vintage nurseries & bedrooms

Next in our Eye Candy Giveaway is Melodie from Tennessee and her extra-special guest room in crisp white with cherry red accents. Check out all the vintage flair this room has to offer including bright pink bedside lanterns, framed vintage handkerchieves, and a satchel with a vintage strawberry print hanging on the antique crib. Small details really make this room fresh and unique!

A few comments from Melodie…

“This is a baby nursery [and] guest room. We don’t have children yet, so it’s a place for me to collect all of my vintage, and for our friends kids to sleep when they come over for the evening or pass through town. Someday it will be used as our nursery! I hope you enjoy it!”

Thanks, Melodie, for the fresh inspiration! 

Stay tuned for Baby Paul’s vintage-inspired nursery! And be sure to enter YOUR vintage-inspired nursery or child space in our Eye Candy Giveaway! Deadline for entries is April 1st!

Another entry in our Eye Candy Giveaway comes from Melaine T. in Washington. No detail was missed when Melaine created this amazing ‘corral’ for her little cowboy. Melaine takes us on a tour of Cody’s western bedroom.

“I had so much fun decorating my son’s room, I thought I’d share with you his space and where I found some of my most favorite treasures!”

“I found this chair at a garage sale for $50.00. I got on my cell phone called my Mom and said, “get over here!” When she arrived I said, “can you sew a cover for this, pretty please?” We picked out different fabrics with a vintage appeal and she created this! It even has a reversible seat cushion! Genius! Part of the fabrics are faux suede and the rest are a really thick cotton. The star pillow I got at a antique store. It reverses to red. I made the other pillow! I spent many nights nursing [Cody] to sleep here in this very spot!”

“His log bed was a antique store find. My Mom and I were going somewhere and took a wrong turn. That wrong turn led us to the antique store! I was only 1 month pregnant, didn’t know what I was having, but had to have this bed! Good thing it was a boy! My Mom made all the bedding! The walls were inspired by some I saw in a Pottery Barn Kids catalog. I ripped out the page and taped it to my husbands forehead. Not really, but I made sure he didn’t lose it! The color was a custom mix.”

“This table was a flea market find. I think it was a whopping $15.00! The lamp my Mom found for me and gave to me for Christmas one year. I found this lampshade that had the same pattern as on my chair so I had to get it! I pinned on a little “sheriff” badge!”

“This hutch I got at a junk shop and it previously was in our dining room and painted cream. I added the red vintage rubber horseshoes to the front with a little glue and painted and distressed it black. The baskets are from Ikea and the chalkboard labels are from Pottery Barn Kids. The closet doors my wonderful neighbor made. I just told him I wanted something that resembled barn doors, and 2 days later he brought these over to me, free of charge! Now that is a good neighbor!”

“[My neighbor] also made these saloon doors that I painted with, “cowboy’s place…well, come on in” They lead to Cody’s bathroom. I decoupaged the star with Western papers!”

“Canteen, gun and holster set, vintage cowboy clothes…..”

Thanks so much, Melaine, for taking us to the rodeo! Great pics! To see more photos from Cody’s bedroom, check out Melaine’s blog, My Sweet Savannah.

Up Next? Melodie’s Vintage-Inspired Guest Room

Be sure to enter YOUR vintage-inspired nursery or child space in our huge Eye Candy Giveaway!

Welcome to Vivian Jane’s adorable crib — another entry in our Eye Candy Giveaway! Her nursery is filled with all kinds of wonderful vintage finds. Thanks so much to Sarah M. from Michigan for sharing her decorating talents. Here’s the highlights in Sarah’s own words…

“The bedding was made from House Inc. fabrics. I bought some of the things from House Inc., but my friend made the bumper, diaper stacker, soft blocks and comforter (which is just purely for aesthetics, ha). The mobile is chenille bunnies (new Wendy Bellissimo).”

“The hanger is a vintage reproduction.”

“I found the green cabinet from an antique store in my hometown in Marshall, MI. It can be turned on its side to use as a toybox, but I would need to install a safety hinge. Found the nursery canisters at a flea market– vintage decals on vintage glass jars. The hankie is vintage with Jack & Jill.”

“The Jenny Lind crib and changing table are new (from Penney’s!). We painted and distressed the letters over the changing table to spell out ‘Vivian’.”

“The clock is a reproduction. The picture of the child in the raincoat is vintage. It’s hard to tell from the photo, but every color is a different piece of fabric or felt.”

“The chest of drawers was my brother’s as a kid (he’s 38, so is that vintage?). It was navy blue, but we painted over it, and I love that some of the old navy blue has been peeking through in areas of wear.”

