This used to be The Man Cave. It’s now The Baby Cave since the word nursery is kind of weak. I realize that “cave” implies that our child has fangs and bat wings, but in our current vampire-obsessed culture I think he’ll blend just fine.
The room is 90 percent finished. When my dad comes down in June, he’ll install white chair rail between the beige and green walls.
The crib was a gift from my parents. There’s (of course) a ridiculous story behind the purchasing of the crib, but I’ll save that tale for another day. The rug is from Ikea. I LOVE IKEA. And yes, I always think of Ed Norton’s IKEA rant in Fight Club when I’m aimlessly wandering the store’s tidy/handsome apartment displays.
[Crib = Babies R Us. Rocking chair = Cracker Barrel.]
I still need to replace the mini blinds with white cordless shades. I haven’t decided if I’m keeping the green valances. My mom made them for The Man Cave a couple years ago and they seem to match the room’s current reincarnation, so we’ll see.
I take zero credit for the paint job and crib assembly. Last month, I escaped to my Oma and Opa’s place in South Sarasota County for a weekend away with my sister. When I returned two days later to a freshly painted cave and expertly assembled crib, I got all weepy and sentimental.
With each new step I take with Joe, I fall deeper and deeper in love. I’m a lucky lady.
[Paint = Benjamin Moore in aventurine green and interlude beige. Inspiration behind color combo = Eddie Bauer.]
Have I told you our baby will be named Henry after Joe’s dad and Richard after my dad? That’s right. Our child is a king. Maybe we’ll call the cave THE ROYAL CHAMBERS instead. The door hang was crafted by one of Joe’s coworkers. His company had a homemade Valentine’s Day exchange and this was the valentine he received. I love that the chick who made it glued a soccer ball to the top. I played soccer for six years and it would DO ME PROUD if Henry played one day …
Anyone who has ever met the pug knows these aren’t the only big balls in our house.
[Pullout couch = IKEA. Little stool = Sarasota garage sale. Big white balls = Land of Nod.]
The guitar is an obvious ode to The King’s father. I can’t play, but Joe can tear it up like a rock star. (Our neighbors can attest.) One of the first things I asked him when we started talking about having kids was: “Will you puhleese teach them how to play guitar?” He looked at me like, duh.
[Bookshelf = Pier 1 Imports. Ottoman = Target. Chess board = beautiful souvenir Joe bought many moons ago in Italy.]
The Very Hungry Caterpillar was a gift from my mom.
The little Disney trinket jar is something I saved from my childhood for THIS very occasion. It was a gift from my Oma. On my first trip to Florida, when I was about 11 years old, I collected sand from Siesta Key Beach, poured it into this jar and vowed to anyone who would listen that one day I would move to Florida. I kept it on my dresser until the day I left home. It’s remained with me ever since, which is a miracle since I left most of my earthly possessions in a downtown Sarasota cottage four years ago upon embarking on a cross-country road trip to Oregon.
Eighteen years and six moves later, the jar has never chipped and the sand has never spilled.
In case you’re curious: I turned over most of my possessions to a pair of really sweet tenants who moved into the Sarasota cottage the day I moved out. They had very little stuff and they seemed quite pleased with my bohemian hand-me-downs.
[Night light = IKEA.]
I should point out that I originally wanted all white furniture for The Baby Cave, but my mothership quickly pointed out the pitfalls of white furniture and in the end I’m so glad we went with cherry wood. As PK would say, “It’s classy.”
I should also point out that The Baby Cave is the first room we’ve painted since moving into our pad three years ago.
[Yellow blankie = knitted by Oma. Tree art = HomeGoods.]
That’s a picture of Joe as a wee boy. You didn’t know he played for The Mets, did you? The stuffed king was an awesome little surprise from my eco-conscious cousins Erik and Reb in Colorado. They recently had a baby boy, who is also a king. This is Henry’s first organic toy, which means I wont get skeezed out by the possibility of lead poisoning when he gnaws on it.
I hadn’t intended to go for a monkey theme. It just kind of happened.
[Crib sheets + Breathable bumpers + plush monkey = Babies R Us. “Grandma Loves Me” blankie = another gift from my mom, who is very excited about the birth of her first grandbaby.]
Note to expecting parents: It’s not necessary to invest in an expensive changing table when you can purchase a dresser with a longer lifespan. The changing pad fit perfectly on top of this chest and look at all the storage potential we’ve got underneath. Four enormous drawers! PLUS, it fit like a glove inside this odd cutout next to the closet. I measured 100 dressers to find the best fit.
[Dresser = IKEA. Changing pad + Monkey clock = Babies R Us. Mirror = HomeGoods.]
