A Warm and Whimsical Nursery for Nova
It takes awhile to bring a room to life, even when you have a pretty clear vision. A few months to live in the space and get a feel for how you use it, time spent sourcing pieces that are just right (and fit your budget), and then longer than you’d care to admit finessing the details and styling all the little corners. But if it’s the kind of thing you enjoy doing and you can learn to appreciate the process, it’s totally worth it to have a space that looks and feels like you. Or in this case, my daughter, Nova.
Though this is technically the official “reveal” of Nova’s nursery, I won’t go so far as to say that the space is done. And this is somewhat intentional. Nova’s just over a year old now, and I can already see how quickly she’s changing and how her room will need to change with her. To be honest, I kind of love this aspect of it too, especially because this was such a labour of love and involved many treasure hunts to find the right pieces — and I don’t particularly want to give that up. As Nova’s needs and interests change, the room will evolve with her, but now that we at least have the basics in place, there’s lots of room for growth — and new styling details (always!).
I started with a moodboard and a plan, as always, and I’m really happy with where we ended up. With the majority of the larger pieces thrifted or items I already had, I was really able to focus on bring my vision to life through the textures and colours, splurging on a few key pieces (like the stunning Sarah Sherman Samuel rug from Lulu and Georgia that I had my eye on from the moment she posted a sneak peek).
I worked with Décors Veronneau to incorporate faux plants that really brought the room to life (without the worry about tiny hands digging in the dirt or pulling off leaves), serving as statement pieces to anchor the corners and add height. Though I love real plants and have plenty sprinkled throughout the house, I realized pretty early on after having Nova that I was going to have to find another option for her room. Between her curious nature and the blackout blind we use for sleep, it just didn’t make sense, but I wanted to be able to incorporate greenery in some way, as I believe it’s really what finishes off a room.
It took me awhile to find plants that were both high-quality and readily available in Canada, but once I ordered my first fiddle leaf from them, I knew they’d be the perfect addition. Décors Veronneau is a Quebec-based company that offers a vast selection of high-quality artificial plants and flowers at accessible prices, along with accessories and various other home (and holiday!) items as well. They’re matte white ceramic planters are now my go-to as well, which is what we used in this space. Consider yourself warned — it’s easy to spend hours scrolling through their site, and every time I do, I end up with a new wishlist and a handful of new decor and DIY ideas for future projects.
I wanted it to feel warm and whimsical, a cozy getaway where Nova’s imagination will be sparked and our story can continue to unfold. And I think we accomplished just that.
One of my favourite things this room is the way the late afternoon light streams in the window, and when we added the olive tree, it created this magical shadow play that dances on the wall and creates the loveliest warm glow. This is definitely my favourite corner.
The shelves are ever-changing, and for me — part of the fun. I’ve been collecting wooden toys and special trinkets since I was pregnant, and I love the craftsmanship that goes into them, and of course the warmth of the woodgrain and intricate detail. I’m always on the hunt for the right shades of dusty pink, terracotta and ochre, and these shelves represent a collection of my favourite items.
eq3 pebble vase | vintage brass roses | natalie catalina boob print | thrifted gold frames | fabelab Crown | rainbow stacker | ikea number puzzle | wooden village | gold bunnies (DIY) | rose print | flower sunnies
faux olive tree | matte white ceramic planter | anthropologie pom tassel curtains | side table (old) | olliella wicker play basket | moulin roty Doll | wooden school bus (homesense)
Though we have most of Nova’s toys downstairs in the living room, I’ve created a little play corner in her room as well, which works out perfectly when I’m folding the endless laundry and we can keep each other company. I mentioned it before, but baskets, in all shapes and sizes, are key for containing the clutter!
I found this vintage rose painting at an antique market months ago, and it’s lived in a few different rooms since then. I’ve had my eyes out for something else that could work above the crib, but after trying out a few different options, I circled back to this one, and though originally I thought it would be too small for this spot, I love the scale of it to balance out the busier shelves to the left.
Since Rose is Nova’s middle name, it’s been a constant theme for us, so this feels like the perfect nod to that and also works to elevate the room in a way that I really love.
vintage painting | little minimalist waffle blanket | sarah sherman samuel x lulu and georgia stripe break pillow | ouistitine bear
A bit of rug detail to show you how gorgeous it is with the arches and that lovely texture. I love the soft neutral colour that fits the space perfectly, and it’s got a bit of a speckled effect that’s key with kids if you don’t want to be vacuuming constantly. These are the seagrass baskets from Ikea with the tops folded in so they fit snugly under the crib and still look cute. We keep extra blankets, towels and accessories in these. Remember what I said about baskets? I wasn’t kidding. You can never have too many.
sarah sherman samuel x lulu and georgia arches rug | ikea seagrass baskets
The vintage chair was a piece I’ve had for years and had reupholstered, and it actually rocks and is super cozy for bedtime stories, or (if I’m being totally honest here), collecting clean laundry that is waiting to be folded. Isn’t that what bedroom chairs are really for?! The textured velvet is easy to clean and adds a nice warmth, especially layered with blankets (which we always have plenty of) and a few pillows.
I fell in love with the little arc shelf above it as soon as I saw it, and it’s perfect in this corner to hold a few more treasures — more roses and a few of our favourite hair accessories.
vintage chair reupholstered by and once we were with tonic living velvet | vintage arch lamp | pixie arc rainbow shelf | thrifted ceramic dish | detroit rose matches | vintage brass roses
faux fiddle leaf tree | arch mirror (Similar) | olli ella nyla basket
Another area where we spend a lot of time in this room. I’ve temporarily stuck the little pebble vase down to the dresser so it stays put, and the faux olive branch is strategically placed as a way to keep Nova occupied during diaper changes — it works like a charm!
We keep favourite outfits hanging to the right for easy access, and more blankets stacked below. The floral crown was made for me by my mom when I was pregnant, so it holds a special place and I love how it picks up on the other green accents.
