Monday, December 31, 2012

Sweet Baby Emily's Nursery




Emily Britt Edmonds, our newest granddaughter, was born on November 20! 
 
 
As soon as we found out Ashley and Ryan were having a girl, we started working on her nursery.  Ashley wanted a white, old fashioned crib, an eyelet bed skirt and was leaning toward a yellow and white color palette.  She also wanted the nursery to have personal touches. Unable to sleep one night, I came up with the following inspiration board for the nursery.   Not wanting the room to feel old fashioned, I chose a mix of vintage and modern furnishings.
 
 
To my surprise, Ashley loved everything exactly as I proposed and we went to work ordering swatches and the crib.   Although she liked several white iron cribs we found, we decided this was a save item as it would only be used for a few years.  This model was also recommended for shorter Moms, as it had a low profile. 
 
 
Painting the ceiling and installing the light fixture were the first steps in the project!  Soon, all the pieces began to fall in place and the nursery started to come together!
 

 
The beautiful Chevron quilt was made for Emily during our family's annual Britt Girls' Weekend.  Great Aunt Lynne orchestrated the quilting bee.  She not only designed the quilt, she purchased and cut all the fabric pieces so we could assemble the quilt top.  She then took the quilt top home, added a border and backing, and turned it into this beautiful quilt. Gigi (Great Grandma), Neena (Grandma), Great Aunt Mary, Second Cousin Lauren and Ashley all helped to make this heirloom.
 
.

 
Due to safety concerns, Ashley and Ryan decided to forgo a bumper pad.  We still wanted to use the yellow fabric, so I designed a custom faux bumper to fit between the mattress and the crib rails!  It gives the look of a bumper without the risk of SIDS.
 

I found this cute little side table at an antique store in Monroe, Georgia for $35!  Its shape added an interesting profile and just the right amount of storage for next to the rocker.  Ray Ray (Grandpa)  painted it in Sherwin Williams Begonia.
 



 
Here is the view as you enter the nursery.  The rug, from Land of Nod, became our inspiration for the color palette.  This and the Dutailier glider were the splurge items in the room.  The Ikea light fixture (now on sale for $39.99) against the blue ceiling adds drama to the room.
 
 
Although she deliberated for months on the expense of the glider, it has turned out to be a great addition to the nursery.  It is a perfect fit and comfortable for long hours of nursing and nurturing.
 
 
                                            

I love the pattern play the light fixture creates on the ceiling and walls.  Great contrast for baby Emily to focus on!
 
 

 

I love this lamp shade from Land of Nod.  However, I wasn't thrilled with the lamp base they showed with it.  Many other options were considered, but nothing seemed right.  One day, I walked into my nursery and saw this wicker lamp base I had found at Goodwill.  PERFECT!  Once we ordered the shade, we had a slight problem with the way the lampshade attached-- below the light bulb.  It would not work with the socket on this lamp.  A trip to the lighting store, a new socket, and a screwdriver, and tada! 


 
 
 
The porthole frames that have baby pictures of the parents, were purchased several years ago on clearance from Pottery Barn.  (If Baby Edmonds was a boy, we were going with a nautical theme.)  These frames will eventually hold pictures of sweet baby Emily.  The frame with the monogram was purchased at Hobby Lobby and spray painted off-white.  Ashley added the burlap backing and wooden monogram to add texture and personalization.   The last frame was found at an antique store in Monroe, Georgia, and  I created the artwork using rubber stamps and embroidery based on a similar piece Ashley had seen on Pinterest.
 
 
On the opposite side of the nursery is the changing table.  This was originally a display unit that Chapin Group Interiors used in their antique booth.  A fresh coat of paint and some baskets from Pottery Barn Kids, and it is a perfect changing table and "dresser."  I custom-made the basket liners to match the ceiling paint color.
 
 
The baskets provide lots of storage for diapers, clothes, burp clothes and swaddling blankets.  The upper cubbies were used for display.
 
