Child-Friendly Spaces
What kid wouldn’t want a room specifically designed for playing a Wii? Or with a stage on which they can perform to their heart’s content??
????The builders participating in this year’s Street of Dreams certainly had youngsters in mind when preparing their entries.?
????Hillcrest Homes, winner of “Best of Show,” unveiled its Wii room while Irvin Construction debuted a playroom that included chalkboard paint for writing on the walls—it’s washable, of course—and a corner stage where would-be Miley Cyruses can strut their stuff.?
????Of course, when building homes to be kid-friendly you have to also take parental supervision into account.?
????????The good news is, builders are designing with both parties in mind.?
????As part of a recent remodel in Winter Park, Farina and Sons included an upstairs entertainment area for adults and kids then added a 10-by-10 outdoor play area.?
????Production builders such as David Weekley Homes have created “Children’s Retreats,” by including loft areas where the kids can play but still be within earshot of mom or dad.??
????Jennifer Cole, marketing director of David Weekley Homes, says the retreats located in models such as the Taverly in Victoria Park are built specifically to overlook the living area downstairs and are adjacent to secondary or children’s bedrooms.?
????Cole, who owns a similar model herself says, “I can hear what [my daughter] is doing. It’s wonderful.” The rooms are designed for homework and video games and feature computer access as well as built-in shelves for toys and books.
????And let’s not forget about the new style of bathrooms for families with children. Placed between two secondary bedrooms with a vanity area and a private space for the shower and/or commode, the so-called Jack and Jill bathroom offers convenience for today’s families.
????If you’re not ready to build a new home or do a major remodel just yet but still want to create kid-friendly spaces, it’s easy.
????Just pick up some comfy chairs and some iPod docking furniture, install cabinets with hidden power strips, hang built-in boards with built in speakers or chalkboard mirrors and you’ll have an instant kid-suite that’ll earn parental brownie points for years to come.
????The builders participating in this year’s Street of Dreams certainly had youngsters in mind when preparing their entries.?
????Hillcrest Homes, winner of “Best of Show,” unveiled its Wii room while Irvin Construction debuted a playroom that included chalkboard paint for writing on the walls—it’s washable, of course—and a corner stage where would-be Miley Cyruses can strut their stuff.?
????Of course, when building homes to be kid-friendly you have to also take parental supervision into account.?
????????The good news is, builders are designing with both parties in mind.?
????As part of a recent remodel in Winter Park, Farina and Sons included an upstairs entertainment area for adults and kids then added a 10-by-10 outdoor play area.?
????Production builders such as David Weekley Homes have created “Children’s Retreats,” by including loft areas where the kids can play but still be within earshot of mom or dad.??
????Jennifer Cole, marketing director of David Weekley Homes, says the retreats located in models such as the Taverly in Victoria Park are built specifically to overlook the living area downstairs and are adjacent to secondary or children’s bedrooms.?
????Cole, who owns a similar model herself says, “I can hear what [my daughter] is doing. It’s wonderful.” The rooms are designed for homework and video games and feature computer access as well as built-in shelves for toys and books.
????And let’s not forget about the new style of bathrooms for families with children. Placed between two secondary bedrooms with a vanity area and a private space for the shower and/or commode, the so-called Jack and Jill bathroom offers convenience for today’s families.
????If you’re not ready to build a new home or do a major remodel just yet but still want to create kid-friendly spaces, it’s easy.
????Just pick up some comfy chairs and some iPod docking furniture, install cabinets with hidden power strips, hang built-in boards with built in speakers or chalkboard mirrors and you’ll have an instant kid-suite that’ll earn parental brownie points for years to come.