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Some design projects we share on the blog hit close to home but the reveal I share in this post is my actual home. For over a decade I have had visions for how I wanted to update every square inch of the dated raised ranch we purchased in 2009. Early on there was my son’s nursery, and now big kid's bedroom, which has gotten a lot of attention with its super makeover. It was the room that inspired me to open YouthfulNest.

This last summer was finally time for a family room remodel – taking it down to the studs and rebuilding it into my vision of Midwest Coastal. This space had become our son’s playroom and occasional hangout for the older kids to get their gaming on. It wasn’t just unattractive, the old carpet was nasty and smelly. There was water damage behind the fireplace built-ins and most certainly mold growing in places we could and couldn’t see. 

I hated being down there myself; it made me depressed. Except I couldn't ignore it since it was the first thing guests in our home saw and more importantly where kids played. It could no longer be ignored. 

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Pandemic or no pandemic babies and kids continue to grow and outgrow their rooms. This is why the producer of the hit T.V. show Get Out of My Room, from NBC Universal Kids, turned to YouthfulNest.

The typical formula for a T.V. design makeover show has a designer and crew working with the homeowner in person. Unfortunately, with the new normal of social distancing, this in-person scenario has not been desirable.

Instead, YouthfulNest was welcomed into the New Jersey home through a completely virtual process. The Mann’s family worked with their designer via an initial voice consult call; an online eDesign service and final room walkthrough via Zoom. Two years ago the young Mann sisters had their shared bedroom designed on the show Get Out of My Room. It was bright and bold and the sisters loved it. Then they outgrew it.

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​While it may feel overwhelming to commit to learning about what each and every product is made out of, shopping with brands that are committed to safe, nontoxic materials is our favorite #momhack for keeping our little ones and the planet safe.

We are always looking for ways to incorporate nature into children’s rooms and spaces. Whether it’s with bringing actual nature into the room via plants that are beneficial to the air quality or using products that we know are free of chemicals.

While our adult bodies can (sometimes) withstand environmental allergens and chemicals, little bodies are much more susceptible and reactive. Our goal is to help our clients create rooms that are not only beautiful to look at -- but safe and healthy for our sweet little ones. 

As a general rule, we suggest avoiding products containing heavy metals, lead, mercury and cadmium, formaldehyde, phthalates, BPA and BPS, PVC, VOCs, PFAS, flame retardants, boric acid and fragrances. Why do we recommend avoiding these? Because they can affect behavior, disrupt endocrine systems, imbalance hormones, and in some cases are carcinogenic.

Below are some of our favorite go-to retailers and brands committed to creating things that are good for humans and the earth.

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​It’s official, January 2021 is the month Bridgerton took over our Netflix binging and our social media feeds. It turns out this Regency period romance is exactly what we all needed after 200 years in quarantine.

There is so much to love about the show – from Daphne’s gorgeous gowns from the Modiste to the opulent events of the season to well, every scene with Simon Basset. Naturally, we were particularly drawn to the décor. From the Bridgerton family home in London to the Duke’s residence to Lady Danbury’s ballroom – the inspiration is truly endless.

But our favorite room of all (no surprise here) was the nursery at the Duke and Duchess’ newlywed residence. That veiled bassinet, the sun streaming in with an almost heavenly glow, the opulent yet appropriate simplicity. It’s a design dream.

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​"Their tag, "Life is stressful. Designing shouldn't be." really resonated with me. At the time I was pregnant and didn't have the time to think about décor. The idea of simply sharing my vision, reviewing the design and then shopping the items online was exactly what I needed." – Elizabeth Warren, YouthfulNest client 2018

In 2018 Elizabeth was pregnant with her first child and working for Motherly, the go-to website, and community for all things motherhood. She had heard about our services through work conversations. Her decision to purchase a YouthfulNest package was the value it brought her in three major ways:

1. Design vision
2. Time-saving product sourcing
3. Ease of shopping all those products

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As we are getting ready for gift giving season, one of the challenges is to buy things that fit into our play space, both literally and figuratively. A play space is a parenting essential. If you don’t already have that space, maybe that should be the gift you give yourself.

Whether you have a small space and need the area to serve multiple functions (for us it’s our guest room) or if you’ve repurposed your three-car garage to build a mini DisneyLand, it is important to have a designated area for play. There is nothing sustainable or healthy about toys being strewn all over the house.

My son is 9 months old now. And as a big kid, myself, I’m already having a ton of fun creating his play area. There are a few things that are must-haves for me.​