Children's Chic

Admittedly, one of my favorite spaces to design for a client is the nursery or their child's room.  There's something so special and fun about designing and preparing a room for a little one- plus, you can typically be a little more liberal with color and whimsical pattern.  Even though there's more design freedom in a child's room in terms of selections, it is one room that you have to consider how it will transition over time.  You want the room to be able to grow and change as the kids get older and grow and change themselves- not always an easy task.   Before I can ever present a nursery design to a client, I've had to think about how I see the room changing and transitioning over the next 3-5 years. Today I wanted to share a few elements I love incorporating in to children's rooms, and how they function over time.

1.) Twin Beds

Placing 2 twin beds in a room is ideal for families where 2 kids need to share a room but the space available is minimal.   I've built twin beds before with built-in storage drawers underneath (hidden by a bedskirt) that helps to store toys, games, and clothes.  I've also incorporated pull-out trundles underneath twin beds to accommodate slumber parties and overnight guests:

{Matchbook Magazine}

2.) Daybeds

Another great piece to incorporate in to a kid's room is a daybed because of it's versatility.  During the day, it works as a sofa and can be a great place for friends to hang out and lounge.  Then, at night, it works as a great twin bed.   We've made these for many clients over the years- it's especially handy to build in a pull-out trundle at the base of the bed for overnight guests!

{My Domaine}

{My Domaine}

3.) Spindle Furniture 

Another favorite nursery/kid's room element I love is a spindle wood crib or bed.  Jenny Lind makes an affordable crib option that comes in a variety of colors.  There's something so charming and whimsical to me about the spindle design to me.  While spindle furniture doesn't necessarily serve any "functional" purpose, it is timeless and definitely isn't ever going out of style- so it's a good buy in that regard!

{Apartment Therapy}

{Amber Interiors}

{House Beautiful}

Lastly, I had to share a few more adorable kid's rooms I can't get enough of:

{Pappas Miron}

Shop my favorite kid's room picks:

Needing, Wanting, Loving: Bunk Beds

I love a well-executed kid's room.  Kids are tough clients to design for- all fabrics and materials need to be durable and comfortable, while also being beautiful.   The design for their space should include ample storage for toys, books, and games and the room should be able to adapt over time as they grow older.  I've learned a lot designing nurseries (here and here are two of my favorites), and grown to love built-in bunk beds.   Designing built-in bunk beds allows a designer to get creative and add interesting design elements- like a side staircase and a pretty banister:

{Amy Berry}

Bunk beds are great for families with lots of children, or as an added element in a playroom. If added in to a playroom, they can also be great for sleepovers and built-in storage for toys.  I love these 4 bunk beds with storage underneath each stair:

Although not technically bunk beds, I had to include these 2 adorable built-in beds in my post.  The detailed casework is just lovely, and I love that the interior is painted in a punchy orange and includes shelving and lighting:

{Lars Bolander}

A small curtain on a rod for each bed provides privacy while sleeping (or a makeshift fort!):

{4 Men 1 Lady}

This room proves an 8' ceiling CAN accommodate bunk beds-  although the bottom might have to sit closer to the ground.  I love the light, bright, airy vibe:

{Chris Loves Julia}

For a more masculine vibe, how about a steel safety rail? 

{Houzz}

Speaking of masculine, I love these deep green built-ins decorated with sports memorabilia:

If having your own custom bunk bed isn't cool enough, how about adding a slide to the mix?  I love the floor is engineered wood tile from Mirth Studio:

{Home Bunch}

The driftwood bunk railing on this bunk bed inside a Maine cottage is a fun, interesting detail and works nicely with the driftwood dresser:

{Country Living}

A rope ladder adds a fun, textural detail to this San Francisco bedroom.  Designer Susan Greenleaf found it at Big Daddy Antiques (how great is that name?):

{Lonny}

Nursery Design Reveal

TGIF!  Today I am thrilled to share the completed nursery design I created with my friend Traci for her new baby boy, Carson.  Traci has hired me in the past to help with a few other spaces in her Oklahoma City home back when I lived in Houston, so when she contacted me about helping with her nursery, I couldn't have been more excited!   She and her husband Matt deserve a lot of credit, though, because this nursery design was 100% implemented by them.  I worked from New York to lay out the floor plan in CAD and put together ideas and design boards for them, but they did all the leg work of pulling it together and making it look beautiful in their home.

See the full reveal after the jump!

Adorable Kid's Rooms

I recently came across a new-to-me coffee table book, Room for Children,

and got so inspired by the gorgeous, innovative kid's rooms.  I know we often think about and spend a lot of time decorating a child's nursery, but what about the room that comes afterward- the room the child will grow up in?  Of course it needs to be functional first, providing a space for play, but that doesn't mean it can't be tailored and chic in it's own unique way.  Here are a few children's rooms I just love:

 {Joanna Fischer Interiors}

 Twin beds framed by a circus-like tent add a unique twist to the standard canopy.  And how beautiful is the millwork framing these built-in twin beds?  The space inside the nook allows for book storage and appropriate reading light.

{Lars Bolander}

{Apartment Therapy}

 

This young girl's room would be a dream come true.  Antelope carpet and a variation of pinks would be just fine with me- even at 26!

 

{Avrea Wagner}

The use of stripes + canary yellow in this bedroom is the perfect dose of prep.  And how brilliant are the storage drawers underneath?  They remind me of a steamer trunk.

 

 A bright, wallpapered ceiling is perfect for a child's room.

{Project Nursery}

 

 And how precious is this daybed (and the little tot posing on it)?!

 {Nursery Notions}

See more of my favorite children's rooms here on my Pinterest.