Do you see what I did there? I threw you a curve ball with that title…
This week we were going to show you a house tour, but we decided to share some news instead. Jordan and I had lots of projects planned for the first 6 months of moving into our new home. An enormous honey-do list of nonstop fun home improvement tasks to keep us busy until Christmas. However, a few months ago, we were hit with a curve ball of our own…
WE’RE GOING TO BE PARENTS!
Yes, a Little Milk*** maiden is on the way. All those dreams of brand new cabinets, paint, and bathrooms have been dashed, but replaced with equal excitement at the notion of taking on a nursery. A nursery! So that means we’ve had to revise our Summer To-Do list quite a bit to make room for our new baby girl who will arrive in early November.
This is our first child, so we have no idea what to expect or what we’ll need. We do, however, know that she is going to be the most stylish kid on the block. We’ve started putting together lots of ideas for the nursery. We’re not into cartoons, characters or frilly pink stuff, so we decided to try to do something colorful and fitting for a house from 1960.
I’m building the room around two main things: Eames Crosspatch decals and an Alexander Girard FLOR rug. I think the theme is going to be organic graphic modern, or something like that, but it doesn’t matter what I call it because Design Blahg will make fun of me. Decorating is very hard for me. Despite the fact that I operate a design blog, I’m no designer. Also, color is equally as difficult; I’m usually one to throw a room together using only black, white, gray, and wood. Here’s my inspiration board so far. I’d love to hear your thoughts/ideas/suggestions:
From top left, clockwise: Eames Crosspatch decals, Little Alouette wooden rattle, Magis Metoo puppy, Sock Monkey
*Little Milk™
**And, no, we’re not launching a new website any time soon!
knitterbird on 06.28.2011 at 09:06 AM
The Ikea basic high chair (I had white for my kid). Clean & simple design, cheap as chips… possibly cheaper depending on how many chips you can eat and practical as hell.
Beth Anne Mandia on 06.28.2011 at 09:07 AM
Add this to your wish list…it’s an amazing high chair, both stylish and smart.
http://www.booninc.com/products/Flair
Jaime (post author) on 06.28.2011 at 09:20 AM
I love the Boon high chair! My husband doesn’t care much for the base. We’ll see who wins the battle ;-)
sahar on 06.28.2011 at 09:11 AM
congrats!!! try to incorporate the yellow from the rug (that mango-y goodness) into something else in the room too, maybe even paint one wall of the nursery that color. it’ll brighten everything up and tie everything together :) if one whole mango-yellow wall seems a bit much, you can do stripes of it on the wall opposite the decals! adds a bit of whimsy. but seriously, LOVE the nursery ideas, looks so clean and open and bright!
louisabellissima on 06.28.2011 at 09:15 AM
Congratulations!!
Ian, Ireland on 06.28.2011 at 09:16 AM
27, father of three. it’s all about storage. storing the child, storing the clothes, the nappies, the wipes, the creams, the teething medicine, food. I would suggest pillows on the walls so you can sleep standing up. while being trendy, stylish etc… is fantastic it’s also a pile of bollocks. as a designer it kills me to say that. it’s all about practicality and functionality. I would suggest you find an great changing bag and buggy. I would go with phil & ted’s for that. Don’t go for the bugaboo or bugabee or whatever it’s called. it was a terrible purchase. changing bag should have lots of pockets. so many women go for pretty. tsk tsk. all about ease of access to stuff. changing table with built in bath is really good. oh and stock up on lots and lots of wine. cos u are gonna need wind down time, and a giant bean bag to collapse into is good. for 6 months say goodbye to sleep. once they are walking it’s easy then.
Jaime (post author) on 06.28.2011 at 10:37 AM
We’ll be having two storage units in the room in addition to closet space. We have a friend who has a Bugaboo who told me it’s not worth it. We did find a stroller and carseat combo that is about half the price of a Bugaboo and is just as stylish.
Pillows on the walls? I might just try that… ;-)
Natalie on 06.28.2011 at 09:17 AM
Congratulations!! I love the nursery ideas. I’m a neutral person so I think keeping it clean and simple is best. That way it will be a whole lot easier to transition the room when Little Milk starts to grow up.
I love your blog (both of them) by the way. I’ve been reading for a long time, but I’m pretty sure this is the first time I’ve commented. Don’t know why it took me so long!!
