My House Tour: Savannah's Nursery

Savannah's first day of "big girl school" was today and I can't believe she is already almost three years old!!  So, in honor of this big event, I thought I would start my house tour with her nursery.

A little background:  we moved into our current home in 2007.  It was built in 1969 and needed some pretty serious love.  For about two years we did lots of not fun/exciting/glamorous work to the house that I won't share here.  Then we found out that Savannah was on her way and I had a nursery to decorate!  This room was really the first one that was pretty much complete (well, as complete as any room in a designer's home ever is).

Before:

Hunter green wallpaper on one wall, large National Geographic map on the other wall, small depressing ceiling fan, and cheap plastic mini blinds.  At least there's no shag carpet.

After:

Now, about this room.  I believe that design is about more than just decorating a room to look pretty, its about creating a space that is special because it contains things that are meaningful.  There are so many meaningful things in this room.  The rocking chair was my great-great grandfather's and was given to me by my uncle.  The bench was a present from my dad.  I bought the antique dress on the wall for a baby present, but decided to keep it because it was so pretty and "just in case I have a little girl" and Savannah wore it in her six month photos.  The baby shoes hanging beside it were mine.  And my most favorite thing is the photo board on the closet door.

It has photos of me and my husband as babies, along with our family members as children.  I also included some of the cards that I received at my baby showers.

I also designed this room to grow with her.  I made cheap artwork over the bed by printing the letters of her name in different fonts and framing them in mismatched white picture frames.  Since this was inexpensive, I won't feel guilty when switching it out with some great artwork later on. 

The vintage dresser serves as my changing table and when she no longer needs it, all I have to do is take off the changing pad.  Since the furniture is mismatched, I can switch out the crib with a "big girl bed" and I don't have to replace any other furniture items.  I also plan to add some more modern pieces as she grows up to make the room a bit more fun (will post about that later). 

Next up is to find a "big girl bed".  I can't believe it goes by so fast!