When Brooklyn parents Gregg Mitchell and Andrea Chu set out to create a nursery for their newborn son, Nico, they used their professional design sensibilities (he works in textiles, and she's a photographer whose work frequently appears in the pages of Cookie) plus a little bit of personal flair. We love their use of antique furniture throughout the nursery--making it unique, warm, sophisticated and sustainable. Below, Mitchell fills us in on the details.

What was the inspiration behind the decor of your son's nursery?
We really wanted something fun and whimsical that felt like a child's room. But at the same time, we didn't want it kitsch or silly. This room is directly off our living room/dining room, so it had to make sense with the rest of the house.

How would you describe your decorating style?
Well, I work for an English interior textiles company (Bennison) that is quite traditional. So there is definitely an element of Englishness to it: a very comfortable grandness--lived in but rich and layered. Nothing is cold and nothing is intimidating--but nothing is altogether typical either.



How did you get the brilliant idea to use a secretary desk as a changing station? It's such a beautiful piece!
That was mostly born of necessity. We were desperate for more storage and needed something that would do double duty as a changing table as well. This beautiful piece was in the family (it was my sister-in-law's father's) and luckily works perfectly. So I guess luck played the biggest roll!