Jaime (post author) on 06.28.2011 at 10:38 AM
Thanks for finally commenting!!
krista {urbanite jewelry} on 06.28.2011 at 09:17 AM
CONGRATS!
Valerie on 06.28.2011 at 09:18 AM
Congrats! That’s wonderful news!!!
Faberuna on 06.28.2011 at 09:31 AM
Congrats! Let us know what we can do to help you find all the handmade items you need.
Erika Scaffa on 06.28.2011 at 09:40 AM
I love Ian’s comments. Its all true! But you will feel as the happiest person in the world and you will believe that your kid will be the cutest baby in the world! This is happiness!! Congrats!
Metalicious on 06.28.2011 at 09:41 AM
Wow, that’s fantastic news! Congratulations! And the first rule of parenting is DON’T LISTEN TO ANYONE BUT YOU! People will have lots of advice. Smile and nod and thank them for it. But you will know yourselves and your baby the best, trust that more than anything. Your nursery is going to look fantastic, because it’s yours. xo!
Michele on 06.28.2011 at 09:56 AM
Congrats!!! I’m sure Beans and Lulu will be the best big brother and big sister your little Milk Maiden could ask for!!! I can wait to see how what you come up with on the nursery!
michele (and Ruby too)
Hande @SillyBuddy on 06.28.2011 at 09:57 AM
Congratulations Jaime!
That crib is so stylish.
Kelly in Austin on 06.28.2011 at 10:07 AM
Love these..very similar to my kids’ room inspirations. Agree that STORAGE is the KEY.Spend money on that because you will be utilizing it forever. I love http://www.laxseries.com/work_and_study/bookcase.html and http://www.bludot.com/modern-storage/view-all-modern-storage/modu-licious-6-config.html and http://hivemodern.com/pages/products.php?view=sub_product&sid=661&cid=
Don’t overspend on crib and stroller.
The girard rug is perfect. And I wish I had a girl, I would totally do something with the berry color designsponge posted this morning.
Jaime (post author) on 06.28.2011 at 10:35 AM
Thanks Kelly, those are great suggestions!
JohannaK on 06.28.2011 at 10:38 AM
Thats a great news!!!! Congratulations <3
maya on 06.28.2011 at 11:07 AM
oh wow!
awesome!
which stroller?? we need one too… :) and bugaboo is soo $$$
we have the Magis Metoo puppy, and its awesome!
Jaime (post author) on 06.28.2011 at 11:20 AM
Hi Maya, we are considering the City Select by Baby Jogger in Onyx (not a jogging stroller): http://www.babyjogger.com/city_select_lp.aspx
I like that it is carseat-compatible, so you can just snap in a carseat.
JY on 08.03.2011 at 11:47 AM
Have you considered Orbit Baby? It has tons of convenient features, and looks great too :)
http://www.orbitbaby.com/en/products/stroller-travel-system-g2/
Zara on 06.28.2011 at 11:08 AM
Congratulations Jaime!! That’s just superb… I’m a new mum to a 7 month old boy and I can tell you for a fact life is about to turn on its head :) But in a good way. Almost like a yoga headstand. It pays to see the world upside down for a bit. Now the reason I am writing to you is to tell you about the amazing baby hammock we made for Sufi. I researched long and hard for something that was perfect in every way-color, material, size, shape… and finally made it myself. And Sufi loves it. Teething, colic and sleeplessness nights were hardly a problem for us. Do let me know if you’d like me to make one for you! I’d be most happy to gift you one!
Tacia on 06.28.2011 at 11:10 AM
Congratulations! The Roh crib is absolutely beautiful. I have been eyeing it for a long time.
Jennifer on 06.28.2011 at 11:46 AM
I would think twice about mango walls – babies tend to cry more in yellow rooms. I would stay away from sharp edges and stick with more organic shapes with furnishings – less to worry about later. “Easy-to-clean” and “washable” should be on 80-90% of what you buy. Go for white linens/burp cloths/towels. Can be bleached and starched. If you are going for a rocker, try to get one that has some cushion, and also something you can rest your head back on. If it doesn’t come up high enough in the back and is not comfortable to be sitting in for an hour with a 10 lb weight on your chest, don’t buy it! A lamp with a dimmer and a touch/tap on/off is best (for now). Hands full + need a not-so-bright light in the early a.m.’s. Changing table w/ built in bath is genius. Also, make sure you have a good washer, dryer, and vacuum cleaner. I love the decals, rug, and the mobile you have shown.