“The lamp is vintage. I tea-stained the shade and added the pom fringe.”

“The chenille rocker is new. The quilt was made by my aunt for Vivian when she was born. The curtains and canvas storage bins around the room are Target Shabby Chic.”

Absolutely wonderful, Sarah. The eye candy is to die for. Thanks again for the inspiring photos!

Stay Tuned! Cody’s Wild West room coming soon!

It’s Not Too Late! Enter photos of YOUR little one’s room in our huge Eye Candy Giveaway!

Our first Eye Candy entry! Thanks so much to Jennifer N. from Michigan for submitting some adorable photos of Michael and his nursery. Jennifer chose to incorporate vintage bluebirds in his room and I am so loving it! Here’s a tour through Baby Michael’s nursery in Jennifer’s own words…

“I’m just so pleased with how baby Michael’s nursery is coming together, considering I am no decorator. On top of baby’s dresser are the adorable crib shoes that will never go on baby’s feet! I want them to stay pristine and precious for years to come. My sister cross-stitched the bluebirds picture and my dear friend gave me the birds egg wreath. The handkerchief comes from a maker of beautiful vintage embroidery.”

“My husband recently made a shelf for one wall of baby’s room… just so that I could have a place to put the cute bird nest that came from The Baby Gardner! Also on the shelf are two vintage Japanese bluebird salt and pepper shakers, Michael’s engraved pewter cup that he received for his baptism, and my embroidered bluebird handkerchief.”

“I was so pleased to find a red toile crib bedding set when I was expecting Michael. The wallpaper in our parlor is the same toile pattern, also in red. Baby likes to look at the scenes of people and animals at play and at work and laugh at the images.”

“A twin bed [in the nursery] is graced by a hand-embroidered quilt, made by my beloved step-mother. Several decades ago she made it for her unborn child, who sadly died before birth. She then tucked the blanket away and gave it to me when I was expecting my first baby.”

“And finally, I have to include a photo of Michael, himself, trying in vain to reach those darling crib shoes and the bird nest. I love all of your items so much that this was the only time he has worn the sweet bluebird bib. I don’t want to get mashed carrots on it!”

“Thank you for giving me this opportunity to photo journal baby Michael’s nursery. They are little for such a short time and things change so quickly. That must be why I am drawn to the timeless look of vintage materials. They are a snapshot of time that passes by so fast.”

Thanks so much, Jennifer, for a wonderful tour of little Michael’s nursery!

Coming Soon: Vivian Jane’s nursery! Stay tuned and be sure to enter YOUR little one’s nursery or child space in our Eye Candy Giveaway!

Vintage for little ones is the sweetest of EYE CANDY! It’s also a great source of inspiration and creativity. So we’ve decided to recruit YOU to share your love for vintage with us and fellow readers. And of course to make it an even SWEETER idea, we’re rewarding your efforts!

Here’s the scoop…

CALL FOR ENTRIES: Simply email us photos of an area in your home that was created for your little one(s) and inspired by vintage. Maybe it’s an entire nursery or bedroom. Maybe it’s a play area in the corner of the living room. Maybe it’s a wall of favorite vintage illustrations and photos. Wherever that vintage inspiration lives, we hope you’ll want to share it with us! You can email jpegs to blog[at]thebabygardner.com. Please include a brief description of the photos you are sending and any additional info or tips you’d like to share.

YOU ENTER, YOU WIN!: Every reader who submits photos will receive a thank-you gift from The Baby Gardner. We know you’re busy and we want to say “thanks” for taking the time to participate! When emailing your photos, be sure to include your name and mailing address so we can send you your gift.

THE GRAND GIVEAWAY: Entries will be accepted on an on-going basis so we can continue to share the eye candy. However, all entries received prior to April 1, 2009, will be entered in our Grand Giveaway! This prize will include over $100 of merchandise from The Baby Gardner!

*Please note that by submitting your photos, you give The Baby Gardner’s Baby Bloggie permission to post your photos and information on our blog. The mailing address you email us will be kept confidential.

HERE’S A SAMPLE: Just to give one example of possible submission ideas, here’s a photo of a corner in Gracie’s room. Some of my favorite vintage collectibles are displayed here. In the back is a mohair teddy bear. He’s not vintage, but he was handcrafted a few years back by a talented artist in Australia. Moving counter-clockwise is a vintage photograph of a little girl holding her teddy bear from the early 1900s. It’s nestled in an antique frame. Next, a vintage celluloid rattle of mommy bunny complete with apron and glasses. Beside her is an unusual vintage tin toy. It’s a rooster pulling a pink, egg-shaped cart. I believe this was probably an Easter-themed piece. And finally is an adorable vintage planter of a puppy (Boston Terrier?) with a big pink bow around her neck and a bumble bee on her hip. So cute!

