Handmade Surprises: The Story Behind Angelique Cabral's Nursery Décor

By Alexandra Lim-Chua Wee
Photos by Lindsey Byrnes

When the "Life in Pieces" actress was designing a special place for her little one, she used a rollover theme from her baby shower. Friends and family lovingly contributed their baby gifts: a super-soft knit rug by Krysten Ritter, a lucky four-leaf clover courtesy of Amanda Seyfried, and a copy of "Goodnight Moon" from Barbra Streisand.

Making It Meaningful

After enjoying a baby shower sprinkled with celestial elegance, "Life in Pieces" actress Angelique Cabral decided to reiterate the theme in designing her little one's room. But this nursery is more than just cute stuffed animals and soft pink hues. "Everything in the room means something to us," Cabral exclusively tells Martha Stewart Living.

From Me, To You

When her best girlfriends began planning her pre-baby bash, Cabral says she filled them in on her idea for a rollover theme. Not only did this make gift-giving so much easier, but it meant each piece she received also would have a special meaning behind it from a dear friend.

One of the mementos: "This mason jar vase belonged to my grandmother," says Cabral.
"One of my best friends and artist, Rebeka Montoya, created this original artwork for my baby shower!"
To stay mindful as she embarks on new motherhood, Cabral keeps her meditation candles on a shelf in the nursery as a friendly reminder, along with a hand-knit four-leaf clover gifted by friend and fellow actress Amanda Seyfried.

To remember her family members both near and far, Cabral hangs this memorable gift from her shower with relatives on the East Coast: "It's a sheep with tiny balloons that all of my cousins and aunts signed."
The story behind this toy record player? Cabral had one just like it as a child. "It's an old Fisher Price toy that plays fake records," Cabral laughs. "Someone gave one to me at my shower and I had to put it in the nursery."
"One of my co-stars and friends, Krysten Ritter, is a big knitter. She knit this super soft rug for me, knowing there would be times where I spent a lot of time standing!" says Cabral.

One of the mementos: "This mason jar vase belonged to my grandmother," says Cabral.
To remember her family members both near and far, Cabral hangs this memorable gift from her shower with relatives on the East Coast: "It's a sheep with tiny balloons that all of my cousins and aunts signed."
"One of my best friends and artist, Rebeka Montoya, created this original artwork for my baby shower!"
The story behind this toy record player? Cabral had one just like it as a child. "It's an old Fisher Price toy that plays fake records," Cabral laughs. "Someone gave one to me at my shower and I had to put it in the nursery."
To stay mindful as she embarks on new motherhood, Cabral keeps her meditation candles on a shelf in the nursery as a friendly reminder, along with a hand-knit four-leaf clover gifted by friend and fellow actress Amanda Seyfried.
"One of my co-stars and friends, Krysten Ritter, is a big knitter. She knit this super soft rug for me, knowing there would be times where I spent a lot of time standing!" says Cabral.

A Grandmother's Gem

For dressing her little one, Cabral prepped a few favorite pieces including a very special red, white, and blue dress. "It was a Fourth of July outfit that my mom kept for me that was hers when she was little," Cabral says. "My grandma had made it for my mom. The buttons aren't quite straight on the back, but I love that she made it herself!"

Reads to Remember

At her shower, Cabral asked guests to bring favorite children's books instead of cards. "Inside each book, everyone wrote little messages and dedications to me and the baby," she says. (There's even a copy of "Goodnight Moon" from Barbra Streisand!)

Mixed into the nursery's library are some of Cabral's personal childhood favorites. "I loved Shel Silverstein so we had to include 'The Giving Tree' and 'Where the Sidewalk Ends'," she says. "And my Dr. Seuss books! My mother saved mine and sent them to me, just for the baby."

"Every piece is personal to us," says Cabral. "From the blankets made by Jason's aunts and cousins to the pieces of burlap and tulle we saved from our wedding to wrap around the curtains."