Maria had doubts too. "Kids are the great divide," as one of our commenters said on Friday. Indeed they are. More controversial than plants, pets or Karim Rashid, kids engender a yeah or nay response, and in that they belie how great a problem they are.
Thanks for all your responses. Here is what we're going to do: We keep Kid's Design Month, but we keep the number of posts limited and focused on really great design, real home situations and away from cloying, schmaltzy kiddie stuff. We like the ideas that Josie brought up:
1) Siblings of different ages sharing rooms.
2) Where does sports equipment live?
3) What's a lively and cheerful room color that won't keep at least a younger kid awake?
4) Making kindergarteners happy while avoiding the Disney-fication of everything.
5) Couches that last in the face of destruction, dogs, and flying karate manuevers.
We will also proceed, as always, with your contributions. The more kid oriented questions and pics of your homes we get the more we'll post them, but, as always, we'll keep it tasteful, intelligent and worthy. So, to quote Frank, "BRING IT ON!."
Just thought I'd share some pictures of the new baby's room we created out of a dining alcove. I am expecting a boy in the next week or so. The room is only about 10 x 7 feet. I had a couple walls built and 2 doors installed.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bandmiranda/sets/72157594277405734/734/detail/
I would like to echo Sarah's interest in: "how things like perceived space and light can have a real psychological and physical impact" on children. Safety stuff and expensive design-y furniture and gadgets don't interest me. But I am interested in how to design family-friendly spaces and that means making my whole home work for children.
Our family is loving ourIKEA Hissbro sofa - which seems to be discontinued? Our is covered in warm brown leather. It has a modern clean design that isn't too heavy-looking for our apartment. It's adjustable to make a double bed for guests. In the two-level configuration it is super fun for toddlers to jump on. The leather is bomb-proof. There's a nifty nook underneath the sofa that makes a cool playspot for my toddler. I've put some cushions and a child-friendly light under there. People always ask if it's a massage table or something but it's pretty comfortable if you use the back cushions or like to recline as my husband does.
ok if that didn't work, try this page and click on the thumbnail to the right, called Baby's room.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bandmiranda/
See the link in my name for a tiny photo of the IKEA Hissbro photo.
Miranda--congratulations! your baby's room is so sweet--I love the changing table. Also, I just have to tell you that I love your wedding photos--your dress is awesome!
Miranda -- VERY nice! It almost makes me want to reproduce so we can put a cradle in the dining cubby, now that you've shown what can be done with shelves. Thank you for putting the border at crawl height, rather than at "Mom and Dad think it's cute" ceiling height.
Miranda,
Great job for such a small space. The baby has a nice view too - what city are you in? NYC or?
I love the foldaway changing table - clever! Was that what the piece was intended for, did you build it yourself, or was it formerly a workstation or something? Very smart use of space.
Best wishes on a splendid delivery of your little baby! :) Two weeks away - wow!
Holly
Miranda, cute room. The baby may not be old enough yet for self-locomotion, but you should still get a child window guard installed on that window next to the crib. If you're in NYC its the law.
Miranda, our son's room is roughly the same size and layout and we did the same thing (converted the dining alcove into his room). It works really well. Kids don't need a lot of space. If you are good about editing stuff your baby can stay in that room for many years. I love your shelves and the changing table. Later, maybe that can be a little desk for your child. Great job. PS-get the window guards asap.
>5) Couches that last in the face of destruction, dogs, and flying karate manuevers.
High quality leather.
Miranda--I hope your child doesn't climb. My son would have been on that top shelf by 16 months, and I have several friends with equally adventurous children! (I stopped being put to bed in a crib at 6 months when I learned how to climb OUT.)
Miranda -
we have the same crib from Plain Jane, but ours is bright turquoise! And congratulations on your upcoming arrival! We are expecting a little boy too -- in seven short weeks!
Numbers 1, 3 & 4 in Maxwell's blurb above are addressed in the image of my Good Question (on Sept 11) -- check out the picture. It was a room designed for a boy and girl to share. The beds are authentic carved beds, not Disneyfied a la Aladin (although you have to take a REALLY close look to see that because the picture is too small), the colours are bright and cheerful as well as soothing and gender-neutral...all in all, one of my favourite rooms ever.
Thanks for all of the comments. I had the changing table built by a carpenter who was recommended by Apt. Therapy. His name is Mario Lopez and he was great, he did everything. I am getting window guards as required by law in NYC. Also, I forgot to take a picture of the new chandelier, which is a huge blue half orb by Kartell, called the Fly. It looks really cool in that small space and is see-through so it doesn't block the light.
This is one lucky kid-
what a fabulous room!!!
You picked a nice shade of blue instead of traditional colors.