Seattle Sun Newspaper - Vol. 7, Issue 5, May 2003
Copyright 2003 Seattle Sun. Please feel free to use the article and photos below in your research. Be sure to quote the Seattle Sun as your source.
DECORATING DILEMMAS
Nurseries: Make room for baby
By ROBIN DALY
Have you noticed? Spring is here! Flowers are blooming, the grass is growing at an alarming rate, and everywhere you look, bellies are bulging.
Doesn't it always seem like pregnant people appear all at once, and in large numbers? It's the same syndrome as when you get a new car, and you see how many other people are driving the same model (and no, I don't have any special news of my own to tell you!).
Speaking of babies, here's a design question I received that addresses this "growing" need:
Q: Dear Robin, I am having a baby in July and my father-in-law has built a crib. What finish can he use that won't be harmful in case the baby chews on the railings?
A: If you want to stain and finish the wood, go ahead and stain the crib in your desired color then use a water-based polyurethane topcoat. It's very important to let the stain dry thoroughly before applying the finish coat.
If you are considering painting the crib, use a water-based acrylic paint in a satin or semi-gloss finish.
Another idea, if you happen to be totally affected by that nesting instinct, is to go all the way and glaze the crib for a "been in the family for ages/heritage" look. Or even paint it with metallic paints or glazes; imagine a Glam Pad Crib to rest the baby in every night!
The key is to always let everything dry before going on to the next step and finish your work with a water-based polyurethane topcoat.
The only limit, as they say, is your imagination (and your due date).
Speaking of nurseries, here is a thought about window treatments for the little one's room: Babies only stay small for a short time; it only seems like forever when you are sleep deprived.
So before you start decorating everything in sight with cute little teddy bears and bunnies, think about the use of the room and the evolution of that space over a span of a few short years.
One of the primary functions of the nursery is to get the little tyke to sleep, so how you cover your windows becomes a major consideration.
Think BLACKOUT. You can achieve this with a variety of window treatments.
One of my personal favorites, laminated roller shades, look great and you can customize them to coordinate with the decor.
A laminated roller shade is similar to the old-fashioned shades you might find in your grandmother's home or in an old grade school. However, what is so flexible about laminated blinds is that the room-side of the shade is fused with decorative fabric. You can use any lightweight fabric, so the shade can become a decorative (and highly functional) element of the overall design of the nursery.
The marriage of function with beauty is what it's all about.
Valances are another great way to introduce some pattern into the room. Unlike curtains, valances stay out of reach of sticky fingers or in my daughter's case, they cannot be used as dramatic panels to whoosh out from behind and yank upon (always a highlight to any toddler until the curtain rod falls off the window!).
I love answering your Decorating Dilemmas, so feel free to write or e-mail me anytime!
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Robin Daly is a third-generation co-owner of Daly's Paint and Decorating in the Fremont neighborhood. You can e-mail her via the Seattle Sun at news@theseattlesun.com. She looks forward to solving your Decorating Dilemmas, however, relationship dilemmas are extra!