August's Room Nursery

August’s Nursery

August’s nursery is finally ready for the little guy!

He slept in a cradle in our bedroom for the first few months, but Brandon and I started putting him to bed in the crib a couple of weeks ago. Until yesterday, the room was still in all of its former pink glory.

I sewed those curtains and crib skirt from fabric by Joel Dewberry, and the brown polka dot crib sheet (no longer available) was from the DwellStudio for Target line. To the right of the crib is the odd sunken end of the room, which continues to function well as a play space.

We moved in a fun rug and an orange play chair. Obviously, August is much too small to play down there, but Eleanor loves it.

There are more stuffed animals in a basket next to the crib.

Opposite the crib is August’s dresser. There was a vintage dresser that we painted pink for Eleanor when this was her nursery, but that’s now in her new bedroom. We replaced it with this wooden one. It’s more masculine, and I really like the addition of the warm wood tone in the room. Plus it’s named after our town, Oak Park! I think it’s funny that Eleanor has her namesake mirror, and August has his hometown dresser. And that zombie clock above it cracks me up.

I’m still loving my glider and ottoman. I usually keep a water bottle and some books on the side table next to it, and it’s a nice spot for nursing. I also read to Eleanor and August in that chair, rock August to sleep, and occasionally fall asleep myself there. The Artistamps print above the table is by The Small Object, and it used to hang in my former studio.

The changing table is still made up of two IKEA Effektiv bookcases. I love the setup because we have tons of storage for all of the necessary but unlovely to look at baby items.

I keep a basket for laundry at one end, and there is a diaper pail tucked away on the other side.

I linked to many of the items above, but there is also a separate page of sources, so take a look if you’d like to know where something specific came from. If there’s anything I missed that you’re curious about (I didn’t list every tiny little thing), I’d be happy to answer questions in the comments.

It’s amazing how just a few changes from Eleanor’s nursery make it feel so different for August.

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  • Kelsey
    June 2, 2011 at 4:01 pm

    I love those polka dot sheets!

  • Gwendolyn
    June 2, 2011 at 4:01 pm

    I love it!

  • Alicia
    June 2, 2011 at 4:03 pm

    It looks great! What a nice space.

  • Circa1972vs1906
    June 2, 2011 at 4:08 pm

    I adore that orange octopus in the basket! Where did you find that cutie!?

    • Making it Lovely
      June 2, 2011 at 4:25 pm

      The Shedd Aquarium, here in Chicago.

      • Circa1972vs1906
        June 6, 2011 at 2:17 pm

        Thank you! It is so precious, I’ll have to run by and grab one!

  • Emily@GoHausGo
    June 2, 2011 at 4:09 pm

    It’s too cute! You are so good with colors!

  • Joy_UK
    June 2, 2011 at 4:10 pm

    oh Wow I love the punch of colour with the orange accents!
    It really is a lovely boy’s room, without having a “theme” to it…Love it Love it Love it.

    You’ve done it again, Nicole ;)

  • shannon
    June 2, 2011 at 4:14 pm

    great job! It looks perfect! I have the same glider and ottomon (I think, from BRU?) and I was wondering if you have a problem with the bottom cushion moving out all the time?? any solution?

    • Michaela
      June 2, 2011 at 4:21 pm

      Maybe you could try one of those non-slip mats that are made for rugs. They come in large sheets and you could cut it to the proper size. Hope that helps!

      • Making it Lovely
        June 2, 2011 at 4:24 pm

        That is a brilliant idea! Yes, I have that problem with the cushion too. I just slide it back in place, but I’m going to try a rug pad now!

  • Kirsten @ Triple Max Tons
    June 2, 2011 at 4:25 pm

    Wow, you did a really great job with the nursery! And props on a super rad name….August. I love that name.

  • LisainIllinois
    June 2, 2011 at 4:25 pm

    This is the sweetest room for a little boy…you are gifted.

  • Leslie
    June 2, 2011 at 4:42 pm

    Did you paint the crib?

    • Making it Lovely
      June 2, 2011 at 9:20 pm

      No, it was already that color when we bought it (for Eleanor, originally).

  • Lizzie @ Pretty City Things
    June 2, 2011 at 5:33 pm

    It’s gorgeous – I love the colors you chose. I’ve been following your blog for a while but I didn’t realize you were a fellow Chicagoan too!

  • liz @ bon temps beignet
    June 2, 2011 at 5:37 pm

    I’m in love with his room!! I know you said Eleanor loves the sunken area of the room, BUT if you covered it with some sort of levered board, you could use it to store TONS of stuff. Just an i-dear :)

    Oh, and the ‘changing table’ is genius. Seriously.

