Spotlight on: Sandstone by Joel Dewberry

Going grey's not always a bad thing, mommas. In fact, grey could very well become the new chocolate brown in nurseries. It brings a refreshingly cool and uber stylish look to a baby's room. It's unexpected, yet makes total sense. It makes a great neutral that still packs a punch. Find some gorgeous grey inspiration in this sweet Sandstone collection by Joel Dewberry.

Accessories shown from top to bottom: Square corded pillow with Bloom Sand, Geo Sand, and Aspen Fog; Round pillow with Square Tiles Stone, Sateen Old Ivory, and Aspen Fog; Balloon Valance with Geo Sand and Aspen Fog.

Lighten up, will ya?

Another way to put some real pizzaz in your child's nursery is to get creative with light fixtures. Your typical big bedding suppliers aren't always a big help with this... they've got the cookie cutter table lamps to match your crib ensemble, but that just makes me want to hit *snooze*, roll over and go back to sleep.

Lighting is often overlooked, no matter the room. Fun fixtures and proper lighting can bring dramatic effect to a room, so take some time to find the perfect pieces for your most perfect nursery. If you've got a standard ceiling mounted dome light or fan in the center of the nursery, consider replacing it with a youthful chandelier. There are a lot of affordable pendant and chandelier fixtures for children's rooms. Lighting is something you can spend a lot of money on, but it's definitely not necessary.

The Pottery Barn family of stores is one of my favorites for home accessories. Both Pottery Barn Kids and PB Teen have a great selection of unique lighting for children's rooms. I actually think PB Teen has the better collection of the two, so don't go thinking the "teen" version only sells bean bags and locker accessories. They actually have a wide array of items that would be very fitting in a nursery. Another budget-friendly favorite? Crate and Barrel's Land of Nod. Here are some great, affordable options for chandeliers...

Pottery Barn Kids Ella Chandelier in white, $129

Land of Nod Whoopsie Daisy Chandelier, $119

Pottery Barn Kids Mia Chandelier, $169

PB Teen Rose Pop Chandelier, $129.99 on sale (from $299)

PB Teen Chalet Chandelier, $99.99-$150 on sale (from $199)

Land of Nod Doe a Deer, a Female Chandelier, $89

PB Teen Preppy Bouquet Chandelier, $159 on sale (from $199)

Posh Tots also has a huge selection of chandeliers, but you'll pay a lot more. It's a great place to browse for design inspiration, so have a look. They've got endless options for lighting and tons of other accessories. But this little diddy alone will set you back $690...

Posh Tots Squiggles Scrolled Chandelier, $690

Another creative look for lighting is a wall-mounted sconce. The cool thing about wall fixtures is they serve two important roles: lighting and wall décor. Going for a nautical feel? I love the classic look of this old fashioned lantern...

Pottery Barn Kids Fisherman Wall Lamp, $69

A simple wall shade is also a great look that's really versatile. You can switch out the shade for an entirely new feel within seconds.

Pottery Barn Kids Cortland Sconce, $79 (shade sold separately)

Some funky animal print shades on this great wall sconce from Ballard Designs would look fabulous in a nursery if you're wanting to get a little wild!

Ballard Designs Davenport Sconce, $129 (shades sold separately)

See how fun lighting can be? I hope you have some new bright ideas to up the *fabulous* in your nusery. But fixtures alone are half the battle... make sure you play around with different bulbs to get the proper lighting in each spot of your child's room. In a nursery, consider adding a dimmer switch. It's incredibly cheap and easy to do on your own. As with any lighting project, do take precautions and consider hiring an electrician - especially if you're doing fixed wall sconces that will require special wiring. Atlanta area gals, I have a great electrician for such a need, so feel free to contact me for info.

Spotlight on: Coral Vine

Nothing says sweet sophistication like this gorgeous Coral Vine fabric collection at Javis Davis. Rich tones of mossy green and chocolate brown and sweet touches of pink bring this fabulous floral pattern to life. The collection has a classic feel with a bit of modern whimsy. A most perfect choice for a sweet baby girl's nursery or a delicious look for any age. This is one collection with endless possibilities and timeless charm.

