INTERVIEW WITH BABY MAKES 3

It's no secret that we are a nation devoted to our home improvement shows. We are addicted to renovating the worst house on the block; we love fixing up the rundown ranch; and we flip out over high-end makeovers. There is a show dedicated to kitchens, baths, great rooms, teeny-weeny homes, water homes, vacation homes, cabins, motor homes and yes, even the tree house. So how ecstatic were we when we found out about a lifestyle T.V. show dedicated to the nursery?
THIS MUCH!!! (arms opened wide and stretched out behind my back)

The host of the show Baby Makes 3 was more than happy to field our questions about the show. Melissa Lozoff understands first hand the thrill and exhaustion of becoming a first-time parent. Within only three days notice she and her husband became new adoptive parents of their little boy, Josh, when he was just 5 weeks old.  Not much time to put together her own nursery. Instead she lends her authentic voice and insight to the show’s first-time parents.  Fortunately,  on the show the couples have more time to get organized and even take on some very personal DIY projects.

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Q&A: melissa Lozoff, Mama & host of baby makes 3

'from one first-time mama to another'

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Q: We’ve been asking “Where’s the home show dedicated to the parents-to-be and the nursery?!" How did your show Baby Makes 3 get it’s start?

A: Baby Makes 3 was born from the creative idea of a young documentary filmmaker. Chip Howell graduated from the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University in 2013. As he was contemplating new projects, the idea for a nursery show developed “out of thin air”.  As unusual as this was coming from a young man in his mid 20s, he threw his heart and soul into the idea. Chip is very committed to public television and the learning experience it offers viewers. Public television was the perfect home for Baby Makes 3. Public television is a great learning channel, and Baby Makes 3 is a warm, fun, uplifting experience!

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Q: Who is your target audience?

A: Our target audience is new parents to be as well as grandparents. However, the show is really for anyone that likes DIY or decorating. So many of the projects you will see on the show can be translated into other projects, either for other children’s rooms or even adults.

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Q: Can you walk us through the development of an episode?

A: It starts with finding the right couple.  We look for couples that are trying to solve a specific problem or have a particular channel – so for example, we’ve worked with couples who have unusually small spaces or place a high emphasis on being “green.”  From there, our team works with the couple to develop design ideas and DIY projects that solve these problems.

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Q: How can a couple appear on your show?

A: We are always looking for new couples to appear on the show. Check our the website and you will find all the information you need to apply. Join us on TV and get a free nursery! Click to apply.

Find out where you can watch upcoming episodes of Season Two of Baby Makes 3

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Q: What are fiRst-time parents most concerned about when it comes to the nursery?

A: When a couple becomes a family, everything changes. First time parents are usually overwhelmed with the idea of creating a nursery. They usually have a room designated for baby, but then get stuck with what to do next.  Baby Makes 3 seeks to empower people! We help parents go from an empty room to an inspiring safe space for their child. Getting the nursery finished before baby arrives is something parents are most concerned with doing. Having Baby Makes 3 come in and transform their space into something beautiful and functional is such a relief. Parents oftentimes have ideas for themes, but don’t always know how to execute them. Baby Makes 3 creates a design incorporating the parents’ ideas, adding some special surprises. The result is a warm, functional, and safe nursery, with do-it-yourself décor.

We totally agree about the importance of how a well-designed nursery instills confidence  in new parents —YN

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Q: How does the show’s designer and the couple collaborate on the nursery design and final installation?

A: All of our nurseries are a team effort.  Chip Howell, the show’s creator, oversees the nursery creation and ultimately signs off on designs. Chip is our idea man. He comes up with all of the projects himself, working with designers to blend them into a central theme for the couple.  But we do include parents’ ideas and our interior designer typically selects color pallets, fabric, and décor items.  We also have a safety expert who oversees our efforts.  The projects are all do-it-yourself so that the couple can participate in creating their nursery, making it very personal for them and their baby. This is a very hands on show, with everyone working together to create something meaningful, functional, safe, and beautiful!

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Q: What tips can You share for desigNing one's baby room so that it is beautiful, functionable and affordable?

A: We always start by figuring out the layout of the room. It would be a shame to fall in love with something that won’t actually fit in your space! We find something to use as a jumping off point for the design, but it isn’t always the same thing for every space. We like to incorporate the look of the existing home and in particular, the things that make the parents who they are.  If they are into the outdoors, we might use that – or if they love animals, we’ve done a safari theme.  We also believe nurseries are learning spaces for children, so we add plenty to stimulate senses. 
 
Most nurseries are going to have some basic items – a crib, changing table, chair – those sorts of things.  We like the idea of starting with basic themes, then moving to colors.  Going online is a great place to find ideas, too.
 
We would recommend two ways of starting the design for your space:

1. Look through pictures of nurseries and see what you are attracted to. Are there any themes or colors you are drawn to using? Are there particular elements you want to incorporate? If you are having trouble narrowing it down, look for common elements among your favorite spaces. Or if there is a single room that is your inspiration, check each of the items you are looking at purchasing and ask yourself if you could see them in the inspiration room.
 
2. Find an element you can use as a starting point. This could be a fabric or bedding set, a rug, or even a piece of art. Use this as inspiration for the rest of the space. I’ll often find something that pulls together all the colors I’d like to use. Consider whether or not you want your space to have a theme—you can bring in stars for example without committing to a celestial theme—or you can take a theme to the max and have every element relate to it. When thinking through what you’d like for your child, be true to your own values, not necessarily what your parents or friends would have done, and you’ll have a space that you can enjoy for years to come!
 
In everything you do, please keep baby's safety in mind, and remember that your baby is growing fast and safety needs do change with baby's development.

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Q: YouthfulNest developed from the popularity of home Improvement shows. We also saw that while Homeowners might Like help with an overall design, they are excited and capable to do various DIY projects
What DIY projects have you seen as most successful?

A: There are simply too many to choose from, but here are two that you may find particularly clever:
 
1.  Personal growth chart:  You can take nearly any object – we’ve done a shooting star and a giraffe – and create a growth chart in your room.  We like this better than marking a door, since you can literally take this with you when you move.  It’s a fun item for your child.
 
2.  Time capsule:  This is such a neat idea, but we took an inexpensive wall safe (about $30) and installed it and filled with personal items of the parents and grandparents.  Both parents wrote letters.  The idea was when the child was older, he or she could open and receive some special mementoes from before they would born.  If you don’t want a wall safe, you could simply decorate a lockbox.  Children will love it!

Custom shoot start growth chart

Sneak a time capsule behind wall art

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Q: What is your favorite finished nursery look so far?

A: We loved our gender neutral design.  This room had a reclaimed wood wall, play tent, tree bookshelf, and a repurposed dresser.  It was fun and, I think, doable by most couples with a little woodworking skills.

DIY wall and wall art from Season One - Gender Neutral Nursery

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Q: What's next for Baby Makes 3 ?

A: Baby Makes 3, will air nationally in October and November on public televisions’ Create® TV on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11:30 a.m. ET, plus a repeat at 5:30 p.m. ET.  Please check local listings.   Since 2006, American Public Television (APT) has distributed Create® TV, the dynamic 24/7 digital channel of popular lifestyle programming. Its do-it-yourself genres include the best from APT’s extensive library of cooking, home-improvement, gardening, painting, crafts, and travel series, as well as well-known titles from PBS®. Create TV is distributed on 234 public television markets and reaches 84.4% of the U.S. television households, including 21 of the top 25 markets.

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