Eesa's Storybook Nursery and How to Layer Patterns

Image Credit Andrea Pa, To The Simple Heart

This post has taken me a hot minute to write and it’s only fair because I gave birth about 4 weeks ago! Needless to say, it’s been a crazy few weeks around here and we’re still trying to navigate this newborn phase. When I found out I was pregnant I was secretly hoping it was a girl because I’ve always wanted to design a little girl’s nursery. When at 15 weeks I found out we were having another boy, my initial reaction was noooo I don’t get to design a girl’s nursery! Pretty florals, delicate details, creams and lace went out the window – until I decided I’ll keep those florals and delicate details even if it’s a boy’s room! I dreamt of a nursery with lots of floral pattern and I was going to get it! (Check out Zaki’s room for some more inspo)

How I Start My Designs

The way I start my designs is always by locking in one detail and working around it. This time it was the beautiful wallpaper by Milton and King which I fell in love with and knew I wanted to pair it with a bold blue and green. That was the first pattern I picked for the space and everything else had to work with it. For the main paint color I chose a mid-tone blue by Farrow and Ball, called Berrington Blue. It’s a timeless color which can work with any type of room whether it’s a nursery or a home office. Most people don’t think of the ceiling as another surface to work with when designing a room. For me, it’s a way to add some fun details like a bold wallpaper or introducing a different color to the palette. Here I chose to paint the ceiling Duck Green, again by Farrow and Ball to add more richness to the design.

Trim work is a great way to add character to a room and making it look more high end. For Eesa’s nursery, I went with wainscoting on the bottom half and a chunky crown moulding on the ceiling. To get the look of a thicker crown moulding I stacked two pieces of trim together, one with dentils to add an interesting detail, giving it a more traditional look. For finish carpentry I highly recommend Custom Carpentry by Carlos if you live in the Greater Houston Area. They are exceptionally skilled and very professional!

Details Matter

Another way to take your room design to the next level is by adding custom drapery. Nothing beats the look of a beautifully tailored valance with pinch-pleated curtains and fabrics layered together to create a unique look. I worked with Calico Corners for a second time and cannot recommend them enough. From the selection of fabric to the variety of designs they can make for you, it’s a one-stop shop for all your custom upholstery needs. I chose a small floral print in red on a light sand base for the main drapes. The curtains are mostly decorative and the roman shades are blackout to make them more functional for a nursery. To offset the floral patterns in the room I went with a classic stripe for the shades. From picking out the fabrics and trimmings to installation, the whole process was a breeze and it’s definitely worth the premium price tag going the custom route.

One of my favorite details in the room is the open closet I did by taking down the door and turning the opening into an arched doorway flanked by corbels on either side.

This fun detail makes the room come to life and gives the closet a storybook feel. For the inside I used a closet made kit and had it painted the same green as the ceiling. I added shelving on the left to create more storage and finished the look by adding a beautiful light fixture by Mitzi lighting. Instead of using the drawer pulls that came with the closet kit, I added my own brass hardware to give it a higher end look.

As promised I am doing a price breakdown and list sources for everything that went in the nursery. If I missed anything please comment below and let me know! Hope you enjoyed touring baby Eesa’s nursery as much as I did designing it!