Puppy Love

Take a peek inside Rocco’s ruff-tastic room

It all started with a wallpaper sample. After scrolling through endless nursery décor ideas, PLAYGROUND’s editor, Maddy Zollo Rusbosin, finally found something she loved for her son, Rocco: A wallpaper adorned with dogs wearing everything from sunglasses to blue bandanas. The Rifle Paper Co. print became the focal point of the room and the inspiration for the theme.

Because this was her second child and her first boy, Maddy wanted something aesthetically different from her daughter’s tropical, flamingo-filled oasis. With the wallpaper as an eyecatching accent wall, she incorporated classic blue tones and sporty elements into the rest of the space. Here are a few design details that made Rocco’s room complete:

Paw Prints

Playing off the Rifle Paper Co. print, Maddy wove canine-inspired elements throughout the nursery. Beyond finding a dog-patterned crib sheet from Little Unicorn, she had a lot of luck on Etsy. From the cute basket to the mobile over the changing table to the set of six watercolor prints, all featuring puppies playing different sports, the room is brimming with animal accents.

Something Old, Something New

When it came to outfitting the interior, Maddy already had a few key pieces, including a changing table dresser that was hers when she was a baby. There was also the ultra-comfy recliner that she used in her daughter’s nursery, along with a cabinet filled with toys passed down to Rocco from his big sister. In terms of new purchases, Maddy went with the Babyletto Sprout 4-in-1 Convertible Crib and the Ruggable Plaid Blue & Ivory Rug. Both buys had longevity in mind: The crib comes with a toddler bed conversion kit, and the rug is machine-washable and made with stain-resistant material.

High-Tech Helpers

Instead of a traditional bassinet, Maddy opted for Happiest Baby’s SNOO Smart Sleeper that has built-in white noise and gently rocks throughout the night. The coolest part? If Rocco starts to fuss, it increases the sound and motion, soothing him back to sleep. She also incorporated other techy items designed to make her life easier, like the Hatch Rest 2nd Gen noise machine that’s equipped with multiple sound settings, a built-in night light and a time-to-rise clock and the VAVA Baby Monitor with Split Screen so she can watch both kids at once.

Cool Local Brand Alert!

Wanting to jazz up the basic white SNOO sheets and swaddle, Maddy enlisted local mom Nikki Nocella to tie-dye them. Nikki is the creator of Ice Pop Tie-Dye (@icepoptiedye on Instagram), where she creates custom dyed creations. DM her for orders!