A Bungalow Baby

Season One

Episodes 5 & 6

Amber and Mat married in their thirties and chose to put having a family aside for travel, school, and home improvement projects for their two-bedroom bungalow. Amber is a native of Virginia with a Native American heritage and is a sales executive at a media company. Mat, who is an educator, grew up in communist-held Czechoslovakia until its liberation in 1990. Leaving home early, Mat traveled while working his way through college, eventually teaching school in the Tidewater area of Virginia, where the two met. Nearly ten years later, Amber and Mat were surprised to learn they have a baby girl on the way. The reality of life as just the two of them was turned upside down. For the Baby Makes 3 team, Amber and Mat represent the trend of couples having children later and making important decisions about how to integrate family into their well-established lifestyle.

Overview

Episode 105—“Home is Where the Crib is”

Space is an issue in the home of Amber and Mat, so we’re look for ways to improvise. We convert a crawl space under the steps into a finished storage or play space; we build a dresser into a closet, and we get started on an illuminated starlight ceiling.

Episode 106—“As the Potter Wheel Turns”

Pottery is an important part of the culture in Mat’s hometown in Slovakia, and so it’s only natural that our couple wants to create a keepsake for baby. We visit a local potter to create a Slovakian-inspired plate, make and paint fairy stencils in our room, and finish the amazing illuminated starlight ceiling. A child safety walk-thru ensures this bungalow for two is ready a new arrival.

Projects in these Episodes

Nursery Plan

View the floor plan for this nursery.

Nursery Elevations

View the elevation plan for this nursery.

Monograms

Many parents want to include monogramed initials of their baby in the nursery. Here are some websites with beautiful monograms you can purchase for your nursery.

Etsy

On this episode you will learn to:

What to consider before planning your design
Cut Drywall to create a crawl space
Finish a crawl space with beadboard
Create starry night ceiling frame
Make a Maypole Mobile
Wire a starry night ceiling
Babyproof your home
Create a Pottery Keepsake
Decorate a Dresser
Paint Wall Fairies using Stencils
And more

Watch the clip

Planning the Design

Our designer offers great tips on planning a nursery design.

Watch the clip

Making Walls Magical

Amber learns how to easily paint fairies on the nursery walls with stencils.

Suppliers

Wall Color - Benjamin Moore Grand Teton White AC-42, with the fairies painted in Coastal Fog AC-1
Accent Color in Closet - Benjamin Moore Sweet Vibrations 391
Wallpaper & Crib Skirt Fabric - Harlequin, from the Folia Collection available through Design Lines Ltd.
Window Treatment Fabric - Robert Allen, available through Design Lines Ltd.
Window Hardware - Claire Deco
Dresser - Ikea Hemmes
Drawer Overlays - My Overlays
Glass Knobs - Anthropologie
Nursery Chair - Home Decorators Marie Armchair
Green Pillow - Designer's Guild available through Design Lines Ltd.
Glider/Recliner - Hayneedle
Crib - Fisher Price Providence Convertible Crib
Bookshelf - Kidkraft Avalon Bookshelf
Capiz Pendant, Frames - World Market
Oval Mirror - Uttermost available through Design Lines Ltd.
Owl Lamp, Gold Stripe Pillow, & Pink Pillow - Land of Nod
Shag Rug, Baskets, Crib Sheet, Changing Pad Cover - Target
Bookshelf Accessories - Home Goods
Wall Monogram - Etsy