Okay, guys — grab your tool belt, hammer, and level; baby’s getting a new nursery! A little coordination, some paint chips, an Allen wrench, a crate of unassembled furniture, and a group of construction-savvy friends are all you will need to build this shower. To pull off a productive working shower, you will need to systematize some details in advance.

Menu Ideas and Options

There are two options for preparing a meal for the makeover workers: eat in or order out. If you have a large crew, and you plan to order something, be sure to call in an order well in advance and order generously — hammering makes you hungry. Cooking at home is an option if the project won’t interfere with your kitchen. Try this sandwich favorite to satisfy even the hungriest of guests.

Extreme Nursery Makeover Shower Menu

• Classic Reuben Sandwich -- Corned Beef, Sauerkraut, Swiss Cheese, and Russian Dressing on Rye Bread
• Macaroni Salad -- Elbow Pasta with Pimiento, Olives, Chopped Egg, and Celery
• Cake-Mix Cookies

Setting It Up

As the carpenters say, “Measure twice, cut once.” Planning is everything with this project party. Experts recommend setting up work areas for different jobs. Each area should have a work surface (table, saw horses, etc.), access to electricity if needed, good light, materials and supplies, and a trash container. Keep dust-producing jobs like sawing and sanding away from paint and finish areas.

Here are some issues to consider when setting up a makeover project party:

• Size and scope. Does the room require cosmetic or construction work? Determine the scale of the project.

• Coordinate with Mom. Find out mommy’s choices for colors, décor style, furniture and fixture placement, and so on before you start any part of the project. Get samples and her approval first. You can surprise her with a job well done, but not with an unplanned nursery.

• Create a project timeline. Figure out all the jobs that need to be tackled, spackled, and built. Estimate the number of hours needed to complete the tasks chosen for the workday (and be realistic!) and the manpower needed to complete them. List projects in the order they should be done. Pair up talent with tasks—put your friend the cabinet maker on woodwork, not drywall.

• Create a supply list. Workers can’t work without the proper tools and supplies. Appoint a “foreman” to oversee work, keep supplies coming, and assist where needed.

Alert

Remember to have extra extension cords, duct tape, trash bags, brooms, dustpans, work lights for dark spaces like closets, plastic or cloth covers to protect baby’s things from dust and grime, and have a hose handy (to rinse things off at the end of the day).

• Safety first. Have a safety plan and a well-stocked first-aid kit on site.

• Post a schedule. Put up a schedule on the “worksite” and, if possible, send it with the invitation. Include jobs, workers, timeline, and any tools or supplies needed.

• Feed the group. An army moves on its stomach and so will this makeover team. Plan to have coffee and bagels, water and soft drinks, sandwiches, snacks, and whatever else will safely satisfy hunger and thirst. A well-fed team is a productive team.

• Start with deconstruction. Empty the room of boxes and beds, tear out the carpet, and do any demolition first.

• Clean up between phases. Keeping dust and dirt to a minimum will make the environment easier to work in.

• Keep Mom out. Many paints and glues have noxious properties that shouldn’t be inhaled, especially by pregnant women. Provide masks for workers to protect them against fumes and dust, if necessary.

• Give everyone a job. Standing around idly is frustrating, so have jobs planned for all skill levels of the guests/friends in attendance. Recycled furniture can be painted, polished, and refurbished. New furniture and equipment, from changing tables to strollers, may need assembly. Drawers can be lined with shelf paper, and decorative knobs and pulls can replace tired, worn ones. Pictures and curtains can be hung. Make the most of any helping hands available.

• Keep the energy up with music. Whether you listen to jazz or rap, on an iPod or a boom box, keep things moving with music. If music is not your style, turn on the ballgame.

• Celebrate at the end. Take a picture of the work crew to add to baby’s book. This labor of love and friendship will be long remembered and well used.

Gifts That Work with This Theme

Guests have already given the most precious gift, the gift of time; however, if they wish to present the parents-to-be with something more, nursery items are the choice du jour for this shower. Many home-furnishing and baby stores have gift registries that include nursery-décor items. Consider pitching in for a rocking chair, bookshelf, or even a crib to complete the room.

• Curtains, bumpers, and pillows. Store-bought or hand-made curtains, along with coordinating crib bumpers, sheets, and the like, will add the finishing touches to baby’s room.

• Area rug. A great gift for a room with hardwood floors or as an additional layer of interest over wall-to-wall carpeting.

• Specialty furniture. Swivel gliders, traditional rockers, and toy chests will be used and appreciated by parents and baby alike.

Favors

What would be more needed after a day of reaching, bending, and hauling than a goodies bag of home remedies for life’s aches and pains! Fill an empty one-gallon paint can with these items to send home with the guys:

• Band Aids
• Tube of pain-relief cream
• Cold/hot compress
• Beer and corn nuts