Office Turned Garden-Themed Nursery

Design on a Dime : Episode DOD-201 -- More Projects »
James and Anne Saxenmeyer are expecting their first baby and they need to convert a crowded office into a stimulating and eclectic nursery. The rest of their home is already furnished with an interesting mix of styles and they want to continue their unique look into the new nursery.
PHOTO

Before
The Dilemma

Sam Kivett and his design team of Summer Baltzer and Charles Burbridge determine the design issues in the room. In order to turn it into a nursery, they'll need to remove the office furniture, bring in new functional pieces and infuse the space with color while complementing the rest of the eclectically-designed home.

PHOTO

After
The Solution

The office goes from a catchall space to a creative nursery with the addition of the following design elements:

Photo
 Media
Video: Watch how Burbridge creates the colorful mural.
  • The walls are painted a periwinkle blue and lime green. The grass look is created with a stencil Burbridge creates out of plastic folders. He snaps a chalk line halfway up the wall, tapes the stencil above and applies the green paint. He also freehand paints a few dragonflies on each wall to fulfill the Asian-style garden theme.

  • Baltzer brings in a vintage six-drawer Danish dresser that will be used for storage and also as a changing table.
Photo
 Media
Video: Learn how to create a wall-to-wall butterfly mobile out of plastic file folders and fishing line.
  • Kivett creates an origami-style butterfly mobile out of colorful plastic file folders and fishing line--all for under $16. He creates a template out of a piece of artboard and traces the design onto the folders with a non-photo blue pencil (available at art-supply stores). He cuts out the butterflies, pokes small holes through the wings and strings the mobile wall-to-wall with fishing line and hooks.
  • Photo
     Media
    Video: Baltzer shares how to handpaint a plain ceiling light shade.
  • Baltzer showcases her creativity on the existing ceiling light shade by painting a sun motif with craft paint.

  • The existing window sheers are kept in place but they add a pair of blackout shades to shield the baby from the sun at naptime.

  • Two directional wall-mounted sconces are brought in for ambient lighting.

  • Other new pieces necessary for the nursery include a new rocker and green chenille rug.

    The Cost

    Furniture - $512

    • six-drawer dresser: Burke's Country Pine - AE/266

    Accessories and lighting - $166

    • wall lamps: IKEA - Arstid, #17907
    • mirror: Target - #074110618
    • blackout shades: Lowe's - Newell, #43255
    • accent pillow: Marshalls

    Paint - $135

    • wall paint: Behr - Wedgewinkle, 1A436-4; Vivid Lime, 5 C1-3

    Hardware and incidentals - $113

    Rug - $74

    • area rug: Urban Outfitters - 052108118 08164659 MDS 1

    Project Total - $1,000

  • Resources
    paint
    Behr Process Corp.
    Website: www.behr.com

    decorative project materials
    Marshalls
    Website: www.marshallsonline.com

    decorative project materials
    Lowe's
    Website: www.lowes.com

    decorative project materials
    Target
    Website: www.target.com

    decorative project materials
    Urban Outfitters
    Website: www.urbanoutfitters.com/

    decorative project materials
    Ikea

    furniture
    Burke's Country Pine
    Los Angeles, CA
    Phone: 323-931-7463
    Also in this Episode