Date: July 18, 2017 | Story: Tiffany Adams | Photography: Rett Peek |
Designer Susan Walsh works with a West Little Rock family to create a contemporary nursery for their newest arrival
Welcoming a baby is a family affair, so it’s only natural that designing a space specifically for the new addition should include everyone, even the youngest family member. “This family has a precious nine-year-old daughter who loves to be involved when we work on their home,” designer Susan Walsh of Bear Hill Interiors says. To help create a nursery for her new baby brother, the designer tasked the young girl and her mother with finding nursery images they liked on Pinterest.
The room itself wasn’t currently serving as a bedroom. “It was a home office. However, she no longer needed it to function in that capacity and had considered turning it into something else—maybe even a yoga room. When she called to say they were expecting, we knew just what to do with that space,” Walsh says. The home lends itself to transitional style, so the designer asked the mother-daughter duo if they preferred the look to lean more modern or traditional. Upon learning the answer to her question, Walsh took the reins and created a contemporary yet warm and welcoming nursery for the newest family member, who was born in February of this year.
“We initially considered using wallpaper but never found one we all loved, so we decided to paint,” Walsh says. A clean gray covers the walls while a light blue ceiling is a nod to what is often the wall color of choice for baby boy nurseries. When it came to furnishings, the search for a glider that felt more like a traditional piece of furniture than a nursery rocker also led to finding a bassinet through the same source. “I had been to Baby Braithwaite in Atlanta and saw a line—Monte Design—that I knew would be perfect for this space,” Walsh says. We particularly liked this glider because it’s tall and has a headrest in case she falls asleep while rocking. Plus, her husband is very tall, and it fits him perfectly,” Walsh says, while also noting that the shape and design of the piece gives it longevity beyond the baby years. Other furnishings, including a campaign-style dresser that can double as a changing table and a side table that is currently planted near the glider, will also transition effortlessly as the baby grows.
Lightly hued drapery panels were repurposed from the home office and updated with new banding. A series of baby animal prints from The Animal Print Shop hangs over the crib for a sweet touch. “Their daughter requested to have a horse in this grouping because she loves them,” Walsh says with a smile. Other abstract artworks add to the contemporary feel of the space. A round chandelier with cutouts adds interest overhead while a floor lamp complements the lighting scheme and provides an additional light source for nighttime feedings. These details add personalization to a space that was thoughtfully created by the designer, mother, and new big sister.
Design Resources
Interior design Susan Walsh, Bear Hill Interiors
Accessories, art, furniture, and lighting Bear Hill Interiors
Paint Sherwin-Williams
Rug C&F Flooring and Rug Gallery
Window coverings Mountjoy’s Custom Draperies
