Designer Favs: A Dream Nursery
There’s something magical about a baby’s nursery—it radiates warmth and happiness like no other space. These cherished rooms hold a special place in our hearts, filled with dreams of little bundles of joy. Che Bella Senior Interior Designer Stef Cohoe put her professional skills to work designing the nursery of her dreams. She and her husband welcomed their first daughter, Jules, into the world last year. Stef spent the months leading up to her birth planning the nursery down to the incredible golden flamingo mounts adorning the walls! She recounts the story behind the nursery’s design, starting with her vision for the space and a glimpse into her personal design style. “I like to think of my style as eclectic maximalism, but I wanted to bring whimsey into the space by mixing interesting patterns and colors.” Come along as Stef takes us on a tour of this extraordinary nursery.
Dark and Bright – The Color Story
Stef begins talking color. “I knew I needed a nursey that wasn’t just another beige baby room with pastels. My girl (and I) needed color! And I wanted the nursery to feel like it could grow with Jules over the years.” Stef chose two dramatic colors to anchor the room—Sherwin Williams Forward Fuchsia, a striking deep pink, and Sherwin Williams Rock Garden, a complimentary shade of deep moody green. Stef continues, “even with the colors I chose, I still wanted the room to have an overall feeling of calmness, and for me that means darkness. Therefore, I chose colors that marry my love of dark AND bright!”
Two main walls, including the one with the window, are dressed in bold fuchsia. The window is framed by lush green velvet drapes, which soften the intensity of the vibrant hue. To balance the space and create a cozy, intimate setting, the remaining walls are painted the deep, rich green.
Decadent Wall and Ceiling Detail
The nursery’s details are nothing short of exceptional. Stef shares her inspiration for the wall trim and her vision for the beautifully designed ceiling. “Wainscoting trim is among my many design loves, so naturally I needed to bring it into the space. I chose to feature the trim on the wall behind the crib to create a striking and dramatic backdrop.”
The textured ceiling offers another interesting touch in the room and is adorned in gold. Stef describes the steps she took to create the finish. “It was a process of troweling on drywall mud to create the texture, painting it with a flat gold-like paint, then brushing metallic gold paint on top. I did all of this while pregnant because it was MY fun project. I couldn’t give it up!”
For the Love of Art!
“I very much appreciate art and artists so it was obvious that I needed to introduce my daughter to my favorites early on,” Stef shares. “I found poster prints from Picasso, Van Gogh, and Henri Matisse and framed them in gold. We also found little artist books to read to Jules so that she can learn more about them!” To bring the whimsy she envisioned, a large disco ball hangs in the corner of the room. Stef shares, “I felt drawn to it when I was pregnant and just needed that extra touch of fun.”
Artistic details flow throughout the nursery, with gold accents making a statement. From the gold detail on the light fixture, to gold swan finials on the drapery hardware and flamingo mounts on either side of the window, and the striking large baroque-style mirror framed in gold, every touch adds a layer of elegance
A playful yet beautiful animal rug anchors the space, handpicked by Stef from the late designer Iris Apfel. Stef explains, “Iris was an incredible fashion icon, known for her bold style, larger-than-life personality, and signature oversized glasses. She famously said, ‘more is more, and less is a bore.'”
Brilliant Built-In
A standout feature in the room is the brilliant built-in, showcasing a clever and stylish use of the limited space. Stef explains, “since the room is small and doesn’t have room for many pieces of furniture, we made the most of the stud cavity, adding shelves to store our sweet girl’s weekly books and mementos. To draw attention to the shelves and rails, I continued with the green on the back and sides, while staining the shelves to match the other dark wood elements in the room.” The 8-inch cabinet pulls on the rails help keep the books neatly in place as they lean.
From Nursery Interior Design to Whole Home Remodels
Whether you have nine months to create the nursery of your dreams or another room in your home needs attention, reach out to our Twin Cities interior design team for inspiration. We provide complete design services including materials selection, custom furniture and furnishings, as well as layout and space-planning.
Our home remodeling services include individual and whole home remodels. Visit our portfolio for more details about current projects, including kitchen remodels and bathroom remodels as well as lower-level remodels, home additions and more!
With over 95 years of combined experience, we guide projects seamlessly from the first consultation to the final installation. We’re exceptionally positioned to make your home beautifully yours – together!
