Forward Thinking Design

For interior designer Dixie Pittillo of Shepherd's Interior Design, creating kids' spaces is always an inventive project, combining function, great design and practical materials. For a Fayetteville family's home, Dixie let her imagination go when creating their daughter's room, baby boy's nursery and their shared playroom. “The main goal in all of the rooms was to have spaces that would grow with the kids,” she says. “It was also important that the rooms have a fun atmosphere with practical fabrics and flooring.”

In the three-year-old girl's room, Dixie stayed away from any theme, and used a checkered fabric as her inspiration. “The room began with a discontinued fabric, and we used the sample as an accent pillow for her bed. The rest of the colors and fabrics were chosen from there,” she says. “The clean lines of the checks were continued throughout the bedroom and bathroom, and it's consistent with the rest of the home.” The bedroom boasts two shades of pink wall paint—each beginning mid wall and extending around the space. “There are several wonderful pieces of art in her room, including a signed McKenzie Thorpe, which the parents selected to represent her and her dog,” Dixie says. “The custom Angela Adams rug is easy to clean, and we repainted the mom's childhood table and chairs to complement the room. Overall, the room is very feminine and chic—perfect for a little girl who lives for dress up.” The adjoining bathroom boasts a mosaic tile surround, custom murals by Angelfish Studios in Little Rock and James Hayes custom-made sconces.

For the nursery, Dixie and the homeowners focused on creating a space that would be appropriate for a girl or a boy, and function as a guest bedroom in the future. “We chose the colors of the nursery without knowing what she was having, and looked for drapery fabric with colors and patterns that would work in a nursery and as a guest bedroom,” she says. “Once we found the raised velvet on linen floral print, all the other selections were chosen around them. The room really came together with the Angela Adams rug and chocolate-brown chandelier. We commissioned the series of eight Ashely Saer watercolors, and added a Judy Smithey watercolor to the room as well. They all really add to the softness of the space.”

The color palette in the playroom flows from the rest of the house, but its ultimate goal is to be a playful space for the kids. “The cork flooring is very resistant to spills,” Dixie says. “We had a custom oversized round chair made of durable ultra suede so the entire family can pile up and read books together or watch a movie. There is plenty of storage in the room, and L & L Metal in Springdale crafted the cabinet doors and stainless-steel countertops with an integrated sink.” One wall of the room is devoted to family photographs and the children's artwork, and Dixie chose coordinating frames and mattes that can be easily taken down and changed out as new photos are taken and artwork created. “This was a great project to work on,” Dixie says. “Each child's room will transition easily over the years by switching out a few accessories and pieces of furniture.”