Eden’s Sweet and Cozy Nursery

Name:Eden
Location:Richmond, Virginia
Room Size:7′ x 9′

The moment I walked into this nursery, I wanted to plop down on the rocking chair and hang out in there all afternoon!Lauradid a great job making a small space feel both cozy and bright, and attributes a lot of that coziness to the fact that most of the items in the nursery are gifted from friends and family who wanted to be a part of baby Eden’s life. It is amazing to hear Laura tell the story behind each doll, book and article of clothing, and you truly get the sense that she is a believer of the adage that it takes a village to raise a baby. Even though many friends and family are far away, Laura created a space that she hopes makes her daughter feel surrounded by love.

How would you describe the look and feel of this room?

When I was coming up with an idea for Eden’s room, it basically all revolved around finding an old birdcage, which my friend Martha made her prime goal (and which, as you can see, she pulled off beautifully). I loved the idea of a little nest for the baby. I am not terribly creative when it comes to designing or decorating so I wanted something that felt comfortable, simple, and that gave nods to Eden’s American and Rwandan roots. And I liked gray, pink and white. Our apartment has no particular theme or style, except that I use what is special to me, regardless of the flow or concept. I would say that the number one thing that defines her nursery is a sense that many many people love her and made/gave/passed down precious pieces for the nursery. They don’t all match or really go together but they are labors of love for my daughter, so they are all beautiful to me.

What is your favorite piece or element?

I absolutely love the piece that hangs over her crib which one of my best friends, Greta, and her husband made for Eden. The photos on it are a collection from several photographer friends and capture some of my favorite seasons of her life thus far. But I think my favorite element overall are the matching dust ruffle and valance that my mother made. She poured out so much love and time into them and Im so thankful to her. They remind me how much love she has poured out into my life over the years and how much she is already pouring into Eden’s. And I also love all the photos. Taking photos and documenting life is one of my most important hobbies and I love the photos I chose to put up in her room.

What was the biggest challenge decorating this room?

I would say space and a limited budget. It’s a very small nursery with limited floor space and we had a very limited budget. Thankfully, we were able to hit the consignment sales, re-purpose old furniture, and be the recipients of a few generous gifts.

What do your friends say about the room?

Most people who have been in it says that it’s a great use of the space. I love the alcove for the bed and I think that makes the space work.

Do you have any advice for parents creating a room for their child?

You do not need to have one theme where everything is cohesive. If you like something, find a way to make it work. And you don’t need to have the nursery all completed when baby comes. Start off simple and add as you grow into being a parent and knowing your little one. Also you don’t need a huge space. The baby needs somewhere to sleep and you should probably have somewhere to put clothes, change diapers, and rock. But other than that, you don’t need much.

If money were no object, what’s your dream source?

Honestly, and this may not be very savvy, but I don’t have one. I try not to spend too much time wishing I could have something different. I love her room. It is cozy and sweet and a bit random and it gushes stories of love for my daughter from many many people. No one else would have this room because its full of things made for her. I like that is so unique and could not be replicated by ordering from a dream source. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

• Lamp: Gift from my mama; Macy’s
• Dresser: A gift from friends. It was on its way out the door and we sanded, painted and put on new knobs.
• Crib: Gift from my mama; Target.
• Eden’s birth weight rounds: Made by Greta
• The lace runner for the dresser: A keepsake from my mama. It was on her dresser when she was a little girl.
• Daily calendar: A gift from Holly that I LOVE because I can write one little thing about each day with Eden. Its helped me make sure I savor at least one bit of each day.
• Canvas multi-media piece: From my co-worker, Laura
• Birdcage: Searched for and found by Martha in an antique store. Its full of headbands and hats made by many friends & a few by me too!
• Doll on the dresser: Handmade by Amanda
• Little bunny on the dresser: Handmade by Ashley
• Big bunny on the dresser: Handmade by Greta
• Silver Noah’s ark: A gift from my brother
• Bookshelf: A hand-me-down from Laura Lee (who I am named after) and Katie. It was in Katie’s room as a girl.
• Silver baby cup: Mine as a child
• Valance and dust ruffle: Handmade by mama for
• Eden pillow: Handmade by Katha with love from Germany
• Glider: A gift from grandmom and mama; Target
• Little rocking chair: Re-purposed by grandmom and re-gifted from cousins
• Small wooden chair: From grandmom. used to be in the sunday school classroom where my father and his brothers were children. each jordan kid has one now.
• Mirror: Re-purposed by grandmom. Found on the side of the road no doubt. She does it like that.
• Sheep quilt: Gift from Holly
• Eden letters: From my sister for my shower
• ‘We Made You Before We Met You’ painting: Handmade by Aunt Gretchen.
• Elephant: Bought at an a handmade fair.
• Changing table: $20 at a a consignment sale.
• African print animals: From Rwanda
• Crochet giraffe: Handmade by a friend’s mother who has never even met Eden
• Birdy mobile: Handmade by Marla with love for baby
• Wood piece for photos: From Zach and Greta. Maternity and newborn shots from Christine, Kristal and Greta.
• Teddy bear in the basket: Mine from birth: Theodore Lawrence Bearstien, teddy bear for short.
• Blanket in crib : Hand crocheted by a friend

Thanks, Laura!

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