I never dreamt that having our three kids would really give me an outlet to unleash my true love of entertaining, photography, parties and room design. Design has always been my favorite way to creatively express myself. It’s my cathartic, relaxing way to unwind after a busy day. I know it may seem crazy to some, but staying up late to construct the perfect party décor, invitation or floral arrangement is my happy place, and the reward that comes from having created something beautiful far outweighs the lack of sleep I endure. Even though I have a background in commercial interior architecture, I really had no experience in the realm of children’s design and décor until I designed the nursery for our first daughter. I basically had no idea what I was doing back then, but something was sparked inside me and I immediately fell in love with designing projects for children. Each room, party or event I create holds a special place in my heart.

My motto is “design something every day.” Take something that would otherwise be bland, blah and boring and give it a little design spin. It could be a cute themed lunch and afternoon craft or a family movie night. The parties, events and rooms I create tend to lean to the elegant and classic side. I rarely look to kid–specific items when I’m doing a project for children because I believe that you can take elegant, sophisticated pieces and make them work for kids, too. Recently at preschool, my eldest daughter was asked to tell them about what her mom does, and my daughter said “my mom is really good at throwing birthday parties.” I died! It was probably the highlight of my year, knowing that my kids do notice and appreciate my efforts. Creating beautiful memories for them that will last a lifetime is what makes it all worthwhile for me.

– Emily Klaparda, Entertaining with Emily

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