Suad on 06.28.2011 at 12:42 PM
Congratulations!!! Can’t wait to see the nursery designs!
Decor Mentor on 06.28.2011 at 12:48 PM
Congrats Jaime!
Your namesake Jame Drake did something Mondrianesk that I thought would be fun for your little girls room. The storage cubbies on the wall: love that they are not just square boxes all the same size and that the insides are painted different colours elevating the contents as an artform. Check it out on Simplified Bee’s post http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qm4HVkF5dxY/Smpb-zSFOJI/AAAAAAAAAlw/6h7pG2SG2KA/s1600-h/Drake+Design+boys+room.png
Jaime (post author) on 06.28.2011 at 12:59 PM
Thanks Lisa. Cute idea!
april on 06.28.2011 at 13:39 PM
Congrats!
Jamie on 06.28.2011 at 13:46 PM
Hey lady… A definite YES on the floor. I almost got the Girard for Lucy. Have you dug around your parents’ houses for a little something from both Jordan and your childhood to throw in there? I’m also interested to see this kid’s art collection… Ok. When I get back we are going shopping. I wish I could bring you home all the wonderful things I’ve found here that made me think of you!
Jaime (post author) on 06.28.2011 at 13:59 PM
I can’t wait for you to come back so I can give you a house tour! I don’t think I have anything from my childhood, but that’s a nice idea. As far as art, that will be last. I want to get the walls painted and the main pieces in the room before I decide. But LOTS to think about & shop for!
farid on 06.28.2011 at 14:15 PM
Congrats! This will be the happiest days of your life, a few weeks ago I also has become the parents of my first son, my time run out playing with him, so tired but very fun. Few sharing of that baby skin is very delicate and sensitive so provide a wardrobe safe and friendly to her skin:)
Iris Vank on 06.28.2011 at 18:15 PM
What a great surprise, so happy for you. And although children are not on my priority list yet, I love your take on children’s stuff, as seen above.
Cathy on 06.28.2011 at 19:04 PM
????! Congrats in Korean.
Rene on 06.28.2011 at 19:36 PM
Mother of three…first will be 18 tomorrow and off to college! Our children have Mother Father Architects….by kid three we had it down. the kids need diapers and a blanket. Think third world country…they really don’t need more than food, diapers and lots of hugs. So, use this as an excuse to buy the most comfortable chair you can find…because there is really nothing sweeter than holding a new baby. They really don’t know if they have cute stuff is in their room. So make sure you love it. If you live in the city or walkable community…focus on the stroller, a baby carrier and the diaper bag. If you live in the burbs…the car seat is critical. But again…think college tuition. Start saving now…because then they want a cool room, a car and and and ….!
and with the first kid you will be showered with love and gifts from people you never thought would care. so CONGRATULATIONS! Blessings and Love coming your way.
Lisa La Nasa on 06.28.2011 at 20:29 PM
Congratulations! LOVE the design and the timeless Eames rocker, but I have to agree with Jennifer, if you can get a chair with cushioning and tall enough to lay your head back, you’ll be a lot more comfortable. Those first six weeks are an especially exhausting time!
Can’t wait to see the final design – and the sweet little babe.
bits of myself on 06.29.2011 at 06:45 AM
a classic eames recliner + ottoman reupholstered tn great fabrics would be excellent. comfortable, and they do rock sufficiently.
Lyn F on 06.28.2011 at 21:15 PM
Congrats on the upcoming parental adventure. I look forward to your design slant on the kid objects of form and function. Nursery idea looks splended. As always thanks for the design inspiration.
joy on 06.28.2011 at 21:21 PM
yay! mama!
YYT on 06.28.2011 at 23:46 PM
Congratulations!! Welcome to a whole new world of design :-)
Check out the Stokke Tripp Trapp chair – it adjusts from a high-chair through to an adult seat. Fab colours, so you can complement your kitchen, we have a lovely red one.
Best godparent present was a Rosendhal wooden monkey.
Found some Keith Haring wall stickers in Ikea recently – yes really!
And now you have a great excuse for a Flensted mobile…
All the best
xxx
Brismod on 06.29.2011 at 00:21 AM
They say that black and white are the only colours babies can recognise in the first few weeks…so maybe stick to what you know. Congratulations on your good news.xx
Rachel on 06.29.2011 at 01:02 AM
Congrats Jaime!! So exciting.
pa[u] on 06.29.2011 at 07:20 AM
congrats!!!
