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Erin Napier Creates a Magical and Elegant Nursery for Baby Helen
When the time came to fashion a nursery that welcomes Baby Helen Napier gently into the world, it's no surprise that Erin thought carefully and deeply about every single detail. No surprise, either, that a certain proud dad might handcraft a beautiful wooden crib to help furnish Helen's little universe.
We admit it. We're softies. We've followed along (and obsessed upon) the entry of the newest Napier into the world — from initial announcement, to Erin's moving and artfully composed journal entry, to baby Helen's arrival day on planet Earth to a father's playlist-from-the-heart dedicated to a first daughter.
And our fixation continues. The latest chapter in the story: a beautifully tasteful nursery as imagined and executed by one Erin Napier. The carefully thought-out space draws on themes nature's delicate beauty and of looking out onto the world through eyes of wonder and magic.
Her room is up high in the trees, surrounded by the branches of oak trees and to be in her room is to feel like you're a bird perched on a limb, with a magical perspective on the natural world.Erin Napier
The walls are painted a tranquil, dark teal-green, imbuing the space with an outdoor feel and reflecting the natural world just beyond the window.
Framed botanical prints, which Erin had collected for just this purpose, are framed and matted to tie in visually with the decor and stained wood floors. Six prints make up a gallery wall directly above the crib with twin sconces on either side providing soft illumination. For added safety, all framed art uses plexiglass rather than standard glass and is mounted to the wall using locking frame hangers.
The room is filled with gentle but vibrant tones and soft, natural textures such as linen and chambray fabrics, antique Persian rug and the crewel botanical fabric used for the custom curtains.
An antique pine dresser with white ceramic drawer pulls doubles as a changing table.
But the core element in the new nursery is a very substantial crib handmade by Ben. "Erin surprised me on Mother's Day by telling me that she was going to be a mother, and I was going to be a father," Ben said, "so I'm going to one-up her and surprise her with a baby crib."
This is quarter-sawn white oak — because nothing but the best for my baby. It'll be something that, the longer we have it in the family, the better it'll be.Ben Napier
The Plan
The Execution
Crafted at Ben's woodshop, Scotsman Co., the crib is solid oak with each element individually cut, planed or turned, stained aind finished prior to final assembly.
The design is in keeping with the Craftsman style of Erin and Ben's home and conforms to all modern safety standards — 29 inches in height and spacing between the slats at 2 inches, to prevent baby hands from getting stuck between.
"It's kind of a big moment for me," says Ben. "It's a big milestone to be able to build this for my firstborn child."
When Erin saw the finished product, as seen in the Home Town episode "Room to Grow," it's just possible there may have been a few happy tears shed. "It's the most beautiful thing you've ever built," Erin told Ben. "Everything about it is perfect."
