s why it’s best to do calming now – no doubt she’ll take after me as a little girl and want everything to be BRIGHT PINK! So I’ll take the soothing nursery while I can get it. :)

      I hear ya – I’m a LOT older than my siblings (to the point where I was babysitting them as a high schooler when they were still babies), and my youngest brother would never spit up. EVER. Then one day, as I was getting ready to go out on a date, I picked him up to say goodbye, and he projectile vomited ALL over me! The whole family sat there in stunned silence before bursting out laughing. So, never say never either, ha!ReplyCancel

  • Carley11.1.17 - 4:18 PM

    Hi! I don’t know if I missed it, but what color did you use for the off-white walls?ReplyCancel

    • Kim11.1.17 - 4:22 PM

      They’re Ben Moore’s Intense White.ReplyCancel

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