This “Gothic Nursery” Is Unlike Anything You’ve Seen Before

Reby Hardy; her husband, WWE wrestler Matt Hardy; and their four kids have shared this grand house in North Carolina for 13 years. Reby and the home went viral, thanks to her “Life of a Gothic Baby” series online, where she chronicles her goth-loving toddler and showcases her incredibly dark and dramatic gothic nursery. The series is so popular that Reby has a children’s book, Life of a Gothic Baby, coming out in December 2023. Below, Reby shares more about her family’s home and the gothic nursery.

“My home is very much an extension of myself and the ultimate expression of our family. Being a well-traveled wrestling family, I try to find ways to include our memorabilia and treasures from our travels.”

Describe your home’s style: “Gothic Victorian maximalism. I’d say my style is a mix of dark, gothic, Victorian, and chaotic maximalism.”

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? “I’m currently adding on to our black-light home arcade, and the last antique I bought was a wood and brass mounted prosthetic eye.”

Any advice for creating a home you love? “Don’t worry about what people think your home should be and romanticize the little things. Make everything as special as you can.”

What is your favorite room and why? “My favorite room is the baby’s nursery, complete with decades of curated oddities and an antique crib from 1894.”

Square footage of the nursery: 340 square feet.

What was the problem you were solving for with this room project? “After three boys, I wanted to design something really special for my first girl. The obvious route of going with something all pink didn’t feel right to me, although I still wanted a ‘princess’ feel to the space. I grew up being inspired by gothic media, architecture, and antiques, so I decided to go with a more traditional interpretation of what a royal baby room would look like. “

What do you love about this space? What makes it special to your family? “The room is so calming and comforting. I often find one of my other kids in there looking for a moment of peace or just lounging around.”

What is your favorite product that you purchased in this room? “The very first piece of furniture purchased for the room is probably my favorite and the piece that really solidified the direction of the room’s design; an antique wooden crib from 1864 that I found on Facebook Marketplace.”

Tell us about a One Great Idea in your kids’ room! “Anything that allows my kids to pile things up easily is a must here; my oversized baskets and a little vintage doll cradle is a lifesaver when it comes to clean up after a toy explosion — especially for little ones.”

Thanks, Reby and family!

This article originally published on Apartment Therapy. See it there: This “Victorian Maximalist” House Includes a Must-See Gothic Nursery