When it came time to decorate her son's nursery, it was a no brainer for artist Kristin Loffer Theiss to get to work and start designing cool pillows, mobiles and plush toys featuring whimsical illustrations. Soon her hobby turned into KLTworks, which features not just all the designs she has crafted for Sayer but also ecxo-friendly onesies, tees and totes. Here, Kristin talks about creating a modern look for her son's nursery.

Did you decorate the nursery before your baby was born? And did you know whether you were having a boy or girl before you started decorating?
We started decorating and working on Sayer’s nursery well before Sayer was born. And we did know that it was Sayer that we were making the room for.

How did you choose the color palette? What was the inspiration for the
look of the room?
Growing up in the late ‘60s and' 70s, we chose a palette that was a nostalgic nod to both of our childhoods. I was also working with the same palette in my klt designs (for the same reason). We wanted something colorful, clean, and modern for Sayer, so we painted a very neutral wall color so the colors that we used would be showcased.

How did you choose the furniture? Were there some must-have items you knew you absolutely wanted for the nursery?
We are both big fans of furniture design, particularly from the modern aesthetic. My husband gave me an Eames rocking chair for Christmas when we had decided to try to have a child. We chose the furniture to compliment the Eames chair. The changing table/book shelf is a remodeled version of my old dollhouse that my dad made me in the ‘70s. My husband did an excellent job with it and it is one of my favorite things in Sayer’s nursery. It is also extremely sturdy and can withstand a lot of weight. So, those two things were definitely “must haves.” The crib is an Oeuf Crib that we have the toddler conversion kit for and fatboy beanbag was something that I thought Sayer would enjoy in different ways … for years.

Since you design kids toys, prints etc. Did you consider decorating with designs by other artists?
Most definitely. Art and design are really important to us. Sayer has a lot of little accents in his room from other artists. There are many that I admire. For his nursery walls, we thought it would be special to have work that was made for him. My prints were definitely inspired with that idea in mind. I made them after we found out that he was on his way. Decorating Sayer’s nursery gave me the unique opportunity to display and see all of my work/products the way that I intended to have them used. Sayer knows the characters names now and seems to feel comforted by the fact that they keep him company in his room. It is also very cool because he is often in the studio with me and watches me make the things that he has grown to love. The line between me being a designer and a mom is definitely blurred. We love the continuity of all of the art working together and I get really tickled when I see Sayer’s enjoyment from what I make and design. When Sayer is older and starts developing his interests, he will have many opportunities to fill his room with his own artistic picks. Until then, I feel privileged to be able to make stuff for him.

What is your favorite item in the nursery that you hope your kid will pass down to his kids?
Well, I would say the Eames chair. However… it is most likely going to be moving into my room soon as it is my favorite thing (aside from my ipod). But, I do hope it is passed down. I would love to see the changing table/shelf be passed down too.

Do you have any advice for new moms on how to approach decorating a nursery?
I would say, pick things/colors that you truly love. I think it is important to respond to your imagination rather than get caught up with the idea of what you think a baby would like. After all, your child is the closest thing to your heart… so it seems right to design from your heart. Practically, I would recommend using a neutral, soothing color for the walls (or at least a majority of them) as to not compete with all of the cool things that you find for your child.

Does your son have any one item that helps him go to sleep, be it a favorite toy, book or blankie?
My son is very tactile. He seems drawn to different textures and things like antennae and legs. The first thing that helped him get to sleep, when he was first born, was my bathrobe (when I was wearing it). When I saw that, I got him a small, organic duck made by Lana – it has soft legs for him to feel. I watched how he slept with it and decided to design the slug from my observations. Now the duck has retired. Sayer and his slug are inseparable - he doesn’t go anywhere without him. He twiddles and feels the antennae to go to sleep or to just relax. It warms my heart. We always know when he is tired by how he is feeling his slug. As a complete bonus, if Sayer loses the slug or something happens to it, I can make another one. He is on his second slug…. but doesn’t know it.

SLEEP 101
Exercise regularly. Exercise helps tire and relax your body.

Don't consume caffeine after 4pm. Avoid other stimulants like cigarettes as well.

Don't drink alcohol before bedtime. Alcohol disrupts the brain's normal patterns during sleep.

If it's good for baby, it's good for you: establish a bedtime ritual and sleeping schedule. For example, have a cup of chamomile tea with the lights dimmed or listen to some classical music before hitting the sheets.

Stick to a regular bedtime and wakeup time, even on weekends.