Pepper Design Blog

Project Nursery: Basket Liners Part 2

Back with a quick update on the nursery… it’s nearly finished (as Olivia rounds her 3 month mark!) but I’ve learned that sometimes these projects just take a while (sigh). Most of what I’m waiting on has to do with little DIY projects that I need to find time to sit down and knock out.

Speaking of DIY projects, remember when I shared the changing table basket makeover? Well Kevin’s Aunt has done it again with these adorable basket liners from extra nursery fabric (pearl trellis and baltic stripe by Thibaut):

The original plain brown fabric boxes looked fine, they blended in well with the Ikea Expedit bookcase and held all of Liv’s fun toys and stuffies. But there’s just something special about these colorful liners that add a little ‘pop’ to the bookcase! And I love that it ties into the rest of the room in such a subtle way that it doesn’t appear matchy-matchy.

As far as storage goes, we keep her bath time toys in that water-friendly green pail, her snuggies and stuffies tucked away in one of the baskets while rattlers and other noise makers go in the other – that green lidded box on the lowest shelf holds all of her keepsake pieces such as her birth announcement, cards from family and her footprints from the hospital (having it easily accessible means I don’t forget to store away important items). Her library really grew when books were substituted for cards at one of my baby showers. Instead of signing a card with their gift, guests were asked to bring a book with a special message written inside!

To create a really simple basket liner pattern, check out this post. Thanks, Aunt Laurie!

As for that bookcase, it’s a piece that I spruced up by adding a fabric backing for this design show last year, where I presented a few fabric remnant ideas for quick decor updates.

The step-by-step for adding the backing to the backless Expedit bookshelf is posted here.

That beautiful fabric is Flower Field Sand Dollar, I noticed that Calico Corners carries it in pink now too.

Working on Liv’s mobile now! I’m working on a felted project that will tie in perfectly with the theme… but that’s all I can share for now .

More Project Nursery posts: basket liners part 1, the great glider makeover, sewing the curtains part 1, part 2, part 3, nursery fabric board, curtain fabric selection, rocking horse find, new pendant light, vintage wall art addition, changing table makeover, nursery wall striping tutorial, painted animal project, the initial inspiration board and the before picture posts.

Project Nursery: All Lined Up

Remember back when I first started the nursery curtains only to discover a little snag in the plan when the fabric arrived? The back-up fabric for the curtains worked out beautifully, but I was left with five yards of a great fabric that I needed to find a project for.

Enter basket liners part 1. Our changing table (which received this makeover) holds four baskets from Amazon that fit it perfectly -  but the white liners were lacking for looks.

When my aunt (an excellent seamstress whose skills I envy) asked if she could sew something for Olivia’s nursery, I asked her opinion on the liners and a couple of other projects (soon to come).

Liv loved the idea!

And the baskets look amazing, just what the space needed!

To sew liners for your own baskets, create a pattern by using a seam ripper to take apart the current liners. If your baskets are empty, use the measurements of the width, depth and height of each edge and the base of the basket to create a pattern out of paper (don’t forget to take into account the hem and overhang on the outside of the basket). Use the paper to cut your fabric pieces and sew each edge. A little elastic in the outside hems around the corners will help keep the basket liners in place!

Easy! A quick makeover that changes the entire look of the baskets.

That’s our hanging diaper pail from our cloth diapering adventure hanging on the right side of the table next to the hanging hamper that we love. Dirty cloth diapers go into the wet pail (which keeps all smells out) and dirty clothes are tossed right into a washable hamper.

Liv digs it.

Thanks great auntie Laurie!

More Project Nursery posts: the great glider makeover, sewing the curtains part 1, part 2, part 3, nursery fabric board, curtain fabric selection, rocking horse find, new pendant light, vintage wall art addition, changing table makeover, nursery wall striping tutorial, painted animal project, the initial inspiration board and the before picture posts.

Project Nursery: A Cozy Place to Rock

Check out this before & after, I’m so thrilled with the results!

Before:

After:

I’ll be recovering the footstool shortly in the same Thibaut print which I so L-O-V-E. I’d cover every chair in my house with it if I could.

My dad purchased our Stork Craft Hoop Glider as a gift for the nursery back when we found out we were expecting. I loved the comfort of the glider but wanted to add a slip cover for two reasons, a. I wanted a washable option just in case spit up, etc stained the cushions and b. it was a great opportunity to add a modern pattern to the room.

Instead of tackling the project myself (beginning sewing novice over here…) I took the cushions to my local alterations/dry cleaning company (a hidden gem for upholstery work) and had the chair cushions covered for just $15 per piece. I had an actual upholstery company quote me just over $300 to do the same job.

I’m just getting the cushions back now because of my ordering error on the fabric. Lesson learned: always take into account shrinkage due to washing fabric before you determine how much you need! The 54″ width of the fabric shrunk to 48″ and I ended up needing twice as much in length to account for the missing width.

But the glider is in full use in the nursery now and it looks great! I couldn’t be happier!

More Project Nursery posts: sewing the curtains part 1, part 2, part3, nursery fabric board, curtain fabric selection, rocking horse find, new pendant light, vintage wall art addition, changing table makeover, nursery wall striping tutorial, painted animal project, the initial inspiration board and the before picture posts.