I love finding small spaces like this corner shelf to display some of my favorite things. I also love placing them in areas where the kids can enjoy their whimsy too (from afar).

I can’t remember if I told you guys already or not, but the fam has been planning a trip to Disney World since January — yeh, before the whole economy scare. (Our timing is always stellar.) Anywho, we decided to stick with the plan, forget reality for a week, and head to sunny Florida. This will be Gracie and Aidan’s first time to DW. We’re really looking forward to it (minus the 10-hour road trip) and as you might expect, the kids are bouncing off the walls already. Granny & Pop are even joining us (it’s their first time too)!

So in the spirit of our upcoming adventure, I thought now was the perfect time to talk about vintage Disney! When it comes to decorating, I’m personally not a fan of the Disney Princesses, Cars, and Buzz Lightyear decor which is available in every department store from here to eternity. But believe me, I know how much the kids love them. Lightning McQueen is a member of the family. But I’d like to think that maybe there’s a way to fulfill the Disney dynasty with the kids while throwing in a bit of vintage flair that stands apart from the aisles and aisles of Disney-branded merchandise. Is it too much to hope for?

Believe it or not, yesterday was the 80th anniversary of Mickey Mouse’s debut in Steamboat Willie. (Who says my timing is bad!) Finding vintage Disney really isn’t hard. It’s incredibly popular and collectible. Prices on rare pieces can get pretty high, but there’s so much Disneyana (that’s the avid collector’s term) out there, you’re sure to find something in even the most modest price range.

I went through eBay looking for vintage pieces that I thought might inspire you. Let me take you on a little tour…

If you have an extra, say $1000 or so, you might want to check out this fabulous 1930′s Steamboat Willie Mickey Mouse doll (shown above) currently up for auction on eBay. Even if you can’t swing the price (yeh, me neither), it’s still worth a peek. It’s the epitome of vintage Disney collectibles.

Another vintage Disney treasure I found was this Mickey & Minnie Vintage Pail. Wouldn’t it look great filled with vintage wooden alphabet blocks? (Stuff the bottom with newspaper first so it doesn’t take so many blocks to fill the pail.) You could use it as an adorable bookend or display it as a central focus on a wall shelf or dresser. This particular one is sold, but you can find many more like it on eBay.

Disneyana isn’t only about Mickey and Minnie though. Bambi, Snow White, Pinocchio, Peter Pan, Dumbo (my personal all-time favorite) — the list goes on and on. You can find vintage versions of all of them and more. Here are two more examples of great oldies that are just itching to be rediscovered and adored…

Vintage Bambi Alarm Clock, circa 1964

Vintage Classic Dumbo Comic Book

Are you just giddy now with inspiration? Ok, well maybe that’s overstating a bit, but I hope you did enjoy the trip down memory lane. That’s truly one of the best things about Disney — the characters that we grew up with are still there among the Jasmines and Lightning McQueens our children are growing up with today. And you better believe I plan to point out every one when we get to that amazing wonderland in the sun — Walt Disney World.

Baby James was born today, 11/11/08, at 12:57pm! He weighed in at 7lbs, 15 ounces and 20 inches long. Mom and baby are doing great. We live about 5 hours away, so I’m dying to get my hands on him! Had to share the news. In case you have no clue who Baby James is, catch up on the ‘vintage nautical saga’ here and here.

Welcome to the world, little one!

[Since I don't have any pics yet of the baby, here's a pic from the day of Renee's baby shower when I gave her the now infamous vintage sailor coloring book. Renee also sent me a pic of his nursery with some other vintage finds: a vintage children's book titled Teddy's Sailboat and a set of vintage glass nursery jars that have the cutest baby graphics on them. The big paper maché 'J' was a decoupaged table centerpiece from her shower.]

I hinted in an earlier post that I was working on a new feature for the blog. Have you noticed that certain themes manage to rise above the rest and become hugely popular for baby showers, nurseries, birthday parties, etc? The cuteness factor is so big, we just naturally gravitate towards them. So I thought it might be a cool idea to take some of those themes that represent the current trends, and show ways to infuse them with a vintage flair. It’s tempting to pick a popular theme, but make it vintage and you make it truly unique!

I’ve talked about vintage sailor and nautical themes in a previous post. So how about a theme that is near and dear to my little man: Cowboys!

