I Turned a Dilapidated Room in My 1886 House into a Paris-Inspired Bedroom for My Daughter

My husband, Chandler, and I live in a Victorian home built in 1886 that we completely restored, and we chose to paint the exterior and four of the interior rooms in various shades of powder blue. 

But as soon as we coated the nursery’s walls in Magnolia’s “Ella Rose” and saw how it magnified the sunlight in the space, we realized this warm tone was the cheerful touch our home was missing. The same can definitely be said for how we felt when our daughter, Florence, now 1 and a half, came into our lives. Getting to thoughtfully decorate this space has been such a fun way to channel our love for her. 

When we first purchased the home, it took quite a bit of imagination to picture how this decaying space could one day be the happy nursery it is today. The old lath was exposed thanks to some major water damage, and the pine floors were covered in layers of a mysterious, thick finish that puzzled even our experienced hardwood flooring contractor. Squirrels had also taken up residence there. But now, it takes even more imagination to picture what it once looked like. 

Once it was time to furnish the space, I tried to select pieces that could grow with Florence. For example, the antique reproduction crib can convert into a toddler bed, and then later into a daybed. Her changing table is an old Eastlake dresser with a marble top that she’ll also be able to use long-term. 

Behind her dresser, I painted some decorative paneling in the trompe-l’oeil style. Interestingly enough, two of the sources that inspired me when decorating this vignette were home stores. One is Alix D. Reynis in Paris (the St. Germain location), which shows off a room with similar pink walls, gorgeous original paneling, and wood furniture. The painted frame I added around the mirror was an idea I found while looking at the displays at Homesong Market in Kansas City. 

By the time I got to decorating the reading nook, the project budget was looking pretty slim. So I ended up DIYing a couple of shelves out of wood plaques and ornate iron support brackets from a big-box craft store. Chandler helped hang these above the bookcase his mom gave us years ago. We ended up only spending about $40 on this area. 

One of my very favorite things we bought for this room is a handmade mobile by local artist Millie Johnson, which hangs above the reading nook. She used a combination of found objects and some special pieces I gave her, like shells from Florence’s first vacation. Since my style leans very French and antique, whimsical touches like this keep the space from feeling too grown-up and stuffy. 

The majority of the other art and decor in the space were all gifts. The ribbon-shaped sign with her name on it that hangs above the Eiffel Tower poster was handmade by one of my closest friends for my baby shower. Another one of my best friends gave Florence the vintage miniature tea set on her bookshelf for her first birthday, because it reminded her of a set she had when she was little. The handmade bluebird mobile was also a present from my mom and sisters. 

When I look around this room, these little signs remind me of the people who love and care about Florence, and I can’t wait to tell her about the meaning behind each piece as she grows up.