Client Reveal: Teen Lounge

Kids grow up. It’s how life works. It’s really the goal of parenting but that doesn’t mean the transition is an easy one. And really, neither is being 13. It’s that spot where they’re  a legit teenager, but you really don’t want them to grow up too fast. That is what this room is all about.

 

It was time to say goodbye to the play kitchen and dress-up clothes and make this space feel more mature, while still leaving room for the the magic of childhood (and  Harry Potter.) It’s a great balance and a space that will truly grow with this sweet girl.

 

Let’s dig into our before and after then talk about 4 big things we can learn here

 

 

 

And now for our lessons. Here are the four biggest takeaways from this space.

 

1. Let kids be kids: Whether they’re 8 or 18 or somewhere in the middle, there is a magic to childhood. Obviously, teens don’t need quite the toy real estate as the little ones but if there is something they’re passionate about, let them do their thing. This sweet girl works hard on her Harry Potter Legos so they deserve a spot she can appreciate that. We mixed those, as well as her favorite books and collectibles in with simple decor items so it blends. And when that phase is over, it’s a easy move, but until then, it all works without being too “themey.” 

2. Match Scale: The chairs in here were a challenge. We would find “the ones” only to have them go out of stock 5 minutes later. We went back and forth between 2 and 4 chairs and changed styles. Thankfully my clients found these super fun, low swivel chairs. They really work here but in keeping everyone else low, it’s all balances out. You couldn’t add a wingback, for example, but because it’s all so low, it would look out of place. But in keeping it all low and loungey, it works. 

3. Zones: a large room that requires a lot of different functions is really best broken up into zones. There’s the daybed zone, the tv zone, the craft zone. Define the spaces to get the most out of all the square footage

4. Trust your instincts: when I say this mom has the best taste, I am in no way exaggerating. Their house is absolutely inspiring to me. It’s gorgeous in every way. She knows what she is doing. But there are times when you just need some help and direction from another person. Another item we took some time with here was the rug. We picked a few, one went out of stock and she just didn’t feel right about any, so I gave her more choices… so many choices that met their needs. She picked this one easily and one of my favorite moments was when she walked in and knew she selected the right one. She did great, and to see her know she did was absolutely amazing. We all know a whole lot more than we give ourselves credit for and sometimes it’s best to just trust our instincts (but still hire me to help you do that 😉)

 

What an amazing wrap on three great spaces for a wonderful family. I love looking back and seeing how over the months of waiting, these rooms evolved into functional spaces that meet their current needs and can evolve for the future. If we’ve learned anything here it’s that your home should work for you. You should love it because of how well it serves you… and of you don’t, come talk to me.