O.K. With the white/brown toile and sage:

Check out these vintage fairy/elves artworks -- look at the the colors -- browns, sages, greens AND dashes of yellow, red etc. Maybe hang these around the room -- no frames -- just on stretched canvas?

Do the shadow boxes with simple linen backgrounds and white frames.

Perhaps choose a slightly brighter hint of fresh color -- like pale buttery yellow walls for the room.

I'd love to see all of the furniture in fresh happy white (except the bed, maybe)

I love the white soft roman blinds that are pictured in the photo with the crib!

Add white ceramic lamps around the room. Maybe start a small collection of white milk-glass containers for bits and pieces in the room.

Add a braided round rug for the floor.

Jan at Rosemary Cottage

Here is a link that might be useful: art.com -- fairy/elf artworks by Richard Doyle

My thoughts--

1. I think you have lovely taste based on the things you're showing. I think you should trust yourself and not angst.

2. I should follow this advice too :)

3. I like the idea of off-white, simple window treatments, a touch of white in the bedding. I'm thinking wood frames would bring some contrast and warmth in. I would not do brown walls in a nursery. I would pick out a color from the bedding-- I am always a fan of colored walls with white trim and woods floors to set them off.

If you can "shop your house" and mock things up-- paint poster board, borrow white curtains, try out brown frames-- I never quite get there in my head. I have to see it to know what I like, and sometimes some stray object dragged in by the kids improves the room a lot. Have fun! It's going to be very pretty and soothing.

I looked at Country Curtains because the have pom-pom fringe curtains there. Since you already have that, I might run with it. It is certainly neutral color-wise, but fun and youthful. They also have Linen Dot curtains in tan on cream. They are more sophisticated up close but still read as polkadots from afar. I think they're very sweet.

Can you take the color of the bedding and just amp it up a notch for paint? Maybe paint the walls white and put the color on the ceiling?

I don't believe in picking frames before art so I can't help you there. What about sepia tones photos of children or dogs in Paris or something. Frame in a metallic color wood, halfway between gold and silver, you know like a warm platinum.

Possible rug:

Jan

Here is a link that might be useful: overstock -- possible rug

Really sweet vintage artwork -- love the colors!

Jan

Here is a link that might be useful: art.com -- sweet girl with fairies

ttodd - I love everything about your house. Every picture is so gorgeous. I love the charm of antiques and non-identical furniture, etc. You can certainly make this work.

I love the suggestions so far, and I think if you add some cute dollies and soft, plush toys around the room, it would look adorable. Or, maybe butterflies or flowers on the walls, or something.

Check out the cute plush toys from PB Kids.

Here is a link that might be useful: Penny and Joy Owld Plush - PB Kids

It's a little girls bedroom, it is easy to make it fun and whimsical. Since you have cream and brown, I would mix in some pale pinks, either on the walls or on the curtains, but not both. (Of course I am biased when it comes to pink- I love it, but will only use it in a little girl's bedroom) If you did pink on the walls, I would definitely just use plain white curtains. I used tulle sheers in my own daughters' bedroom, from Ikea, and a used 4 panels per window to make them really full. You could pull them back with some colorful grosgrain ribbons and pin the ribbons with vintage sparkly brooches.
I would use white frames on the shadow boxes. I also love some of the fairy art some of the others posted.
She's a little girl, my girls always love sparkles, and they LOVE their sparkly chandy's in their bedroom. You could buy a fun sparkly chandy for her. And also some fun colorful throw pillows for the bed.

I really like the bedding, and the furniture you have. There are lots of good suggestions given above. I do like the idea of a very pale pink or yellow, but it's tough to say without seeing the bedding in person. I love the idea of adding fairies or angels or little animals-- maybe some Beatrix Potter prints?

