Peekaboo Design Group

In case you haven't heard, a lot of new parents are opting for a mesh crib bumper over the padded crib bumper.  One of the most common questions we get at Peekaboo is, "how do you make a mesh bumper look good." 

Here are a few tricks we use together to minimize the mesh bumper:

1.)     Use a bumper that matches the color of your crib.  We’ll use a brown mesh bumper on a brown crib and you can barely tell it’s there (see pic above).

2.)    Draw the eye away from the bumper by placing a larger, interesting art piece(s) above the crib (make sure this is secure for when baby starts to stand).

3.)    If you have a crib that will show off a crib skirt, a nice crib skirt that sweeps the floor also takes your eye away from the bumper.  We create custom crib skirts for about $125.

4.)    Make sure your crib sheet either matches your bumper or your crib skirt so not to cut the bed in half.

 Were you able to pull off a mesh crib bumper without comprimising your style?  Send us pics!  We'd love to see and share with other new parents!  Send them to:  meshbumper@peekaboodesign.com

Read more about the history of crib bumpers and why parents are choosing the mesh crib bumper in our post here:  http://www.peekaboodesign.com/blog/post/Mesh-Crib-Bumpers.aspx

Part IV:  Choosing Your Color Palette

Deciding your color palette can be the most challenging aspect of a nursery.  At Peekaboo, we take clients through a process we call the Nursery Psych Test to help in determining what the clients will like best.  We take them through tons of pictures, fabrics and color patterns while watching their reaction to each.  From these observations, it becomes very clear what the client likes.  Most times clients don't know themselves what colors are most appealing to them until we review the test!

It's important that you understand the Peekaboo nursery philosophy before continuing. 

Peekaboo Nursery Philosophy  A properly assembled nursery should give parents a comforting and serene place to care for baby while providing a functional and sustainable space that grows with baby.

For this reason, we tend to focus on the parent's tastes in color rather than what baby "might like" or "should like."  In other words, there ends up being very little pastel or primary color in our nurseries, unless those colors appeal to the parents.

When we focus on the parents we are doing 2 things:

1.)  Creating a space that the parents will enjoy stumbling into in the middle of the night to care for baby. 

2.)  Creating a space that more naturally grows with baby.  Afer all, hot pink and clown nose red can grow tired pretty quick.  It's easier to choose a more neutral color that can be easily added to once baby decides he likes Dinosours or she likes Ponies.

The point is, think of the color combination that you've wanted to try in another area of your house and do it in baby's room!  Think outside of the box.  The sky's the limit when it comes to color!

Inspiration

Frustrated with trying to find what you like in your local store?  We'll let you in on a little secret.  Baby stores are not the first place that we go to for inspiration when helping clients.  If you can walk into a baby store and find inspiration right off the bat, GREAT!  This will make your job that much easier.  If not, don't worry, you're not alone.

Here's where we turn for inspiration: 

1.)  Scrap Book Pages - head to your local craft store and start looking through the color combinations on scrap book pages.  These pages can even be used in art pieces and accessories for your room.

2.)  Fabric Stores - head to your local fabric store to find color combos in fabrics that appeal to you.  For a quick and easy art piece, take the fabric you like and wrap a canvass.  Hang it on the wall as is or embelish with trim.  An easy place to troll fabrics in your PJ's is online.

3.)  Sheet Sets - we've come across sheets that we liked and cut them up to use for bedding or custom art pieces.  It' s an inexpensive way to get a different look. 

The bottom line when it comes to inspiration is to think outside of the baby stores.  If you find nothing in a baby store, find it somewhere else, then go back for coordinating essentials at the store (eg.  plain bumpers, crib skirt, window treatments, etc).

Miss Part III?  Read It Here!

This changing table just didn't fly for our Vintage Travel Nursery, so we mapped out a new plan.  We refinished the changing table to match the crib.  Then, we decoupaged the front with maps that we aged for a more sophisticated look.  After replacing the drawer pulls with more worldly knobs, we had a changing table fit for travel!

