How did your design approach change after you had kids? I’ve always looked at the functionality of a home parallel to the beauty of it. I think you can absolutely make a home functional and beautiful at the same time. Having kids requires more layers. My oldest is now 8, so it’s been a while since we’ve had [babies or toddlers] in the house. I still keep a lot of décor out at their level that they could reach. I think they get used to it being there. I try not to put anything that’s really breakable at their level. I think if they grow up in a home that is set a certain way, they get used to those things being around.
What is the biggest sacrifice you make when designing a family home? Storage space. I feel like there’s so much stuff that comes along with kids. If you’re not planning to have space to store things, [children’s items] end up taking up your living rooms or your bedrooms.
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What are the three most important things to consider when designing around family? No. 1 is thinking about where you envision your space with them. I’m cooking in the kitchen constantly, and I knew that they’re going to want to be near me, so we put a playroom right off of the kitchen. No. 2, the fabrics that you use in your home: We still have a white sofa, and it’s the one that’s used most by our kids. It’s a performance fabric, so it’s easy to clean. And No. 3, I love an open-concept plan, where you have a bigger space, like the kitchen and living room together. A lot of the time you’re in the kitchen prepping their next meal or cleaning up the last meal. That’s just life with kids. I like having that togetherness.
How do you keep aesthetics in mind when designing around function? You can make any space beautiful and still functional by having storage for the kids’ stuff. We have these gorgeous built-ins in our living room that you would never guess are filled with toys. They have beautiful doors and knobs. You shut it, and it looks like an adult-only house. You could still go bold on things and incorporate cool paint colors and still have white furniture and white kitchens. Just know that if you want beautiful things, then you have to take care of them—and teach your kids to take care of them.
What advice would you give other families about designing their home? Choose durable finishes, whether for flooring or cabinets. Consider finishes for walls that are either easy to touch up with paint or wipe down with a cloth. For floors, we chose an engineered hardwood that has a wire-brush finish, and it’s so durable. I feel like anything could happen to these floors, and they stay looking good.
If you could tell yourself one thing while you were designing, what would it be? A house is meant to be lived in. It’s OK if things happen. It’s not perfect all the time. It’s where memories are made with your family. We’ve tried to get on a schedule like once a year with painters.
What is the most challenging room to make functional for children? The kitchen. It’s constantly in use, and they want to be independent and get things on their own. Having a place that they can pull their own plates or cups out of, where you don’t feel like they’re in your way, could be a challenge. Then, probably, the playroom. Every few weeks, I have to go in there and reorganize—it’s like a tornado happened in there.
Is all of the effort worth it? When you love the space you’re in, it makes you want to be your best self. It inspires you to be a better mom or dad. I also think it teaches your children to appreciate and take care of their surroundings.