My thought is to use white on white on white, in lots of textures. The silver sage color would be pretty on the ceiling with white walls, and a sparkly little crystal chandelier. I think you could find lots of pretty patterned white fabrics for curtains and pillows-- maybe dots, florals, stripes, etc, with cute fringe or ribbon trims. I think your wood furniture would contrast nicely. To provide for storage and kid clutter, a white bookcase/armoire, and some woven baskets.

I would so love to do a little girls bedroom! I am stuck with dinosaurs, Batman, racecars, and Star Wars for my little boy.... :) Have fun!

Jen

OMG thank you! You've helped to break my mindblock and my wheels are churning again!

Love the idea of fairy art and there is an artist in the next town over who I fell in love w/ a few yrs. ago at a Celtic festival.

So here's what I'm thinking:

Following Jans lead regarding the Fairy prints - Years ago I fell in love w/ a local artist whose work I got lost in. Lots of forest animals, fairies, you name it (link below) and I'd always wanted to find a place in our home for his work. Maybe I could take the room (w/o being overtly 'themey') into an enchanted forest (ironic as the bedding is called Enchanted Toile).

Walls a tad bit deeper in color than the bedding (the room is flooded w/ natural light). Maybe do the ceiling a whisper of the color of the walls because I forgot that I picked up a fabulous taupey/ cream chandelier for $30 at Home Goods a year ago.

Keep the crisp white trim (whew! because I hate painting trim)!

Paint the bureau a deep color (the crystal knobs pop so much better against color).

I was looking at some silver sage quilted fabric at the fabric store for the rocker and the lady said that she'd sell the end yard (it was a bit dirty but easily cleanable) for $1.

White panles from IKEA and sew (okay - it's me - glue) pom pom fringe on like I did w/ my LR curtains. The same fabric place has fringe ridiculously cheap. Thanks Amy! I'm going to check out those other Country Curtains though and check my budget.

I love the idea of using a linen (or maybe burlap?) backing for the shadowboxes and Demerons suggestion of wood frames. Luckily I have been adding wood frames to my collections and can try it out first.

To bring contemporary contrast and bringing in Jan in WI suggestion of plush owls - maybe I could find some white plush owl stuffed animals for her bed. Ohhhh - and some fawn stuffed animals (not necassarily in white though - always good to have a mix!).

Polly - I like the idea of some pale pinks and there is one print in particular that this artist has w/ a fairy in a field of soft pink flowers. Maybe add something textile wise (like a throw or small pillow on the rocker) in a pale rose (Rose is DD's middle name afterall!). I could hang her pink tutu from a hook.

JLC - There is an old small bookcase that I can snag from the boys room to paint. It's too shallow for most books or baskets but I could line up her stuffed toys.

There is a bird mobile that I have directions to make and I could make the birds from glittery paper and hang them from a neat branch that I find.

Thank you all soooooo much. I know what my weekend holds now!

Oh - and DH thanks you too since I'd purchased a personalized Christmas stocking for her from RH baby when they went clearance in Silver Sage and Chocolate for her bedroom!

Now if any of you come across some cool white forest stuffed animals........

Here is a link that might be useful: Fantastic Local Artist

1st-
You have wonderful pieces to put this room together with,and with what I have seen in other pictures here on this site, great skills- so you can't miss.
2nd-
although I am not a pink person I love the idea of using pink with the brown toile. It will soften the "grown up" print. I would use a shell pink, not bubble gum. I think using all white frames will keep things looking fresh/young and less formal. I really like the idea of using grown up fabric like the toile bedding in a nursery. It will be wonderful. Keep the walls light.
I like linen for the windows- maybe add a pompom trim to match the bedskirt on the crib, or a check trim to match the toile bedding?

What do you think of this pic w/ the little faeries tucked under the white owls wing?

Winter Refuge

ttodd

Thanks for posting that site. I love the pics especially the one called Winter refuge.

ttodd

Here is a link that might be useful: http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/decor/msg031255583924.html?2

I bought this sign for my daughter's room several years ago in a little shop in Cape May, NJ. I can see this in your daughter's bedroom as well.