If you've followed Peekaboo for long you know what a fan I am of area rugs!  Yes.  Even on carpet.  They're not only great for protecting your floor from stains, they complete the room.  

I was at IKEA today and found myself utterly impressed with their selection of floor rugs...perfect for a nursery!

There were red, purple, orange and blue shags...always a hit.  Then, there were the fun rugs that sparked inspiration.

This was a nice size rug (est. 4x6) for only $50!

This is a fun striped rug.   I think it was a little more expensive than the first...looks like $199.00.

 These round rugs are nice and soft.  How cute would they be in multiples on your floor?

Here's the link to IKEA's rugs online.  I advise no smaller than a 5x7 rug in a baby nursery...though a 4'x6' or a 4' round will work if it's the best you can find. 

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/search/?query=rugs

Happy rug shopping!

In honor of the TCU Frogs big win over the weekend, I think it's appropriate to roll out our brown and purple combo.

Most people think of "purple" and think "girl."  Check out the print below that's more masculine.  Use the celtic cross print sparingly in a boy's room with brown being the primary color.  For a girl, you can play up the purple to make it more feminine. 

While many may reach for the pink and green to pair this brown damask...you'll bring out the sass and reach for the purple.  Look how absolutely devine!

What do you think?  Is the giraffe print a stretch?? Ha...Ha!  We don't think so.  

And, of course, if you're going after the "cute's,"  polka dots are always an option.  You might also add a stripe to this combo.   

Stay tuned...Purple and Brown Boards both feminine and masculine to come.

As usual, thanks for visiting and come back soon!

Here is a modern twist on the yellow and brown, with just a touch of avocado green.  The crib and changing table are Nurseryworks.  Check them out in person at Baby Bliss in Snider Plaza or Southlake Town Square.

More questions about how to achieve this room?  Or, would you like Peekaboo to create a similar look specifically for you?  Give us a call:  972.818.BABY (2229) or contact kim@peekaboodesign.com.

Thanks for visiting!

Here's Peekaboo's take on the yellow and brown color palette with an elegant, more feminine twist.  The chocolate brown touches update the traditional yellows and creams of the nursery.  It helps ground the room and gives it a more cozy feel. 

The crib is the Bonne Nuit Crib which sells for about  $3450; but the look of this room can be achieved with any furniture that has this similar look.  Furniture in the dark espresso wood will also work, helping add more brown to the room.

More questions about how to achieve this look?  Or, would you like Peekaboo to create a similar design specifically for you?  Give us a call:  972.818.229 or contact kim@peekaboodesign.com.

Thanks for visiting!

Brown and Pink?  or Brown and Blue?  For years now, these have been the primary pairing options when it comes to brown. 

Orange has made a pretty good stand for himself when it comes to dating brown.  And, green?  Green holds her own.  But, still, the number one request we get is brown with pink or brown with blue.  And, why not?  The colors are absolutely devine together. 

Before this yummy combo, it was nothing but plainsville.  An overwhelming sea of pastels.  Then, one day, almost by fate, someone partnered brown with pink...what?  This was unheard of but...but, so delightful.  It made the pink...not so pink.  And, the blue...well, the blue was not so blue.  It was wonderful.  Wonderful, I tell ya.

But, now it's time to journey into the new!  No need to get rid of the brown...we know it's good.  It's not as harsh as black; yet, not as boring as white.  It grounds any color it's partnered with.  What we need is to introduce new friends to our old friend.  Let's revisit a nursery stand by, yellow.  I love this fresh combo!  

 Our basic brown paired with feminine yellow prints. 

Yellow with more masculine brown prints. 

A little more baby with our brown and yellow combo. 

Stay tuned for a mood board displaying exactly how to achieve your dream brown and yellow nursery.  Next time we'll introduce a new color to the brown foundation.