Nursery made with love and vintage charm

Naturally talented and multi-skilled, Sean and Marianne Falconer have poured endless energy into the renovations of their Titirangi home. Starting a family had long been a dream, so it was with obvious delight that they finally had need to create a baby’s bedroom, downing tools just in time for newborn cuddles. Old jib was ripped out and the room was thoroughly insulated, re-jibbed, and then painted in Resene White Pointer. When most couples would be researching where to purchase their first baby’s cot, Sean was busy studying safety regulations for heights and gaps so he could handcraft a cot for his daughter, Frankie, out of New Zealand plywood – blonded on the outside and painted inside with Resene Mint Tulip. Cots he had seen on the market inspired the design, but the end result is unique and stunning.

And it wasn’t just Sean hard at work in the garage. Marianne took a dressing table previously belonging to her Mum, rolled up her sleeves, sanded it back, and sealed it with Danish oil. With the foundations firmly in place, Marianne got to work on personalising the space, ready to welcome their little girl. The first feature of the room to catch your eye is the beautiful timber-joinery window, with a charming view of foliage outside. Draped with a sheer curtain (a roller blind is also in place to provide insulation) and framed with fairy lights, the effect is utterly charming. Strikingly sweet, a large framed vintage print of ballerinas is the only decoration on the walls. Marianne found this on TradeMe while keeping an eye out for artwork to suit a nursery that was not intentionally ‘babyish’, yet still pretty and whimsical.

With the foundations firmly in place, Marianne got to work on personalising the space, ready to welcome their little girl. The first feature of the room to catch your eye is the beautiful timber-joinery window, with a charming view of foliage outside. Draped with a sheer curtain (a roller blind is also in place to provide insulation) and framed with fairy lights, the effect is utterly charming. A simple white wooden rocking chair (a gift from Marianne’s dad) with a cosy sheepskin from Gorgeous Creatures beckons, and you can just imagine many hours will be peacefully rocked away, feeding and cuddling precious Frankie.

There is no mistaking the importance of family in this room, with simple decorative items giving a firm nod to the value Sean and Marianne both place on where they have come from. Childhood photos of both Sean's mother and Marianne’s mother adorn the dressing table. A sweet little pair of red leather sandals, once worn by Sean, rest beside Marianne’s mother's favourite childhood storybook. There is a patchwork quilt, made by Sean’s mum, resting on the end of the cot, and Frankie sleeps under a blanket hand-knitted by Marianne during her ‘pre-baby’ train commutes to work in the city.

Even the toys tell a story. Sean’s sister gifted the Madou and Marcel dolls, a reminder to Marianne of her year as an exchange student in France.

Pretty cards, featuring notes written by guests at Marianne's baby shower, are pegged to a string – words of encouragement always close at hand.