Posted by Michelle Kersey on Fri, Jan 22, 2010 @ 04:48 PM
One of our favorite things is to check out how people create the nursery of their dreams with our furniture. All of our customers are encouraged to upload their Real Nursery Photos once the room is complete. We know how many hours are spent preparing this special space for the baby, so we like to give you the opportunity to show it off!
Here are some of our favorite Real Baby's Dream Nurseries:
Grayson's Room
Melinda hit the nail on the head with her color scheme choice! She created a modern space that looks great
Baby's Dream Generation Next crib shown here.
Charlotte's Room
Charlotte has chosen beautiful wall colors that aren't too girly. The bold pop of aqua over the serene green look great together, especially when you add the punch of pink from the bedding!
Baby's Dream Generation Next crib shown here.
Jennifer's Baby Boy's Room
Jennifer picked a bold color scheme that looks great! The patterns on the linens are traditional but fuses with the colors to give a modern twist. This room is a very sophisticated space that will definitely grow with the child.
Baby's Dream Serenity crib shown here.
Share pictures of your Real Nursery here.
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 They've been replaced by bold, graphic, chic, sophisticated styling.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 Tue, Jan 19, 2010 @ 11:46 AM
We understand the overwhelming feeling of needing to learn so much about your new baby and your pregnancy all within a short 9 months. These are a few resources that will help get you on the right track.
The following books have been very helpful to me during my pregnancies and in raising my son.
Great Expectations by Jones and Jones
This was the pregnancy book I used with my first. It seemed there wasn't anything that I encountered that I could not find in that book.
Your Baby's First Year Week By Week by Curtis and Schuler
A friend found this book very helpful and gave it to me after she was done having babies. I also used this book with my first, and then passed it on to my sister-in-law.
Caring For Your Baby and Young Child by Shelov and Hannemann
A different friend gave me this book after her daughter turned 6 and it has been very helpful in raising my son. There is a wealth of knowledge in this book. I would recommend getting a newer edition for the updated safety guidelines on furniture and baby equipment.
Online Resources
- http://www.consumerreports.org/ This is a very helpful website. However, you need a subscription. It's $5.95 per month, or $26 for a year. If you only plan to research baby items for a month or two, go with the per month plan. However, you will find that you will look up everything you are about to purchase on this website and a couple months might not be enough.
- http://www.about.com/ Almost every major baby product I have thought about buying has a review or article on this website. Also, a great resource when you have a question about... well, anything.
- http://www.parents.com/ From advice, to baby names, to recalls; you could spend hours browsing through this website.
- http://www.babycenter.com/ I used this site a lot when I had questions during pregnancy. It's better than most user comment websites because they actually have "expert answers" as well.
Let us know of any great resources you have found for pregnancy and baby planning in the comments. Thanks!
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 Michelle Kersey on Tue, Jan 12, 2010 @ 10:55 PM
It's Saturday afternoon. You are pregnant with your first child and you arrive at a baby store to create a gift registry. You feel empowered as you're handed a really fun scanner gun and then it hits you... you have no idea what to ask for. That is a common scene for most new parents, and I'll admit, I had that moment as well. It was two years ago when my husband and I looked at each other and had no clue what we were doing. Sure, they gave us a list of "necessities", and I scanned everything imaginable, but many things were just worthless. Being a mom for over two years, while not long in the grand scheme of things, allows me to remember what was wonderful and what wasn't.
Let me start with the baby room essentials:
- Crib with properly fitting mattress
- Dresser/changing station
- Waterproof mattress cover
- Sleep sack (replaces the comforter you won't use due to fear of SIDS)
- 3 Fitted sheets
- Bed skirt
- Bumper
- Video Monitor
- Stuffed animal net (trust me, you will receive tons of these plush space invaders)
There is no need to buy a bassinet if your Pack 'N Play fits in your room and has a bassinet attachment. Once your baby is sleeping in the crib, a video monitor is wonderful. When my son was an infant, it kept me from going into his room every two seconds to check on him. Silence is scary as a new parent, so being able to actually SEE that your baby is okay is incredible. Plus, it's always fun to just stare at the monitor and watch him sleep... I'm even peeking at him napping right now.
You will also need to think about baby/toddler proofing your living areas. Register for:
- Outlet Covers and cabinet locks (the magnetic kind works great, but are a tad expensive)
- Bumpers for table corners
- Bumpers for the fireplace hearth if you have one
- Toy box (see pictures below)
When my son was learning to walk, he fell head first into the fireplace hearth bumpers, got up and kept going. I was amazed each time that happened. While you're in your living room, take a look at your coffee table. First, your baby will want to take everything off of it; second, it will probably hurt him/her to fall into it. A great solution is to get a toy box that is covered in fabric or leather and has a lid that is reversible (see images above). One side is soft; the other is a table top. This way, when you have company over, you can hide all the toys inside and then use it to set drinks and knick knacks on. Most home goods stores will have one to match your decor.
My last suggestions are for things to keep your child entertained so you can take a shower, do the dishes, cook food, you know, normal stuff that can't happen with a baby in your arms. A bouncy seat is a great entertainer for infants. I remember bouncing my son with my foot while eating dinner, it was a life saver. A baby swing is also essential. However, for the first month my son only cried in his swing. When he finally caught on, he loved it until he was too big for it! Try to find one that is A/C powered and battery powered, or you'll waste a lot of money on batteries like we did.
There are no words to describe how much fun my son had playing in his exercauser while I accomplished many chores. However, my personal favorite entertainer is a Baby Einstein DVD. From 3 months to 2 years, your child will be glued to the TV when watching these movies. They make DVDs for different developmental stages; my son has even learned sign language, shapes and animals from them. These are also a great teaching tool to watch together and talk about the animals, shapes, etc. Caution: your husband will be glued as well.
In the end, the list can go on and on... as do the shelves at the baby store. Keep in mind, not everything that worked for my son will work for yours, but at least it's an educated start. Good luck and try to picture how you will actually use something before going scanner happy at the store. When in doubt, register for every small pack of size 1 diapers available, so you can find out which one works best for your baby before buying in bulk.
Print off this Shopping Checklist I created before you go register.
Posted by Kelly Kuch on Tue, Jan 12, 2010 @ 10:42 PM
I am very excited to introduce to you a new face, and someone that will be able to lend some very helpful information to our readers, Michelle Kersey. Michelle is our new "Baby's Dream Mom Blogger." I'm sure many of you will be able to relate to her helpful articles and true mom advice.
Introducing Michelle Kersey...
So many decisions, so little time. What is a future mommy to do? Well, Michelle Kersey will take away some of the guesswork for you. This stay-at-home mom was once faced with choices and preparations essential to get ready for her now 2 year old son. After receiving a degree in Hospitality Management and bouncing around the north and south with her husband in the military, Michelle has made it back to her childhood roots and feels planted once again. With baby number 2 on the way, Baby's Dream will remain the furniture Michelle can count on to help keep her kids safe and belongings organized (she has the Kathryn collection for baby number 1).
In the coming months, Michelle will talk about everything from Baby Shower ideas to storage solutions, and we will be able to follow along in her pregnancy (due in July).
If you have questions, feel free to reach out to Michelle directly at michelle@babysdream.com.