 
Ashley's Grandpa Britt worked for Gerber Products for many years so we displayed this vintage tray along with some of Emily's boots.

 
Ashley's baby picture and baby mug share space with an "Emily" book given to Ashley by dear friends at her baby shower and a wooden toy from PB Kids.

 
Ryan's baby mug balance's Emily's spoon.  The PB Kids jewelry box holds her pearls (also given to Emily by sweet friends)! The pink ceramic booties were a vase that I received flowers in at the hospital when Ashley was born.

 
This print was purchased on Etsy and framed in a Pottery Barn frame.

 
The Princess and the Pea doll was stolen from the shelves in Neena's (my) nursery, along with the Gerber tray and vintage duck pull toy.
 
 
 
The artwork above the changing table is a doll quilt made of my Aunt's baby clothes.  (The linen mat board was back ordered for several months.  Hence, the delay in posting about Emily's Nursery!)
 




The bookshelves are 4-foot Ribba picture ledges from IKEA.  A great way to display books without
taking up a lot of space. 
 

 
All fabrics were ordered through Fabric.com.  The pinch pleated drapes were custom made along with the lumbar pillow by Chapin Group Interiors.
 

Contact Chapin Group Interiors if you would like help with your nursery or other project. 
 
 
Welcome to the family, Emily.
 

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Vintage Revival Update

After a great time with family and friends tailgating in Athens, I rushed over to the Vintage Revival Market in Buford.  I highly recommend stopping by if you have time this afternoon.  Although my friend Susan and I had really planned just to window shop, we both came away with some great treasures.

A display of vintage beds and the aroma of roasting nuts greeted us upon arrival.


One of the first booths we visited was actually the storage unit of self proclaimed hoarder, George Lee.  The large room was stuffed with an endless variety of goods.  None of it was priced, George would quote you a price on anything you were interested in.   My first purchases were these great acrylic pieces from the 60's.  Apparently they form a coffee table base.  I am thinking a Noguchi style base, but have yet to find any information on the Internet.  We speculated different ways it might assemble during cocktail hour last evening, and everyone had different ideas.  Any thoughts???  I am thinking I might use them for sculptural art pieces.  Sails in a nautical nursery?




We dug through a whole garbage bag of French school pull down charts and Susan picked this one.  Not sure where she is going to hang it, but she loved the harbor scene so we will find a place!


We browsed some great jewelry booths and then came across this card table printed with advertising from the East Lake area of Atlanta.  In one corner it said "property of East Lake Women's Club."  Perhaps it was used for bridge tournaments?  It has great graphic appeal and will easily hang on the wall.   Sorry I didn't get a better picture!


I scored this super cute antique paint pigment vial from a charming  vendor.  (I even took a picture of her fun haircut to show Allie at my next Haute Heads salon appointment!)  She was selling the vials as Christmas tree ornaments but I am going to make mine into a necklace.

                                              

 We returned to visit George's shop one more time on our way out.  I had one more treasure I couldn't get out of my thoughts-- this vintage ship's light fixture.  I am sure my HHM (Hunky Handyman) can help me rewire it!


 Sorry about the poor quality of the pictures, but I wanted to get this post out in case anyone wanted to head over today!

Wendy



Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Vintage Revival Marketplace in Buford this Weekend!



Looking for something to do this weekend?  The Vintage Revival Marketplace is taking place at Tannery Row Artist's Colony in Buford on Saturday from 9 to 5 and Sunday from 10 to 5.   Years ago there were monthly antique shows in this historic old shoe factory.  I am thrilled that they are returning, if only bi-annually

 
"The Revival is an Atlanta Georgia based vintage community bringing together vintage buyers and sellers through vintage events and festivals, and vintage shopping adventures. The vintage marketplace offers a variety of antiques and collectibles including antique furniture, vintage clothing, mid-century furniture, vintage and antique jewelry, folk art, recycled art, recycled furniture, and vintage inspired food."

