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Diaper Storage in the Nursery

May
8 15
comments

We’re starting to talk up the whole “big boy” thing with August, about how he’s going to start sleeping in a bed, and that soon he won’t need diapers. He was pretty adamant for a long time about his morning bottle of milk too until we somehow lost his favorite bottle, and that was the end of that. He’s in that transitional stage between toddler and little kid, but for a while longer, he’s still sleeping in a crib and wearing diapers.

I showed his room not too long ago, when I took the doors off of one of the storage units in the space to convert it to a bookshelf. Here it is again, with even more books on the shelves. (Like toys, they seem to multiply.)

August's Room

We don’t need as much storage for baby gear now that August is older, but the remaining side with doors still holds essentials, like face and body lotion and healing balm. All of the diapers and wipes are in there too, along with refills for our diaper pail, tissues, and stacks of no-longer-needed burp cloths.

Lotion, Wipes, and Diaper Storage

I like to use Honest diapers because they’re plant-based and free of chemicals, but they still perform just as well as any other diaper out there. Plus they come in a skull and crossbones pattern! (OK, and cute little strawberries, anchors, and what-have-you. But the skulls are my favorite.) Their wipes are great too — nice and thick, and effective but still gentle. As with other Honest products, you can order diapers and wipes individually, or bundle them and save.

Diaper Storage

Skull and Crossbones Diapers!

I’ll be a little sad when it’s time to change the nursery. It has been a good setup that has seen us through four years of active duty (starting with Eleanor, when it was hers), but eventually the changing pad will go, and the diapers and lotions will probably be replaced with toys. And that will be good too.

August's Room

If you’re curious about Honest, check out their free trial. Also, Making it Lovely readers can enjoy $10 off a minimum purchase of $40 using the code Lovely$10off$40. Limited to first-time buyers (one per customer) and expires May 22, 2013.

link    August's Room, Parenting  •  15 Comments  •  May 8, 2013

The New Coffee/Play Table

April
3 19
comments

We’ll have space for a play table in August’s room once he transitions from a crib to a bed and we’re able to take the glider and ottoman out. I was thinking about using our old coffee table, but Brandon pointed out that the whole reason we replaced it was because we were worried about its stability. Putting it in his room started to seem like a pretty bad idea, even though it would have looked cute.

I spotted a wood and sandstone coffee table that I liked at the Crate & Barrel outlet when I was there with my friend Kathryn (we met when I redesigned her bedroom), so I bought it. It’s similar to my old table, but slightly larger and a whole lot sturdier.

Playmobil Castle in a Home Library

Playmobil Castle

You like how I ‘styled’ it? It’s officially a play table now. (Funny thing about that Playmobile castle — I saw it last year at Berwyn’s Toys & Trains, and I joked to the kids that “daddy would really like that toy.” Guess who bought it?)

Playing with a Playmobil Castle

Actually, keeping the table in the library may turn out to be a better plan than moving it to August’s room. It fits the space well and looks fine, but has the added bonus of being neutral territory. If the castle was in either kid’s room, there would be more fighting over it because it’s seen as theirs, but out in the library they share it pretty well. I had to take the nesting side tables away that were next to the chair though, which I’d painted specifically for that space and liked. Too many tables, you know? Now I’m not sure if they’re coming back.

link    August's Room, Library, Parenting  •  19 Comments  •  April 3, 2013

Organizing August’s Books

March
4 24
comments

August Reading, Eleanor Playing

August is really into books lately. We used to keep all of his baby board books in a box on the floor, between the glider and the wall. As his interest (and collection) has grown, the books have been overspilling and taking over that whole area. Books were scattered everywhere, and we needed to get organized.

Board Books in a Box

Stacks of Kids' Books

The storage in August’s room mainly consists of two Effektiv units from IKEA (now discontinued), side-by-side. Here’s a shot of them from when I first shared his nursery.

August's Nursery

The unit on the right suffered a little at the hands of one very active little boy, and so the doors didn’t stay aligned anymore when shut. I removed the doors and hinges, emptied everything out (there wasn’t much in there anymore), and adjusted the shelves to work for our books. That side of the room looked cluttered though, with the open bookshelves right next to the shallow built-in shelves with toys.

Shelves in August's Room

I wanted the changing pad to stay on the left side, but it was attached by its safety straps. I reattached them to the other unit, then swapped their order. Now I can still store extra diapers, wipes, and assorted other supplies behind doors, and we have a place for August’s growing library too.

August's New Bookshelf

Kids' Books

I think I’m going to find a new spot for that black and white rug (it’s just not soft enough for a little kid’s room), so I’ll probably bring back the off-white rug that was in the space before. Eventually the glider won’t be needed anymore, and we’ll have space for a play table or just more space for playing. I’ve been having a lot of fun with the planning stage, but we don’t want to rush August out of his crib before he’s ready.

Reach!

link    August's Room  •  24 Comments  •  March 4, 2013

A Striped Rug for August’s Room

February
27 29
comments

So, I bought this striped rug for August’s room. It was on sale, 50% off (still is), and I was blinded by a sense of urgency. Must buy now, before it sells out! (It’s still available.)

Striped Rug in August's Room

It arrived, and I like the scale of the stripes. I like the color (the darker stripes are more charcoal than black). Here’s what I’m not liking so much: it’s not very soft. I knew it wouldn’t be plush — it’s a dhurrie — but it’s a smidge scratchy. And when I vacuum it, it gets all caught up and bunches like crazy. Annoying.

Dwell Studio Draper Ink Striped Rug

Also, how did I forget that I bought a twin-sized blanket with brown and white stripes for his room? August and I have snuggled under it in the rocking chair together as we read bedtime stories for the past six months! Brown can often be paired with black, but not in this case.

Striped Rug Vs. Striped Blanket: Who Will Win?

So I’m not sure I’m feeling the striped rug in there. I put it down without a rug pad, but I’ve since purchased one, so I’ll see if that helps with the vacuum slippage issue. The rug isn’t terribly rough underfoot and August isn’t a newborn so it’s less of a problem now, but I wish it were a little softer. And then there’s the clashing! Rug vs. Blanket! Stripes vs. Stripes! Who will win?

p.s. Prepare thyselves for striped rug overload right this way! I’m considering this runner for the kitchen (such a good price).

link    'R' for Rugs, August's Room  •  29 Comments  •  February 27, 2013

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