Name: Lucas (16 months), Anais (6), & Nicholas (13)
Location: Civic Center (south of Canal Street, east of Tribeca), New York City
Room Size: Lucas — 15'x7', Anais — 7'x12', Nicholas — 15'x12'
Francis is an internationally recognized architect and Jane is a talented children's clothing designer. Not surprisingly, they've excelled at carving out mini-kingdoms for each of their three children, out of what was once a hallway, an alcove, and part of the dining room.
Having long ago rented a loft in an overlooked neighborhood, Jane and Francis have a lot of square footage with which to work. Still, it requires creativity and patience to figure out how to create private spaces that make each child feel special and well-cared for. Each of the children's bedrooms bursts with color. The hand of the two older children is evident in key areas. They have been given the opportunity to make their mark and that's what stands out the most.
How would you describe the look and feel of this room/these rooms?
Soft, Cute, Fun, Cozy, Sweet; Fun and Boyish.
What is your favorite piece or element?
Mine will be all the paintings by my daughter, hers will be flowers hanging from the ceiling. For Lucas — the floating boxes on the wall and he likes the rabbit night light. For Nicholas, I like the wall drawings and he likes his skull and animal collection.
What was the biggest challenge decorating this room?
The size of the room for Anais and Lucas and light for Nicholas.
What do friends say about the room?
"Very cute and sweet", they want Lucas' room, and they "loooooove the mural" in the Nicholas' room.
Do you have any advice for parents creating a room for their child?
Think long term and simple. Never make it too themed, and for older kids, let them have some input (but not too much).
What, if any, are your additional plans for the room?
None for the moment for the two younger kids, but perhaps a bunk bed with desk underneath for Nicholas.
If money were no object, what would be your dream source?
My imagination.
Sources:
- Most furniture and shelving in kids' rooms built by Francis D'Haene
- Lucas' crib by Oeuf
- Tree wallpaper by Inke Heiland
- Nicholas' desk by IKEA
- chair by Maarten Van Severen for Vittra
Thank you Francis and Jane! For a tour of the rest of Francis and Jane's loft , check out Francis and Jane Adapt a Loft to a Growing Family on Apartment Therapy.
(Images: Jill Slater)
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I found this a frustrating tour. You mention how they carved the spaces out of their apartment in a creative way and had issues with space and light...and then show pictures of red pigs. Would have loved more shots to reveal how they made the spaces work.
ditto - I'd have like to see before and after of the carving out of spaces
If you go to the post about the loft (linked to above), you'll get the sense of how the raw space was carved up. The bedrooms don't have any windows, as the only windows in the loft are in the living room (where they kids have a play area). In the other pictures, you see that they used translucent doors and panels to let light penetrate the bedrooms, as well as different levels of lighting in the rooms themselves.
I thought that, for fire code purposes, bedrooms always had to have windows though? That's the bit I find confusing... (I know that is the case where I live.)
Holy cow! Those are some lucky kids. I adore the fish tank and your use of collections and art everwhere.
Yeah -- great art, fun toys, and awesome fish tank (had to find it online!)!! Definitely a place we'd feel right at home in!
The room ...tree..is special I have seen several ways the tree may be used for educational purposes . Ask and I will be glad to share..too too many for now.
Main concern the dangling light cord which I know can be corrected easily .
I agree with Holiday.... any of these before /afters please stick to the subject matter ..then the extras...we like it all ..but take it from in A ,B ,C order.
Will contuine to look for great ideas.
“Very cute and sweet" kid’s room. Really like the decoration! I miss my first child room, I had a colorful room with light blue and white wallpaper and red checked bedding, rainbows on the wall... and she never slept in there. It was tooooo stimulating!