Sophisticated Mama: Meet Nursery Whisperer Stephanie Debrincat
Photos courtesy Rockabye Mommy
Calling all moms or soon-to-be mamas! Meet nursery whisperer Stephanie Debrincat of Rockabye Mommy—a full-service design firm catering to the little people in your life. For the last 15+ years, Stephanie has been creating consciously healthy spaces that are ULTRA CHIC. Here she shared with us her approach to decking out this SoCal nursery in kid-(and earth)-friendly designs.
Tell us a bit about this space and how this project came together. This space is interesting because it’s actually a loft above the master bedroom. My client had it set up as an office space so the transformation was definitely huge. With only 2.5 walls to work with and an iron stair railing to consider, I had to get creative with the layout. The area is quite large so we had more than enough space to create a functional, comfortable room.
Whoa! That sounds like a lot to deal with. Let’s talk about that killer wallpaper. This wallpaper from Cole & Sons has been one of my favorites for years and I was so excited when my client loved it just as much as I do. It’s such a strong, bold print perfect for a boys room. This was the starting point for the room and what led the overall design concept.
And we can’t leave out those to-die-for sconces! Do tell… The selenite wall sconces are one of my favorite elements (and my clients)! They are so gorgeous! This is an item that one wouldn’t initially think of for a kids room (let alone a nursery!) however they were just too good to not present to them. Honestly, I’m trying to find a wall in my house for them haha!
We love them too! The mix is all so sophisticated for a children’s room. Tell us more about your creative process when it comes to sourcing these beauties. When it comes to designing kid spaces, my style is definitely more sophisticated, and I lean toward tailored and classic pieces that can be used in other rooms throughout the home. I truly feel that furnishings are an investment and should stand the test of time both in durability and style. The place I focus on for irresistibly adorable baby vibes is within the art and décor elements.
When it came to space planning, where did you start? There was an empty niche where my client initially wanted to place the crib, however, for me it just seemed like the perfect spot for a custom closet. So we used that space to build out an amazing closet system with hanging sections, shelves and drawers. The mirrored doors were customized for this space as well and I just love the dimension and reflections they create.
There’s a lot of plush seating in this cozy room. How did that all come together? The sofa was custom designed to fit the space in front of the iron railing. This helps block the scrolling detail and keep baby’s tiny fingers safe when he starts crawling. We also have a babyproofing company on speed-dial to add clear panels to the railing, a baby gate at the top of the stairs and anything else the space might need. If the space permits, I always recommend extra seating like this. It sure beats sitting on the floor and mama will be thrilled to have a place to kick her feet up and nap while baby is sleeping.
In keeping with Stephanie’s low-toxic design program, she paid extra-close attention to the below items:
Crib – Greenguard Gold certified
Four drawer dressers – Greenguard Gold certified
Changing pad and cover – Organic from Naturepedic
Crib mattress – Organic from Naturepedic
Crib sheet – Organic from Coyuchi
Wallpaper adhesive – zero VOC
Closet door paint color – zero VOC from Ecos paints