Inside an Eco-Friendly Master Bedroom Nursery

The below is written by Rachel Meadows, former Darling Interiors Editor (find her work in Issues 16-20), and now runs her own interior design business. 

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When I first became pregnant and started thinking about designing a nursery, I knew I wanted to create a natural and organic environment for our baby using timeless quality essentials. I did a ton of research, which can become very overwhelming, but I came across some of the most amazing companies that are doing great things for the market and environment.

To top it off, I was so thrilled that a majority of these companies are founded and run by incredible women.

My husband and I rent a townhouse in Los Angeles, which we love but are a little tight on space. We discussed looking for a bigger place to accommodate our new addition but decided we loved our neighborhood and could make it work. So, I got to planning a shared bedroom nursery space, finding new ways to organize and simplify.

I kept the color palette very light and neutral to keep the room feeling open and like an extension of the rest of our home. I wanted everything to have a purpose and not overwhelm the room with unnecessary baby items. I chose quality over quantity, which is key when designing a minimal organic space. I am so pleased with how everything came together and in love with every piece selected. I can rest assure that all these products are safe, healthy and from companies I truly support and believe in their mission.

I started the design process with selecting the main large pieces we would need, a crib and a dresser that accommodates a changing station. Eco-friendly Oeuf NYC is one of my favorite go-to companies when designing a nursery. I love their stylish modern aesthetic that is elegant yet whimsical. Each piece is so functional.

I know that we will be able to use these pieces for a long time and our little guy can transition into them when he has his own space one day. They blend perfectly with the rest of our house. I trust their mission and commitment to producing eco-friendly sustainable products.

Framebridge custom-framed my artwork that I specifically painted for our baby boy. They are landscapes of special places my husband and I have traveled together and look forward to going back as a family of three. Their framing is so lovely and high quality yet affordable, the overall concept is genius.

*See exclusive promo code at the end of this post for a special discount from Framebridge.

Every Mom needs a nice place to put their feet up when doing those 3am night feedings. This amazing custom ottoman is by Fragments Identity, a California-based company that creates custom, one-of-a-kind pieces out of the most unique and luxurious textiles.

I love how this ottoman adds a touch of personality to the room. It’s made of authentic Mali African tribal hand-woven & channeled natural cotton with hand-applied, organic plant-based dyed art. It is such a special piece and has perfect imperfections, which I adore.

I am so excited about the SNOO by Happiest Baby! This being the most innovative piece in the room hands down. If you haven’t heard about the SNOO yet, it is a smart sleeper that is designed to reduce crying and boost sleep with soothing white noise and motion. It has an amazing built in swaddle system that keeps baby on his back. It is the safest and most effective baby bed ever made.

I love that the fitted sheet and swaddle sack are made of soft organic cotton as well. Since we don’t have a ton of room, this piece will work perfectly until he is ready to transition into the crib. It is really a beautiful piece and so well designed.

You may be asking, who is that handsome bear peeking out of the SNOO? Why that is Oliver the Bear by Cuddle + Kind. They make ethically-produced hand knit dolls and the proceeds go to feed children. Enough said.

Our cozy linen bedding is by Cultiver. I adore this company for their quality and timeless design. Their fabrics are thoughtfully sourced and I especially love their linen that is carefully woven and stonewashed for softness. It has an effortless look and vintage feel from the first use. I kept a very clean color palette with the white duvet with smoke gray shams.

I also want to highlight a few of my favorite shops for organic clothing, small goods and toys:

Noble Carriage has an incredible mission to introduce the world to the best and most sustainable baby clothing and products. All of their specially selected pieces are organic as well. You can’t get much cooler than the Organic David Bowie doll.

Bitte Shop was created by a mother-daughter duo with a focus on sustainable practices and modern designs to create a unique shopping experience. They represent some of my favorite brands that hold their same values and are all made of quality materials that are timeless.

The naturally indigo dyed blanket, swaddle and teether by Willaby are so stunning. I absolutely love this brand. Sustainability is central to their practice. They make minimal heirloom pieces that are made to last and are timeless. Made of organic cotton gauze, they are incredibly soft.

The moses basket is by Plum & Sparrow. I plan to use this basket often while baby is napping or when I need a safe place to set him close by when I am working or cooking. Their products are sustainable and they are part of the Fair Trade Federation. 10% of their proceeds goes directly back to the African weavers and their families.

The Sleepod by Askr & Embla fits perfectly inside the moses basket. It will also be a really great item to have when traveling or lounging in bed together too. It is such a functional and beautiful piece. All the materials are carefully sourced and eco-friendly. Made of all organic materials such as hemp, cotton, wool and kapoc.

I was looking for an activity gym that didn’t take up a ton of space and would fit in with the rest of our aesthetic. I came across this perfect one by clover & Birch via The Tot. They offer an amazing selection of mindfully curated safe, non-toxic and stylish, innovative products along with professional advice and a registry. It has become a great resource for me as a first time mom. It is such a helpful place to learn about the safest and latest products on the market. They have done all the research for you.

The extremely cozy natural sheepskin rugs are by Auskin. I have a thing for this natural fiber. Wool is not only incredibly soft but it also have many benefits such as: heat and moisture regulation, indoor air filtration capabilities, odour suppression, and on top of all that, sheepskin wool is super easy to care for. These sheepskins are ethically sourced, mainly from New Zealand. I love that they offer an infant sheepskin especially safe for baby.

*Use promo code DARLING15 to get 15% off your first purchase with Framebridge. Offer expires 12/1/2017.

SHOP THE POST

Crib | Dresser | Changing Station | Eco-friendly Changing Pad  | Organic Cotton Changing Pad Cover | Organic Cotton Crib Sheet | SNOO Smart Sleeper | Linen Bedding | Custom Ottoman – Similar here | Sheepskin | Custom Frame | Baby Sheepskin | Indigo Heirloom Blanket | Indigo Teether Blankie | Indigo Gauze Swaddle | Moses Basket | Sleepod | Oliver the Bear  | Linen Crib Sheet | Baby Quilt | Star Swaddle | Ceramic Moon Phases Wall Hanging | Wooden Rattle  | Green Hippo | Belly Basket | Organic Kimono Top | Wooden City Block Set | Organic David Bowie Doll | White Ribbed One-piece | Bear Romper | Striped Union Suit | Baby Moccs | Activity Gym

Images via Yash Dhillon of Roarkyd