Once the delicate chandelier had been hung, there was no getting away from this was going to be a pink confection! My son requested some of the gray color to be added to keep the pink from swallowing up the room. You'll see I added a wide, 12" border with rounded ensign-cut corners to one wall. It helps interrupt the pink in a manner easy on the eyes. We first tried just making the wall a solid gray, but it just seemed too abrupt. Not a tremendous amount of gray used in the border, but it gets the job done. The plush and textured gray carpet adds good balance.

You'll see a painting on the wall. It measures 36" x 48". Using a painted canvas for artwork in a nursery, instead of painting directly on the wall, is more practical as the room's furniture will be re-arranged when Harper's crib becomes a bed. I was my own worst client ever trying to determine the canvas's subject. I needed to stay within the palette, and keep a measure of whimsy in my composition. After many discussions and sketches shared back and forth with Annie and Ryan, I was ready to paint.

CLICK HERE to see a close-up of the mural.

Also of note, take a look at the window treatments.  Annie found the delicate, shirred and ruffled valences.   I found a damask stencil that complemented the damask pattern Annie chose for the crib's bedding. I used the soft gray (Benjamin Moore's "Bunny gray") to stencil on the roller shades.

Ryan had found a pair of illustrations with fairies in the forest. The coloring was perfect, the frames a soft silver. The only problem was that hung on the wall, they were just a tad too small for the area.

Problem solved with hand-painted ribbons to "hang" the pictures on.

This is trompe l'oeil (French for "to fool the eye") at its most simple use.

I don't think I've ever been happier painting than the time I spent helping get this sweet nursery for Harper. A pinch is in order these days to get me back to work---I am walking on air! I never thought being a grandmother would bring such joy.

From time to time, I get asked if I "do" children's rooms.

I do, I do I do! And it's something I simply love doing. I hope Harper's nursery has shown there are many versatile painting solutions that can be used in a child's room.