Enchanting Insights into Maria Menounos' Baby Athena Nursery: A Euphoria of Personal Heritage, Stylish Embellishments, and Surprising Finds!

During an exclusive nursery tour for We, Maria Menounos, 45, showcased the "favorite" and "most significant" element of her newborn daughter Athena's perfect room.

"I requested my designer to use these cross-stitching pieces that have sentimental value to me, which were passed down from my mom and grandma," she reveals. "These were the final remaining pieces that I possess."

Adorning the wall above Athena's changing table is a cross-stitched artwork portraying a young girl in prayer, skillfully crafted by Maria's deceased mother, Litsa Menounos. Additionally, a delightful combination of floral and vintage cross-stitched designs graces the area around Athena's crib.

When I first saw this, I couldn't contain my excitement. I wouldn't have known where to begin or how to go about it, but the professionals surely did. Maria, who shares Athena with her husband, Keven Undergaro, expresses her admiration, saying, "I wouldn't mind having the Architectural Digest house, but what I truly desire is something with sentimental value."

One of Athena's cherished possessions is a "little pink elephant," which Maria hopes will hold immense significance for her daughter in the future. Maria reminisces about her own sentimental item, her first stuffed animal gifted by her dad in the hospital, and the profound meaning it has held for her over the years. "So, I wanted to give Athena her first toy or stuffed animal, and this is it."

Photography by John Chapple/MEGA

In addition to a well-stocked bookshelf, rocking chair, and a large pillow for "tummy time," Athena's parents have an array of adorable outfits to dress her in. According to the "Heal Squad" podcast host, she has a cute butterfly outfit which she refers to as her petaloúda, the Greek word for butterfly. To encourage her to become multilingual, Athena is spoken to in Greek by her mother and grandfather, while her grandmother, Abuelita Violeta, speaks to her in Spanish.

Maria has a special preference for a pair of baby Nike sneakers that were given to her by a fan. These sneakers hold sentimental value as they were custom designed with lemon logos from Maria's show, 'Heal Squad'.

A standout feature in Athena's nursery is a full-sized bed, intended for either the baby's nanny or her parents to take a rest while Athena is napping. Maria elaborates that if Athena is asleep for a short period, the baby nurse can also take some rest. This bed serves as a comfortable spot for everyone to relax in the nursery.

The room’s design, according to Maria, was intended to have a relaxed and simplistic atmosphere. The majority of the nursery's décor was sourced from Target and Wayfair. Maria emphasized that she did not want to stress over creating the perfect nursery with specific must-haves.

She adds, "Despite the abnormal circumstances, I want my daughter to have as normal a childhood as possible. I want her to grow up with a little bit of my influence. So, at the last moment, I asked my studio's designers, the 'Heal Squad', if they could assist me with decorating the room. They did a fantastic job, creating a beautiful space while staying within a budget, which I really appreciated."

Watch the video above to see Maria's complete nursery tour and grab the latest issue of We, available now at newsstands.