If there’s one thing we love here at The Everymom, it’s an adorable yet thoughtfully-designed nursery. And if you’ve been an avid reader for a while, we’re sure you know that our cofounder Alaina Kaz is an expert when it comes to creating inviting and functional kids rooms for her two sons, Henry and Charlie.
visit our PlayHub for tips, tricks, and toys to help you tackle playtime with confidence!
From her gorgeous downtown Chicago greystone to her family’s light and bright city condo and now her first home in the suburbs, Alaina has lent her interior design skills to many stylish and family-friendly spaces—but her youngest son Charlie’s woodland-themed nursery might just be an all-time favorite.
With sophisticated furniture from Crate & Kids that will effortlessly transition as little Charlie grows, the sweetest vintage artwork, and curated accessories that perfectly tie-in the rooms’ nature decor, you’ll love every inch of this baby boy woodland nursery.
We talked to our cofounder and CEO Alaina about how she designed this woodland-inspired nursery for her son Charlie. Keep scrolling to take a peek inside.
To start, tell us about your home and overall interior design style.
This three-bedroom condo was the first home my husband and I ever bought. It was a new construction, but we were able to choose some of the finishes like hardware and light fixtures. The home had very clean, transitional lines with beautiful millwork throughout and an abundance of natural light, and I wanted to lean into a fresh traditional look with our furnishings but almost make it approachable since we have little kids.
Photography & styling by: Alaina Kaz
SHOP THE LOOK
Your son Charlie has the cutest nursery! What was your decor inspiration for this space?
Funny you ask because I started designing both of our nurseries as soon as I saw the pregnancy test’s positive plus sign. I was so convinced our second baby was a girl that I started designing a girl’s nursery with blush pink and this natural, warm wood tone. I loved the look so much, and when we learned it was a boy, I swapped the pink for a muted green which, when paired with the natural wood tones, naturally led to an outdoorsy theme. So, I really leaned into that with the art.
How is Charlie’s nursery different from your older son Henry’s room? Was it difficult to come up with another design concept for a similar space?
At first, I felt a little stuck because I thought to myself, “I already designed my perfect boy nursery.” Henry’s room was a bit more traditional with the design choices I made—it had blue and white with brass. We kind of joke how our second son will be the wild one, so it just worked out perfectly that his room was a bit more fun and adventurous with all the nature and woodsy accents.
SHOP THE LOOK
Let’s talk about the functionality of the space—what pieces did you learn you needed with your second baby that you worked the room’s design around?
After clocking countless hours in our older son’s nursery glider, we knew we needed a super comfy one and really wanted a recliner so we could sleep in there if we needed. I did end up sleeping in this chair a few times when Charlie was a newborn. It’s so comfortable–the back cushion is basically a pillow.
Where did you find all of the nursery’s woodland-themed decor accessories? Do you have a favorite item?
I started with the pieces above the crib—the wolf pups and the bear cubs because I love that they appear to be two brothers playing. Then, I found the animal print at Rifle Paper Co., and the rest is vintage art I sourced on Etsy. Coordinating books I randomly searched for and found on Amazon!
What has been your favorite motherhood memory in Charlie’s room so far?
Oh wow, that is a great question. Charlie really struggled to nap as a newborn, and we spent a lot of hours in here, pacing back and forth, at which point I came up with his sleepy time lullaby. I still sing it to him every time I am putting him to sleep, and he just nuzzles his head against my chest, because he knows that song means bedtime. Also, I can’t emphasize enough how grateful I am for the coziness of that rug to pace back and forth on!
How do you plan to transition this room as Charlie grows?
I don’t really know! The crib will obviously have to go, but I love that the bookshelf and dresser are versatile and classic and can work in any room. I actually hope the boys will share a room one day, so we’ll see how I mix the two spaces together.
SHOP THE LOOK
This article was originally published in 2020 and has been updated for timeliness.
