Luca & Gisele

Previously, Nichola and Adem Karafili’s children, Luca (almost eight) and Gisele (six), were lucky enough to have their own rooms. However, a new addition to the family (Kobe) meant that one of them had to give up their space for a nursery. Nichola admits, “I was concerned about putting the children together as Luca was reluctant to lose his room and move into what was Gisele’s room as he likes own space and doesn’t always want to be with his younger sister.” The boy/girl combination added another dimension to the brief with Nichola confirming, “I didn’t know how I could put them into one room while still making them both feel like it was their own space.”

Nichola and Adem didn’t know where to start. Nichola says, “When it comes to my house I know exactly what I want in terms of design and I have a vision for my home. When it came to my childrens’ room I had no idea.” Recognising that some guidance would be invaluable, Nichola and Adem engaged Nicole Rosenberg from Little Liberty. Nicole was chosen because she ticked all the boxes. Nichola states, “I wanted an interior designer who had experience in children’s rooms, someone who could source interesting items, someone with creative flare to design a space that my children would love and someone who could make the room functional yet neat and tidy.”

While the list for interior design skills was long, the brief Nichola and Adem gave Nicole was short and sweet: gender neutral. “Nicole came up with the magical woodlands theme and I was sold!” Nichola exclaims. In fact, Nicole had always loved the Cole and Son Woods wallpaper and was excited to have the right room to use it in. “I also added in other textures such as wood and neutral tones of browns, cream and grey to complete the woodland theme,” Nicole explains. One such item is the ivory Natural Sheepskin Rug from Restoration Hardware which sits at the exit point from the bunk and invites one to stop and rest awhile. The deer, giraffe and zebra animal busts from Nickey Kehoe, which look down from above the window seat, enhance the feel of nature along with the faux Potted Bird of Paradise from Adairs which peeps out from Gisele’s alcove.

The delineation of zones is achieved elegantly with the Oeuf bunk beds for Luca and Gisele’s personal spaces to a shared use Oeuf mini library space and the built-in study nook. Nicole confirms, “The bunk bed is my favourite feature as it allows Luca to have a double bed up the top giving him his own private space away from his sister. He even spends time just sitting up there during the day reading when he wants to escape.”

The Vintage Illuminated G and L Marquee Letters from Restoration Hardware proudly state who is in residence and claims the room as a joint venture from now and henceforth.

Adem sums it up perfectly, “It’s the feeling you get when you walk in the room with the woodland wallpaper and animals on the walls. It’s a fun space for children and our kids are excited to show their friends their room whenever they come over.”

LITTLE LIBERTY www.littleliberty.com

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