family

Life, Styled

Designing For The Whole Family

As a parent, you already know that having children changes how you see the world, and adjustments to your schedule are inevitable. When designing a home, you want it to be functional and safe for you and your children. This does not mean that you can’t have a style that reflects you, but here are a few tips to make it work for all your family members.

The Kitchen And Your Kids

Since the kitchen is where all the food resides, it comes as no surprise that children love to hang out there. Many even like to try their hand at making a little scrumptious snack for themselves, which is probably how all the celebrity chefs got their start. When thinking about the kitchen design, here are a few things to keep in mind.

  • Keep things low: Plan to set aside some cabinets and drawers for dishes so that the children can grab them without the worry of them slipping from their hands and falling to the floor.
  • Have snacks within easy reach: All children enjoy a little independence, and being able to grab a snack by themselves is a win-win for both of you. Consider having a shelf with baskets in the pantry that is at their level, where you can put some fruit and simple snacks.
  • Soft-close doors and drawers: No one enjoys getting their finger caught when closing a door or drawer, especially little hands. Installing the soft-close feature ensures that this doesn’t happen and that there is no loud noise when someone shuts it too hard.
  • Have a stool handy: When children are small, it is always a good idea to keep a little stool nearby so that they can easily wash their hands or reach for something on the countertop.

The kitchen is the home’s heart, where many hours will be spent. By making these simple adjustments to your design, you can set the stage for creating wonderful memories.

Kids Bathroom

Perhaps not as exciting as the kitchen, it is still an essential part of the house, and kids will spend some time here, especially in the morning and evening. Some helpful design tips include:

  • Hooks: Having hooks makes it much easier for kids to hang up their towels once they are done, which means you won’t have to pick them up off the floor anymore (or at least that’s the idea).
  • Low shelves: Make sure that the items they use daily, such as the hairbrush, toothpaste, brush, and soap, are all within easy reach.
  • Separate boxes: We know it doesn’t take much for siblings to argue, but keeping their things in individual containers like baskets or decorative boxes that can be stored easily under the cabinet or on a shelf will reduce the chance of tempers flaring.

Little additions to the design can have a big impact on bathroom routines and keep mornings running smoothly.

Specialty Areas For The Kids

Kids enjoy having spaces just for them, especially now with homeschoolers.

  • A place to study: Homework is never fun, but having a special place just for it can make it much easier to stay focused and get it done.
  • A place to store: All kids have things that are special to them or extra items that just don’t fit under the bed or in the closet. Having some additional spaces for them to store their belongings will help them avoid cluttering their room and stay organized.
  • A place to sit and dream: Adults are not the only ones who can experience stress or have a bad day. It is excellent for kids to have a place all their own where they can relax and do the things they love. Consider adding a special craft or game room to the design.

We promise that your kids will love having a special space just for them, where they can have a moment to themselves or store the things that matter to them. Here are a few additional ideas for making your home perfect for the little ones. Talk to your designer about ways to incorporate unique spaces just for the kids.

Let’s Get Started

From staircase reading nooks to custom kitchen cabinets with extra drawers, we have helped multiple families find the right balance between style and function that meets everyone’s satisfaction. Our design team is ready to help you create a layout that works for everyone, including the little members of your family. We are a family business, so we understand how important they are. Give us a call to schedule an appointment.

We use it every day but hardly pay any attention to it, yet it can impact the overall design of the home. We are, of course, referring to your flooring, and its importance should not be overlooked or underestimated. It is the largest design element in the home, which means it tends to serve as the foundation of the look and feel in the room. It has the ability to make or break your space and is subconsciously the first thing we notice in a room. Since it is used consistently, it must be durable and functional for the particular area, whether slip-resistant or waterproof. Flooring should also complement the overall design style you choose and be carefully considered before finalizing your choice. Here are some aspects to remember when making your selection.

The kitchen backsplash tends to be overlooked during the planning session for a renovation, but it has a big impact on the overall look of the design, and it should not be underestimated. To many, it may seem like such a small element, but it has the power to bring style, class, and protection to the heart of the home.  When walking through a model home or flipping pages in an interior design magazine, the kitchen always has a backsplash that often draws our eye. Coming in multiple sizes, styles, and shades, the kitchen backsplash has come a long way from being a simple surface to creating a glamorous highlight that immediately draws the eye.

This deficiency has led to a readjustment of space, a call to renovate the home, and to provide a more functional design for everyone. There are also other reasons motivating homeowners to reevaluate their current living situation, such as greater flexibility at home, an open concept, personal space, and plenty of storage. While kitchens and bathrooms are still among the most renovated areas in the home, new emphasis is being placed on four additional sections in the home, which we want to highlight today.

You love your home, but there are some areas that are no longer working for you, if they ever did at all. You have made the big decision to renovate your kitchen, to give yourself the space you have always envisioned, but it feels overwhelming. How do you know which layout will work best for you? Which style best represents you, and what wood type will pair perfectly with certain colors? The kitchen can be a more difficult renovation because it involves multiple facets, such as plumbing and electrical. Adding in the appliances, lighting, and cabinets decisions can be enough to make your head spin. Planning is a critical part of a kitchen renovation, making it a key area of focus, which is why an experienced designer can help you accomplish your dreams on time and on budget.

James Martin Vanities has not disappointed us but provided many of our clients with a bathroom vanity that suited their unique needs, and the shorter lead times have allowed them to get the upgrades they needed within their timeframe. Our goal will always remain to provide our clients with the best possible products that fit their project, whether that is a custom, semi-custom, or predone option like the James Martin Vanity. We are here to assist you in finding the vanity that works for you, which is why we offer a variety of options. Are you ready for a change? Come visit our showroom where we have multiple vanities available for you to browse, and if you like one, you can take it home with you.