Re-creating the look of a high-end crib

By Mrs. Lemon-Lime Oct 23, 2014

Kalon Caravan makes a pretty two color crib, but it's expensive. Babymod Marley has a similar shaped crib for a third less. I want to get the total look for less using http://lullabypaints.com/

The rocker, I'm leaning towards in NurseryWorks Sleepytime, which has oatmeal frabric and lighter wood legs.

The problem I'm running into is that the Babymod crib has a medium tone wood frame, which is darker than the Kalon crib and also darker than the rocker's legs.

I created a poll that outlines some options. A & D seem like easy enough DIY projects that will look nice at the end.

Beside's painting the crib spindles a color, what's the best way to re-create the look of the high-end crib and coordinate with the rocker?

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poll: WWYD?
A) Stain the rocker legs darker. (No change to crib wood) : (16 votes)

70 %

B) Paint the rocker legs the spindle color. (No change to crib wood) : (4 votes)

17 %

C) Somehow stain the crib frame lighter. (No change to rocker legs) : (0 votes)

D) Paint the crib frame oatmeal. (No change to rocker legs) : (1 votes)

4 %

Something else, explained below. : (2 votes)

9 %

23 votes

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15 comments

looch
wonderful pear / 26210 posts

Oct 23, 2014

Morning!
I voted to stain the legs of the rocker, but that's because I am lazy, lol.

I think you could take the crib apart rather easily and with a sprayer (if the paint can be applied that way) you wouldn't have a very long process to change the color of the spindles.

The only thing I would kind of "warn" you about is to consider how/if you would use the crib as a full sized bed. If you think of your plans on how to use the crib later (assuming it converts), would the colored spindles work there, or would you be tired of it?
ValentineMommy
pomelo / 5791 posts

Oct 23, 2014

I think it would be a ton easier to stain the rocker legs darker and paint the crib spindles.
Pumuckl
pomegranate / 3601 posts

Oct 23, 2014

I'd personally be too scared to paint the spindlers. My little guy had a phase where he would pull up and bite into his crib. I'd be too scared of the color chipping off and him eating it.

I LOVE the look of the crib though! Hope someone has an answer for you how to achieve it. You can def. darken the wood of the rocker though.
mrs.shinerbock
pomegranate / 3779 posts

Oct 23, 2014

Add more wood tones to the room - having 4-5 different shades of wood looks more intentional, so what about a dresser with another shade and a side table?
Mrs. Lemon-Lime
wonderful pea / 17279 posts

Oct 23, 2014

@looch: Morning

Good point; the crib converts to a toddler and full size bed. We will likely transition to a twin and skip the toddler conversion altogether. I'm not a huge fan of the super high sides that remain during the crib to tot bed conversion.

Lullaby paints can be used with a sprayer.

@Pumuckl: I understand the concern about toxins, but isn't the same concern present even with just the manufacturer's finish of stains, sealers, and paints?Babymod and Lullaby both boast meeting ASTM and JPMA standards.
Mrs. Lemon-Lime
wonderful pea / 17279 posts

Oct 23, 2014

@mrs.shinerbock: Some of my office furniture will be re-purposed and it's black. Here's a pic of the credenza which will be a changing table.
birdofafeather
pineapple / 12053 posts

Oct 23, 2014

I wouldn't paint anything. The two tones doesn't bother me. We painted our crib and it was a huge project. FIL used a sprayer and it was intense. Can't really recommend it! Ha.
LaughLines
clementine / 880 posts

Oct 23, 2014

That's the rocker I want, too!

It does have the option to order the rocker with darker legs. I think they're darker than your crib option, so then they still wouldn't match. What if you chose a darker crib and the darker legs to go wtih your darker dresser?
Mrs. Lemon-Lime
wonderful pea / 17279 posts

Oct 23, 2014

@birdofafeather: Huh, how was that not worth it?! Your crib is gorgeous. You set the gold standard.

If I end up scratching the entire project and still go with the Marley, I will buy it in white with light wood legs:
Bubbles
persimmon / 1328 posts

Oct 23, 2014

I voted paint the rocker legs a colour, if it was me I would worry that with staining them they still might not match perfectly.

I painted my son's cot using paints from http://www.nurserypaint.co.uk - which seems similar to the Lullaby ones. I didn't think it was too difficult - it took a whole day as the whole thing had to be sanded and then I used 4 coats (went from a dark brown to light grey cot). If I wasn't going such a light colour I think I could have used less. I just used a paintbrush. The paint dried really quickly.

It has been a few months and so far no chipping, and he does scratch at the bars a lot.
MrsTiz
cantaloupe / 6800 posts

Oct 23, 2014

Ooooh. I LOVE all of this. I'd stain the rocker legs. Staining is harder to do than painting, so I'd stain just the legs of it. If the crib comes apart I would spray that sucker. I love love love painted cribs so I totally recommend it. I think most of the crib chewing would be along the top rails, and you'd leave those with the manufacturers clear coat, right? I'm all about this idea
Mrs. Lemon-Lime
wonderful pea / 17279 posts

Oct 23, 2014

@LaughLines: Rocker twinsies!! I'm open to the rocker with darker legs if I use the full white Babyletto Hudson.
birdofafeather
pineapple / 12053 posts

Oct 23, 2014

@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: Thanks! I guess I've just seen the same color in a similar style (after some looking) and the price difference wasn't that much (between buying paint, time involved). We got the crib for free so we never really looked into purchasing it until now I've seen the other ones out there so I wondered if it was even worth it! It's definitely not perfect so I guess if I were gonna paint anything, I'd paint the less expensive crib rather than the chair even though that's possibly less involved. (Aka, how we painted the crib to match my dream chair) How does the black furniture play into it?
birdofafeather
pineapple / 12053 posts

Oct 23, 2014

@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: I would probably go with the white crib actually. I really dig that with the black and grey and light wood!
Mrs. Lemon-Lime
wonderful pea / 17279 posts

Oct 23, 2014

@birdofafeather: once we convert my home office into a nursery, I will move my office into my husband's existing "office." To make that space more comfortable for both of us we are going to pair down the furniture. We are leaving the matching bookcase and credenza in the nursery. The furniture just so happens to be black.

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Re-creating the look of a high-end crib

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