A wide variety of vendors will be there, including some of my favorites from Scott's Antique Market.  Visit The Revival's website for a complete listing of vendors and workshops.

                                                             Vintage House Dressing

 
                                                                             Splurge

                                                                

I am headed over Saturday after tailgating in Athens.  From the long list of vendors, I may have to return on Sunday as well!  I am curious to see what the "vintage inspired food" offerings are.  Admission is $5 and parking is free.

                                                                                Wendy
 

Thursday, October 11, 2012

SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK NURSERY: SNEAK PEEK

One of my current projects is a nursery for a young couple I have had the joy of knowing since their early High School Days.  The Mom-to-Be liked the idea of a yellow and gray color palette and also suggested we incorporate the alphabet in some manner, being what she describes as somewhat of a "school nerd."   The couple had already purchased a crib and combination dresser/changing table in a dark mahogany wood. 

BEFORE:

 The paneling has since been removed and replaced
with drywall.
 The room has two small windows and is shaded, so
it can seem dark.

Using the color palette and alphabet as my starting point, I expanded the plan with school room accessories for a vintage feel and then updated it with a variety of patterned fabrics in gray and bright yellow.  The walls and trim have been painted Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace and the ceiling is now Benjamin Moore Banana Yellow to give a light airy feel to the room.

We choose Pottery Barn's Scroll Tile Rug so it could be used in a guest room or office at a later date. We also chose to do the glider in gray as opposed to yellow so it too could be incorporated into another room when no longer needed in the nursery.


The original gray pouf was from CB2, but while shopping in Target one day I came across their version at half the price!  Sorry, I can't seem to find it on their website but it is in the Interiors section- available in stores for under $50!

CB2 no longer carries the giant abacus I chose for over the changing table so recreating it looks like a job for HHM (Hunky Handy Man, a.k.a. my husband!)   The bookshelves are the Ribba picture ledges from IKEA.  The curtain panels are from PBKids.  I am adding the chevron tape to the leading edge to incorporate the yellow and add a more custom style.  Adding trim to purchased panels is a great way to get a custom look on a budget!


Don't miss the after pictures in an upcoming blog by subscribing to Chapin Group Interiors: a lifestyle blog.


Wendy

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Styling a Guest Room / Office


Recently, I was hired to help one of my regular clients with her guest room/office. The room is used as a guest room when out of town family comes to visit and as a workspace for this busy Mom and teacher.
BEFORE:


The wall system, which had several broken components, would be updated.



She found this bedding on sale at Pottery Barn so we used it as our inspiration.

This storage unit would also remain.
AFTER:

My client had seen this vintage fireplace mantle at a local antiques store months ago but could not make up her mind.  I stopped by Buford Junction after our initial consultation and immediately decided it was perfect for the room.  The owner rents props to movie companies filming in Atlanta and said this had recently been used on a local movie set.  I need to stop back and see if she remembers which one!



A few accessories was all it needed!


I framed some vintage Smithsonian Wild Flowers of America prints
for the adjacent wall. I found the set of 18 at an antique show in
Charlotte a few years ago and knew they would come in handy


The painting done by my client's grandmother was framed and hung above an antique wicker chair, that is easy to pull over to the desk and also provides a chair for guests to read or put on shoes. I moved the beautiful quilt made by the client's mother from the basket on top of the shelves to the chair. Not only does this better showcase the quilt, but also makes the chair look more inviting!



By adding some lanterns, a pin board and a vintage bi-plane print
to the existing wall hardware, along with some pretty desk accessories,
the desk is now an organized and inviting place to work. I chose the
bi-plane print as my client's two little boys love planes!  It was a great deal
at only a dollar for the file at Graphicals Two on etsy.
Thanks for stopping by my first post!  Sorry the pictures are not great,
I need to remember to bring my camera not just my phone.

-Wendy