Posted by Michelle Kersey on Thu, Feb 18, 2010 @ 09:43 AM
My Pregnancy Buck List... Top 10 things to do before the baby arrives!
At the halfway mark in my pregnancy I am starting to think of all the things, big and small, that need to get done before the baby comes. Some things should get done sooner rather than later, others could possibly wait until after the arrival. But, it all makes my head spin once I start to think about it.
My Pregnancy Bucket List:
1) Refinish a piece of furniture for the nursery: I have picked out and purchased my crib and dresser (future blog post to come), see a sneak peak of what I choose below. I'm very excited about the furniture, however I wanted to add a personal and unique touch to the nursery by getting an older antique piece and refurbishing it to add a bit of uniqueness to the room. I hope to find a vanity/desk that I am going to use at first as a changing table and later my little daughter will have somewhere to sit and do her makeup. Since we're not in yard sale season yet, I'm going to rummage around the local Peddlers Mall.
2) Make Crib Bedding: Another crafty thing I want to do is make the crib bedding myself. I have found the perfect fabrics, but need to determine how many yards are needed. Before the end of February, I plan on getting together with my mom to plan out how much I need and go buy it! I am buying sheets however, so I also have to find some of those too.
3) Make Window Coverings: #2 needs to be done first, but I'm going to use the same fabric to make, window drapes, a bed skirt, and a blanket, which I hope to get done in the next few months.
4) Paint the Nursery: A trip to Lowe's is in order by April! We need to pick out the paint colors and get the room painted a few months before my due date. Even with low or no-VOC paint, I want to give the room some time to air out before bringing the baby home in July!
5) Learn how to make homemade Baby Food: I want to learn how to make and store baby food. Since having my first, we're eating healthier and I'm cooking more than ever before. So, I would love to learn how to turn food from our meals that I'm already cooking into food I can give the baby. I plan on my food processor being my best friend.
6) Create a Safe Play Room: Probably the biggest item on my list is to organize the basement into a safer play area. It's slightly set up as one now... but a lot of childproofing and rearranging is in order to optimize the L-shaped space.
7) Make Space: While I'm thinking about re-arranging, I really want to move the computer desk out of the living room! The computer will probably migrate to a smaller/unused corner of the living room and the desk will go into storage. The space that my pretty, but large, desk is taking up needs to be devoted to some baby gear for a while. The swing or exersaucer will require a nook so the dogs don't run the baby over on their way through the living room.
8) Pick a name! Thankfully, I have quite a few more weeks to come to a final decision on this one. My husband and I can't figure out what middle name to use... we have narrowed it down to six options.
9) Start exercising! OK, I laugh a little even while writing this. I can't walk on the treadmill inside with my toddler running around me. So, give me Spring, and we'll walk down the street again. I just have no motivation during winter.
10) Make a growth chart: I bought one with my first, but I have since found directions online to make one myself.
Now, so I don't feel so unaccomplished, here's what I have done so far:
- Purchased the nursery furniture! Should arrive any time now!
Cocoon 4000 Series convertible crib and 6-drawer dresser.
- Picked the general color scheme for the nursery.
- Purchased a mini blender to aid in my homemade baby food quest.
- Cleaned all the toys out of the nursery... it used to be my toddler's playroom.
- Pulled out all the gender neutral clothing from my first and have them organized by size in the closet.
- Divided up all the boy clothes into boxes by age so I can sell them or give them away once this baby arrives.
- Bought and started filling in the Baby Memory Book.
- Narrowed down the first name to two choices!
What is the biggest thing on your Pregnancy bucket list? Do you have a plan on how you will accomplish everything, or at least try to? Please share.
Posted by Michelle Kersey on Thu, Jan 21, 2010 @ 11:44 AM
The Bold and The Beautiful. No, I'm not talking about the long running soap opera, but nursery rooms! The days of whimsical characters and pastels are long gone. They've been replaced by bold, graphic, chic, sophisticated styling. I must admit, I didn't get the memo two years ago with my first. However, this time around, I'm dreaming bold and beautiful!
The biggest colors for furniture right now are dark brown and white. Personally, I'm normally a fan of maple, but the espresso finish is REALLY growing on me! I can't wait to find out the sex of baby#2 so I can finally decide on white or dark brown furniture!
I've been attracted to more of the bold colors used in nurseries today. Turquoise, bright pink, and chocolate brown are some of my favorites. However, there are also more serene colors that look beautiful and can create a bold space when paired with bright accents.
In nurseries, there are two major themes present today, jungle and modern. I'm more drawn to the modern side because I think jungle will only last so far before a young child is tired of it and a major redo is in order. In today's world, we look for longevity. That's why we buy convertible nursery furniture! So, why not make the décor match the furniture as something that will grow with the baby.
I'm a big fan of our local Homearama, where you get to wander though beautifully decorated homes. I have gotten a lot of inspiration for my nursery-to-be from a room that I saw at a Homearama.
Photo from: Homearama
The room is bright, chic, traditional and modern! Switch the bed out for a crib and you can imagine how a space will look good as a nursery and grow with a child.
As illustrated above, graphics on the walls are replacing murals of characters. From stripes, to polka dots, to geometric designs, there are many options. Some treatments can be as simple as vinyl wall appliqués, while others as complex as hand drawn masterpieces.
