My nine-year-old daughter Stella just spent her second summer at overnight camp, and she left with one request: “Please redo my room!” Just like the story of the shoemaker’s child, since I’m in the children’s design business, my kids’ rooms are not always the projects I feel like tackling in my downtime. But with her tenth birthday around the corner and a little bit of mom guilt, I suddenly felt compelled to create a tween room for my baby girl.
Of course one of the perks of completing this project as a surprise was that I didn’t have to share the creative decisions (can you say control freak?) with someone who thinks emojis are God’s gift to design. However, the room had to represent Stella—fun, stylish and comfy—while also keeping the elegant feel that I wanted her to have (much to her disappointment, I just can’t do hot pink leopard walls).
Stella’s room before the makeover was plenty gorgeous, but it just felt juvenile. After all, it was the same decor I used in her nursery ten years ago.
Stella’s Room Before
I wanted this new design to last her for another ten years, but I also didn’t want it to feel too mature. So the design mission was to find the careful balance between youth and sophistication while making sure it would still be a place where she could hang out, study, get comfy and feel serene. I came up with a plan to create an elegant turquoise and lavender tween room, so without further ado, let’s talk design elements!
Color Scheme. I chose a fresh turquoise to be complemented by a soft lavender with a splash of pink based on a bedding set I fell in love with (Ferran by Bellini).
Furniture. My lucky kid got a floor sample, an amazing dresser that had adorned the window of Bellini NYC for quite some time—it’s truly a showstopper. This custom piece was created exclusively for Bellini NYC by Art for Kids, and I never had the heart to sell it off the floor, so I decided to take it home.
I introduced a new mirrored side table and an upholstered headboard that was custom made by Angel Song with silver fabric and nailheads.
One of Stella’s requests had been something soft and cuddly, so another showstopper in the room is a Mongolian lamb bench by Jonathan Adler.
The room also features a new desk by Bungalow 5 accompanied by an ultra mod ghost chair, but I kept a classic cottage dresser that she’s had since she was born because it’s perfect for storage and display.
Carpet. I chose a custom area rug by Stark that’s almost-but-not-quite wall-to-wall—it’s also part of Bellini’s elegant Penelope collection.
Wall Decor. I picked a very pale paint color from Benjamin Moore called Violet Dusk, and I added some white to it to lighten it up even more. Stella’s gallery wall is a combination of mod art (like the metallic silver Love print) and her own original artwork that I framed for her. Above the bench I also framed a vintage Vogue cover from the 1920s. And the mirror over the dresser is a Venetian piece that has such an elegant feel and makes a huge statement.
Accents. Frames and pillows (like the super cool guitar pillow that I placed on the plush bench) are the perfect accent for pops of color that keep things fun and juvenile.
The finished product is one that Stella loved…take a peek at her reaction in the surprise reveal!