the nursery is complete

I thought it would be fun to share my nursery for my little girl who is due any day now. Originally it was just a white room and then there was this little sneak peek. This was all before my seamstress brought over all the big blue buffalo check which changed the character of the room.

Now the walls are a soft builder white but it feels very warm, at least in person. I'm still not a whiz with my new camera, but the whites in the room are soft and light, not at all yellow. You'll have to let me know what you think. I feel like the cherry furniture also altered the original vision a bit but I still quite like it and it was all that was obtainable in Japan in American sizes. I think in the future I would reuse the linens but probably change out some of the furnishings although the cherry has very much grown on me.

This room is tiny, it is Japan after all. Although large for this country, I still had to squeeze in as much function as possible. So you'll note there is a shelf for a side table with a space-efficient hanging lamp making the most of that little corner. There are also a ton of baskets in this room. If there was space, I filled it with a basket! Also you may have noticed the upholstered animal print toy bin tucked in the corner of the first picture. It is also filled to the brim, just like every other nook and cranny.

View from the doorway, best captures the light mid-afternoon. And don't mind the watermarks. I've been playing with new photo editing software and needed something to do with it!

DIY mobile for under $30. Sure, it isn't high contrast with white butterflies but I still like it and find it to be very airy and delicate. Soon I plan to write up a post about this one. I also want to draft a source list soon so you can laugh at just how many things I had shipped here from the States. My post office does not like me.

And sadly, I'll probably be unable to blog as often as you've already seen. I've always been very fortunate that I could make design an obsessive hobby. I'm thankful everyday for that.

   

Being a mother for the first time, I will have to make it a real priority, but it is a job I'm really excited about and wanted. I don't plan to mom-blog although I do enjoy the ideas and creativity that mom-blogs often bring to the table. I'm just hoping to do my best! I also hope to keep blogging when I'm able but unfortunately, as you have probably already seen, my priorities will have to shift. I'm thankful for the friends and opportunities that this little "hobby" of mine has brought me.

nursery preview

We finally had a day with nice sunlight to take a few sneak peek photos of the nursery. Also, I just graduated to DSLR (we're still getting to know each other) so hopefully these pictures show the lovely light in the room. I'm still waiting on the buffalo check which will go into a crib skirt adding a lot more blue. It will also be on a toddler duvet and euro shams but most everything else is in place. My seamstress says next week - this is good becuase I'm technically full term next week!

And why blue for a girl? Well I've always wanted a soft blue and white nursery. I can't really say why, but maybe it was because of this girl's eyes - one of my dogs enjoying some of the fresh powder.

nursery mobiles

I've been hard at work on the nursery. Or rather I've had a lot of help! I'm still waiting on the linens to be finished but all the big pieces are in place. It is a tiny little room (it is Japan) so it feels cozy. I'm trying to keep the feeling light and open with warm white walls and linens with pale blues. So my latest question about a child's room is this - do I really need a mobile? I've tried this and it just didn't look right:

Source: parents.com via Ann on Pinterest

Next, I thought this was going to be perfect but instead the lighter parts turned out to be a dark tea stained brown, not a soft white or cream. And the blue too bold of a royal blue, not at all soft. It felt too dark for the room, but of course I've second guessed that decision a million times. (I've lost it, surely.)

Source: flickr.com via Ann on Pinterest

Another option I'm thinking of trying.

Source: projectnursery.com via Ann on Pinterest

Or perhaps craft something of sola wood flowers?

Maybe this airplane mobile is just too masculine? I am having a little girl (did I mention that?) and her room is already blue.

Source: spearmintbaby.com via Ann on Pinterest

Or what about this like over at Jones Design Co?

Source: jonesdesigncompany.com via Ann on Pinterest

But at the end of the day, I am starting to feel like these might be clutter in an already small room. Ceiling clutter. Or maybe that's me throwing in the towel. What do you think?

And for the non-baby set I'm attending a bazaar of antiques and furnishings this weekend. I'll post pics of the good stuff! I'm on the look out for some nice Imari pieces!