Accessories shown from top to bottom, left to right: Stagecoach valance in Coral & Olive Stripe, Olive Wavy, and Cub Geranium; Square Pillow with Ruffle in Coral Vine, Full Moon Dots Lime, and Cub Geranium; Neckroll with bows in Full Moon Dots Lime, Coral & Olive Stripe, and Coral Vine; Tab Valance with border in Coral Vine, Olive Wavy, and Full Moon Dots Lime.

Bath Time: Dry off with Style

You know I love baby nurseries and all the design possibilities within... but what else makes my heart skip a beat? Baby and kids' bathrooms. They're teeny little rooms with big, big potential. A lot of families won't have enough bathrooms to designate one solely for baby's use, but it's truly one of my favorite spaces when it's doable.

Malibu Bath at Pottery Barn Kids

When we built our house, we had an extra bathroom added in the spare room that will one day be a baby's nursery. And I specifically chose a sink and fixtures that fit the look I was envisioning for the perfect baby bath. But whether or not your little one has his very own spot for the pot, there are endless ways to make bath time a little more colorful and fun.

An easy and affordable way to add great style? Some personalized towels for baby. Towels are one of my favorite gifts because (a) they make for a quick and simple way to spruce up a bathroom, and (b) you can never have enough of them. Add a monogram or baby's name and the practical gift becomes suddenly that much sweeter. You can find different varieties of personalized towels all over the place, but if you want to get the most bang for your buck, look no further than the "Lawton" towels by Lauren Ralph Lauren online at Horchow.




Horchow is a Neiman Marcus brand, but don't let that scare you... while there certainly are some pricy picks far outside this girl's spending budget, there are some serious deals to be had on this site - including these fab towels. Through tomorrow, Horchow has "event pricing" on these Lawton towels. A monogrammed bath towel will only set you back $10. What did she say? Yes, mommas... $9.99 for a monogrammed towel! If you need a little shop comparison, hop on over to Pottery Barn and see how much a monogrammed towel goes for there. Ahem... that'd be $24 for the towel and an additional $6.50 for the monogramming, totalling $30.50 for the one towel. I love you, Pottery Barn, but I've got to look out for my wallet here...

So anytime I have a need for towels, my mouse clicks straight on over to Horchow. With over 20 colors to choose from and even more thread colors, you can find something to coordinate with any look. Horchow's current sale does end tomorrow, but not to worry... subscribe to their promotional emails and you'll be in the know the next time they do the special event pricing. They run sales a lot, so I assure you it will come around again soon. And I wouldn't be too surprised if this current sale got mysteriously extended a few more days. Suddenly, rubber ducky's not the only one making bath time fun...

Spotlight on: Central Park Sky

Whether you're going for a funky mod look or a classic sweet and simple feel, Javis Davis has it all... This gorgeous Central Park Sky collection is one of my favorites and it's easy to see why. The lovely toile fabric is timeless and works beautifully for a boy or a girl. While it's obvious I'm a fan of lots of color, I also love the pure look of very subtle uses of color in a nursery. It can make for a very luxurious, regal look... and just like baby, oh-so sweet.

What else is cool? Two moms could be working with this same fabric collection and come out with two completely different looks. That's the beauty of custom design!

But "custom" means expensive, right? Please... you're talking to a girl here who's all about great style on a dime. Both of these crib creations above sell for less than $400. Below are a few more fabulous accessories designed with this collection. Enjoy!

Accessories from top to bottom, left to right: Balloon Valance with Ruffle in Sky Baby Toile and Shalimar Parchment; Square Pillow with Bow Tie in Sky Baby Toile, Emp Stripe Candlelight, and Essex Blue Linen; Square Pillow with Ruffle in Sky Baby Toile; Swivel Glider in Sky Baby Toile and Essex Blue Linen.