Kids Spaces: Playroom / Workroom Inspiration

Summer is winding down and for many, it's time to start gearing up for "back to school" days. Don't know about you, but I'm not ready for summer to end! I have a couple clients that have asked me to create inspiring and organized "work / play" spaces for their children for the upcoming school year. Kid's rooms are always so much fun to design. I've rounded up several fantastic snapshots for inspiration - there are so many things from each space that have the wheels turning in my head. My 15-month old son also needs his own little play area in our living room, so I'm looking out for ideas for that as well. What sort of space do your kids enjoy doing homework / crafts / playing?

[ALL IMAGE SOURCES CAN BE FOUND VIA MY "NURSERIES & CHILDREN'S ROOMS" PINTEREST BOARD]

Sweet & Stylish Nurseries

Pregnant + interior designer = nursery decor on the brain! I've been bookmarking cute nurseries and kid's rooms to refer back to when I start to decorate my little son's space in our bedroom (we don't have a nursery yet - just one bedroom for all 3 of us to share). I'm due early May so I have quite a bit of time to work on pulling the design together. Today I've rounded up several great inspiration photos for boys & girls. Do you have a baby or toddler, or maybe you're a mommy-to-be? What color scheme or theme have you gone with for your child's room? P.S. - Thank you so much to everyone who left such warm and thoughtful comments on my post yesterday announcing the big news :) I appreciate each and every one of you so very much. 

[IMAGE CREDITS: DECORPAD]

Before & After: Nursery for Triplets

I can't tell you how many women I know that are either pregnant or just had a baby - it's kind of crazy - and a few of them have asked me for nursery design advice.  I don't have any children of my own, but someday I will and I'd love to design a nursery like this one, which was created for a set of triplets.  Here's part of the press release explaining the project: Marsh & Clark Design transforms a third-floor attic bedroom into a tranquil nursery for triplets at the 2010 San Francisco Decorator Showcase...the award-winning interior design firm brings its signature sustainable elegance and careful attention to detail to create a modern nursery for a modern family...Color, scale and subtle repetition of form conspire to create a cozy cocoon for relaxing and bonding with babies. “A baby's room ought to be the happiest place in the house – doubly (triply so) when it’s a room for triplets,” said Chiya Ewald, Marsh & Clark. “We wanted to go beyond the deluge of duckies and primary colors to create a beautiful and innovative room that that appeals to modern parents’ aesthetics and sensibilities.”  I love their design approach and agree that much thought and consideration should go into the overall feel of a baby's room, in addition to making it look amazing. What do you think? Have you designed a nursery for your baby or someone else's?

CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGES FOR A BETTER LOOK!

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF MULLENS PUBLIC RELATIONS

A few more tidbits on the design of this space:

• A trio of custom chandeliers float above the cribs, washing the powder-blue room in a warm glow, doubling as sophisticated mobiles.

• While the room may be large by any standard, three’s a crowd so space-saving is tantamount. Multi-use elements throughout the room make good on this objective. Changing tables do double duty as wall mirrors, reflecting space and light. Hidden benches in the dormers provide additional storage. Lit from within, the perforated constellation design on the front of each bench panel turns these ingenious perches into seriously-sophisticated nightlights.

• Additional design elements include Thomas Pedersen’s sculptural, eye-catching Stringray rocking chair, 100% wool, un-dyed carpet and non-voc paint, to leave the room free of any off-gassing fumes.

Book Review: Room for Children

The publicity manager over at Rizzoli New York was kind enough to send me an advanced copy of this brand new book, Room for Children, written by Susanna Salk with a foreword by Kelly Wearstler. Let me just say, after flipping through this image-packed book of inspiring spaces, it makes me want to be a kid again or have one of my own just so I can design an amazing little space for them to enjoy. These unique spaces created by well known designers, parents, and often kids themselves, prove that good design is not just for the rest of the house and that children's rooms are just as worthy of serious design attention. "It's about understanding the importance of helping our children create a private world where they can discover who they are and all they were meant to be," according to Susanna Salk. Kelly Wearstler suggests involving the kids early in the design process, "I always advise parents to let their children pick the colors of their bedrooms, even the concept...it's essential that children enjoy their space and make it feel like their own." Thanks to my own mother, she allowed me at a very young age to have creative freedom on how I wanted my room to look (and she even let my brother paint his room black!). If you have a child, are expecting one or just have a passion for beautifully designed spaces, this book is for you! It's scheduled to be released later this month for $45. (Hint: Pre-order your copy from Amazon for only $29.70!). Enjoy your sneak peek into this beautiful book!

IMAGES COURTESY OF RIZZOLI NEW YORK