    • Making it Lovely
      June 2, 2011 at 9:21 pm

      The other end of the room has the same dropped floor, but it’s setup as a closet. There’s a ton of storage in there.

  • Ashley @ DesignBuildLove.co
    June 2, 2011 at 5:39 pm

    gorgeous room!!!

  • Cait @ Hernando House
    June 2, 2011 at 5:50 pm

    Love it!

  • julie.
    June 2, 2011 at 6:16 pm

    I love the orange and green. The curtains are amazing too!

  • Kristin
    June 2, 2011 at 6:23 pm

    Such a great nursery. I love the fabrics!

  • Stephanie
    June 2, 2011 at 7:02 pm

    Another great room! I love your twist on the changing table. Is that a changing pad just sitting on top??? Where did you find it and is it affixed to the Ikea cabinets somehow?

    • Making it Lovely
      June 2, 2011 at 9:23 pm

      Yes, it’s just a changing pad. Ours came with safety straps attached to it (I think most do), and I affixed them with screws to the back of the bookcase.

  • Giulia
    June 2, 2011 at 7:21 pm

    Love the orange and how the new dresser links to your wood floor. Great changes to make the room his. Where is the white rug from?
    I also use a IKEA dresser for a change table, I find it a lot more practical than getting a special piece of furniture that will only last a couple of years.

    • Making it Lovely
      June 2, 2011 at 9:23 pm

      The rug was from Crate & Barrel a few years ago.

  • melvel
    June 2, 2011 at 7:49 pm

    I want those polka dot sheets! Please tell me where to get them (or at least the fabric)

    • Making it Lovely
      June 2, 2011 at 9:24 pm

      They were from Target, by DwellStudio, but they’re no longer available.

  • Lia
    June 2, 2011 at 8:24 pm

    Will you please share how you made the crib skirt?

  • megan
    June 2, 2011 at 9:17 pm

    erm…….one day, could u show us the indsides of your effektivs? very curious………

  • Erica
    June 2, 2011 at 9:32 pm

    Where did you get the adorable name train? I love them both, his and hers!

  • Sarah Jane
    June 2, 2011 at 9:36 pm

    Sweet and cozy.

  • Christina S.M.
    June 2, 2011 at 10:08 pm

    The lowercase letter “a” on the Oak Park dresser, did you make that? Buy it?

    Love the room.

  • Cara
    June 2, 2011 at 10:16 pm

    Gorgeous! I am working on my little boy’s future nursery, so thanks for some great ideas! Did you make the Mario flowers?

    • Making it Lovely
      June 2, 2011 at 10:39 pm

      Brandon and I picked them up from Pixel Party at the Renegade Craft Fair a few years ago. They’re normally in Brandon’s office, but I needed some flowers for August’s room so I grabbed them!

  • Leone
    June 3, 2011 at 1:32 am

    I just LOVE the Zombie Clock! It’s nice to know you’re a wee bit cheeky. :)

  • Tina
    June 3, 2011 at 5:10 am

    I love your color choices…bold, exciting and not at all predictable for baby and toddler. REFRESHING!

  • Nat@ dear little house
    June 3, 2011 at 5:27 am

    Looking good!

  • Amanda Joy
    June 3, 2011 at 7:56 am

    It looks SO GREAT! I love the subtle boy charm in the small details!

  • Kat
    June 3, 2011 at 8:50 am

    Any websites to recommend how to make curtains? Just got my first sewing machine and interested in learning!

    • Making it Lovely
      July 11, 2011 at 10:45 pm

      I just looked at curtains we already owned to figure it out, but I’m sure google will turn up some help.

  • kristine
    June 3, 2011 at 9:21 am

    Just lovely. I had the same vision for my daughters room… quality items without all the disposable plastic and branded craziness that is out there. How do you stay so streamlined with their clothes and toys and decor? Well meaning gifts and clothes from the Grandparents frequently are garish and do not fit into what I want for her environment. And maybe you cannot comment without offending anyone, so any hints from your other blog readers? (if that is appropriate). thanks!!!

    • Making it Lovely
      July 11, 2011 at 10:46 pm

      We still have a lot of toys (gifts from friends and family, and *ahem* Brandon). They’re kind of scattered throughout the house in various places (as neatly as possible), so they don’t accumulate in one spot.

