Room of the Day: High Contrast for a Toddler’s Room
Charcoal walls, smart white furniture and red accents rule in this adaptable and versatile nursery
Rebecca Gross
May 23, 2016
Design writer and historian. I write about contemporary architecture and design, and I study cultural history through the lens of architecture, design and visual culture. I have a Masters in the History of Decorative Arts and Design from Parsons The New School for Design, New York. My latest book is called "Ornament is not a crime: Contemporary Interiors with a postmodern twist."
Design writer and historian. I write about contemporary architecture and design,... More
This lively monochromatic space was designed for a growing and energetic 2-year-old boy. The “big-boy room” serves as a fun and playful space that a toddler can call his own, and is intended to change and adapt with his needs. “Our clients wanted to move away from a nursery and create a toddler room [he] could play in independently,” says Amy McBride, who created the space with fellow Max and Duke designer Bianca Helena. That’s certainly what they did, and with no trace of traditional children’s room colors in sight.
Nursery at a Glance
Who lives here: Betina Szkudlarek and Martin Paino, their 2-year-old son and their new baby boy
Location: Sydney
Size: 102 square feet (9.4 square meters)
Designers: Amy McBride and Bianca Helena of Max and Duke
Who lives here: Betina Szkudlarek and Martin Paino, their 2-year-old son and their new baby boy
Location: Sydney
Size: 102 square feet (9.4 square meters)
Designers: Amy McBride and Bianca Helena of Max and Duke
Szkudlarek and Paino’s light-filled and newly renovated four-bedroom house in Sydney’s Inner West area provided a blank canvas for McBride and Helena. Taking the style of the house into consideration — particularly its modern, sharp lines and primary colors — “we took a mainly monochrome approach with a pop of red as a feature,” McBride says. This means the couple can style the room with their son’s toys and books as his tastes change.
Bunny print: Miniwilla; Bobby & 2.0 custom-made print: Little Bread; triangle throw blanket: Le Edit
Bunny print: Miniwilla; Bobby & 2.0 custom-made print: Little Bread; triangle throw blanket: Le Edit
The renovated room had new beige carpet and blinds along with white walls, but the designers were keen to paint the walls a charcoal color. “After several paint samples, our clients opted for Dulux’s Deep Walnut for the feature wall,” McBride says. “Betina and Martin were skeptical, thinking the charcoal walls would be too dark, so we painted the longest wall first. Then they agreed to the second wall to extend the design feature, and they were very pleased with the end result.”
Storage shelves and wooden bike: Mocka
Storage shelves and wooden bike: Mocka
Black-and-white furniture with strong geometric lines pops against the charcoal wall, as do the red accents. McBride and Helena also customized some items in the room to suit the color scheme, including the wall-mounted wooden shelf from Willow & Wood, which they painted charcoal around the front.
Grid T-shirt: Hux Baby
Grid T-shirt: Hux Baby
Szkudlarek and Paino requested that the space be functional as both a playroom and a bedroom. “We needed to include sections such as a reading area, play-creative space, a cot and toy storage,” McBride says.
Sussex crib: Baby Bunting; “L” marquee light: Little Letter Lights Co; hamper: Executive Concepts
Sussex crib: Baby Bunting; “L” marquee light: Little Letter Lights Co; hamper: Executive Concepts
“The Ubabub Booksee shelves were a great space-saver and fantastic for displaying colorful books,” McBride says. She and Helena installed the bottom shelf at a height the toddler could reach, to give him the independence to sit quietly with a book when his parents are busy.
Red circle pinboard: AL+EM; Lego storage cubes: Peter’s of Kensington; Dachshund crayon holder: Bear & Sparrow
Red circle pinboard: AL+EM; Lego storage cubes: Peter’s of Kensington; Dachshund crayon holder: Bear & Sparrow
The existing built-in closet with floor-to-ceiling mirrored doors not only gives the impression of a much larger space, but also provides more storage for toys.
Adventure rug: Oyoy via top3 by design
Adventure rug: Oyoy via top3 by design
The result is a room for a toddler that can easily transition into a room for a preschooler and school-aged child. The charcoal will always remain a neutral and adaptable backdrop for colorful accents and big-boy furniture.
Your turn: Have you decorated a nursery or toddler’s room? Show us your favorite photos of it in the Comments.
Browse modern nursery furniture
Your turn: Have you decorated a nursery or toddler’s room? Show us your favorite photos of it in the Comments.
Browse modern nursery furniture
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I'm not a fan of the slate color on the bottom half of the wall. A child's room is a perfect place for colors which are calming--after all it's their bedroom.
I'm getting old. I don't understand the need to start a child's life out without vibrant colors that stimulate their minds and imaginations. Thank goodness the books on the wall might attract the child's attention and inspire reading. Not saying a room needs to be chaotic about color, just don't like the limiting visuals. Nothing in life is black and white, and IMHO a child's first room shouldn't be either.
What's black and white and red all over?
dont worry, extended family and friends will soon mess up any theme the parents choose for the children's rooms. Lots of colourful toys will be added! And to the living room, and hallway, and then we will get one of those dilemmas posted. Help, how to get my house back!