Things in the nursery department are coming together smoothly despite the rocky start. All fabrics have been ordered and the walls are painted.
I am in love with the new paint color. Sherwin Williams "Comfort Gray" SW6205.
Hopefully it'll hold true to its name and be so comforting she'll never cry, have explosions in her diaper, or projectile vomit. But in the event that she does, the paint is Behr's Flat Enamel... it's my favorite kind of paint (available at Home Depot). It's not shiny (I like a good flat paint) and if something like vomit gets on it, it's scrubbable. It goes on thick with little to no odor... it's awesome paint!
The color is listed on Sherwin William's website as a Cool Neutral. I like that description.
The crib and rocking chair are being painted this week. As I mentioned before, the crib was mine. Mom had it stripped and brought it down when she visited a few weeks ago. The painters came for it and the rocking chair on Tuesday. We pre-sanded the rocking chair to make it easier on the painters to just prime and paint.
The chair: I was originally set on a slipcovered Lee Swivel Glider (or something similar)... but my budget told me this Ikea rocking chair was a wiser choice. For $149 I couldn't resist. And the fact that it was available online really sealed the deal. I'm having a lumbar bolster pillow made and the cushions are being recovered. But the white covers that came with the chair will be great in the future when I move this chair to another room in the house.
A fellow pregnant friend went to Ikea and sat in it for me, gave me play by play on it's comfort... and liked it so well she might just buy it for her nursery too.
You might wonder what color the crib and chair are being painted? Ralph Lauren Regent Metallics "Golden Candlesticks" (also available at Home Depot, beware this comes with a heftier price tag than that Behr paint)... but I am not finishing the crib and chair with their funky faux finish, just a smooth finish.
Remember my friend Katie's nursery, where we selected a gold paint for the crib? Maybe this will jog your memory:
My bumpers will be custom made just like these we had made for sweet Sophie (above)... boxed with contrasting welt.
This week I've been narrowing down art, lamps, and other little details. This evening we are moving our bar table up to the nursery to see if it will work well as a changing table.
I got a new camera lens for my birthday, I was really testing the lens, not taking a picture of the table, but you get the point, right?
Okay, that's it for Chapter 2 of The Nursery Diaries... maybe in Chapter 3 you'll see a sneak peek of the fabrics... stay tuned friends!
Love it all!! And she probably will poop on the walls. Seriously... good thing it's scrubbable.
Posted by: Darby | June 19, 2009 at 09:16 AM
I an so anxious to see the fabrics! I love the wall color- beautiful. And I love the bed... they are my favorite. I would love a classic Jenny Lind crib(one day when i have a baby) Thanks for sharing as always!!
Posted by: Carrie | June 19, 2009 at 09:20 AM
We have a jenny lind crib for our baby and I love it-can't wait to see her room all put together-I know it will be beautiful!
Posted by: Amy | June 19, 2009 at 09:38 AM
Behr Paint rocks. I am glad to hear about a scrubbable flat. Can't wait to see the whole thing!
Posted by: tyne | June 19, 2009 at 09:40 AM
Love Comfort Grey, recently saw a whole house painted in that color (interior). So, did you get Home Depot to match SW's color? Is that how it works?
Can't wait for chapter 3!
Posted by: Shar | June 19, 2009 at 09:45 AM
Looking great so far, but who would expect anything else..........happy day!!
Posted by: karlene | June 19, 2009 at 09:59 AM
Such fun - decorating a nursery. However, I have done that four times now... So, as I am now in my photography phase - what lens did you get???
Posted by: Kim | June 19, 2009 at 10:42 AM
E.
I LOVE all of it, as I knew I would. I have this color in my den and I really love it. Very peaceful. Oh, that pic of Darby and baby girl is one of my fav pics I have EVER seen. You need to submit it to someone for Marla!!!