The closet is a work-in-progress. It used to be completely non-functional. We ripped out a shelf and slid these cubes inside. I can’t be bothered to hang baby clothes. Hanging a onesie is like hanging underwear.
[Wire cube storage apparatus = Target.]
Everything I purchased for this room had to have storage potential. We have two closets in our house and you just saw one of them. I’m always looking for creative ways to hide things and this little end table/cabinet had two big shelves inside, so it was a keeper.
[Cabinet + lamp = HomeGoods.]
Phew. You’ve now come to the end of a fairly comprehensive tour of The Baby Cave.
I hope I didn’t bore you. Like I said, I’m nesting.
And man are my wings tired.
I am LOVING it, absolutely love it! And you, my dear, look fantastic! Plus I’m digging the green… very cool. Your little Henry (what shall I call him so I don’t confuse him with my Henry: Henry2 perhaps?) will feel right at home in the baby cave.
As usual perfectly said.
The room looks amazing! I personally love the monkey theme. The green monkey blankie is Avas favorite type, I actually have 5 different ones just like that because she can’t sleep with anything different.
The walls = beautiful. Great job, Joe! I love IKEA, and Fight Club, so I’m in the same boat with you on that. Also, I’m mildly obsessed with British Royalty, so Henry Richard gets 2 thumbs up from this corner. IMHO, the green valances match perfectly well. I would leave those. I think it gives balance by mirroring the green lower half of the room. I would need to ramble on forever to give my opinion on the decor, but let me say this; I think you have done an *amazing* job, and accomplished the nigh impossible task of turning a room into something which is clearly intended for a baby, without having the slightest amount of tackiness, or covering everything in pastels. Outstanding!
P.S. I want that night light!!!
A labor of love that turned out beautifully! You and Joe did an excellent job. Henry is one lucky lil boy, can’t wait to meet him.
P.S.Kenny sorry I put 1st dibs on that light! 😉
It’s perfect! You and Joe look wonderful. Now, we just need the King! 🙂
Side note: I wish we had an Ikea closer to us!! Our trips to Canada have been less frequent.
you both did a terrific job , the perfect palace for King Henry Richard Bardi…. anxiously awaiting pics of the little guy.
AWWWwwWWW I love it 🙂
and the name too! I met a baby once named Henry and he was exactly how you would picture a little Henry to be…jovial with chubby pink cheeks….no fangs or wings in sight. hee hee.
-Dddddd
Absolutely love it, You and Joe did a beautiful job. I can not wait to meet little Henry. Oh by the way Heidi you look great. Love and miss yeah.
Remember before when I said I had this vision of your little boy running around outside in the dirt catching frogs? Well the name Henry just made my vision complete. It is PERFECT. I love it.
You guys created a perfect room for him. I love everything about it. It has so much character already.
I have never heard of the store Home Goods, but I wish we had one here!! Nice stuff.
Heidi and Joe! amazing and gorgeous! have safe delivery. let us know what you like for dinner and i will get one made and brought up to you:)
I love the room…I love your writing about the room! Only a little more than 8 weeks to go!
Look great Heid! Can’t wait to crash his room and have a sleep over with him in there 🙂
Looks beautiful! so excited to be meeting King Henry soon!
WOW….beautiful. Great Job!
ummmm!!! No Mexican in this blog! ah! The room looks even better than when I saw it the other day on Scipe. I guess the mexican doesn’t exactly fit the “monkey” theme. Can’t wait to see you in June with the king! Wish I could be there sooner! Miss u! Wish we were celebrating our birthday’s together as tradition would have it.
It’s wonderful! I was relieved to see that you got a changing table – you’ll be so glad you have one : )
I think Henry is a great name…
Heelya: Pedro is in there. Scroll eight pictures up from the bottom. He’s in the toy bin, alongside an orange moose from PK.
I can’t believe how many comments the cave has generated! I should always write about home decor. Thank you all for your compliments! And to think I wrote most of these captions at 4 a.m. this morning because I was unable to sleep.
Pregnancy has sabotaged my already-horrible sleeping habits. Motherhood will likely obliterate whatever’s left.
Love it…… I can’t really add to what others have said previously…. just reiterate.
A-DOR-A-BLE.
And, by the way, Henry is the cutest name ever. Ever ever ever. 🙂
Looks great! What is your due date?
3 things –
1. Monkies throw their poop…
2. Hank is the nickname for Henry. And of course, the nickname for Richard is….
3. The room is adorable, and you guys will be amazing parents!!!!
<3
HANK DICK. Nice Jenn. Thanks. 🙂
Jennifer just made me laugh.
Confession…I only looked at the pictures on this post.
But the room is absolutely gorgeous. Your little man is gonna love it!
Keep the valances they go perfectly! Love it, it’s beautiful!!!