Front Porch the
winter 2015–2016
wichita
The Art of Cultivating Simple Pleasures and Living Well
Rooms to Grow In B
Bedrooms, more than any other room in the house, hold special meaning for children and adolescents. It is their special territory—a place of refuge, entertainment, and self-discovery. It is also the one room in the house that sees the most changes. A child’s room begins as a blank canvas. Many different landscapes will be painted in the years to come, and it is usually the parents who apply the first brushstroke. The spectrum of available colors extends far beyond bluefor-boys and pink-for-girls, and parents shouldn’t be afraid to break away from tired old traditions. The important thing is to create a stimulating environment. As it turns out, children are naturally inclined toward interior design. Their penchant for claiming territory leads them to crayon the closet walls, drag toys into the doghouse, and assemble fortresses out of cushions and blankets. Continued on page 10.
Clockwise from upper left: 1] Lizanne Guthrie’s children are fortunate to have a designer for a mom. Guthrie, of Design Studio Ltd., helped transform their bedrooms into spaces that combine style and comfort. “We have used sleep sofas both in the loft area and in our daughter’s sitting room so that those spaces can be used to comfortably sleep additional guests when needed,” Guthrie says. Elegance and warmth come together through the arrangement of antique accessories, wicker furnishings, and paisley fabrics. The watercolor paintings to the right of the window add a personal touch to the daughter’s room. One is of her grandmother’s house, and the other is of the original Design Studio, Ltd. building on East Central Avenue. 2] For children, this French-style playhouse must be like having their own home, complete with a second-story sleeping area, sundeck, and small garden. 3] This child’s room features Roman shades and cornice board in a Tiffany blue linen with satin ribbon trim. Thanks to A&M Superior Upholstery, this beautiful color can extend to the chair and accent the painting hanging next to the bed. A&M also upholstered the window seat cushions with a vintage print Pucci fabric. A lusciously simple winter fruit compote not only warms body and soul, but also stirs up some family-favorite memories. For recipes, see page 14.
number 26 2 Peaceable Kingdom: classic books reveal the nature of animals 2 Shades of Green: houseplants clean winter’s indoor air—naturally 4 Beautiful Finds: enchanting new finds for living well 6 Noteworthy: picture book illustrations engage children in art