Baby Girl Nursery with a touch of Florida Island Whimsy

“A house by the sea should be a house of dreams. Where windows and doors are thrown open to the ocean, and gusts of cool, salty air turn us all into kids again--buoyant and joyful.”

Celerie Kemble, Island Whimsy

When designing the nursery for our little Florida baby girl, we didn't look far or long for inspiration. 

Florida's gulf coast islands, specifically Little Gasparilla Island and Boca Grande, hold a special place in our hearts. My Tampa family built on the south end of Little Gasparilla Island in the early 1970s and has treasured our Beach House since, and my husband's Winter Haven family has been visiting Little Gasparilla Island for decades, and has a condo in Placida by the Gasparilla Marina. 

Needless to say, our souls are intertwined with the mangroves, heron and snook found on these sweet shores. 

In our home in Winter Haven, Florida, I wanted to start off our daughter's love of our favorite places early. 

(If you are looking for just links to shop the nursery, you can head over here where I've consolidated everything - or, click on a picture along the way to be brought there! Otherwise, enjoy this digital stroll down island nursery lane with links interwoven along the way!)

The Furniture: Bringing in Natural Colors of the Islands

In a world where white nursery furniture is more common (and oh so darling!), I am so happy that I went with these natural-toned pieces inspired by my love of vintage island rattan. 

The Jenny Lind Maple crib from Crate & Kids was the first piece of the room to come together after completely stealing my heart. Truth be told, I was not intending to also get the matching Jenny Lind 7-drawer dresser since it is a bit of an investment, but in a moment of blissful nesting insanity, I told myself "it's my gift to her!" .... anything for our kids, right?? But it is absolutely perfect, and I am in LOVE with both pieces. 

I sourced the woven grass laundry hamper and wooden bookstand from HomeGoods, but the hamper is inspired by this Pottery Barn Seagrass Handcrafted Hamper that I love and have in my closet, and I found this pretty white similar bookcase from Wayfair. 

The Namesake Crewe Cream Glider is an absolute star of the room, and I sourced it at Kathy Kuo Home! I was so impressed with how quickly they shipped it, and their customer service, and the glider - you guys. It is worth ALL THE HYPE. 

And let's have a moment for the Atelier Choux Paris In Bloom Swaddle Blanket that decorates the back of the glider. It is literally a work of art itself, and I cannot recommend gifting this enough for every baby shower in your life. 

The Art: Local Florida and Southern Artists and Creatives

There are few things I love more than supporting other Florida and Southern artists and creatives!! 

For my own art, I hung the Gasparilla Inn Beach Club motif seen below by the crib, and framed it with Framebridge. This happy place speaks to my soul, and is a reminder of dreams realized through Litore Studio when the Gasparilla Inn first brought me in to teach a watercolor class at the Beach Club (swoon). 

Florida artist Jenna Alexander's Pink Umbrella art print makes me so happy (be sure to follow her at @jennaalexanderstudio on Instagram), and I hope to visit her Jacksonville studio one day!

One of my all-time favorite photographers, Laura Foote (@laurafoote), sold a collection of her gorgeous prints as part of a special Boca Grande fundraiser after Hurricanes Milton and Helene damaged the island, and I was so happy to scoop two up (the 11" x 14" palms in the gallery wall and a 5" x 7" of the Gasparilla Inn's "The Pink Room" on the dresser)!! Be sure to follow her on Instagram to find out when she opens up her print shop again!

South Georgia Artist Elaine Burge is such a colorful spark of joy both on Instagram and in real life! I had the pleasure of meeting her at a popup in Tallahassee in the Fall, and so glad I scooped up the original + framed abstract medallion (shop her available art here). 

Tampa artist John Costin's Spoonbill Over Water reproduction etching (framed by Framebridge), is a welcome sight when we look down the hallway at the nursery.

The ship artwork is a vintage find from June Taylor shop in Lakeland, and the needlepoint was completed by my Aunt DiDi in 1986 for my older sister's nursery. 

I love filling the home with local art, and am on a personal mission to have each and every piece in our home tell a story of who we are, or the places we love. 

My home studio is all Litore Studio art, so it's such fun to fill the rest of the home with beautiful works from other Florida and Southern artists! I can't wait to show you some other pieces from other artists woven around the house.... but that's for another blog :)

The Little Details

Adding in the finishing touches of the room was one of the most fun parts of the design, like the little interwoven island touches in coastal motif paintings. 

The Beaufort Bonnet Company bonnet on the acrylic hat stand brings so much joy, as does this Pottery Barn whitewashed rattan changing table station.

This Amazon gold bamboo floor lamp looks and feels WAY more expensive than it is and these Amazon wooden scallop shelves show a cute little selection of seasonal books (although next time I'd get the 23" shelves rather than the 15" shelves seen here). 

My mom hand-painted the precious "Baby Girl" pink and white blocks above for our baby shower, this sweet Little Me floral footie from my sister is about to be packed in my hospital bag for her coming home outfit, and I just love this sweet baby Hill House Ellie Nap Dress from their 2025 resort launch. 

Now for our little girl!

As I write this blog on a lovely, chilly Sunday, we are just about 2.5 weeks from our little girl's due date, and she is squirming away, ready to meet the world. 

I simply can't wait to become a mom, learn her personality (will be so fun to see what traits she inherits from my husband and myself!), and meet God's sweet blessing. 

It was such a joy to design this room and bring in little touches of Florida island whimsy and gulf coast charm. But do remember, the best gift you could give your child is not fancy swaddles, new furniture or even a room of their own.

The best gift is your love and quality time. 

And showing them or telling them about all the places and creatures great and small that make your heart feel most at home.