Posted by: Celia | June 19, 2009 at 10:44 AM
I've used comfort grey as well as oyster bay and will continue to use them for our next house. they are by far my favorite paint colors and i have received endless compliments. and crazy, but i too have that SAME rocker for my sons nursery! you must check out http://www.bemz.com/ if you haven't done so already. they custom make ikea slip covers in endless amazing fabrics for most ikea chairs. can't wait to see the rest of the nursery!!! i know it'll blow me away.
Posted by: grace | June 19, 2009 at 11:01 AM
You dished!!! But we will keep coming back for more, more, more! This will be a stunner, for sure!
Posted by: Annmarie | June 19, 2009 at 11:03 AM
Ooh, I'm so excited to see this come together! I'm a longtime reader who's due with my second baby right around the same time as you. Don't know the sex yet, but if we have a girl, I'll definitely be looking to you for inspiration. I LOVE your style!
-Ali
Posted by: Ali | June 19, 2009 at 11:04 AM
Sounds like the nursery will be beautiful! Can't wait to the the finished room!!
Posted by: C | June 19, 2009 at 11:29 AM
love the gray. My daughter smeared poop on the wall, yuck! My walls are Ben Moore and they cleaned up great(thank god for husbands)
I love the bar as the changing table, don't forget to strap her in.
Posted by: gabrielle | June 19, 2009 at 11:56 AM
love the nursery snippets. perfect to whet my appetite!! really lovin the gray walls. :)
Posted by: Katie | June 19, 2009 at 12:32 PM
I have gray walls for my nursery too - well it was the office, but I didn't feel like re-painting it for our girl due in Oct.... I love the rocker you got from Ikea. I've been looking for one we can afford, but hadn't been able to find anything...too bad it's not on the website anymore! Everyone else must have bought it after reading this :) Can't wait to see fabrics/art for inspiration!
Posted by: Jessica | June 19, 2009 at 12:54 PM
nevermind - I found the rocking chair :) Might just have to buy one too...can't beat $149!
Posted by: Jessica | June 19, 2009 at 12:56 PM
erika!! it is all coming together! i cannot wait to walk into the finished nursery, things are getting checked off the to do list daily. I need to get back SOON!! This morning I was on my hands and knees for two hours cleaning the hardwood floors at the chapter room. I am contemplating making it a new class at the local gym, it will be a two for one..mega workout and clean floors!
Posted by: Julie | June 19, 2009 at 02:08 PM
It is looking amazing!
Posted by: jennifer little | June 19, 2009 at 04:54 PM
Waiting with baited breath for the unveil of this lucky baby girl's room!
Posted by: alison g. (brazil) | June 19, 2009 at 06:25 PM
What a beautiful start, not at all your average nursery!
Posted by: seleta | June 19, 2009 at 07:56 PM
erika: so sweet that you posted the pic of Sophie! But what I really want to know is what kind of camera you have? the pics you took of the bar table are awesome. P.S. that looks like a good changing table. The best part is that it was your bar and it's becoming a place to change diapers-love it.
Posted by: Katie | June 20, 2009 at 10:47 AM
Hope the bar table works, it is always cool to use something you already have and something you can put back to use as what is was again when the kids are finished with small diapers...
You do not need a strap, you will never walk away! To me a strap says to people that they can...
Nice to use a non baby colour for the walls, love your blog, Regards, Carol Ann
Posted by: Carol Ann | June 20, 2009 at 10:57 AM
My little girl had a dress - a gray and white gingham with a white collar and it was one of my favorites....I did a pencil sketch and it soothed me with comfort....
love the palette of silver, gray, white and black.
Posted by: pve | June 20, 2009 at 12:22 PM
So do you think the peanut will mind if I move into this room as well? I have a feeling she'll be a generous little thing!
Posted by: Courtney | June 20, 2009 at 12:45 PM
The nursery looks like it's coming together nicely!
Can I ask who makes all of the custom draperies / slipcovers / bumpers that you selected? I'd like to find someone in my area who will do the same, but don't know where to start.
Thanks! Can't wait to see the rest!
