Surprise Baby Nursery!

I told you last week about my friend Jamie and her husband’s sudden blessing of adopting a baby girl, right? I had asked Jamie if I could help turn her guest room into a nursery before they brought their little girl home and she said, “Go for it!”

So I did.

BUT NOT BY MYSELF! I had tons and tons of help. I was just the Bossy Pants. And I didn’t do it for a pat on the back, either virtually or literally, so please don’t compliment me.  I’m actually having some regrets about telling “the web” about this project, because in retrospect I’d like to hide the fact that I spent so much time and a tad bit of money (mine and others’) on a foofy, wonderful project for a friend. Why am I advertising the service I gave? I’m not. I’m just so excited for these new parents and if ever there were an ideal way for me to serve others, it is through a project like this. It’s so much fun for me and doesn’t feel like work at all. So many of Jamie’s friends have asked about how the room turned out (including those who helped in some way). This post is a way for them to get a look without dropping in on the new parents!

Anyhow, here we go…

BEFORE PICS:

I was able to consult Jamie’s recent pins on Pinterest to find a direction for the room. She had two different styles displayed there- one modern and one more Victorian. I think we chose a soft modern look for the room. I hope that’s okay with her.

Here are the images that were my main inspiration:

And here are the actual after pics, taken with my iPhone. I won’t be going back to take professional pics, because a new baby lives there now and I don’t want to be all up in her action. And also- if I take better pics, this post might get more attention than I want it to (via Pinterest and whatnot) and I’m not in it for attention. For seriousness. Here it is!:

Here is what we did in there:

1. painted the ceiling purple
2. painted the walls gray
3. installed and painted crown molding
4. assembled the crib and rocker, which were delivered to her door and were gifts from her family
5. painted the tree motif
6. created the growth chart
7. revamped old curtains that we found in her basement on a high, dusty shelf
8. revamped and installed a curtain rod that we found in her basement (snoop around much, Angie?!)
9. repainted the pallets shelves she already had
10. created a birdhouse light on the wall
11. created a birdie mobile
12. sewed the pillows and linens on the crib
13. other stuff i can’t remember

Repeat. I didn’t do this alone. Bigtime Helpers: Rick and Kelli, Francesca, and Natalie. Backstage helpers: Miriam, Sharon, Stephanie, Emilie. Ben, and Brian. I was about to list some of our “financial backers” but didn’t want to embarrass anybody, so if you gave us $20, we love you!

I am fully aware that the room is a bit incomplete. For example- they will probably add a changing table, a rug, and some more personalized art for the walls, etc. (Jamie is a lovely artist!). We wanted to give them the chance to fill in some of the details. Not to mention the fact that we ran out of time and money. Oh, and my husband may have run out of patience. (Note to self: {palm to forehead} Ang, you are not actually adopting a baby girl. Don’t forget to make dinner tonight!) Actually, the Manchild was really amazing and supportive about all the time I spent over there. He is, however, wondering to himself if me painting a friend’s ceiling purple is a need or want. I’m not sure…

There is one project that we have in the works still that I want to fill you in on:

This wall is the beginning of a lovely “alphabet wall display” that we are working on. Each of the ladies who attends Jamie’s shower will bring a letter or two to add to the wall. We will paint and decoupage the letters to coordinate with each other and with the room.

I thought this would be a fun thing to do at the baby shower, since I sorta hate sitting around at baby showers chit-chatting about bean dip and labor pains. I much prefer to do my chit-chatting over paint cans and saw dust! I’ll update you guys on the final product when it’s done! Here are the images that inspired this wall/project:

DIRECT SOURCES:
http://projectnursery.com/projects/emersons-nursery/
http://jennibowlinstudioinspiration.blogspot.com/2011/09/back-to-school-with-briana-johnson.html
http://oneporkchop.blogspot.com/2012/03/week-36-and-addendum.html

Anyhow, Welcome Home Baby V! We are excited to meet you and are so happy for your mommy and daddy! 

{P.S. to everybody who is still reading this: WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PURPLE CEILING?? Would you paint a bold color on the ceiling in any room OTHER than an child’s room (ie. in the dining room)?}