A ROOM YOU CANGrow Into

Kids grow up fast, and I’m not talking about physically - I’m talking personalities! Ever since I was young, I have always loved rearranging and refreshing my space to reflect my newly-found design style or obsession of the moment. I always try to remember this when I’m designing spaces for young clients. Function is important; durability is important, but most important is the need for the space to be one they can love and continue to grow into for years!

I’ve had way too much fun on a recent project creating a game room whose primary end user is a 10-yearold boy. His playroom needed a serious overhaul. This uniquely-shaped space innately presented itself with five different zones: reading, movie watching, snacking, playing, and most important, studying. Once these zones were designated, I set to finding some great cost-effective staple pieces that could

BY JORY GATTIS, IBB DESIGNER jory@ibbdesign.com @jorya.gattis on Instagram

Renderings by Daniel M. Chavez

stand up to a (soon-to-be) teenage boy and his friends and also something that was comfortable enough that his family could enjoy with him. A base of great streamlined pieces left me lots of room to give the space a ton of personality with only minor updates.

My original palette carries right out of his current bedroom, which has a fun and casual nautical theme. Accents of soft blues and cheery rust tones give the space a comfortable and youthful, yet still polished feel. To make his study space feel even more special, I’ve wrapped the entire style with a very durable vinyl grass cloth and topped it off with motorized Roman shades to help with computer glare and to make the space feel cozier when he’s in there tackling his homework… or gaming.

In a few years, when he hits that teenage phase, we can turn the whole space into a great hangout for all of his friends. The soft-toned textiles will be replaced with vibrant primary reds and blues in rich, machine washable velvets and vegan leathers to make Mom’s life a little easier. Graphic fabric prints, some funky accessories, and a wild gallery wall complete with a couple of neon signs really add tons of personality to this concept!

And inevitability those kiddos will end up growing up and moving out, but that doesn’t mean the game room has to go away. That just means it’s time to up the sophistication a bit so that the parents and their friends can enjoy it as well! Ralph Lauren inspired prints and patterns bring a level of luxe to this otherwise neutral palette. A few elegant accessories and some new beautiful framed nautically inspired artwork bring the space full circle and back to its original roots for a touch of nostalgia.