To maximize space at my parents’ lake house in Wisconsin, my mom has decided to turn a closet which once stored suitcases and pillow cushions into a mini-nursery for her visiting grandchildren. Genius, I know. When I visit, I usually keep Oliver in the same bedroom as me, and you know how he loves to keep us up at night, so I agreed thatΒ this was a good idea. The space is literally 53″x35″, so when I say mini I really mean it! My mom has entrusted me in designing the room in collaboration with our contractor.
Here is the “before:”
Above all, the room needed to be completely functional. Once those needs were met, then it could be cute. So first we needed air flow. To generate air flow in the room, we will change the door to a louvered one, install a mini ceiling fan, and install a double-hung window on the right sideΒ wall that overlooks the hallway. I thought a window with mullions would look nice since this is a lake/cottage setting. We plan toΒ install a roman shade on the outside of the window on the hallway side so that parents can peek in on their sleeping baby and close the shade for darkness when needed.
Then, we needed light. We decided a sconce on the left side wall would provide ample light for this tiny space.
Then, we needed to tie up the details. So right now we are working with our contractors to connectΒ both the ceiling fan and the wall sconce onto a double switch outside of the room,Β as well asΒ re-route that insulated tube that’s running through the room.
As for the interior, I thought it was begging for striped wallpaper, so we’re going to strip those boards and prep the walls.Β My mom has a lot of duck egg blue, neutrals, and casual cottage-y prints going on at the lake house, so I wanted the wallpaper toΒ reflect that style.Β Here are some wallpapers I considered:
Closet Stripe by Farrow and Ball:
Broad Stripe by Little Greene:
Picket Fence Stripe by Ralph Lauren:
I adored that Farrow &Β Ball one but it is really pricey. So we decided on the Ralph Lauren oneΒ which is more cottagey and affordable so I think it’s going to be great.
As for the sconce, I wanted something warm and industrial-looking, so I selected this sconceΒ in matte bronze with this shade.
The room is just big enough for a mini crib. This oneΒ is cute and affordable and has the cottage look I’m going for. Plus it can fold away, which is perfect for those times you want toΒ convert the room into a hideaway playroom, and it appears thereΒ mightΒ beΒ enough space to store a basket of baby essentials beneath it. If anyone else has any other suggestions though, let me know!
The existing carpet is pretty much destroyed and needs to be replaced. At first I was thinking about installing Flor carpet tiles, but now I’m thinking about just buying a neutral carpet remnant at Home Depot.
Next wasΒ a piece of art to hang above the crib. Here are some options I considered:
SeaΒ byΒ Tali Yalonetzki:
Boy Looking Down by Tali Yalonetzki:
My mom really loves the mother and child Sea print, but for this particular space I’m loving the fish print so maybe we will get the Sea print for another spot in the house.
I think theΒ ceiling needs to be painted a complementary shade of bluish grayish green too. I have to compare the wallpaper to a paint chip first but I’m loving the idea of something like Sherwin Williams Rainwashed.
So here is my vision for the room now:
Plus some sort of relaxed roman shade with a blackout lining on the exterior. I still need to do a little research but buying something readymade would certainly beΒ more cost-effective than having something custom-made.
I’m excited to see how the room turns out and have to tip my hat off to my mom for coming up with this genius idea.
xoxo,