Here is a link that might be useful: The Princess Sleeps Here

I think this is going in a very nice direction and I don't have much to add in that regard.

I wanted, though, to respond to your OP about decor to reflect a more exuberant personality. It seems a common thing to do to wind kids up in every conceivable way these days, including decor (and don't get me started on what some children's entertainers and toy makers think is productive). The whole trend toward highly stimulating decor for kids sets my teeth on edge, as it seems to demand of them that they constantly be ON, preferably on high. I don't think that serves kids in the least, and much less their parents.

My feeling is that the somewhat soft and subdued look you have in mind makes an excellent backdrop or foundation for any personality she might have, and will suit her for days and phases when she is quiet or boisterous or anywhere in between. Later I think it's nice if they can participate in their own decor, but for now you're setting a stage for them, and letting them shine seems fine to me.

KarinL

I know it will turn out beautifully, Ttodd!! I have to say I totally agree with Karen & think a nice calm retreat is so nice instead of the neon colors that are often used. I love the airplanes hanging in your DS room.

Smiles:)

So beautiful! Love the direction you are going with this. Have to laugh though because I love the owl and fairies picture....but I put a really cute owl picture in my son's room --- he is TERRIFIED of it! The owl has "scary" eyes apparently and for a while the nightly ritual was to take the picture down and put it in the hall.....Unfortunately, the owl was part of a set of these large alphabet cards --- I made 8 different frames to spell his name (Nicholas), so taking down the "O" didn't work! After realizing he was not getting used to the owl, I had to buy a different set of letters.... what a process, and all because of the "scary owl eyes."

Here is a link that might be useful: eeboo cards

On my way out the door so I briefly skimmed but had to post quick -

mythreesonsnc - LOL!!!!! I can totally see something like that happening in my house - doing something tfor all good intent and purpose and having one of my kids run screaming out of the room!

I must confess, although I love the beautiful James Browne paintings, I did for a split second wonder if some little ones might get a little scared. They're eery in some way.

I really want to thank you all for your help and suggestions - you really motivated me and I'm putting your thoughts to good use!

This afternoon I started painting and moving a few things into her room. I choose Meadowbrook by Ace for the walls and immediately fell in love. So much so that I called DH at work to tell him. I snapped a few pics for you to see even though the walls were still wet in some places. While painting I decided that the accent color would definitely be soft pinks and red raspberry shades.

Meadowbrook wall paint. I think that the wall color looks wonderful w/ the maple wood furniture and love how it plays w/ the crisp white trim. Meadowbrook is 2 shades darker than Woodlawn (which is my MBR wall color) and is the closest match (w/o colormatching) to F&B's Pale Powder.

I am definitley going to do the white IKEA curtains doubled up as someone suggested in their post! I'm going to try matchstick blinds layered underneath to pick up the wood tones in the furniture. Like I said - this room gets blinding light.

Do you think that pink and berry accents will work w/ this wall color? After reading some of the thoughts about kids possibly being creeped out by staring owl eyes I went back and looked at the James Brown art and came up w/ some of these prints. Any catch your fancy for the room?:

Here is a close up of the bedskirt and the pillows have a small ruffle of the same check for a border.:

I found a small old wooden birdcage in the basement that I thought I could spraypaint white or berry and put butterflies and birds in and hang in a corner. Lame?

I still really like the 'foresty' idea and thought I could run w/ it in an 'Enchanted Forest' girlie way (not a Harry Potter way). I can get her a white stuffed owl for her bed!

Crazy thought - tell me if I'm taking it too far - What about painting the bureau a soft pink or raspberry color? Too much?

Oh - and my mom called today to say that she found the sweetest antique childs rocker for $15 that she bought for her!

Just wanted to say that I'm starting a new thread since you all helped me get my bearings and figure may way through this project.

I've begun putting your ideas and suggestions into action so I thought a 2nd thread would be more useful for you to see my progress as I go and you can post there instead of here if you'd like to help me tweak things.