The nursery is only a 12' by 12' room, so storage space is fairly sparse: only the drawers in the dresser/changing station and one small closet with a single rod for hanging. Pila shows how to make the most of the closet by fitting it with wall-mounted wooden crates from the home center (since the crates are being left natural, she sands them lightly to remove any splinters). By hanging them with space in between, she creates even more shelves -- the spaces themselves can serve as storage when the tops of the crates are used to hold items such as pillows and blankets (figure A). Additional crates can also be placed on the floor to catch toys or other stray items -- the crates can be taken out into the room for ease in transporting toys, then hidden away in the closet when playtime is over (figure B).
Next Pila creates an adjustable hanging rod by using lengths of rope to attach a dowel to the existing ventilated shelf; the addition can be raised or lowered as the child grows. On the upper shelves she places canvas-lined wicker storage baskets (figure C), and there's enough room on the floor for a clothes hamper -- a good thing, since it keeps the hamper from having to sit out in plain sight (figure D).
After the storage issues have been successfully addressed, Pila moves on to the lighting. She explains her principle of looking at lighting in layers:
- Start by evaluating the room's natural light. This particular room has only one window, but it provides plenty of natural light. The window treatments Pila has chosen allow the natural light to shine into the room -- even when the shutters are closed, thanks to the star cutouts.
- General illumination is usually provided by an overhead fixture. The light selected for the nursery is an indoor fixture with a rustic out-of-doors look (figure E). One of its most desirable features is the soft diffuser, which softens the light and makes it perfect to use in a nursery.
- Any situation where you have to perform a task requires adequate task lighting , usually provided by individual lamps. In this nursery, the changing table gets a little help courtesy of a small lamp, which provides task lighting as well as a decorative touch (figure F).
- Finally, Pila uses a plug-in nightlight to provide ambient lighting, or soft illumination (figure G).
RESOURCES :
Treasures for Baby: Exquisite Nursery Decorations and Handmade Ribbon Keepsakes
Author: Ellie Joos
Sunset Ideas for Great Baby Rooms
Model: 0376010460
Author: Christine Olson Gedye
$12.95
Paperback
112 pages (January 2000)
Sunset Pub Company
Sunset Publishing Company (Division of Time Warner)
Website: www.sunset.com
Baby's Room: Create-a-Special
Model: 1574862049
Author: Barbara Finwall, Nancy Javier
Paperback
80 pages (July 2000)
Leisure Arts (Hot Off The Press, Inc.)
Website: www.craftpizazz.com
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