Date: July 25, 2010 | Story: Interview by Paulette Pearson | Styling: Mandy Keener |
At Home in Arkansas:
You worked with homeowners Jennifer and Patrick Schueck to design their twin daughters’ nursery. Now that the girls are 3-year-old toddlers, what did you have in mind for their bedroom makeover?
Laurie McFarland of Tuck & Cover:
Our plan for the room was to create a space that’s sophisticated. We wanted it to be fun and colorful, yet something that could grow with them for a long time.
AHIA: What changes did you make without completely reversing the look and feel of the nursery?
LM: We replaced the cribs with twin beds, repeating some of the patterns from the baby bedding. We added panels to the window treatments for privacy and to control the light, whereas before it was just a valance. The striped walls also remained; we painted them with the intent that the color palette would work well no matter their age.
AHIA: Tell us more about those darling beds. Is that a monogram on the headboards?
LM: Yes, Ava and Hayden’s initials are monogrammed on round panels that can be easily switched out to create another look. The headboard fabric is micro-suede, so it’s easily cleaned. We wanted the beds to be our real focal point. Because we thought about transitioning on the front end, we were able to keep a few elements like the paint and the chair, and really put the focus on beautiful bedding.
AHIA: There’s a great mix of patterns—stripes, polka dots, plaids and florals.
LM: When you’re not working with a theme, the mix of fabrics is where design comes in. Since the bedding is solid, we brought in patterns for some excitement.
AHIA: What’s the biggest difference between a nursery and a toddler’s room?
LM: You think of a nursery as a baby’s room, but really it’s for adults. You can do fancier things without consideration of whether it’s going to wear well, except for the bedding. You have to think more about washing and safety with bigger kids’ rooms. We chose white linen for the bedding, because it can go right in the wash and be bleached. We still made the accent pillows out of more delicate fabrics like silk and matelasse; they can be removed for sleeping and playing. And you shouldn’t always have to sacrifice the look for durability.
Design Resources
Interior design, furnishings Tuck & Cover, Little Rock
