Let’s start with the obvious: I love babies. I don’t have any of my own (yet?), but I’ve got a whole gaggle of nieces and nephews who’ve had me wrapped around their tiny fingers since birth. Being a proud GUNCLE (that’s gay uncle, for the uninitiated) means I take baby spaces very seriously—because they deserve just as much love, style, and intention as any other room in the home.

Now, let’s talk about my sweet friend Kristen Doute. You likely know her from her unforgettable Bravo TV days on Vanderpump Rules, but now she’s back in the spotlight (and looking better than ever) as one of the stars of The Valley (also On Bravo). Kristen and I go way back—I designed the office for her clothing brand, James Mae, and zhuzhed up parts of her charming home in L.A.’s San Fernando Valley years ago. So when she and her fiancé, Luke Broderick (also on The Valley TV show), shared they were expecting their first child—after a fertility journey filled with heart, honesty, and strength—I was beyond thrilled.

And when she asked me to design the nursery?
Total honor. Total joy. Total “tell me when and where.”

The reveal just landed in People Magazine, and ever since, y’all have been flooding my and Kristen’s DMs asking for product sources, paint colors, design decisions—you name it. So in the spirit of transparency (and because Kristen and I are allergic to gatekeeping), here’s the full behind-the-scenes scoop of how we brought this ethereal nursery to life.

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Kristen and Luke’s home is a charming mid-century gem—and like most homes built in the ’60s, it came with its fair share of quirks. We started with the basics: updating the old window to a new energy-efficient one, patching up some uneven drywall, and leveling out the ceiling. Once we had a clean slate, we painted the space using Greenguard-certified, NO-VOC paint from Behr, keeping things breathable and safe for baby. The main wall color is soft and neutral, with the trim in Ultra Pure White for crisp contrast.

But the real magic started when Kristen found a stunning cloud mural on Etsy. It felt dreamy without being cliché—a soft sky moment that set the tone for the entire room. We color-matched everything from that mural: the paint, the accessories, even the undertones of the fabric.

Now, if you’re thinking “isn’t Kristen kind of rock-n-roll?”—yes, she is. Or at least she was. When we worked together in the past, she leaned into vintage, edgy, cool-girl vibes. But this time, she surprised me. She wanted soft. Earthy. Minimal. She told me, “I don’t want pink, but I still want it to feel like a baby girl lives here.” Challenge accepted.

Instead of true pinks, we played with warm neutrals and soft coral undertones that nodded to femininity without feeling precious. The area rug from Wayfair added that perfect amount of texture and whimsy with its subtle fringe, grounding the space in softness.

And then—furniture decisions.

The crib from Bellini was a splurge, but an intentional one. It’s a 4-in-1 convertible piece, meaning this crib will eventually become a toddler bed, then a daybed, and later (believe it or not) a sofa. Kristen’s matching dresser got an added changing tray for now—but will live on for years as a standalone piece. Both pieces feature a beautiful woven cane detail, which brings in just the right amount of organic texture.

Above the crib, we layered in rose gold feather butterflies to give the mural a little dimension. And to really pull the whole look together, we added the most adorable nursery mobile featuring clouds, rainbows, and sunshine—because yes, baby girl deserves the whole sky.

Kristen’s aversion to “too baby” extended to storage, too. So above the dresser, we installed sleek white shelves with brass rails from West Elm, both stylish and functional. For now, they hold thoughtful gifts and decorative keepsakes. Later, they’ll likely be home to wipes, lotions, and all the things no one tells you you’ll need at arm’s reach.

 

 

 

One of my favorite details in the space? The scalloped mirror above the dresser. I love a mirror that works just as well in a nursery as it would in an entryway—it’s all about longevity, people.

We filled the space between the dresser and the crib with a rotating wooden bookcase—which Luke, bless him, bravely assembled piece by piece. It’s practical now, and once baby is old enough to spin it herself and grab a bedtime story? Magic.

 

 

The window treatments are a layered dream—West Elm velvet panels in a warm sand color paired with soft, affordable sheers from Amazon. They hang on a double rod from Pottery Barn Kids that allows light control and that “floaty cloud” feeling. Pro tip: hang your rods as close to the ceiling as possible and make sure the curtain rods curve into the wall to really block light.

Now, let’s talk seating. The first glider we chose? A beautiful disaster. It looked amazing online but swallowed the room in real life. We pivoted and landed on the perfect Babyletto swivel glider in performance fabric. Comfy, compact, and neutral. To pair with it, we added a soft ottoman in “Petal” from House of Noa—one of the few blush elements in the room that still felt very “Kristen.” The squeezable pillow in the glider is from Crate and Barrel.

Next to the chair, we tucked in a very affordable side table with storage from Wayfair—practical now for books and bottles, later for toys or diapers.

 

 

The giraffe lamp from Pottery Barn Kids was a no-brainer. Kristen has always loved giraffes (they’re basically her spirit animal), and the wooden finish added warmth and personality. On the table were a few sweet personal touches: a framed photo from the day Kristen and Luke met, a childhood jewelry box from her grandmother, and a couple of succulents snipped right from their backyard.

To finish the room, we brought in a tall rubber tree in a pot Kristen already owned, adding life and a little feng shui, and thanks to the amazing Luke-With-The-Green-Thumb we know it will thrive in here. And the cherry on top? The rubber tree provides oxygen back into the room too! A natural rope drum light fixture from Home Depot that—yes, I still can’t believe this either—looks like a high-end designer piece.

 

The finishing touches included custom artwork from some of Kristen’s favorite artists—Moon Rock Prints created a custom “Go Your Own Way” piece (Fleetwood Mac forever), while Olivia Mae Art painted celestial illustrations of the sun, moon, and lily of the valley. We framed everything with simple CB2 frames to keep the look clean and modern.

 

 

 

 

Oh—and shoutout to the amazing Shanel Wheeler of Home On Point who worked her organizing magic on the closet. Tiny baby hangers? I nearly fainted from cuteness.

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This nursery was never about following trends. It was about creating a space that felt like them—calm, beautiful, intentional, and filled with meaning. I’m so grateful Kristen and Luke trusted me with such a special chapter of their lives.

For more behind-the-scenes design magic, come hang out on Instagram, and if you want to learn how to create your own meaningful, personalized spaces, check out my book The Designer Within.

Now, excuse me while I go refill my emotional cup—because this nursery?
This one got me good. 💛