Sorry. doesn't do it for me. I was a little girl once and I would have loved the little boy's room. The girl's room is all subtle princess without any FUN stuff. Like the dinosaurs. or flags. or brights.

I got all excited about this one because I thought it was about having a brother and sister sharing a room. My kids, go figure, each have great rooms, but love sleeping in the same room at night. They each sleep better -- the 8 year old (who is a hyper night owl) falls asleep to the sound of her 5 year old brother sleeping, and when the 5 year old wakes up during the night he's not scared, because he's not alone. (and their bedtime routine is hilarious too -- the 8 year old reads books to the 5 year old with a flashlight under the covers).

There aren't too many rooms out there for a brother and sister sharing (which is too bad!).

Sadly, MSCHATELAINE, that's because people see problems with boys and girls sharing rooms. *sigh*

I noticed that too, about the girls room. Perhaps the toys are behind the doors, or out of range of the camera? Not that kids have to have toys in their rooms, mine have very few (we keep most of the toys in the playroom). Still, while these are both nice rooms, they look more stylish than kid friendly to me.

Mschatelaine, I love that your kids sleep together. My six year old wants her little sister to sleep in her room so badly. It's nice to hear that it can work. I hope they do once my youngest is a little older.

In the girl's room mirror, you can see the shelving with all her books and collections. I don't think this room is as spare as the photo suggests!

My little sister slept on the floor of my bedroom every Friday night for years. We had a little mickey mouse sleeping bag (not really suitable for the outdoors). My sister loved it and I pretended to hate it (as the older and wise big sister) but looking back, it was really sweet!

I don't get why the bed (in the boy's room) is parked right in front of the door.

I am an only child and so have no clue into these things. I assume at some point a boy and girl grow too old to share one room -- simply too much awkwardness dressing and undressing, etc. When is too old to share a room?

these are both gorgeous. i have a 10 yo girl and 7 yo boy who would love this.

and on the subject of sharing rooms, she has her own room, but likes to sleep in a bunk bed with him and their 3 year old brother every night. :)

My comment has not much to do with these rooms, which seem very cold and modern to me, but with sibling relationships. Right before bed is the opportunity to share secrets, stories, fears, and where friendships are built. The rest of the day is activities, other friends, and maybe chores, lessons, schools. If brothers can share rooms and memories, why not brothers and sisters? At some point every kid wants their own room for "privacy", regardless of gender. Trust me, they will tell you when that is. Meanwhile, other young animals long for the safety of the flock or their siblings when they sleep at night, who is to say that young human animals must be put separate and alone when the sun goes down? Let them enjoy each others' company while they can. It builds a lasting foundation for when they grow up.

I have a boy and a girl... very young kids... I'm divorced and they will HAVE to share a room during the weekends that they will be with me. Hopefully by the time they are teens I'll be in a bigger place, in the meantime, we have to make it work with what we have.

Designing their space will be a challenge for sure but we think we have a plan that will work.

I'd guess that generally the older sibling would request a separate space by or before puberty out of modesty. I think it's fine that they share space until then if they prefer it and get along peacefully. OTOH, I enjoyed rooming with my much older sisters even though my brother was nearly my age. They were good sports despite my following and copying them. I admired their teenage clothes and music, and remain fond of my sisters and those aspects of the 60's.

The United States flag is hanging backwards. I hate to be the person to point that out, actually I don't! The United States flag should be hanging with the Union (the blue) to the left of the viewer. It really kind of bothers me when i see it hanging incorrectly on walls, or on t-shirts and the like.
I also like the boys room better than the girl's room. Her room looks boring compared to his unless the flag was designed to be compared to her window view.

SGGVT04, thank you for pointing this out. I was actually scanning the comments to see if someone had already mentioned it and sure enough you had. I registered just so I could point out that the Flag was hanging incorrectly. I am glad someone else noticed too.

I don't really understand how you could decorate a room with a flag and not check to make sure you are using the correct flag etiquette. Especially when it comes to the United States Flag.

llaura2252, Thank you! I will fully admit that it is a pet peeve of mine. You would be surprised how many sites have it incorrect and in fact Lowe's Creative ideas magazine had to issue an apology and correction in their Memorial Day "how to decorate with the flag" issue because they had it hanging backwards on every page.
I will admit it is counter-intuitive. You think you just take the way it looks horizontally and flip it vertically...oh well hopefully more will look it up now!

