Dillon Widell may have only just celebrated his first birthday, but — thanks to his mother, Barette — he’s got a nursery filled with enough inspiration to fuel a lifetime of adventure. “I wanted to create a room for Dillon that would allow his imagination to run wild, and where he’d feel he was in his own little world,” she says of the space’s safari theme.

Located in Philadelphia’s Northern Liberties, the nursery is home to a plethora of furry and feathered friends: there’s an elephant hamper next to the crib, a gorilla on the daybed, a little yellow giraffe and a friendly lion at Dillon’s pillow. “There are so many things in this room that I love,” says Barette. “The safari-themed Gucci scarf was my mom’s, for example, and I used to wear it all the time. It always reminded me of my grandmother, who was from South Africa. I’m so thankful I could have a piece with such meaning and history for Dillon’s room. “

As for the six Little Darlings above the crib, she says, “I saw the prints online while researching nurseries and just knew I needed to get them — each time I looked at them, they put a huge smile on my face. In the end, I decided to put them above Dillon’s bed, thinking that once he was old enough, he’d look up and smile at them before falling asleep.”

Wishing you sweet dreams and happy adventuring, Dillon.

For those of you whose pets receive the same holiday gift-giving consideration as people (we know you’re out there), we’ve rustled up ten ideas for cherished cats and dogs. Among them: a cleanser made with citrus and spearmint, a squeaky toy emblazoned with a mailman’s mug, and a collar charm containing ID info (to ensure a happy reunion should Fido ever go astray).

Our email inbox is full of questions about this room. It seems we left out some coveted items on our source list (we’re looking at you vintage rocking horse), so we whipped up a quick post dedicated to all the sources right here in one place. We’re so happy the spaces we create are inspiring folks beyond the walls our prints hang on–when we came up with the concept for The Animal Print Shop Nursery Project, that’s exactly what we set out to do.

The shelves are coming up next week in Baby Rhino Nursery Sources: Part Two.

We’re excited to introduce you to the newest member of our family, but we must warn you: He’s a bit of a brute – in the most charming way!

Meet Baby Rhino.

To properly greet our new friend, Sharon designed a soothing California nursery based around pieces she loves. Since launching The Animal Print Shop Nursery Project, folks often seek our advice to help with a design direction for their own nurseries. Our answer is simple: there’s no right or wrong – pick pieces you love and find a way to put them all together. So for Baby Rhino’s Nursery, we followed our own advice.

Without an intentional design direction, Sharon picked the main pieces with one criteria in mind: she was drawn to them: a beautifully simple and affordable Ikea crib; a quirky, plush moroccan rug; a vintage mid-century dresser with clean lines and a touch of brass. Then we used paint color, small accent pieces, and baby basics to thread everything together–ending up with a soothing, sophisticated nursery that lends an element of child-friendly fun.

We’re happy with the result and think Baby Rhino is too! He joins a collection of joyful treasures new and old, including classic books, plush wildlife, wooden toys, and — fancy meeting him here — a familiar little yellow Duckling to keep him company. 

Designer: Sharon Montrose

Halloween’s just around the corner, and in continuation of last year’s Print Shop-inspired costume post, we’ve got three new dress-up ideas to share: a feather-soft duckling in tangerine-colored rain boots; an elephant with plush peanuts in tow; and a charming piglet with ballet slipper hooves and a curly pink pipe-cleaner tail. Like last year, these costumes are based around items of clothing your child may already own — just add a mask, or ears, or a snout-on-a-stick, and you’re set!

Wishing you a wonderful, wild Halloween!

We’ve long admired American Buffalo for his dignified presence and quiet grace. And, apparently, so have you — his limited-edition sizes are nearly sold-out. (We’re glad you love him as much as we do.) For those who can’t get enough of him, we’ve got you covered with our newest edition, American Buffalo Close-Up.  

For his debut, Sharon looked to Carter Design to put together a room that would compliment his stately splendor. Diffused with natural light and furnished with of our favorite pieces by Matt Monroe of Monroe Workshop, we know Buffalo’s loving the view. 

(Photos by Joe Schmelzer for The Animal Print Shop)

We’ve always had a soft spot for this playful pair, whose wily ways never fail to make us smile. (They’ve also made wonderful playmates for a set of siblings, as shown here.) This month, taking cues from everything we love best — their exuberance, their elegance, their spirited charm: a collection of seven treasures, including a hand-carved stamp, a tea blend meant to recall “expansive Western frontiers,” a delicate silver pendant, and Howlin’ Wolf, playing the blues.

It’s only right that a little girl named Ruby should have a nursery bathed in vivid color – its walls mint green, its floors patterned in emerald and rose and sunflower yellow. Black and white spotted sheets and a duo of cornflower blue doors; a lavender changer and a gold chandelier shaped like a sea urchin.

“The first thing I decided on was the wall color,” says Ruby’s mother, Rachelle. “I wanted the room to feel fresh, bright, and not too babyish, so I mixed a variety of patterns and textures in keeping with the theme of the unexpected.”

Above the crib, which is accented by a smattering of gilded polka dots, is another colorful addition: our very own Flamingo, who fits in famously, we think, among the pops of pink. “As soon as I saw it, I knew it was right,” says Rachelle. “Parts of the nursery were feeling a bit busy to me, and the simplicity of the print really helped balance it out.”

“‘I’ve found that some of the most beautiful things aren’t meant for babies at all,” she tells us. Handmade treasures help, too. Ruby’s nursery features a table made by Rachelle’s husband and a cozy blanket crafted by a friend of the family. A handmade sign hung between two brightly-lit windows spells Ruby in grassy green script. “All of these things are very special,” says Rachelle. “I know they’ll be cherished.”

Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful space with us, Ruby and Rachelle!

Photos by Joe Schmelzer for The Animal Print Shop

To celebrate Baby Elephant’s sprightly spirit: a cushion for afternoon daydreaming, a stoneware mug for tea (hot or not), a multihued sundress, and spiced peanuts made to be paired with an ice-cold beer. Have a great rest of Summer!