Thursday, July 17, 2008

Nursery decorating, part 3

Green meets pink with the thrift store stove I moved from the kitchen. The floral plates relocated from over the crib.

My husband hates this bird lamp with a passion, but I still keep giving it a place of honor.

And here's the best buy of the week: an old metal chandelier.

Originally overpriced at $25, no one bought it...until I scooped it up on 99-cent day.

What would you do to make it fabulous? Leave it white? Add colored shades? Something fanciful with ribbon?

58 comments:

Unknown said...

What a great find. I'd add shades to it - and maybe cover the shades with a fabric in green or pink - or both?

Anonymous said...

I think it's beautiful. Love that chair! It's such fun planning a nursery. Makes me long for another babe. ;)

Susie H said...

How lovely! I'd leave the chandelier white myself. I can't tell from the picture if you'd need to repaint it or if it just needs a little dust off...

Miss G said...

pink or green gingham shades and maybe some ribbon . . . the nursery looks wonderful! kelly

Antonella said...

I love it as is.
If you want to make it colourful I'd add strings of pearls/beads in green and pink. I'm thinking fake jewellry here.
You always have such a great taste.
Keep the photos coming
Antonella

Anonymous said...

I'd add color shades. That is just gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. You are so inspiring!

Anonymous said...

I love the green and pink coordination.

Anonymous said...

I like it as it is. Ribbons and such would be dust catchers. Lovely work you're doing. I think the bird lamp is great in your daughter's room but wouldn't care for for it otherwise.
Mrs. L.

Cyndi Lewis said...

Leave it white, add pink shades and drape it with crystals.

Hyperactive Lu said...

Colored shades would be pretty and dainty...

Anonymous said...

Oooohhhh....LOVE LOVE LOVE the chandelier! I would leave it white and put on pink and white gingham shade covers over each bulb...or green and white gingham... Very cute!!!

Eleanor Joyce said...

No way! 99 cents - amazing.

I absolutely LOVE the Hollyhock print. If you're ever looking to re-home it let me know!

Great nursery!

Mrs. Happy Housewife said...

The chandelier has leaves - I'd paint it a pretty shade of green.

Southerner said...

Oh, you have to paint the chandalier and get some shades. I can just see it all painted up. Look at the ones from Pottery Barn for ideas. I think it is too fabulous to leave as is- painting it would take it from nice to "oh my goodness, that chandalier is so great!" We know you, you are talented and can pull this off.

Anonymous said...

Is the chandelier going in Elise's Room/Baby Boy's Nursery? If so, I don't think I would fancy it up too much since the new Little One is already getting a healthy dose of pink in his room. That was a super-duper buy and I would have bought it for 99 cents even if I stored it until Elise was again in a room by herself.

I just noticed you posted at 2am. I am sorry you had a sleepless night!

Katie said...

99 cents!! That's highway robbery! WOW! I, myself, would leave it white and put up some pretty shades. In Amelia's nursery, I used some coordinating fabric to cover the shades. I'm still on the hunt for some trim for them. I love that it's unique!

That stove is so great!

An Adventurer in the World said...

This is a darling nursery!

as for the chandelier, depends on where you're hanging it, and it's purpose.

I love the raw sparkly candle-ness of an unadorned chandelier, but the light may be too harsh at night for the little occupants.

So I would ask Elise her opinion on shade style. She has an eye for these things : )

deb meyers

Andrea said...

Meredith...
I love the bird lamp! You have a wonderful eye for putting things together...
As for me, I love the "shabby chic" look..I'd leave it white and peeling!!!
Shades are pretty if you can find some! (which I'm sure you can!)

Randi~Dukes and Duchesses said...

You got that for 99 cents??? I wouldn't paint it ... I love the shabby chic look of it. Give it some cute shades and you're set!

Tamara said...

What a lovely nursery/bedroom! I love pink and green together.

The chandelier is wonderful...what a great find! It's sweet in white, with green shades, perhaps? I'd say pink, but I'm assuming you don't want to overdo the pink for baby boy's sake. Or, as Mrs. Happy Housewife suggested, paint the chandelier a soft green to bring out the leaf details. Maybe leave it white, and just paint the leaves? In either of these cases, I'd use white/cream shades. And maybe you could "nestle" a nest or a little white bird just above the leaves...to tie in your sweet birdie lamp.

