Christina and Stephen McHenry have framed and clustered colorful artwork to decorate the nursery in their South Minneapolis home. (Donna Erickson)

As we're preparing for Mother's Day, I've been thinking about all the expectant mothers who patiently wait for the official title of mom to become a reality. That's when 30-year-old graphic designer, artist and friend Christina McHenry came to mind.

I stopped by her South Minneapolis house on a recently to see how things are going as she and her husband, Stephen, plan for the arrival of their first child in July. This active, eco-minded, urban couple have projects in the works indoors and out, so it's always an adventure to pass through their backyard gate. As I meandered around the quaint pathway by their organic vegetable and herb gardens, I couldn't miss taking a peek inside the chicken coop to see if any of their "urban hens" had laid eggs that morning.

Inside their remodeled turn-of-the-century home, I was inspired by the simplicity of decor and the smart mix of old and new. "We don't want to accumulate a lot of stuff, and we enjoy repurposing the things we have," Christina said, as she led me upstairs to their in-progress nursery.

"Even with a new baby?" I asked.

"We already have a sturdy secondhand changing table, and I love the glider rocking chair we just refinished and painted white. We're planning on swapping baby gear with friends over time, so we should have all we want and need," Christina said.

Sheer curtains move with the breeze and a round wool rug adds warmth and color to the room.

"We decided to splurge and buy a new crib for its style and latest safety features," she added.

While the "less is more" adage is modus operandi in their home, when it came to the nursery walls, more is, well ... definitely more. And it works! The three rows of 16 pieces of framed art that extend between two sage walls are a creative focal point.

"We don't know the sex of the baby, so we decided to decorate with a display of framed pictures that reflect our love for animals and the outdoors," said Stephen. "It's a theme all kids enjoy."

Good sources for prints include picture postcards, pages of art from old children's books purchased at garage sales, photos that tell your family story, notecards, magazines, catalogs and posters.

After picking artwork, you can finish a similar project in three steps:

1. Clean the glass in inexpensive 3-by-5-inch IKEA Ribba frames, trim the art and assemble.

2. Arrange framed art on the floor with an eye to mixing colors and subjects.

3. Use a laser level and a standard level to mark where to pound nails. Then, hang the frames.

Donna Erickson's award-winning television series, "Donna's Day," is airing on public television nationwide. Watch it in the Twin Cities at 7:30 a.m. Fridays on tptLife on channels 13 and 17. Sign up for Donna's e-newsletter at donnasday.com. Her latest book is "Donna Erickson's Fabulous Funstuff for Families." Become a fan of Donna's Day on Facebook at facebook.com/pages/Donnas-Day.