MARK CUTLER STYLE GUIDE: Ruby Jane's Nursery

Well it has been finished for a while, but I am finally getting around to writing about it, and by "it," I mean the nursery that I designed for my daughter Ruby Jane. My concept was to create a space that left lots of room for dreaming and imagination, so I had in mind a room that created a framework for possibility but would let her fill in the blanks. I didn't want a traditional girls room in pink and green, but at the same time, we were having a daughter, so it did need to be soft with some sweet feminine touches.

So I started with the walls. I found a great wall paper from Lee Jofa that showed in stark black and white a beautiful beech forest. It felt a little severe by itself, so I created panels on each of the walls and bordered it with an orange painted wood trim. The remaining part of the wall was done in a very soft pale blue. The overall effect is structured and bright, and I think the view into the forest is graphically exciting, but at the same time brimming with possibilities, just around the next tree.

One cool detail was to attach to the wall a sheet of metal, and then wallpaper over that, and it is now the perfect spot for magnets of all shapes and sizes (butterflies are the preferred choice at the moment).

When I got to furniture, I stayed with simple white painted pieces and made a daybed out of a blue boucle, adding a great orange and white comforter from West Elm. The extra pattern goes a long way to brighten up the room, as does a fabulous shag rug. ( I am not sure how long that rug will stay, to be honest. I think a lower pile would make more sense, but it looks great).

I used this opportunity to use some of my favorite pieces too: an old white marble-carved lamp that I have had for a few years and a column lamp that was a gift from a dear friend. Overall, I am very happy with the room, and it makes me happy to be in there. Ruby Jane doesn’t yet understand that having a father as a designer means a new room design every year or two . . . I hope she enjoyes it while it lasts.

If you are about to start your own nursery, here are some pointers:

1. Try not to put in too many decorative items, less chaotic is always better.

2. Having a place for the parents to sleep comfortably is one of the best investments you can make in a nursery.

3. Try an open changing table instead of ones with drawers; it keeps everything at hand.

Mark Cutler
Interior Designer,
MarkCutlerDesign.com