I also agree with Eleanor Joyce...put me in line if you ever decide to re-home that lovely hollyhock print!

Michelle said...

I personally love the bird lamp, just my two cents. I would leave the chandelier white and add green and white gingham shades.

Best of Luck
Michelle

Anonymous said...

You know Meredith, I would pay you a lot of money to come to my house and help me with my kitchen. I have been working on this kitchen for years. I never have been able to get it 'right' in the way I want it. I am going for a vintage country look. I have a nice picture of chickens, a lot of old plates hanging on the wall, many pieces of vintage jadite glass ware, and the walls are a creamy white. Somehow it is missing something. My floor is wood. Anyway, your decorating style is just wonderful. Thank you for sharing it. Roxie

Anonymous said...

Love the look of the chandelier, as well as the price!

The nursery looks beautiful!

Sharon said...

Get a can of silver spray paint for the chandlier ...It would look great!

Anonymous said...

I'd probably make it a more colorful tole style -- like the one in my girls' room or like this one.

Mikki said...

Well, I love everything you've done so far, and I know whatever you do with the chandelier will be fabulous.
Why not just go over the top with it. Pink paint, strings of sweet beads, alternating pink and green gingham shades, ribbon trim.
make it sickeningly sweet. :o)
p.s. I love your blog

Lisa said...

I love it! What a find!! I would leave the chandelier as it is.

Lisa Q
lifewiththequeens.blogspot.com

Sandy said...

First of all I love the bargain. And I'd probably leave it white. Can't wait to see the finished product!

Jan/lost-strayed-or-stolen.blogspot.com said...

Why not drape the chandelier with strands of ivy, and tuck in a few little bird houses and some tiny birds? That would pick up the leaf motif, and not be *too* girly for the bitsy boy.

New Mom said...

Shades!

Anonymous said...

If you are concerned about too much light you could have someone install a dimmer switch in the room.
Mrs. L.

Quirky Cottage Owners said...

Meridith, you are amazing. I LOVE what you are doing in that room. Everything looks so great. I really like your style. You've gotten lots of good comments about the chandelier -- I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with it. Wish I could hire you as a consultant. And WHERE did they have a 99 cent sale. I've never stumbled onto one.
Rita

The Nester said...

LOVE IT!!!!!!!

yes, all i would do is shades!!!

Michelle said...

Great deal on the chandelier! It looks good as it but if you want to spruce it up I'd put some sage shades on it (be neat if you could find the toile pattern that's on the cribskirt).

Jana @sidetrackd said...

Lovely chandelier. I would like to have one like that for Little's room. Maybe you could do pink shades with green ribbon trim or pink and green striped shades. Looking forward to seeing how you dress it up.

Nancy said...

I'd leave it white and look for some shades that have beading on them in clear or green. That way it would work for "itty bitty" (so cute!) or your daughter.

Kate said...

I like the colored shades idea simply because they'll look cute and diffuse the light, making it warmer instead of just stark naked bulbs shining brilliantly in an otherwise lovely and calming room.

How big is the room? My nursery is ridiculously tiny (yet it has a walk-in closet...go figure.) You have inspired me to think about redecorating. In fact, the walk-in closet is large enough to turn into a tiny nursery...if it had a window.

Mrs. L said...

Thanks for all the picture of your nursery! Everything is beautiful and it has given me a few ideas for my little one's nursery too! Have fun nesting:)

Theresa Schultz said...

How about draping a garland of crystal beads around it? That might look good, but it really is pretty as is.

Theresa
Stress-FreeParent.blogspot.com

nancyr said...

I would use green and white shades, and leave the chandelier white. I wouldn't use pink, or make it feminine for baby boy's sake.

Anonymous said...

Oh Meredith,
You've done it again..hooray for your resourcefulness, talent and panache! Regarding the chandelier, how about frosted bulbs on a dimmer switch, wrap the 'arms' with some strips of tulle, and adorn with pink crystals. Just remove the tulle and hand wash as added...low maintainence here! I avoid choosing things that are too fussy to clean. Want to play with the babies and streamline that process. *grin* Whatever you decide it will be great.
Sending admiration from the MN branch of your fan club. :-)
Jen

Anonymous said...

