NewlyWoodwards

an unconventional home

A guitar and a growth chart (Nursery updates)

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I believe there are two types of decorators.

  • There are those decorators who “do” a room and keep the “bones” nearly the same forever. There could be some new artwork, a new pillow or knick knacks. But, the paint, woodwork, light fixtures, and furniture have a long life.
  • Then there are those decorators who change their decor as often as they change clothing. New paint. New furniture. A whole new room. All the time.

I fall pretty firmly in the first camp. I don’t often change paint colors or major elements of a room once we’ve renovated. I make a decision and stick to it. In fairness, that’s likely because we haven’t stayed in houses for a long time. But, I think I’ve only repainted one room in both of our houses.

(On a side note … My mother-in-law falls squarely in the second camp. I have to do a house tour each time we visit to see what’s changed. Which we all know works in my favor. I also think that most bloggers fall into the second type. But that’s purely hypothetical. I had the opportunity to hang out with some really awesome bloggers last week at Delta and it seemed like I may have been a minority.)

But, while the rooms often stay the same once I deem them “finished,” that doesn’t mean I don’t tinker around. That’s pretty much what’s happened in Henry’s room. I already shared one update, but we finally got a few new things one the walls.

Adding personality to the nursery1

 

The first addition is the black guitar from Henry’s birthday party. Instead of a guest book, my father-in-law cut this guitar for friends and family to sign. I thought it would be a fun reminder of the day and a nice addition to Henry’s room.

Adding personality to the nursery3

 

 

Ryan also screwed the growth chart to the door frame. (This was a gift from my aunt and made locally, since I know you’ll ask.) Because the measurements start at zero, I wanted it mounted flush with the floor. The quarter round wouldn’t allow for this, so the door frame was the next option.Adding personality to the nursery2

 

And this is our little collection of bike plates. When Ryan took the first business trip to California after Henry was born, he brought home one. And a little collection was born. We haven’t been able to find one for every state we’ve visited, but it’s fun to search. And it’s fun for other family members to look, too. It’s also something that I think will look great in his room as he grows up. We have been writing the date and who the plate was from on the back. Eventually, I’d love to mount them on a large piece of barn board. But for now, they are cute just tacked to the wall.

Adding personality to the nursery4

 

The boy will never forget his name.

Adding personality to the nursery1

I also cannot take a straight picture to save my life.

What type of decorator are you?

Comments

  1. I think I fall firmly into the first group, but I am not entirely sure since I have essentially never “finished” a room until recently. Between renting and being cash-strapped, it just has never come into fruition in the past. I guess only time will tell!

  3. I’m definitely in camp #2! But i can’t take a straight photo either, so we do have that in common. The black guitar is SUPER cool. That’s gotta be the coolest little one-year-old boy in the world.

  5. I hate painting so I try to be decorator #1…but have historically picked the wrong color, lived with it for a while while loathing it, then repainted in the right color. 😛 I think blogs and magazines can make it hard to be content with what you have chosen since you see SO MANY great ideas and styles for spaces, which might be why it seems a lot of bloggers change everything pretty frequently.

  7. I’m in the first group. If I find something that works, I leave it and do other kinds of projects. Function over form, most definitely! It’s nice when you can have both.

    Love the license tags!

  8. Love, love, love the additions to Henry’s room! I’m totally like you. One time and done with minor updates. It’s more a time and money constraint for me… Do it once and do it right 😉

  10. I’m the former as well. Painting is just not my idea of a rad time. I just love Henry’s room! Poor Junior’s room is still pretty bare bones. I just can’t get a good feel for what I want to do in there yet, and frankly don’t want to have to keep re-doing it…. Decisions, decisions.

    PS – I sent you mail today!

  11. I love love the ruler!! I think i’m in camp one with a hint of camp two….I like to keep most of the bones in rooms the same — while changing out pillows / wall color / curtains as time goes on…and adding and taking away stuff.

  12. I definitely just laugh-snorted at “The boy will never forget his name.” I love the bicycle plates. And LOVE the growth chart.

    I don’t think I’ve actually done enough decorating to fall into either camp. But I did just repaint our bedroom, so…..?? There’s also nothing on our walls anywhere. Decorating fail. Someday. Or maybe I’ll just move instead. That sounds easier.

  13. Those license plates are so fun, and I love the idea of signing the guitar and displaying it–so cool. I’d love a tally of how many times this boy’s name is on display in his room, please 🙂

  14. Oh I’m definitely a change things often kind of decorator, but more in the middle of the two. I change the small pieces a lot but don’t repaint walls and do other major things as often. Love the curtains on Henry’s closet! You’ve inspired me to try something similar with the boys’ closet. 🙂

  15. I fall squarely into category 1! I just can’t justify spending money redoing rooms (oh, but I dream!). I love the new additions in Henry’s nursery! We just had to rearrange Reagan’s room, that’s the most rearranging I’ve done in months!

  16. i LOVE those little license plates!! how freaking adorable. we collect magnets from everywhere Nora goes, but since she has an uncommon name, they are just place magnets. love it!

  17. I am DEFINITELY a “leave the bones” kind of girl, but I think it’s mainly because we’re not yet in our “forever home,” so I’m always thinking about future buyers! It almost killed me to paint our bedroom turquoise… but I did it… and love it… I hope I still do once we repaint to sell! My mom, however, changes her whole house FREQUENTLY! I guess it’s a great way to learn what works and what doesn’t–through someone else’s trial and error! I love the growth chart and guitar. So cute!

    • Great point, Rachel! I think being in your forever home changes your perspective. We always know we’re going to be moving in a few years, so what’s the point? 😉

      Unless I truly HATE something, I’m not going to change it. And I feel like I have a fairly good idea of my style before we even start a room so I rarely hate it.

  18. I WISH I fell into your camp. But no room in my home is ever safe or “done”. Maybe if I never looked at blogs or Pinterest again… 😉
    I LOVE the license plate idea!!! And that guitar is so freakin cute :):)