RIO’S NURSERY TOUR

RIO’S NURSERY TOUR

I am so excited to finally share the long awaited (and requested) nursery tour with you guys! I have been fortunate enough to have renovated several properties in the past, with lots of different rooms to decorate and style – but this particular space has been the most memorable and special one to do up (for obvious reasons!), and definitely my proudest work to date… 

It’s also been the room I have had the most time to decorate. It’s basically been an empty space ever since we moved into the house over 2 years ago – as we always intended for it to be the nursery (aside from a few months, where I occupied it as a temporary office). Practically, it’s set on the same floor as our bedroom, right across the hall, and it also just happens to be one of the lightest rooms in the house, with lovely views over our garden. As Rio will be in our bedroom for the first six months, he won’t be using the nursery to sleep in just yet; however I really wanted to get it all set up in advance, as I wanted to create a dedicated space in the room for nursing, and a place to house all his possessions. Fortunately it’s the ideal size for it; with ample space for the cot, the changing table, a hanging area and chest of drawers for all this clothes (naturally – being my son, he has a lot already!), enough for toys and books, as well as a spot for the nursing chair.

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The overall idea and design behind the nursery, was to always create a gender-neautral room; nothing too masculine or ‘boyish’, just a really soft, warm and comfortable space, with lots of cooler elements to make it feel super light and airy – creating a serene, yet practical space. A room where I would enjoy spending time in as well, seeing as I would be the one in here during the days and nights for nursing.

The starting point was a really neutral base and a proper blank canvas (always the best) – and I decided to keep the existing warm grey wall colour in here, which is the same as the majority of the other bedrooms (Dulux ‘Swansdown’) – to create that real continuity throughout the house. I wanted to bring more bright whites in, to lift the overall feel of the room, as well as utilising lots of layers of natural materials and textures – such as linen, wool, cotton and elements of rustic wood and brass – blending contemporary pieces with more traditional elements, as well mixing old with new.

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Lots of soft greys, white-washed wood, mixing prints with different textures, making the overall room feel super cozy and comfortable…


‘Little Lady’ Chair from Sofa Workshop (customised with Designers Guild material)
Grey Blanket from The White Company
Cushion from Also Home 


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Bamboo Woven Baskets from Also Home
Selections of Cushions from The White Company & Also Home
Selection of Soft Toys from The White Company & Mamas & Papas


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The actual design of the room has been a long work in progress, and the room was only just completed days before I was due. As much as I knew exactly what I wanted and how I envisaged it to look like (having already chosen lots of pieces, accessories and furniture in advance) – when I was finally ready to start putting everything together, I became slightly unsure on some some of the final decisions and finishing touches. I’m generally pretty clear on what I like – and what I don’t like – so this was a first for me! I know it was due to being pregnant (being extra hormonal and tired), so towards the end I decided to reach  to my dear friend, fellow blogger and incredible interior designer, Laura Butler-Madden – to help assist me with some of the final decision making!

Laura has impeccable taste (check out some of her designs here) and very much on par with my own style, so I knew I could trust her explicitly, and she would be the best person to guide me during this tricky (and over-emotional/all over the place stage!). I briefed Laura on what I wanted, and then we just continued bouncing off ideas with one another, and whenever I found anything I liked for the room towards the end, I would just check in with her, and vice versa. So a special thanks to Laura for helping me out. 

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I loved the idea of lots of soft, floating cot mobiles in the room – adding to that real serene and calming feeling that I love – choosing soft colours, in white, blue and grey, with elements of shiny brass. I know that down the line, when Rio will be settled in his room and he’s a little bit older, I will be adding a brighter and more sharper cot mobile – but for now, these are the perfect additions to the nursery.


Blue Rainbow Mobile & White Cloud Mobile via Scandiborn
Cloud Paper Cot Mobile from The White Company 


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I was so happy to find the perfect chair for the room (I looked for ages) – in just the right size for this relatively small corner. It’s super comfortable, yet firm – making it the ideal chair for nursing. To rest and support my legs, I wanted to add a large pouffe as well, and I fell in love with this gorgeous knitted style – again, adding to the layers of different textures and materials mixed together…

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It also took me a while to find just the right animal prints for the room – there are just so many choose from, but nothing was quite right… Until I discovered these safari prints – which were the right amount of child-friendly, fun and classic – with the perfect hues for the bedroom – continuing that calming colour scheme I wanted to achieve.