Wow. Only you get 99 cent chandeliers. I love it. I think my deals are good until I see what you find. That's not a complaint. :)

I would go with shades. That will make it easy to change for future use. I've successfully gotten those thrifting for 50 cents a piece - they are kind of pricy at the regular store.

Lynn Hasty said...

I just had to tell you how much I love your nursery decorating! I like the bird lamp! :) I think the nursery is adorable.

I follow your blog, and just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy it. I am a frugal, thrift store shopper too, and we do just fine!

I always appreciate what you share.

Lynn

Anonymous said...

I would repaint it a richer white and then add shades, pink or green and glue light feathery material, like boa feathers or little pom-pom balls the same color as the shade. Glue this to the bottom of the shade. Trust me I saw this in a little girls room in a very stylish wealthy home and it was amazing.

Empty Nest Full Life said...

I didn't read all of the posts but paint white again if needed . What about some of the pink toile trimmed in green braid, ribbon or tassels or maybe even a green stripe with coordinating trim on the shades. The room is beautiful. You have such a better selection of thrift items in your area than we do. You are doing a fantastic job on the nursery!

Jane said...

OK, I want this room for myself! You are awesome!

Sue said...

The room is lovely! I think the lamp that your hubby does not care for has found a wonderful home! The chandelier is a great find. The best part is, whatever you choose to do with it now, can always be revamped later when tastes and needs change. It is a great addition!

Anonymous said...

I didn't read all of the comments, so this might be repetitive, but I think it would look beautiful with green toile (matching the baby bed skirt) shades. I don't think it needs any paint--looks fine!
:)

Anonymous said...

The chandelier is exquisite in white. don't paint it!

I would add colored shades only if the bulbs are too bright. If you use the frosted ones, like it appears to have in the front, you wouldn't need shades.

Elise said...

99 cents?!?! Wow, you find the best deals!!
Elise

Kelly said...

Some pretty pastel gingham shades . With rick rack trim around the edges .
I also use water color pencils to draw designs on plain white shades that compliment the patterns and colors used in the room. If you can not draw you could transfer designs or images .
I like your dove , lovebird lamp it is very whimsical and fits the english garden style of your daughter and infants room .
The room feels very soothing.

Anonymous said...

this is my first time commenting but i just had to tell you that i love the pink & green toille and beautiful daybed and dresser! cute finds too on the chandelier and little kitchen~this is totally my kind of style! love it!!! thank you for sharing, Liz

Lylah Ledner said...

haven't popped over in ages...and so glad i did...i LOVE the look and LOVE the little chandelier. i'd say - leave it and add some dainty ribbon bows.

Anonymous said...

It is a very pretty little girl's room but I am anxious to see the boy nursery section. I know the baby won't care how feminine his surroundings are, but I'm sure you have something boyish planned for his corner of the room. Can't wait to see how you incorporate the decors for boy and girl. Because they are sharing, I definitely would not "frill" up the chandelier if you are using it in this room.

Anonymous said...

If you go to the blog "My Romantic Home", she just refurbished a chandelier! Love the photos of her home. She was recently chosen and filmed for a show on HGTV.

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful room! the chandelier was quite a find, you do have a gift and an eye for finding treasures. I would consider leaving it white and adding shades in any of the colors you are using since they blend so nicely together. What about adding some crystals on each arm? you can buy ones that have a very small magnet that just sticks them on--or just make them yourself with some recycled crystals and add the small magnetic jewelry clasps that you buy at the craft store the light shining through crystals makes great rainbows to entertain the little ones lacking a chandelier -- I hug some on the window in my sons room when he was a little one he loved following the rainbows!

Kelly said...

Meredith,
I just found a shop online (via Romantic Cottage) called Lavender Fields . Readers who like your color palette will enjoy the finishes they use and they are having a great contest . Post a picture of the bedroom you want redecorated , and the bedroom that everyone choses wins a complete Pine Cone Hill bedding ensemble . WOW !!!

Anonymous said...

I'd paint it some sagey shade of green or a color to match your nursery.I actually have a similar one in gold shiny metal finish but it's in my dining room. I'd put tiny white shades so I could use the energy saving light bulbs. You could trim the shades with green and pink ribbons or you could put some sort of stickers on them.I think tiny anaimal stickers would be cute,