While trends change from bold and bright to pastels to jewel tones to neutrals, one thing stays the same: when a new baby comes into the picture, life is never the same. So, while we in the design world like to talk about transitional, timeless ideas the fact of the matter is, this is a major transition in your life and your family. Instead of designing a catch-all room that minimizes the magnitude of the wildly unique rollercoaster ride you’re about to embark on, design a room that speaks to you and your baby. That room won’t be theirs forever, but the memories you make there will be.
“As with any interior space, if there is focus on the foundation from the start it is easier to make minimal changes as kids grow, which allows them to be in charge of their space,” says Missie Fahey, principal designer at Missie Fahey Interior Design, which serves clients in Manhattan, Westchester and Fairfield counties, and beyond. Fahey and designer Jordana Ross, founder of Jordana Ross Interiors in Westchester County, who shared with us a few special projects that revel in the joy of a new baby, celebrate family and leave room to embrace whatever’s next.
Favorite Things
“I was inspired by my travels to Morocco,” says Jordana Ross, founder and principal designer at Jordana Ross Interiors based in Westchester County, NY, of the very personal Manhattan nursery she designed for her own baby. “The earthy tones of the landscape and the desert really resonated with me, and I wanted her room to reflect that palette.” She also wanted the space to feel girly and modern.
While the color scheme seems more grown up than choosing true pinks and blues, she balanced the color tones with playful pieces like a macrame baby swing from Finn & Emma, Stacked wallpaper from Chasing Paper in orange and cream, and a large sheepskin rug from Ikea. The crib, from Babyletto, can transform to a toddler bed and then a twin bed as her daughter grows. For a personal touch, Ross created some of the artwork herself: a mixed media print of a baby and mother camel, and wildlife photography from her trip to Morocco.
Family Ties
For this New Jersey nursery for first-time parents, Ross designed a space that was minimalist but warm and with a focus on family. “They wanted a nursery that felt serene,” she says. They also wanted a family tree incorporated into the design somewhere. The mom-to-be is from Belarus and the couple loved to travel and wanted to instill that joy for exploring the world in their new baby. “I designed the idea of a minimalist family tree constructed from raw hemp silk and preserved leaves,” says Ross. “We added family photos to it.”
She chose a soft sage green paired with textured neutrals. Handmade Mountains wallpaper from Love Vs Design is subtle and abstract. White oak and white furniture is clean and modern, including the crib from Babyletto and the side table from Cura. She found an artisan “doll house” style bookshelf and a handmade bird mobile on Etsy for a few custom details. The rug from Lorena Canals has just a touch of color and a little fringe for interest. “I wanted the palette to be nature-inspired and grounded with the grown-up, unexpected accents of rust.”
Fun for All Ages
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Designing your baby’s nursery has its challenges, but what if you are designing your grandbaby’s nursery, but you want it to be a multifunctional space for all? When Westchester interior designer Missie Fahey, principal of Missie Fahey Interiors, got a call from her Greenwich, CT, clients saying their first grandchild on the way, she was tasked with such a mission: Reimagine a worn-out media room from the ’90s so the empty nesters would have a WFH space when needed, a place for the new baby (and future grandchildren) to come and stay, and some needed lounge space for their daughter’s new family to occupy on weekends. As an established designer for more than 20-years, Fahey was up to the task, even though she had just three months before the new baby arrived. While it wouldn’t be the primary nursery, she was determined to finish it on time. “The space is large, light and bright,” says Fahey. “With the desire to keep the existing furnishings and carpet, I knew the wow factor would be the walls and millwork.”
The client had purchased a leather elephant ottoman with fun oversized ears and a touch of taupe, gray and gold, so Fahey took inspiration from that for a color palette that would help keep the room gender neutral. They removed a bookshelf and expanded a corner media closet for more hidden storage. Then Fahey reworked the furniture layout, putting the large sectional in front of window so a changing table and crib could go along the room’s other walls.
“Armed with plenty of wallcovering samples from NYC showrooms featuring large-scaled patterns and warm colors, and staying away from anything cliché or babycentric, it was easy to land on Amazonia by James Malone Fabrics represented by the John Rosselli showroom in New York,” says Fahey. “The paper has the right mix of color and artisanal whimsy without feeling too juvenile, and I knew it would stand up to the warm wood tones of the nursery furnishings.” For the millwork, they settled on Benjamin Moore’s Providence Blue, which brings the wallpaper to life. A few inexpensive touches, like the client’s own toss pillows with a golden palm frond appliqué, a wicker giraffe book basket, an animal skin accent mat and a brass gooseneck floor lamp with wicker shade, add layers that aren’t too precious for when the kids use the space as a hangout. “Because the room is large and inviting, it can grow with little ones and draw older ones in,” says Fahey. “There is wonderful open space to move around while accommodating the necessary nursery pieces.” Bonus: to the right of the doorway is a butler’s bar with sink—which Fahey says should come in handy for all ages and stages!
Pretty in Pink
When Fahey’s Harrison, NY, clients called to say baby #4 was on the way, they needed a little help and support to give their 2-year-old the “big girl room” she needed and pass her crib on to her new sibling. “As kids grow, they definitely have specific feelings about how their very own spaces will look and feel,” says Fahey, who gave serious thought to the details in this little girl’s bedroom. She started with Tiger Blue wallpaper and window shade fabric from Charlotte Gaisford, a British fabric and wallpaper company based in Northumberland. “I saw it and knew it would be perfect for this growing little girl and her chic, fun mom who loves color and prints as much as I do,” says Fahey. She had shades custom made with the fabric and selected a contrasting oversized ball fringe from Scalamandre to complement it. “Although the print feels very little-girl, there is also a sophisticated quality to the chinoiserie design and so many colors to pull from,” says Fahey. For the time being, she leaned into fuchsia. “I knew emphasizing the pink at this stage was right on the money,” she says. She selected a fun anywhere chair and a twin bed from Pottery Barn Kids. The chest was a family piece that she had lacquered in Benjamin Moore Shell Pink for an updated touch to a classic. “I think the piece grounds the room,” says Fahey.
While it sometimes feels uncomfortable to give in to a child’s preferences when it comes to design, Fahey advises parents to focus on the foundational elements and let them choose a favorite color or accent wall. “It’s not forever, and it can be a great place to make bold choices,” says Fahey. For older-kid rooms, she likes to take a tip from the inhabitant when it comes to the details: Artwork, music, favorite sports and other interests can be a great way to find inspiration and make them feel like their room is their own. “As parents, we know how fast time goes and once they are out of the house, then it’s time to reclaim the space!”
