by Rebecca Wilson, AIA
As I sit awake, nursing in the wee hours of the morning, I jokingly wonder: Should I have hired an acoustic consultant for my nursery design?
For the second night in a row one child is crying and waking the other in a cyclical spiral of doom. I realize, architecturally, the kids’ directly adjacent bedrooms are plotting against me.
As a new mother and licensed architect, I am sure there is a design solution to my late-night woes. If you are also googling nursery home improvement fixes, here are some possible creative solutions:
- Cover the demising wall with acoustic fabric-wrapped panels.
- Begrudgingly surround your beautifully curated globe rug with carpet tiles over the hardwood
- Replace the ceiling fan with an acoustically rated light fixture.
If a more invasive approach is necessary, time to call the contractor. Go the route of classroom design and we would add layers of insulation or gypsum wallboard to the demising wall. In auditoriums we’d reshape the walls entirely with swooping curves or dynamic angles to deflect the sound. Curtains too will dampen the cacophony of cries. Truly, there are many possibilities. For now, I’ll leave the hammer alone — no time to reimagine my outer space-themed accent wall.
As I drift back to sleep with an aching neck and back, I’m overcome with humbling thoughts of gratitude. Perhaps this architectural conundrum is a blessing in disguise. Thanks to my current layout, I get more time with my kids, even during the pre-dawn hours of the morning. As a working mom, I will take all the time I can get. Anyone with kids knows that sleepless nights go hand in hand with each fleeting moment and the need to hold them just a little longer. As the house settles back into uncommon silence and calm, I can’t help but savor the last few snuggles of the night.
Architects often think of our projects as babies, nurturing them into reality – with creativity striking at odd hours of the day or night. Apologies to any client, consultant, or colleague who has received a late-night or early-morning email from me. I’ve since discovered the ‘schedule send’ option in Outlook. All emails will arrive during normal waking hours.
