Inspiring Creativity in a Happy Nursery
This nursery radiates joy from all of its corners! Teeming with artful details and handcrafted touches, this colorful space was designed by artist Kristy Kay to inspire creativity and playfulness in baby Naomi. Below, Kristy walks us through her happy nursery.
Hi! My name is Kristy Kay, I’m a color-loving artist and new mama living in Los Angeles, CA with my partner, Hansu, our 5 month old baby girl, Naomi, and our two dogs, Charlie and Luna. I work primarily as a painter and designer for animated films, and I also write and illustrate children’s books, as well as teach Concept Art at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. I am often juggling multiple creative projects at once, but in my spare time, I enjoy painting, thrifting, hiking, and sewing my own wardrobe.
Playful, bold, colorful
I wanted the nursery to be a happy space that would inspire playfulness and creativity. I wasn’t after a specific theme, more of an overall feeling of joy as you walk through the door. I knew I wanted to use bold colors and patterns, and find a balance between well worn treasures and modern touches. Putting together the nursery was a labor of love, and I’m thrilled with how it all came together.
Yes! Both my partner and I are very creative, art is such an integral part of our lives and we hope to instill in her a love and curiosity for making things. Experimenting and creativity is one of the things I’ve been most excited to share with our daughter, and I hope that by exposing her to a diverse range of artistic styles and forms, she will be inspired to make art of her own someday.
My favorite details in the nursery are all of the hand crafted touches. I’ll never forget the last few weeks of pregnancy sewing up little outfits that now hang in her closet, collecting paint samples looking for that perfect shade of green for the dresser, or the hours spent on crocheting a blanket in anticipation of meeting our little one. Some of my other favorite details are the framed collaborative dried flower art from the joint baby shower with my twin sister, the “Grandpa Kevin” book my Mom made so that her granddaughter could get to know her Grandpa, and the lumpy clay stars and hearts made by my partner and I that we intended to hang from a decorative mobile.
Mornings with Naomi in the nursery are delightful. Seeing her big smile first thing in the morning just makes my day. As I sip my morning coffee, we love to look at books, sing songs, and enjoy some quality time together before the hustle and bustle of the day.
