Shabby Chic Nursery in Yellow, Green & Blue

Those who know me well know I despise pink and purple and all things princess-related. It’s serendipitous that we’re having a girl, but still I was determined not to fall into the pink-obsessed trap that comes with having a baby girl. Instead I set out to create a color palette and theme that was unique to both The Beau and myself.
This is my favorite corner of the room – the rocking chair is the perfect size to create a cozy nook, without overwhelming the space like so many modern rocking chairs and gliders. Above the chair is a hot air balloon I found on BHLDN, which I filled with antique Steiff stuffed animals that belonged to my mother when she was little. Despite the rocking chair’s size, I just couldn’t resist creating a throw pillow from this adorable pink and olive fabric. Actually, my mother helped me as she is much more skilled at sewing than I am–something I will hopefully learn myself and can pass down to Little BBB
I started with various pieces I knew I wanted to incorporate such as an old rocking chair from my family and an arrangement of California prints I gave The Beau for our one-year wedding anniversary. Though I know this baby will be an East Coast baby just through exposure and her upbringing, I wanted to ensure The Beau’s hometown was well-represented so that she also grows up with a love of Southern California, just like her father and her West Coast family.
Hopefully this is where Little Bébé will sleep soundly! I chose soft white fabrics from Aden + Anais so that she can fully focus on the pinwheel mobile I designed for her. I originally came across a pinwheel mobile on Etsy, but decided to make it myself, hand-selecting textured papers in a variety of finishes and patterns for a custom mobile just for our little girl.
We’ve opted to go the cloth diaper route. I created cubbies for both liners and diaper covers. My mother used cloth diapers when I was little, so it was never a foreign idea for me–though she did have the benefit of using a diaper service. If you’re interested in learning more about cloth diapers, I highly recommend checking out this post written by Kelly from View Along the Way on the benefits of cloth diapering. Her post was a big help when selecting a diaper brand and knowing exactly how many diapers to buy and tricks to using cloth diapers without a diaper service.


When it comes to a newborn, organization will be our saving grace. These chalkboard cubbies are perfect for knowing what goes where–though I know they won’t stay as neatly organized after Little Bébé arrives.
I just love all the little accents we’ve hand-selected for Little Bébé. I opted out of the common-trend to pick a particular animal or character as the nursery theme. Instead I chose to incorporate a variety of animals and prints, including elephants as an homage to my alma mater.
Sarah Jane Dunaway
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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  • Sherry Fisher Sherry Fisher on Nov 23, 2014
    I used cloth diapers for all of my six children, when a diaper service was unheard of, and am curious what the tricks are?
  • Jean Thompson Jean Thompson on Mar 02, 2015
    Used Cloth Diapers with all 3 of my boys, Secret is to rinse them out ASAP and to put them in a bucket of Water with a little laundry soap added..( don't let ammonia Smell develop). You can use Regular Laundry Detergent to wash them, just put through Second Rinse with a Cup of White Vinegar added... softens and helps get out Laundry Deter. residue... I used to hang mine out on the clothes line in the Summer when the boys got a little bigger.. They did just fine.. + you have them for using as spit up cloths too... Liners are a new thing... someone once suggested to use a Paper Towel as a liner for the BM...
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