Life can be a walk in the park, a national park.

This “welcome to the world” sentiment is exactly what a couple had in mind for their newborn’s nursery. Bringing their outdoor adventures inside for an inspiring-yet-cozy baby room, I set out to reinvent what was a gut renovation. This room in the client’s La Jolla Mid-Century home featured a Murphy bed, built-ins, and lighting that was entirely demoed leaving only the vaulted ceilings and paneling.

Anyone who has hiked extensively knows the wonders of an early morning summit sunrise. I recreated this uplifting and awe striking scene as a custom mural across a feature wall utilizing muted, natural colors while I color matched the rest of the room with custom paint. For a fully immersive experience, angled panels were installed on the adjacent walls to create a mountainscape for both depth and imagination. A gingham print on roman shades, a spherical pillow, and crib pillow hint at picnics under the sun. The light wood furniture from Crate and Barrel are simply functional yet reminiscent of a Swiss alpine chalet.

Paying homage to both love and nostalgia, graphic posters of the couple’s first trips together to Yosemite, Glacier, and Yellowstone National Parks add a punch color and a modern twist. Playing on the idea of family lineage, I incorporated some heirloom toys handed down through the generations. A wooden child’s piano beckons for a lullaby while a vintage globe, travel books, and souvenirs from the grandparents stand prominently on shelving to encourage wanderlust. Rounding out the decor, plenty of plush woodland creatures keep the baby company for a room full of exploration opportunities.