Baby Nursery Ideas: Interview with Robin
Wilson

Robin Wilson, the CEO of New York based Robin Wilson Home, one of the nation’s leading modern lifestyle and renovation companies, has kindly offered some great tips and advice on the topic of baby nurseries. Her company is the alternative for modern lifestyle and the source for “on time” and “on budget” efficiency when executing a renovation and remodeling project.

Robin Wilson has great tips and advice on the topic of baby nurseries.

As a member of a fourth generation real estate family from Texas, Robin has been influenced by architecture. She developed her passion for changing a space after watching her great-grandfather and grandfather manage real estate holdings. She has served on the Boards of many philanthropic organizations including the Boston Symphony Orchestra Overseers (1993-2003), YWCA (1988-1998; Austin, Boston and New York), DoSomething (2003-2005) and Public Allies (2006-present).

She holds an MA from New York University and a BA from the University of Texas at Austin. Robin Wilson has been featured in the O at Home magazine (Spring 2006 and Fall 2005), ABC-News, New York Sun, Corcoran Newsletter and Crain's New York.

Robin Wilson Home has completed projects for expectant mothers and those who want to create child-friendly playrooms. We have expertise in working with child-proofing materials and with eco-friendly paints that emit low fumes. Most importantly, the COO of Robin Wilson Home is a working mother of three young children, including a toddler.

In Feb. 2007, Robin Wilson Home was featured on WHDH-TV, Boston to handle a bedroom makeover for a family with a newborn. This project required the use of eco-friendly, low-fume Benjamin Moore paints.

• Paint the nursery. It is important to paint a nursery at least five to six weeks prior to a baby's arrival so that the fumes will air out of the space.
• Choose less toxic paints. Make sure to use VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) paints that may cost a bit more, but emit fewer toxic fumes.
• Purchase anti-bacterial rugs. Don't forget to select rugs and carpet that emit limited fumes and are anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and able to secure to floor.
• Vacuum air ducts. We also recommend vacuuming all air ducts and changing filters in air conditioners and furnaces.
• Consider purchasing new blinds. If you have older blinds, they may have been made of lead, and then the dust that coats the blinds may contain lead particles. We recommend removal of old and placement of new blinds in the nursery.
• Be aware of hazards. In advance, make sure to check all baseboards and windowsills for peeling paint, as the chips may contain lead paint. We recommend that all parents get down at 'crawl level' and explore the room from the vantage of a baby. You might actually see hazards such as nails under a windowsill, light cords, frayed wires, sharp springs under a chair or lamps that could be pushed/pulled over. Make note of these hazards!
• Consider crib placement. It is a great idea to assemble and determine location of crib to ensure that there is no direct sunlight, streetlights or drafts.
• Purchase baskets. Purchase storage baskets for diapers, shoulder cloths, ointments, creams and lotions.
• Don't forget music. Make sure that the music source is set up so that the child can hear soothing sounds.

Many people forget that installing a blackout pull-down shade or curtains can provide a good way to ensure a nap during the daytime. We have also found a great product that we recommend to all our clients is to consider using interlocking mat tiles from The Cartwheel Factory for a portion of the floor and to either carpet or hardwood on the rest of the floor.

• Safety issues: We suggest that all bookcases are secured to walls with brackets or screws to ensure safety when you have a toddler (you may forget later!) For bathrooms, we recommend adding a safety latch to the toilet seats and/or leave toilet seats down and the bathroom door shut at all times.Babies are top-heavy and accidents do happen in the blink of an eye.
• Blanket choices" From an experienced parent, we learned that the crib comforter is rarely used as the baby will kick it off - it is sometimes used only for decoration. A simple baby blanket will be better and to save money.
• Gender friendly colors: Use primary colors - yellow, green, or brights to ensure that you are not repainting the room in a few years, should another child of a different gender come along.

• Laundry basket: We saw a collapsible laundry basket and rolling toy trolleys at The Container Store for less than $20. It can be a great space-saver for a nursery.
• Diaper storage: We recommend either the Diaper Genie or the Simple Human air-tight waste can with a foot pedal. Both are smell-proof and liners are the only real expense.
• Portraits: A unique present is arranging for a mommy-to-be portrait, followed by a photo of the baby in the arms of the parents.

Without the budget, a great idea is to buy the crib and comforter first. Then, paint a single accent wall in the same color. The rest of the walls can be a Benjamin Moore Dove Gray, which is a nice off-white color that picks up on hues from an accent wall. Always make sure that the room does not have the same colors for all four walls and trim. If it is the same, then at least make sure that the trim is a semi-gloss white.

Also, a custom Elfa closet installation with child-level clothing and storage is less than $400 at the Container Store and the in-store design team will take the measurements and design the closet.

We recommend that parents consider purchasing convertible baby cribs that grows with the child so that it turns into a toddler bed. For child pool safety, it is a great idea if you invest in a Safety Turtle armband with alarm station to alert you if a child has fallen into the water.

If you have a toddler, we recommend the pull cords to all blinds be knotted and tied at a higher level. If you have a pool, we recommend that you install a self-locking gate at least 48 inches high.

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