As I recall, a Martha Stewart Living issue in the past year or so had a feature on kid's rooms which was actually quite inspiring. There was a huge room shared by athletic brothers, with a climbing wall and enough bunk beds for visitors, as well as a bedroom shared by a young brother and sister (great design, with Josef Frank wallpaper).

In the room shared by the brother and sister, the parents said that their pediatrician actually prescribes it for all the children in his practice, at least when they are young. I really see the sense in this, because my kids, despite a difference of 3 years and gender, are each other's best friends. They happily play with each other, which has been a godsend with our recent move. Back in our old home, they each had loads of friends and playdates, while here they are still in the process of building relationships (where we are now, people are not as friendly as where we used to be). But they are never lonely or bored, and for that I am eternally grateful. I hope they stay friends as the grow.

MSCHATELAINE my boy and girl share a room, and will until one of them has an issue with it. Right now we all agree that it's better for them to have a sleeping room they share and a playroom they share rather than just two bedrooms. They like to bet together so far, but to be honest we still spend most of the night all together in one big bed anyways.

I find these rooms really sterile, but if that's what the kids want that's fine. I just hope that people are actually involving their children in how their rooms are designed - not just asking what colour to paint, but in how they will be able to play etc.

I was just about to comment on the backwards flag, thanks SGGVT04 for pointing it out.

Their room's look like my daughter and son's room. They both have the same orange pendant. They love them.

Keep in mind that these rooms were probably cleaned for the photo shoot. I doubt they are "un-child like".

I like the little boys room more than that little girl's room. I do like the Marimkko hanging. I also have one on my bedroom wall.

@2kidsandus
Man, the perspective is weird here... the boy's room has a twin bed... it's as close to the entrance door (or maybe that goes to a bathroom) as it is because he needs to be able to open the closet doors. If he flipped the bed so the head of the bed is against the wall <s>it can't be a snazzy daybed</s> it will intrude on the open floorspace he has to play on, I assume.

@beebalmj
Thanks for pointing out the reflection--seems to be a bright accent wall, too. I guess I should just click the link and see if there's more pictures....

Oh.. my duaughter is a 9 year old nerdy/girlie girl and my son is a 2 year old truck throwing, bat swinging, jock like beast...ha. Their rooms are decorated accordingly.

Hmph. DtI is really harsh about this house, I think.

SGGVT04 thank you for pointing out the flag issue. I'm Canadian and had no idea how the American OR the Canadian flag were supposed to be hung vertically. So naturally I googled it and found several "debates" on this topic. Apparently alot of people would think this flag looks ok. In my opinion hanging it the correct way looks 'backward'. So anyway, thanks for pointing it out. Now if I ever hang a flag vertically I'll know how. :o)

I love the rooms, the scale play. I don't think the girls room is plain, it has some beautiful subtle details, the Casper chair reminds me of Cinders glass slipper, for all we know it could be exactly the way the child at her age wants it- I'd have loved that room. Neither are big rooms. Have you ever tried photographing a small space? My guess is that they moved the bed from in front of the flag where there would be a good room balance and access to cupboards and room exit, to get a good photo. My work is done here Mrs Marple.

ChristineRogers Most people seem to think it looks backwards that way. Maybe the easiest way to think about it for any flag would be that the side of the flag that would go up the pole first (the Canton) would always be to the left of the viewer. No matter if hanging vertically or horizontally.
The only time you see it any other way is on a uniform, plane or where the flags look to be in motion. Then the cantons are typically to the right of the viewer as if in the wind. (Last of the flag details...Maybe that will help people who will decorate with them int he future!)

What I find disturbing is that the little girl's room just looks pretty, but there doesn't look to be anything for her to do there, except look in the mirror. No books, no toys which spark active play, nothing. Not only is it sterile, but the message it sends is disturbing... (and if it is all on the wall we can't see, why not show it too?).

I'm thrilled there are others like us who have a brother and sister sharing a room!

I have been too harsh... it *is* on the wall not shown. A glimmer of a bookcase with some books and stuffed animals can be seen in the mirror. However, it does lack the dynamism of the boy's room.