Once upon a time, children were expected to be seen rather than heard. Those days are so over.
Today, petite sophisticates, diminutive dilettantes and budding artists are taking their seats at the play table and demanding spaces that fit all their big ideas. And while wee ones’ wish lists often include whimsical elements like skateboard ramps, super slides and electronic escapes, the space itself doesn’t have to be childish.
Sprinkle in the right mix of luxe materials, creative storage solutions and candy-colored accessories, and you’ll have a rec room that’s far more sophisticated than sophomoric. Here, local experts weigh in with their winning ideas for spaces fit for the whole family’s play dates.
Add polish to the playful
Naples native Kelli Fontana Vogelgesang advises her clients to invest in quality pieces—even in rooms where kids get their hands dirty. The trick is to keep the good stuff just out of reach. Pick a fine fabric for the window treatment, hang a Fornasetti wallpaper on the ceiling or splurge on sculptural lighting. “A cool chandelier is a great way to make a space feel more luxurious, and it’s totally safe from little hands,” the designer says. “I’m also very pro hanging artwork in kids’ rooms and playrooms.” Not comfortable hanging a Picasso next to the perfect attendance award? Kelli suggests throwing a painting party and professionally framing your little darlings’ masterpieces.
Get into the zone
Maximize the possibilities of a space by dividing it into areas specifically designated for homework, dress up, crafts and a bonus area tailored to your little ones’ interests. That could mean an elevated reading nook, Minecraft-themed gaming area or a climbing wall, like the one Big Island Builders created for a family room in a Naples home. Just remember: This space is all about embracing your kids’ individuality and personality, so it shouldn’t look like anyone else’s.
Courtesy Kelli Vogelgesang
Play room with slide and toys
Create play zones- maximize the fun—section out areas for hobbies, like crafts and board games.
Step up your storage game
Excessive clutter can cloud creativity, so organizational tools are necessary for any playroom. Luckily, there’s no reason the functional can’t also be fun. In one Naples home, Kelli ended a hallway with a bookcase where kids can easily access their favorite books and then push to reveal a ‘secret’ space. Window seats offer hidden storage, as do stairs that lead to mezzanines and platforms. But not every storage solution has to be built-in. New York kids’ furniture maker Oeuf offers sustainable storage systems meant to be ‘loved hard and handed down’; Ferm Living crafts chic shelving from recycled plastic toys and Portugal-based Circu Magical Furniture has delightful takes on Disney classics via ultra-modern chests and bookcases.
Courtesy Kelli Vogelgesang
Play room with hidden door
West Bay Homes - 140 Mahogany Dr, Naples, FL 34108
Lean into local color
Rugs, furnishings and accessories are an obvious way to weave in a color story, but sometimes, the best place to make a splash is on the walls. Enter Stacy DeMott of Bonita Springs-based DeMott Design. She’s in the business of creating major murals for adultand mini-sized clientele. After a consult, the artist creates a sketch and then gets to work painting one-of-a-kind menageries, bouquets and even a Miami Heat basketball court (“That one required so much math!” Stacy says). And should a little artist want to add a flourish of their own? “I use paint that makes most clean-up easy—you simply wipe down the mural,” she says. “But if a kiddo gets in and adds paint, we could turn it into a collaborative piece!”
Courtesy DeMott Design
Young girl admiring cheetah painted on wall
Courtesy of Big Island Builders