Date: July 22, 2015 | Story: Tiffany Adams | Photography: Rett Peek | Styling: Chip Jones |
For her daughter’s nursery, designer Melissa Haynes curated a design of long-loved pieces and functional favorites with a feminine flair
“I always thought—before I even knew I was expecting—that I would do a neutral nursery for a baby boy or a girl,” says Northwest Arkansas interior designer Melissa Haynes. However, almost immediately after finding out that she and her husband Hunter’s new arrival would be a girl, Haynes fell hard for a blush-hued design. “There was a Mary McDonald for Schumacher fabric I had pinned, thinking someday it would be perfect for a project. I returned to that immediately, and it was the starting point for the entire space,” she says of the “Chinois Palais” drapery panels, which now grace her daughter Harlowe’s room.
With the palette set, Haynes opted to accentuate the light blush hues of the drapery with an equally girlish wall color—Benjamin Moore’s Queen Anne Pink. “I wanted to try something in the blushy pink family for the walls, but as soon as that was painted, I walked past it and thought ‘this is way too bright,’” she says. “I personally like really soft colors, but even my painter loved it, so I decided to keep it. As soon as things started to come together, the other pieces lightened the color, and I loved it.” These other elements include an abstract art piece titled “Stella,” by Christina Baker, which hangs over the crib; a three-dimensional mounting of small, pink sea urchins seen on the wall behind the changing table; and custom bedding made from Elizabeth Hamilton fabric, sewn in panels to allow the crib skirt to remain floor length even as the crib height is adjusted for the child’s growth.
Aside from high-style elements, Haynes also incorporated high-function pieces to make the room practical for the new family. In the adjoining bath, a small freestanding tub sits inside a tiled room, which can accommodate splashing bubble baths as the young child grows. Additionally, built-in shelving and a multitude of storage bins help to keep the closet organized, allowing Haynes to focus on the room’s most important feature: her daughter.
Melissa’s 5 Nursery Must-Haves
1. DURABLE FABRICS My glider is covered with a Sunbrella outdoor fabric that looks like wool and has a soft feel, yet it repels stains and wipes clean.
2. CATCHALL END TABLE There are so many things—books, bottles, burp cloths, etc.—you need when you’re using your rocker. Having a small table by the glider keeps them close at hand.
3. PROPER LIGHTING A swing-arm floor lamp, which was originally placed near the glider but was soon relocated to the changing table, provides just the right amount of light for late-night diaper changes.
4. GLASS DISPENSERS There are so many lotions and creams and soaps for babies. I put everything in glass dispensers on the counter to make them more accessible and to eliminate the clutter and confusion that can come with having a lot of different bottles.
5. BASKETS AND BINS There is so much gear that comes with having a baby. These are a quick and cute way to keep it all organized. I keep extra diapers, wipes, products, blankets, and clothing she has outgrown in baskets in the closet. I also have baskets for towels in the bath and ones for toys in the bedroom.
Design Resources
Interior design Melissa Haynes, MH Design, Inc., Johnson, (479) 435-6990, melissahaynesdesign.com
Accessories, art, bedding, countertops, fabrics, fixtures, furniture, lighting, mirrors, rugs, tile, and upholstery MH Design, Inc., Johnson, (479) 435-6990, melissahaynesdesign.com
Flooring—hardwood Wood Floor Gallery, Springdale, (479) 872-0102, woodfloorgallery.net
Paint Benjamin Moore, locations statewide, benjaminmoore.com
Window coverings Mountjoy’s Custom Draperies, Mabelvale, (501) 455-2216
