Room of the Day: From Dark Walk-in Closet to Bright and Warm Nursery

With their first baby on the way, this couple found that forgoing the dream walk-in closet for a nursery was a no-brainer. Having recently upsized into a cozy bungalow in Los Angeles to accommodate their growing family, they fast-tracked their extensive renovations to get ready for their baby’s arrival. Working with Amber Interiors, they turned what was once a storage space into a light-filled warm nursery that will grow and transition into a big-boy room with ease.

Room at a Glance
What happens here: Sleeping, rocking, snuggling, story reading, playing and growing up
Location: Los Angeles
Size: 100 square feet (9 square meters)
Tip: Try to give a nursery good design bones that can mature with a child.

BEFORE: Principal designer Amber Lewis saw potential for a cozy nursery in this 10-foot by 10-foot space that luckily had a large window. “Before, the room felt like a cave, and it used to be the owners’ closet,” she says. “I was hoping we would be able to vault the ceiling and, sure enough, when we started the demo, we were able to see that we had the room.”


“After” photos by Tessa Neustadt

AFTER: Painting the newly revealed high ceiling and the walls bright white gave the room a light, airy feeling that it lacked before. They also removed the door seen at left in the “before” picture.

Lewis likes to furnish nurseries in a way that they will grow with a child. For example, the changing table is a vintage dresser topped with a changing pad. And the rocker is a versatile piece in which Mom or Dad can snuggle and rock with their baby boy now, and he’ll enjoy rocking and reading in it alone as he grows up. With the exception of the crib, every piece would fit into just about any room of the house. This could come in handy if sometime around adolescence, this boy wants, say, an all-out L.A. Lakers theme in here.

Rattan pouf: vintage Franco Albini


A combination of old and new furnishings against the bright white backdrop creates a fresh look. Lewis owns a shop that specializes in finding one-of-a-kind pieces, and she used that skill here, combining eclectic global and midcentury modern furniture and accessories. The baby blanket is a vintage flea market find, and the Oriental rug adds pattern, warmth and most important, a soft place to play on the floor. New pieces include the Midcentury French White Crib from DwellStudio and the Wave crib mattress sheet from Serena & Lily.

Lewis has a knack for choosing things suitable for a baby’s room that aren’t babyish. For example, a stunning photograph of a wolf pup by artist Sharon Montrose and a Futura Mobile are touches that delight toddlers and adults alike.

Similar antique rugs available at Shoppe Amber Interiors


Three picture rails have transformed a collection of delightful children’s books into a colorful gallery wall. Artwork, more mature books and other favorite objects can be easily switched in as the child grows up.


The designer made the most of the space all the way up to the ceiling, adding a loft over the closet that he’ll be able to use when he’s older. The ladder can be removed during the toddler exploratory climbing years.

More:
8 Tips for Creating a Safe and Cozy Nursery
Nursery Essentials: What You Really Need

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