When Jessica Kwasnica, a designer with Urbana Kitchens, found out she was pregnant with her first child, her creative juices kicked into high gear.
She suspected that the principles of good kitchen design would apply to baby rooms. After all, both spaces have to be functional, have adequate storage space and be well-organized for the task at hand.
"I wanted something that was timeless, yet transitional," says Kwasnica, who delivered Olivia Rose Joy Sept. 10. "It had to be elegant, yet lighthearted and functional."
Apart from helping friends with their baby room, Kwasnica had never designed a nursery before.
Fortunately, like most parents, she had nine months to plan and create a serene and comfortable environment for the baby to daydream, play and grow.
Kwasnica, 31, shares how she arrived at the final design:
GENDER
Kwasnica admits knowing the baby was a girl while she was still pregnant influenced the direction of her design. The room features a colour palette that includes navy blue, cream and lilac.
"I deliberately chose softer colours, textured wallpaper and more feminine touches, such as a crystal chandelier."
She says she would have used darker colours and left out the more whimsical touches in the room if she had found out she was carrying a boy.
FURNITURE
The baby's crib, chosen by Kwasnica's husband, Tony Rechsteiner, was the first piece of furniture she selected and it set the tone for the rest of the room.
The dark-chocolate tones and traditional fluting and columns of the crib served as a starting point for the room's eventual design.
The crib's sides can be removed and it can be converted into a double bed, which means it may be little Olivia's bed for several years to come.
"We chose it because it was easy to make changes, making for an eventual transition from newborn to toddler."
A dresser with a changing pad on top serves as a change table and storage for baby supplies such as diapers, wipes and powder.
In later years, this dresser will serve as a repository for clothing.
The room has a more cohesive look because the crib and dresser are similar in colour and style.
NURSING
A comfortable, easy-to-clean chair is an essential component of any nursery. Kwasnica chose her leather rocker with the idea that it will eventually fit the decor of another room in the house.
She chose leather over fabric because it's easier to clean spit-ups and other accidents by baby.
A well-organized room also makes it easy for spouses to find items when it's time for them to relieve tired mothers.
BEFORE AND AFTER
We followed up on Kwasnica after her baby's birth, to find out if she had changed anything after having the baby home for a month.
So far, the first-time mom is still happy with the design and hasn't found any areas she wishes she had done differently.
