A Room for All Ages

At Home in Arkansas: As a mother and daughter working together to create a playroom for your youngest family members, tell us about your design ideas. The room is fun and kid-friendly, but pretty and functional at the same time.

Cara Hamilton: We wanted a place where my 1-year-old daughter, Ava, and the other grandkids could sleep and play when they’re at my parents’ house.

Julie Roetzel: With three young grandchildren—Ava, plus 3-year-old Colt and 1-year-old Kenady—it was important for us to have a space for them.

AHIA: How did the architecture of the room influence the design?

CH: There are dormers on the sides of the room, and I didn’t want to waste that extra space, so my husband, Jerod, and I created custom headboards for the beds and tucked them into those nooks. It made the room more functional, allowing space for a rolling activity table.

AHIA: What other elements in the playroom are functional and kid-friendly?

JR: The inset carpeting gives the kids a defined area for playing, with durable hardwood on the edges.

CH: It dresses the room up, but still gives the kids the comfortable carpet to play on. We also used a washable wall paint.

AHIA: How did you marry the owl theme with the animal prints?

CH: All the trees you can see out the window inspired me, so I wanted to use a tree house theme. My mom asked me to include owls because she loves them. I didn’t want to go overboard with a theme, so I decided to use them as accents in the throw pillows and toy storage bags. The leopard rug brought in a funky print that didn’t go with the typical tree house theme, but added a different flair.

AHIA: The room features several fabric patterns. How did you choose them?

CH: I love decorating kids’ rooms because you can take risks and be creative and more playful. I used four different prints, which some people would say is too much, but in here the prints are fun and fit the space.

Design Resources

Accessories The Gift House, Riffraff, Fayetteville

Art, side tables Target, locations statewide

Fabric, upholstery The Fabric Gallery, Fayetteville

Paint Benjamin Moore, locations statewide

Rug Lighting Emporium, Springdale

Sofa upholstery Roger Fletcher Upholstery, Fayetteville

Sparkling Sanctuary: Doting grandparents commission designer Tracy Rivers to create a luxurious suite in their Russellville home for their young granddaughter

Traditional Meets Mod: In Litte Rock, pops of pink transition from a patterned bedroom to a bold playspace

Family Flair: Designer Endia Veerman uses soothing hues and textural fabrics to update a West Little Rock home

Family Fun: At the Little Rock home of builder Justin Stewart, an open floor plan and durable materials emphasize informal, easy living for a family of five