I personally prefer the white, gray and wood for elements most voluminous and color in the details. You will find lots and lots of beautiful things. The net is full of good ideas and originals and unique items!
Enjoy!
Emma on 06.29.2011 at 07:25 AM
Congrats! Parenthood is great – welcome to the gang! :-) My daughter is coming up 10 now, but we have just put some amazing wallpaper on one wall in her room and left the rest plain white. She has white bedcovers but a co-ordinating throw from the same range of fabric designs. Looks amazing! I was thinking how great it would have been for her when she was a baby as there is so much colour and so much to see! Also works really well with contemporary furniture.
http://www.tangletree-interiors.co.uk/wallpaper/brian-yates/pip/chinese-roses/chinese-rose-386035/
Good luck! Have fun :-)
Bonkers About Buttons on 06.29.2011 at 07:29 AM
congratulations! but you’re gonna have to learn to love pink I’m afraid… in a big way… oh… and add lots of hideous plastic crap!
paula mello on 06.29.2011 at 07:50 AM
Congratulations! You are about to start the greater adventure ever… But don’t worry, you’ll survive!! Keep it simple and that’s it. Don’t be to radical and don’t believe in things like “you’d never put the baby on your bed” cause sometimes it’s the only way to get some sleep hehehe! I’m 43, 3 kids, work at home and that was the better decision I’ve ever made. Enjoy this journey, it will be awasome!!
ValerieJean on 06.29.2011 at 10:45 AM
No no… Please ditch the dreaded sock monkey!
And the crib with lucite slats? Consider this… Baby slobber! Yup, that would need to be cleaned all the time, unless you don’t mind little half quart looking thru smudges all the time. :( There are so many sleek clean lined cribs out there, keep looking. Don’t be afraid of the traditional wooden slat… Just think craftsmen style! ;)
Oh and keep the Girard rug… Get deco artistry there! ;)
Laura on 06.29.2011 at 12:09 PM
Congratulations and welcome to the club! Your choices are beautiful, though I agree that the rocking chair and rocking ottoman should be high and cushioned for all your sakes. I’ve never used Flor tiles, but order them early and air them in case they have new carpet fumes.
If you can match design and practicality, fabulous. If not, go for practicality. Talk to an experienced mother or baby nurse before purchasing any of the big ticket items. For my first I was given four bathtubs (!) and I asked our baby nurse which was best and she just laughed and said “None of them.” Before I could get the one she suggested, which is no longer made, I tried to give my daughter a bath in the most promising looking one, only to find that it’s shape and my daughters’ were not compatible in the slightest.
Oh, and enjoy decorating the room. My six year old and I have been in deep discussion over every detail of her room redo and it is very interesting finding the balance as to what will please us both (though we both did love and will incorporate those LED backlit cut-outs from that Singapore Hotel, many thanks).
Jaime (post author) on 06.29.2011 at 13:13 PM
Thanks for the suggestions. We have a Plycraft lounge and ottoman in our bedroom that will be great for night-time nursing and overall comfort. Lots of experienced relative moms to help give advice and hand-me-downs, too!
So glad to hear you liked the Wanderlust hotel rooms – those backlit cutouts were my fave, too. Such a great idea.
Ellen Lutwak on 06.29.2011 at 15:52 PM
I have a box full of MY mid-century baby clothes that my parents saved from my baby-hood. Looking to find new homes for girly dresses. (My son the artist is 19-years-old and he doesn’t need them.) Get in touch! And congratulations! It’s wonderful, and having no expectations is even better. EL
Jane on 06.29.2011 at 16:02 PM
How exciting. I have a few of my own (4) and a few gray hairs to go with them!
Funny that you mention black, white, gray and wood. Our baby room was black and white with a dash of red. We went with the high contrast. It was simple and clean. I had a wicker rocker, which I liked the look, but wasn’t the most comfortable. By kid #4 I was nursing in bed anyway, didn’t matter. We had such a small room, we only had room for the rocker, crib and dresser/changing table.
What a journey you will begin. Enjoy it all!
Jenny on 06.29.2011 at 16:10 PM
Congratulations on your future edition. As a mother of 3 (5,3,1) I can completely agree with the comments of Ian. Storage is everything. I have all these fantastic ideas for how I would like my kids room but ultimately they have so much junk I have nowhere to put it. My daughter (3) also has very strong ideas about clothes and her bedroom which don’t always match with my own.
