This NYC Nursery Feels Like Stepping Inside a “Where’s Waldo” Book

When interior designer Hannah Blumenthal, of Studio Olivine, and her husband had their first son, his nursery was “decorated in more muted colors.” However, that would all change when the couple found out they were expecting another son. 

In what was once Hannah and her husband’s office, she decided to go bold for their son, Oliver. “Once we found out we were having a second boy, I decided that I wanted to use brighter, lively colors and some graphic elements for his nursery,” Hannah says. “I fell in love with the wallpaper ‘Too Much Stuff’ by Flat Vernacular, and designed the room around it.”

The wallpaper became what Hannah calls an “anchor” of the room, and all of the other design choices were centered around it. For example, an accent wall was painted with Benjamin Moore’s Downpour Blue (2063-20), and the ceiling was painted with Snowfall White (2144-70). The bright blue wall-to-wall, low-pile rug complements the colors (while also making the room quieter). All of the bright colors don’t take away from the wallpaper’s pattern, though. 

“From far away, the paper reads as a polka-dot or flower pattern, but up close you spot tons of tiny colorful objects within it,” Hannah explains. “It seemed like it would be very fun for a baby to gaze at from the crib or changing table, and later it could become a kind of Where’s Waldo? game for a toddler or young child.” 

Hannah’s prediction turned out to be correct as her son, Oliver, loved pointing out special finds — especially circus-related objects — in the wallpaper. To complement the colorful wallpaper, she hung blackout curtains using fun fabric. A dresser and crib from Oeuf tied the whole space together. 

The room’s design came together quicker than any other project Hannah’s designed, and you can feel the fun in the space. Even though the family has since moved, Oliver used to love playing, reading, and sleeping in his room — he even had a wonderful view of the city from his built-in window seat. 

While the nursery is playful, it’s also super organized, too. Hannah recommends that smaller nurseries use vertical storage. For example, she put Oliver’s favorite books on a lower level and other books higher up. Hannah also recommends using cloth bins, like the ones from Pehr, for easy cleanup. However, Hannah’s favorite part of the room is still the wallpaper. 

“My favorite: It’s a toss-up between the wallpaper and the roman shades. I love the bright colors of both, and how the shapes and scale play off of one another,” Hannah adds. “The two windows let in tons of natural light, which is also amazing in a New York City child’s bedroom.”