An Argument for Decorating with Burl Wood and Animal Print in a Baby’s Room

Creative director Andrew Godfrey has a nursery design hot take: “Just because it’s a nursery doesn’t mean every piece needs to be bright, bold colors, or obviously baby-related,” he says. 

Andrew and his wife share a high-rise loft in downtown Dallas, Texas, and their home is filled with “curated vintage furniture we’ve sourced over the years and a mix of natural materials and tones,” he explains. The couple, who welcomed their daughter, Etta, in early October, didn’t want the nursery to feel like it was disconnected from the rest of their apartment. 

“Our home has a pretty specific style, and we wanted the nursery to feel like an extension of that,” Andrew says. “There are still softer colors and playful details that make it feel appropriate for a baby, but they’re mixed with the darker woods, vintage pieces, and more mixed materials we have throughout the rest of the loft.” 

Usually, Andrew and his wife let their spaces develop over time, but with the baby on the way, they did more planning in this room, which was formerly Andrew’s office and a storage space. They started with a Stokke convertible mini crib that’s made with warm, brown wood. Next, they sourced the Hobbes burl wood dresser from Lulu & Georgia, loving the rounded feet. They added texture and a pattern with an animal print rug from Design Within Reach, as well as chrome details.

The result? A sophisticated room with playful touches for a young child. That was the goal: The couple wanted the room to feel “less ‘baby room’ and more a beautiful space that [their] daughter can hopefully feel inspired by,” and “eventually…become more independent and make the space her own,” Andrew says.

“Because the room isn’t overly themed, I think there’s a lot of room for that to happen,” Andrew shares. “The design gives her a calm backdrop rather than telling her exactly what the room is supposed to be. As she gets older, we can swap out artwork, add things she’s interested in, and let her personality start to take over the room.” 

Above all, Andrew appreciates that the room reflects their family and their style. “We’ve never really decorated based on what we felt like we were ‘supposed’ to do,” he says. “I love that it doesn’t feel like a traditional nursery. It feels like us.”