My fabulous French friend, Virginie, recently had a baby and sent out this darling birth announcement (the black area is my kitchen counter not a border!)
How cute and unexpected it this? (Side note, It was taken JJM Photography.) What I love it that it’s such a personal statement; this announcement truly reflects the person who sent it out. Virginie grew up in Brittany in the countryside and really epitomizes French country style. I love the soft color palette, the use of personal items like the clock (to tell time of birth), the hand-written calendar and the organic touches like a sprig of rosemary for color and the shell-shaped dish that Warren’s older brother, Wade, made at school. (BTW, since everyone else in the world uses the metric system, when Virginie sent this to everyone outside the US, it was in centimeters and kilos!)
So, thought it would be fun to design a nursery inspired by Warren’s announcement–very natural and neutral feeling with soft greys, blue and a little pop of color. I recently got the Restoration Hardware Baby & Child catalog and saw a bunch of things I loved so pulled things from there for the design…sometimes you can walk into a store and buy everything from one place and still make it look eclectic!
1. I started with this beautiful beaded chandelier–they’re a splurge, but they’re gorgeous and definitely something that would grow with a child and could be moved into another room if a little boy doesn’t feel like it fits his style a little down the road.
2. Crib with storage…yes please…way better than a skirt. Extra blankets, sheets, etc. Perfect. I’d add a yellow and white striped sheet to give that little pop of color that the tulip brings in the announcement.
3. A nice, neutral comfy rug perfect for little baby rolling around.
4. A cozy glider is a nursery must. Late night feedings, reading, snuggles. This one is reminiscent of the grey and blue sweater in the announcement.
5. Love this galvanized metal dresser/changing table. You’d use this piece for years to come.
6./7./8. For accessories, I’d keep them simple with a base of white and a little color. The butterflies add that feeling of nature (like the rosemary sprig in the announcement) and the wire basket would be great for toy storage and has that linear element that the calendar lines bring to the announcement.
I’ll get Virginie to share the nursery she ended up doing for little Warren…hint: one wall is a world map for this dual citizen!
