Kid-Friendly Room for Two

By Candice Olson

Tara and Scott live in a charming house with their two young daughters, Eliana and Talia. To save on space, Mom, Dad and Eliana have been sharing the master bedroom, and Talia has been occupying a smaller second bedroom.

The cramped quarters weren't ideal, and Tara and Scott were ready to reclaim their bedroom and give their girls a new space they could share. So I summoned up my inner child to see if I could turn the family's under-used attic/guest space into a fun and fabulous bedroom for the two girls--and give Mom and Dad a little privacy.

The room had to please the whole family. It had to accommodate the sisters, who would be bunking down together for the first time. And it had to please Mom and Dad, who didn't want a traditional pink and frilly "girly" space, but a room that was as warm and creative as their daughters. My challenge would be to create a communal space that would still give each girl her individuality and make it inviting and inventive enough to fuel both of their little imaginations.

The room's biggest asset was its view of a magnificent magnolia tree and backyard. This became my design inspiration, and I decided to bring those elements inside and create a whimsical, garden-inspired space for the girls (and any wandering garden fairies who happened to be present).