Here are some of my favorite rooms:
Brown & Teal Nursery
Noah's Nursery on Rate my Space using furniture by Cocoon.
The brown, blue, and white color scheme is extremely trendy right now. And I love how all the walls are painted a different color, but tie together with accessories and the dots. Polka dots aren't just for girls anymore!
Modern Nursery
Photos from Ohdeedoh.
This design on the wall shows a way to bring in letters that will transition with a growing child. The owners of a graphic design studio did this room for their son by projecting the letters on the wall to trace and then paint them. Again, notice the brown, blue, and white color scheme? With the many shades of blue, you can get a completely different vibe from the same general color scheme.
Pink & Brown Nursery
Lilly's Room on Rate my Space
Similar to the rooms above, brown, pink, and white are very popular for a girl. Keep in mind; you don't have to do a bold color or graphics on the walls to get a breathtaking space. Bringing in bright colors through bedding and accessories will give you a similar feel. Also, popular with girl rooms are chandeliers. I love them! Most girls' nurseries are going traditional yet modern, and very chic.
Jungle Chic Nursery
Sawyer's Safari on Rate my Space
OK, I added a jungle room. It's seriously a popular theme right now, so it was hard not to find one that I felt could transition very well into a young child or teen room. Uneven stripes are also a big trend.
If you design smart, and think long term, your child will have a stylish room that others will envy. Choose colors that are bold yet calming, barely there colors just don't cut it anymore. It's all about meshing modern design and chic styling to create an awe-inspiring room. Most of which can be done on a budget and a do-it-yourself mentality!
Posted by Michelle Kersey on Thu, Jan 14, 2010 @ 01:40 PM
When I found out I was pregnant my mind started dreaming up how the nursery will look. I spent endless hours looking at cribs, bedding sets, and decorating ideas. With all the time I spent online, I have found a few inexpensive ideas that will make the space definitively your child's. From large monograms to a personalized growth chart, the options are endless.
Personalized Baby Letters
Letters are the easiest and most personal way to add decoration. I went a very simple route and bought wood letters from a local craft store and painted them to match the bedding. Then, to make them more than just decoration, I added small hooks to be able to hang things from them. If you're having a girl, hot glue ribbon to the back of the letters to create an organized and pretty way to keep hair bows and clips at hand.
My friend Kate did a cowboy theme in her son's room. She used scrapbooking supplies to make the letters come to life with her nursery décor. 
Growth Charts
When it comes to personalizing, it's all in the details. Instead of getting a generic growth chart from a store, look online. I found one that I could customize the theme and color of, as well as add my son's name. I bought mine from My Growing Child. But, if you're feeling particularly crafty, you could make one yourself with wood, paint, and a measuring tape for less than $15! The best part about customizing a growth chart, you never have to wonder which kid it's for... and it can move with you. Check out Chica and Jo's website for inspiration and instructions.
Baby Shadow Box Display
You will remember the day you brought your little bundle of joy home for the rest of your life. So, why not capture that forever! I bought a simple shadow box and attached the outfit my son wore home the first day to it. I also added our first family photo taken at the hospital. A shadow box is a wonderful way to display such a keepsake that doesn't deserve to be stored in a box.
Birth Announcement Keepsake
Finally, if you or a friend can embroider, try making a birth announcement keepsake. I did this for my friend Kate. Since the nursery was a cowboy theme, I took an old pair of jeans, and embroidered her son's name and birth information on it. I found an old frame and an old rope from my dad's farm to display the precious information.
Embroidered Birth Announcments
If you're short on sewing capabilities, you can also buy one online. Morado Designs has very beautiful and unique embroidered birth announcements.
Adding personalized belongings to your nursery should be something fun and thoughtful. If you're not crafty, don't worry, I'm not great either. But, the point is to create something just for your child that will bring back memories or hold belongings while adding personality to the space.
Posted by Kelly Kuch on Tue, Jun 02, 2009 @ 01:50 AM
Buying behaviors and consumer trends are always important in planning what our buyers will be interested in for future designs. The million-dollar question is of course, "what will create a top-seller?" With that in mind, we take out our crystal ball.
Recent reports and style articles show that future home spending (furniture, accessories, and art) will focus on simplicity. It seems at these times when people are scaling back with their checkbooks, their styles are simplifying too. Simpler spaces, with more clean and calm appearances are key in current trends. It seems elaborate, and decorative designs are a sign of high expense, extravagance, and luxury. It could be that consumers feel the need to reflect their economic-consciousness by choosing low-maintenance products.
This does make sense when you consider that many consumer purchases are also status symbols. Buyer behavior tells us people (consciously or subconsciously) buy things not only to satisfy their own need, but the opinions of their friends are also considered. Therefore, people will want to demonstrate not only to themselves, but also to their neighbors and friends that they are being smart during down times by not purchasing extravagantly styled products and instead keeping it simple. Thus, over-the-top consumption is out.
In addition, a theme emerging in home purchases is quality over quantity. With smaller homes, and desires to keep things simple, consumers will be looking for fewer products to fill them. The items they do seek out will need to meet a quality expectation that will last for several years.
What this means for our future designs?
Translated to our industry, it seems this is warning that intricate designs with over-the-top detailing will be weaned out. It could mean customers will be seeking clean-simple-lined furniture rather than rope trim, bundt feet, and thick molding. What are your thoughts? Has your style changed recently?