Creative Kids’ Rooms

BOY'S ROOM

A child’s room is a treasure trove of memories and a key environment for nurturing creative play. Many parents enlist the talents of a designer to help create a space that not only incorporates their child’s hobbies and interests but also is a stylish addition to their existing home.

When Sara Zigman, creative director and owner of three little ziglets, was called by Sheri, a suburban homeowner, to design a bedroom for her son as he transitioned from a nursery to a “big boy’s room,” Sara came with ideas at hand. Once Sheri decided on a train theme, Sara provided a whole-room mural, bedding, drapery and coordinating accent furniture and accessories. “I like the rooms in our home to look complete,” says Sheri, “but I don’t have the time it takes to put together a room as special as this.”

Sara’s company specializes in high-end design of children’s rooms, offering a unique environment that grows with your child. “The pieces we create are transitional and can evolve from one look to another just by changing around some accessories,” says Sara. She also offers portable murals painted on 7' x 5' canvas that can easily move from room to room or home to home.

“We wanted the room to look like a little boy’s room,” says Sheri. “That’s why we chose trains. And it’s one of his favorite toys, so he was very excited about the room when it was finished.” A custom, coordinating table offers a blank slate for creative play, and the toy box pulls double-duty as a bench during movie or television time. The abundance of furniture also offers storage solutions, helping to keep the room tidy. Sheri laughs, “I just wish all the kids’ rooms stayed this clean.”

GIRL'S ROOM

When designing a young girl’s room it’s wise to be flexible and allow room for change. When Meg, a busy mom, asked interior designer Cindy Belmont, ASID, of Directions In Design, Inc. to design a new room for her daughter Molly, the two women took a logical approach. “We decided to incorporate a few less expensive items into the custom room because of natural wear and tear at this age,” says Meg. Cindy calls it a custom/ready-made combo. After Molly chose a quilt design and matching accessories from Pottery Barn, Cindy started on a fanciful and creative design centered around those picks. With bright pink and orange setting an energetic tone, Cindy found custom carpeting and designer fabrics from which she tailored the custom bedding, drapery and pillows. “One reason I love to use designers is because they have great contacts,” says Meg. “They have access to the absolute best fabrics and décor.”

Meg wanted to keep Molly’s existing bedroom furniture for sentimental purposes, so Cindy accessorized the pieces with paint and trim to match the look of the room. “The variety of textures – including polka dots, diamonds and flowers – adds dimension and style to the room,” says Cindy.

To finish the space, Meg asked Cindy to add a few personal touches to the mix. The tropical flower mural on the wall was done by a specialty painter working with Directions In Design and complements Molly’s growing seashell collection. Cindy also incorporated a sewing station to inspire creativity (“Our daughter loves all those fashion design shows on television!” says Meg). As the final touch, the previous bedding, drapery and carpeting were donated to Lydia’s House. “Molly loved knowing that some other little girls were getting the chance to enjoy their very own dream room,” says Meg.