Planning a baby shower or birthday party theme? You’ll want to check out our Howdy Partner Invitations and Thank-You Cards at The Baby Gardner.

What about an inexpensive gift for the little cowpoke? Or maybe cowboy party favors for that big bash? Check out these coordinating Round ‘Em Up Book Plates/Name Labels. Label all his favorite books and possessions.

Looking for ideas to add a vintage flair to his cowboy nursery or bedroom? Well here’s some of my favorites…

Adding authentic vintage cowboy treasures makes a big impact in a cowboy-themed room. Look for vintage children’s books with a cowboy theme like Cowboy Dan (circa 1950). You could also hunt for vintage dress-up items for children — things like cowboy hats, pretend holsters, cowboy boots and toy sheriff’s badges were hugely popular in the 1930s and 1940s (and beyond) thanks to the likes of Roy Rogers and Gene Autry.

One of my favorite treasures I’ve found is this Frozen Charlie cowboy. In case you’re not familiar with Frozen Charlotte and Charlie dolls, these vintage unjointed bisque dolls were hugely popular during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Most Frozen Charlottes (girls) / Charlies (boys) ranged in height from one to four inches with ‘frozen’ arms and legs. Their relatively low price allowed children to accumulate a large collection of them. In other words, they were probably equivalent to the popularity of Littlest Pet Shop today! These little dolls are a great collectible for vintage lovers. I have a collection of Frozen Charlottes (that I dearly love) displayed in a shadow box in my daughter’s room. Warning: Collecting these are addictive!!

Fabrics can go a long way when trying to create a vintage nursery or little boy’s room. My favorite fabric combination for a vintage cowboy theme are these coordinating prints by Michael Miller:

Toss in some irresistible, vintage-inspired softies like Henry the Horse (available at The Baby Gardner) and you’ll turn his nursery/room into the best rodeo in town!

And we can’t forget about baby himself! How about these cool duds — a hand-embroidered Little Cowpoke Tee & Diaper Cover Set! The tee reads ‘Howdy Partner’ while the backside of the diaper cover reads ‘Happy Trails.’ How adorable is that?

Now get out there and wrangle up an awesome vintage cowboy theme! Yeehaw!

Well, as promised, here are some pics from my son’s room. Aidan just turned 3 so we’ve been going through that transition from a nursery to a little boy’s room. As I mentioned in an earlier post, the great thing about vintage-inspired nurseries is they really are timeless (what an oxymoron!). They can transition easily as your little one grows.

In Aidan’s room, there’s very little I’ve changed other than replacing the crib with a bed and tackling the mountain of toys that seem to be taking over. The paint color is the same. The color palette is the same. The random vintage touches have stayed the same.

In his nursery I wanted to go with more of a 40s-50s vintage touch as opposed to the Victorian vintage I used in Gracie’s room. I had a bunch of vintage ’stuff’ that I really loved and had gathered here and there. None of it really had a single ‘theme’ like cowboys or fire engines, it was purely ‘vintage’ in a totally random sort of way — and I loved it for being so.

So I knew that in order to get all of my chotchkies to work together, I had to make the colors in his room work. I painted the walls a light apple green and chose a quilt with blue gingham, white and apple green stripes. On the windows, I sewed long curtain panels using a light denim and used a wide apple green and white pinstripe ribbon to make the tab tops. That was my foundation and then the fun really began!

Aidan’s vintage plush toy collection, a wooden truck, a red wool pillow with a vintage graphic, a vintage pop gun, a bisque cowboy, the three bears… totally random but totally works. Color is the key!

I think it’s a tradition (bordering on a contest, granted) that a new mom wants something special on her hospital-room door when she gives birth to baby. It’s a right of passage — almost like saying, “I did it! I survived! And I have the most amazing baby in the world in here to prove it!”

… At least that’s what I’ve noticed where I live. Whenever I hit that maternity ward (whether visiting a friend or when I had my own babies), I always look to see what everyone has on their doors. It’s a treat — like driving around looking at Christmas lights! Some of them get really elaborate and others simply come from the hospital gift shop. Either way, it’s a celebration of joy and every new mom deserves it.

So maybe you’ve already thought about this small detail? Or maybe this blog entry is sparking a brand new idea for you (we like to do that here). If you have a love for vintage, may I suggest the Personalized Vintage Tussie Mussies at The Baby Gardner, created by artist, Julia Miller? You’re sure to have the most coveted door on the ‘block’ with one of these! Each one is totally unique and can be personalized with baby’s initial. The best part? These are so stunning, Mommy can take it home to hang in the nursery or on baby’s door.