  • CourtneyOutLoud
    June 3, 2011 at 10:45 am

    I am loving the combination of prints in August’s bedding and drapes. Super job as usual :)

  • Rebekah V
    June 3, 2011 at 10:52 am

    Maybe I overlooked it, but do you have hanging clothes storage for August anywhere? I am planning our nursery in our tiny box of a room, with no closet, and am not sure if I want to buy a wardrobe. If other people have nurseries without a dedicated hanging clothes area, that would help reassure me that a wardrobe is not necessary……

    • Making it Lovely
      July 11, 2011 at 10:47 pm

      No, all of his clothes are in the dresser! There is a closet (it’s an odd shape, behind the glider), but we just have baby clothes in bins stored there.

  • Christina Winters
    June 3, 2011 at 10:58 am

    every time i see this room i have an urge to run out and buy that paint!

  • Cat @ Breakfast to Bed
    June 3, 2011 at 12:10 pm

    I LOVE LOVE LOVE that jenny lind crib!! In such a great color!!!

  • Ana
    June 3, 2011 at 4:56 pm

    Love the nursery, too cute. Btw where did you get those knobs?

  • Monica
    June 3, 2011 at 5:46 pm

    Hi Nicole – could you tell me where you bought the brown box/basket with the diaper supplies on your changing table? I need one! LOVE this room. the color combinations are fabulous! and the black color on the jenny lind crib turns something that is often a ‘girl’ look into something completely BOY and totally unique! brilliant!

    • Making it Lovely
      July 11, 2011 at 10:48 pm

      I got it from Babies R Us, and it’s by JJ Cole. It comes in other colors too.

  • shelley
    June 3, 2011 at 6:12 pm

    It looks fantastic. Nice work on the curtains!

  • katiedid
    June 3, 2011 at 8:18 pm

    You just have such a great eye! Bravo.

  • Melissa
    June 3, 2011 at 10:44 pm

    What a darling room! Where did you find the orange armadillo/anteater toy?

    • Making it Lovely
      July 11, 2011 at 10:49 pm

      It’s a Jellycat toy. We got him from a local toy shop, but the brand is easy to find online too.

  • pamela
    June 4, 2011 at 7:32 am

    The room looks wonderful! I’d love to know where the orange stuffed animal in the first picture might be found as well as the ‘where the wild things are’ stuffed boy. Nice job on the remodel.

    • Making it Lovely
      July 11, 2011 at 10:50 pm

      We got Max (Where the Wild Things Are) from a bookstore.

  • itziar
    June 4, 2011 at 7:55 am

    Amazing transformation!

    great ideas!

  • amanda
    June 4, 2011 at 11:30 am

    So cute! I love everything in this room. Where did you get the wooden flowers on the changing table?

  • amy b.
    June 4, 2011 at 9:12 pm

    Love your blog!! This transformation from Eleanor’s room to August’s room is great! Seeing how you worked with a lot of the same pieces is inspiring! Just shows you don’t have to go out and buy everything new if you plan well! Good Job!

  • Kerry Rossow
    June 5, 2011 at 8:25 am

    Loooove it! I have a son, August (who we call Gus) and he also has the train letters!
    Thanks for the wonderful pictures!
    Kerry

  • Cecilia
    June 5, 2011 at 9:25 pm

    Love the stuffed red animal – looks like a mix between a dinosaur and a dog – where did you get him?

  • Heather @ REOlisticRenovation
    June 6, 2011 at 1:04 am

    LOVE the colors! Can I just lay down in that room and read? :) So cute and just a perfect room for a little one. I think my Baby Boy might be jealous of this room.

  • Sheila
    June 6, 2011 at 4:55 pm

    I love the splashes of orange throughout. It’ll all transition nicely into a big kid room too.

  • Laura
    June 9, 2011 at 11:58 am

    I love the room! Your children are adorable as well, but you know that! Did/do you use cloth diapers for Eleanor and August? If so, do you like them?

    • Making it Lovely
      July 11, 2011 at 10:53 pm

      We’ve done disposable and cloth diapers. I like cloth, but Brandon doesn’t (he does most of our laundry, and it just adds up so quickly).

  • Antonella
    June 21, 2011 at 9:42 am

    Am I the only one to love the adorable orange fellow of the first photo? The Alf-lookalike? What’s his name? Where can I find one? unashamedly for me, no family of mine yet..
    Anto

    • Karen
      July 9, 2011 at 9:34 pm

      He’s a Jellybelly anteater- I think they have them on Amazon. Great stuffed animals.

    • Making it Lovely
      July 11, 2011 at 10:54 pm

      Jellycat, but yes, they can be found on Amazon.

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