Baby Nursery 

Preparing for her baby's arrival at the end of last year, Jen Reardon of Williston knew she wanted to create a charming and personalized space without breaking the bank. The accomplished artist used her creativity to craft a budget-friendly nursery that combines baby-room functionality with the wanderlust that she and her partner Brennan want to pass along to their son.

The couple saved money by breathing new life into old furniture. Grandma's canned goods shelf became a bookcase. The small chest of drawers where Jen stored her socks in college was the perfect size for Cormac's tiny pants and onesies.

The room's decorations are mostly handmade originals created by Jen, Brennan, and their friends and family. A hanging mobile features origami paper cranes made from maps of places that are special to the couple. The border of the mirror at the end of the changing table is a mosaic Jen made from discarded tile pieces. Antique toys saved from Grandma's baby days infuse the room with a touch of the past. Cormac's new pad is truly a family effort.

Parents: Brennan Brown and Jen Reardon

Kids: daughter, Audrey, 7 & son, Cormac, 4 months

Tips for making your own personalized and affordable nursery:

• Search through things you already have for treasures to repurpose.
• Frame sections of cute, colorful baby-shower wrapping paper to create cheap and original art.
• Peruse fabric-store shelves for cloth in pleasing patterns, then buy a small amount and hem the edges. Hang them on a quilt rack or over a towel rod for instant accents and visual interest for baby's developing vision.