Posted by: Melissa | June 20, 2009 at 05:23 PM
Okay, I love everything!!! But I just have to tell you that the Ikea rocking chair is not a good chair....I bought one for my nursery and lets just say they shouldn't call it a rocking chair because this baby doesn't rock!!! It was one of my biggest regrets with my nursery....let me just tell ya you want something that is comfy ( which it is...) but it has to do the rockin....trust me on this! Thanks for all the great posts!!! lOve your work!
Posted by: Summer | June 20, 2009 at 10:34 PM
Erika, can't wait for the big reveal! Everything is coming along nicely. If the bar table doesn't work out for you, don't bother with a changing table. I didn't get one to save on space and money and didn't regret it at all. A nice large washable vinyl changing pad was all I needed, along with a well stocked diaper bag. Once I was done using the pad, it was rolled up and stored in the diaper bag for next time.
Posted by: Alcea Abla | June 21, 2009 at 11:40 PM
The Lillberg rocker is comfy, but offers no neck support if you want to lean back...the Poang chair is great in that regard, but doesn't rock...Ikea is probably working on a rocker version, if not they should!
I'm due in early Sept. too, boy here:) Ikea has some cute and economical pieces...we went with one of their chest of drawers and are just putting the changing pad on top...isn't it amazing how much these little babies need?? It's all so much fun though, I'm not complaining.
Happy Decorating...looking forward to the finished room:)
Allison
Posted by: allison | June 22, 2009 at 07:14 AM
I neglected to comment the other day, but was looking at this post again just because I'm so excited! It is all going to be SO BEAUTFUL for her! Caleb is now at a point that he notices the pictures behind his crib. That's fun! I tell him what the animals are when he gets up from his naps. He's going to learn hedgehog before he learns cat :)!! Can't wait!!
Posted by: Allyson | June 22, 2009 at 01:49 PM
looks to be a stunner!
Posted by: megan | June 22, 2009 at 10:32 PM
Hello Friend,
Great blog and article. I am very inspired for your posting.
Posted by: John | June 23, 2009 at 03:24 AM
Love the gray paired with the gold - very soothing and sophisticated!
You may want to consider getting armrests made for the rocker. From my experience, they're a must have especially if you plan on breastfeeding in the rocker. Regarding a previous comment about the ikea poang, they have come out with a rocker version. Check out this post on Ohdeedoh about it:
http://www.ohdeedoh.com/ohdeedoh/nursery-furniture/finally-ikea-poang-rocking-chair-087966
Can't wait to see the finished nursery!
Posted by: wanderluster | June 23, 2009 at 07:32 PM
I love the color choice for the walls and the crib! I can't wait to see the fabrics and the completed project!
Posted by: Britt | June 27, 2009 at 09:40 PM
We used the Ikea rocker with our now almost 6 yr old daughter and it served us just fine. Yes, it isn't as cushy as a glider and you do need to provide the umph behind the rocking, but that wasn't a problem in our case. Good luck!
Posted by: Sasha | June 28, 2009 at 12:35 AM
honey, i love your taste and style and i love the way you write and even though i'm not in the design field (i'm an artist), i follow your blog and love to catch up when i can. i am worried about the potential toxicity of a metallic paint on the crib. being an artist i work with tons of toxic materials and usually anything with a little metal in it has, well, metal in it. i don't know if it could create a heavy metal toxicity for baby, or if you can seal it with something? don't want to alarm you, just concerned.
Posted by: ursula | July 03, 2009 at 07:31 PM
There are great chairs and ottomans in Ikea that are more comfortable and at the same time affordable for women who are pregnant and you do not have to buy one that is very expensive to get the same comfort that the former is giving. I have my crib same as yours, my mom kept it for the time when I will be having a baby of mine. My husband painted it with neutral blue (even if my baby is a girl, pink just does not suite me much.) I like to shop in thrift shops for my baby’s clothes but have to look them all over to make sure that it is not worn out or anything like that as buying new ones is illogical when the baby keeps on growing out of it every month.
Posted by: Jim looking for chairs and ottomans | September 22, 2010 at 03:06 AM