nursery inspiration, part two

I think I am using that blue buffalo check that I've been hoarding. I know, blue - what if it is a girl? To be fair it seems gender neutral because it is a French blue more than a baby blue. Really I'm planning to reuse a lot of the blue fabrics and draperies I've been storing. I'm a fabric hoarder... Here are some beautiful blue rooms that are inspiring me. I have loved this Elizabeth Dinkel nursery as long as I can remember. Sweet but not saccharine.

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This nursery from Lunden Lou is just too precious.

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This room by Brian McCarthy looks so tailored.

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How about this pattern saturated room by Meg Braff?

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Of course, a couple of Phoebe's

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This daybed from "Canadian House and Home" is so peaceful

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I think this crib is so darling that I tried to order it with another finish. They wouldn't ship over here but I do admire this little room by Nancy Boszhardt.

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The real problem (as I described to a blogging friend the other day) is that we're very limited by what furnishings we can acquire here. From what I've seen Japanese cribs have different dimensions from the American cribs. And ordering an American crib can take up to eight months! Plus the Japanese nursery furnishings are very modern. So I'm going to have to go with whatever can be found here. I do already own a Victorian bentwood rocker. We will have to order a changing table. Quelle horreur! Actually it was either that or, as my husband suggested, change the child on a George III chest. Ha, yeah right kid.

I've been giving some thought to what Parnassus has said before about not being too sterile, it is a child's room after all. I agree. I think I'm just going to go with what I like and beyond that, let it evolve. 

nursery inspiration, part one

I am pregnant for the first time. We're really excited to be parents. My first thought was that I hope my child is healthy and happy but my next immediate thought was putting together a nursery. I recognize my nursery will probably never appear on a plethora of blogs or be pinned. I, unlike a majority of the people my age, have very traditional tastes. And moving, I'm not about to knock down any walls, re-floor or put in new wainscoting. I know that I'm going to be one of those bad parents that designs a nursery for themselves. Here are some nurseries and children's rooms that I admire, sorry for just so many photos. Again I totally get that most people don't share my tastes and that's okay!

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So love this one from the adorable mommy at Twenty Three Oh One.

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Of course the queen of youth spaces, Susanna Salk

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Of course, I so admire the talented Amy Meier's beautiful daughter's room

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Love this room by Tom Scheerer, although I'm not sure it is intended especially for children!

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And of course, thank you to the wonderful bloggers who have expressed such kind well wishes!

sea glass, two of two

I have been thinking a lot of what to do with sea glass. I wish I had a photo to share of my interior designer friend's custom made work. It is stunning! But in the very least, I found some beautiful works from around the web. I am so liking these available on Etsy by Rubbish Revival.

 

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Also love this classic from Martha Stewart

Or textile designer Jonathan Fuller's sea glass sculptures

I may try and recreate blogger Creative in Chicago's masterpiece

Even loving this ideas from Pinterest

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sea glass, one of two

Firstly, I have to apologize for the infrequency of posts. When you are living in a blank apartment without any things, it is kind of hard to think about decorating it - as least beyond daydreaming of having furniture. At any rate, today I went to a beach near Mutsu (in Aomori, here in Japan) called Shipwreck Beach. A friend who has been living here for a few years brought me. Amazing. We walked across the dunes to get to the beach where there were all kinds of birds and flowers.

 

We were hunting for sea glass down on the beach like many of the locals. Why you ask? A very clever interior designer friend is a collector. The Japanese use beautiful glass floats for fishing nets. While it is extremely rare to find an entire float (apparently it does happen!) you can usually find a lot of broken pieces from these and bottles too. This beach is known as where to find them, and of course litter lands here too. However, it is the mother lode for sea glass!

It was grey with a breeze (we also had to be there at four am for the low tide, hence it isn't fully bright) but look at the treasures we found! I am sending the big ones (and a few of the babies) to my friend that collects while the friend that brought me claimed the greens and cobalt glass. They are all so beautiful! I included a 100 yen piece, about the size of an American quarter, so you can see just how sizable some of the pieces can be.

As for my share, I haven't decided what to do with them... more ideas soon!  In the mean time, look at this gorgeous piece of driftwood. Wouldn't it make a fantastic piece of furniture? Too heavy to even move but just stunning!

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starting over

We finally moved into our new apartment in Japan. Remarkably it is the same square footage that we had in the States so it feels large for Japan. And not to mention really intelligently designed to maximize storage. Not going to lie, that really makes me happy! It is Americanized. I was hoping for the Japanese tub which is deep and perfect for soaking. Although, I can't complain as everything is newly remodeled. And the walls are white.

Moving into a new place gives such a sense of starting over. I am already scheming about furniture placement and draperies. We still don't receive our things for a few more weeks so while we are "camping" I am daydreaming of making it our own.

What is the first thing you do when you move? I am a little odd but I always bring the shower curtain so my bath can feel slightly finished and I can pretend everything is already in it's place.

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unpainted inspiration

I am loving the London home of Liza Giles, senior stylist for Tricia Guild of Designers Guild.

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