Lindsay Ballard, Author at Makely

One night, in the middle of putting together Emma’s big girl bedroom, I woke up with a vision. I know a lot of people’s visions involve religion, family or relationships, but mine always seem to involve decorating.

I had really been wanting to make something out of live edge wood, a slab of wood that is planed flat on the top and bottom but left natural on the sides. A lot of it is also has great figure, which means that it has interesting texture or appearance due to the way the tree grew or the make up of its grain.

Once I had my vision, I couldn’t get it out of my head. I searched all over Austin for a place I could buy two smallish slabs of live edge walnut, but I came up short. Even though these pieces would likely be mill castoffs, we don’t really have any mills here. I checked a few of our speciality lumber yards, but the only live edge slabs they had were really exotic (read: totally expensive) slabs.

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Well, I kept my promise. I was able to completely transform my daughter’s serene nursery into the bold and colorful bedroom that reflects her personality, all without ever touching a paint brush to the walls. If you’ve been reading for a while, you’ll know that that sort of promise makes me all twitchy, like a drug addict looking for her next hit. But, I did it.

Emma’s nursery was a sweet little room for a sweet little baby. I put a lot of time into making sure it stayed soft and neutral. I had it in my brain that this would help her sleep well. I have no idea if my theory is based in any real science, but I do know that I could put her in her bed awake and she’d put herself to sleep. I credit my genius wall color choices.

My sweet little baby has turned into a creative, hilarious, brilliant, and beautiful 3 1/2 year old little girl. Her room needed some color, so I set out to make it happen – without painting the walls.

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Live Edge Wood and Leather Belt Shelves

All Grown Up: A Little Girl’s Bedroom