This month Shea McGee, care of studiomcgee.com, wrote about both her thoughts on designing for littles as well as for babies. I wanted to talk this opportunity to reflect on her tips and suggestions while weighing-in with my own experiences as a designer of these spaces.
In the article on designing spaces for littles from July 2nd - Shea focuses on the following topics: softness, style, storage and safety. Her opening paragraph focuses on the core value of blending safety with high-end aesthetics resulting in an intentional space that serves both the needs of the parent and child. You “don’t have to compromise your houses overall look and feel,” you can keep your child’s best interests in mind while maintaining the stylish and functional nature of your home - she explains.
Softness is achieved through soft rugs and durability through stain-resistant material choices. As for storage, built-in benches and oversized baskets were noted as a way to “create calm amidst the chaos.” She reminds us to not forget to think about the vertical space and to use it wisely to maximize the use of the square footage. Custom millwork on your built-in cabinetry is also touched upon as a way to bring more detail and “depth" to your permanent storage solutions. Safety tips include of course baby-proofing (removing cords, reducing slipping, storing away dangerous items, etc).
In her Office Hours series on nursery design from July 17th - she focuses on how clients often request tips on how to make their nurseries transitional and timeless. She provides tips to achieve this outcome, for example - she says the foundation should be a neutral palette and do not make the overall look at all “toddler themed.” Beginning with a mood board is essential as it allows you to control the long-term vision. Start from a “fresh and youthful” design point-of-view and choose a wallpaper that is not “overtly baby ” - think florals or plaids. Additionally, your accent pieces are where you should insert the age-specific flair in the space as they can be easily swapped out as the child’s interests change. The big picture take away from Shea was that if you can take the crib out and replace it with a bed and nightstand (changing little else) then you have been successful.
I liked Shea’s comments and approach overall. I think her kid’s spaces look balanced, professional, and well-considered. The looks remain a little generic in some cases but she is speaking to a broad audience at this stage in her career so that makes sense. While the strategy was certainly there, I would like to see clients/parents reaching a little further creatively to have a space that is more a unique reflection of their one-of-a-kind child. And to do so in a way that also honors some additional needs like learning, self-expression, physical activity, and artistic/musical creativity, etc.