On the buggy front we had a Jane 3 wheeler for the first one which although useful at the start was much to big to be practical. We then bought a Microlight as a “run around” and I have to say it has been brilliant. It looks great, it is light and you can push it with one hand (great when you are trying to walk the dog and talk on the phone at the same time – multi-tasking is everything!). They didn’t used to do a newborn version but they do now but I have no idea what that is like.
I would also second the basic Ikea high chair.
Whatever things you decide I hope you have lots of fun choosing them x
Dana on 06.29.2011 at 16:17 PM
Rocker… You do *NOT* want that Eames rocker, trust me. It’s pretty, but it’s not a good nursery choice. Much better to choose one that you can comfortably doze in. I like the Grano glider/recliner by Monte Designs pretty well & would recommend it. I’d buy it all over again, but would spring for the leather upholstery.
http://www.montedesign.net.
Nursery rug… Think twice about choosing one with a busy, high-contrast pattern. Such rugs make it hard to see strewn toys, especially in the semi-dark, so parents wind up tripping or hurting their feet a lot.
Crib… Nice choice. Double-check that it is compatible with a crib tent, just in case your baby turns out to be a precocious escape artist at a too-early age. So many babies are. And if the option for a toddler-bed converter kit is available, take it.
Stroller… I think that Baby Jogger stroller you’ve scoped out is a great choice. If I were shopping for strollers right now, I’d also consider a Bob or an Uppa Baby.
Travel stroller… For a super-lightweight choice, I’d pick the Petite Star Zia4 (if only it were available in the US). Similar to the Quinny Zapp, it corrects most of Zapp’s shortcomings. It reclines flat, stands up when folded, folds more easily (though not quite as small as Zapp), locks closed with a latch when folded, has a more accessible storage basket, and one needn’t remove the sunshade nor seat to add a carseat.
Diaper bag… Ju Ju Be is my favorite (ju-ju-be.com). You can prevent Daddy’s emasculation by picking one of the black w/silver styles.
mammadifilippo on 06.29.2011 at 17:03 PM
Congratulation! I’m italian, mum of a 10 mos boy. I collected what I have learned, seen, discovered so far in my blog http://www.maternityleave.it. It’s in italian, but you can enjoy the google translator.
Hope you find it useful!
Mammadifilippo
justaskmom on 07.22.2011 at 18:50 PM
Congratulations on BabyMilk. I love the colors you’ve chosen.
Questions, though. First, are either of you tall? If so, your crib may be too low to put a sleeping child to bed without hurting your back (I learned the hard way). Second, if you plan to nurse or if BabyMilk is a night owl who requires rocking to sleep in the middle of the night, you might want to find a more comfortable rocking chair with support for arms and YOUR head. If you fall asleep in it, you want to be able to walk without feeling like Quasimodo.
Jaime (post author) on 07.22.2011 at 19:04 PM
Hi there! Thank you for your advice. The crib is adjustable to three heights, which is great. The rocker will be padded with a sheepskin and pillow for me, but I do have an alternative chair to use for rough nights.
Maryline on 08.12.2011 at 09:47 AM
Congratulations!
cerentha on 08.24.2011 at 09:20 AM
So happy for you! Congrats!
h.jay on 10.29.2011 at 00:26 AM
yay!!!!!!!! i had a baby girl last april… but i’m so not into cartoon animals or pink frilly anything either… i’m totally gonna die on the inside if at 3 she wants to live in a hot magenta pink outfit… when i found out i was having a girl all i could think of was… what if she wants to wear pink on pink on pink… but thats besides the point…. i did her nursery with green gingham with brown…. green i think is super key because its a calming color, and brown is one of those grounded colors i think it promotes stability… which was so important to me when i was deciding what to do for her nursery something to make her feel calm and safe you know… i added elephants too cause they say somewhere i don’t know where if you give an elephant statue as a gift its a gift of good luck… so i have this rad paper mache’ elephant head i got from anthropologie, its down with haitian newspaper so its all in french… i also got a giraffe and gazelle one too cause there so rad… just wanted to give you some idea on someone else who felt the same way about pink and lame baby cartoon chud…. my boo’s super calm and mellow i don’t think its the room but i’m sure it helps a little… and the animal heads are on the anthropologie website if you wanna check em out just for you