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Soft night lights were a must, and I combined a brighter and more practical light, together with a more subdued version with lower lighting…


 Side Table from Maisons du Monde (note: I white washed the wooden ends)
Habitat Globe Light (old)
Night Light Brontosaurus via Scandiborn
Safari Prints from Etsy
White Wooden Frames from The White Company
Knitted Pouffe from The Range


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Lots of soft, cuddly toys in the room – as well as more sensory and practical ones to benefit him in a few months. To keep it all tidy and organised, I sourced a trio of bamboo baskets to store all of his books and toys.


Organic Sensory Puzzle Ball from POP
Grey Bunny Rattle from POP


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I loved stacking and layering different styles of cushions together in our white classic cot bed – mixing ‘child-friendly’ cushions – together with more contemporary styles, with elements of embroidery and graphic prints…


Classic White Cot Bed from Boori 
A Selection of Cushions from Also Home & The White Company
White Knitted Patchwork Blanket from The White Company
Feather Light Pendant from Vita Copenhagen


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The hanging rail area is one of my favourite spots in the room. As I decided on just having a chest-of-drawers in the room to house the majority of his clothing (a full size wardrobe would be too dominating in the space), I knew that I had to create some kind of hanging storage area for some of his clothes and shoes, as well as books and toys. I loved the idea of having simple white floating shelves with some elements of soft brass, and finishing it off with a pale piece of driftwood for the clothes rail. I took me a long time to complete this section of the room (finding the perfect brackets to suit, and finding just the right size piece of driftwood) – but I got there in the end. And I could not be happier with the end result.


‘Milk’ Bodysuit via POP
White Shelves from Homebase
Brass Shelf Brackets from House Doctor
Driftwood from Surrey Driftwood
Elephant Money Box from The White Company

Wooden Stacking Blocks from Scandiborn
Wooden Pull Along Elephants from POP
Wooden Camera from Etsy
Books from The White Company 
Adidas Originals Stan Smith Crib Shoes via Alex & Alexa
Suede Booties from EMU
‘R’ Light from HEMA
Kids Hangers from AliExpress
(I spray painted them white)


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My parents dug out my favourite old books from when I was a little girl, to add some older more personal elements to the bedroom…


Printed Blanket from The White Company 
Knitted Grey Patchwork Blanket from The White Company


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A neutral and open space for the changing table and the chest of drawers…


Classic 3 Drawer Chest from Boori
Faux Fur Rug from La Redoute 


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I could not be more pleased with the end result. The room is everything I wanted it to be, and more. I love spending time in the room, and I cannot wait for Rio to be old enough to enjoy this space too.


A special thanks to Patrick Butler Madden for the amazing photos of the nursery. 

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13 Comments

  1. Harriet
    December 15, 2017 / 18:40

    Gorgeous Anneli!

    • Anneli Bush
      Author
      January 15, 2018 / 14:35

      Thank you Harriet!

  2. Francesca
    December 16, 2017 / 07:43

    I’ve been waiting for this! The nursery is absolute perfection, Rio is a very lucky boy!

    • Anneli Bush
      Author
      January 15, 2018 / 14:34

      Ah thank you so much – that means a lot! x

  3. December 16, 2017 / 21:24

    Such a beautiful, calming space for you both. Vikki xx

    • Anneli Bush
      Author
      January 15, 2018 / 14:32

      Thank you so much Vikki! x

  4. Hayley
    February 4, 2018 / 22:35

    Hi, the nursery is really gorgeous. I love the safari prints, am looking for a set for a friend, what is the name of the Etsy shop please?
    Thanks!

    • Anneli Bush
      Author
      February 5, 2018 / 11:39

      Thank you so much! Was the link not working? I have had a few people saying that, so I just updated it again :) Let me know if you have any problems x

      • Hayley
        February 5, 2018 / 14:58

        Oh no- the link is still not working!

  5. Lisa
    February 22, 2018 / 00:02

    Hi Anneli,
    So happy to have found your blog! I am due in 10 weeks and your posts have been such a help. Rio is beautiful.
    Could I ask, have you had any feathers moulting from your pendant at all? Just wondering if it has been easy to maintain, as have almost purchase it a few times but can’t decide. I’m in Australia so it’s not so easy to test and return!
    Thanks, Lisa x

    • Anneli Bush
      Author
      April 9, 2018 / 18:35

      So happy to hear this Lisa! No moulting what so ever :) Super easy to maintain! Anneli x

  6. Chelsea
    April 30, 2018 / 10:20

    Hi, absolutley love the nursery. Im having trouble hanging the cloud mobile. How did you hang rios? Thanks x

    • Anneli Bush
      Author
      May 4, 2018 / 08:37

      Thank you! I hung it with a white simple hook and white thread! Ax

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