For young married couples with kids, the downtown cafes and bistros they used to frequent often become no-go zones. But for this pair, who were just beginning to experience the travails of parenthood, the desire for a habitat where their children’s laughter and their beloved yuppie lifestyle may coexist was still strong. Lucas and Kelly’s house in Kaohsiung exemplifies the perfect balance between child-rearing and romantic intimacy.
On this unique ebook, you’ll find out how the great interior designers who work on kids’ spaces present the amazing projects they have used the world to. From Winter Daisy to Liberty Interiors, you’ll meet the work of these 20 great designers and architects, including exclusive testimonies by Naomi Alon from Little Crown Interiors and Michele Lanari, CEO and Head Designer from ArkA Design«.
Lucas and Kelly are both passionate about cooking; the couple met while travelling overseas. Now, married with two adorable daughters, they decided to settle down in Kaohsiung. The kids are still pre-school age, which was why at the initial stages of design conception, the couple requested an open kitchen so they could have a full view of the kids’ living room activities while making meals in the kitchen. The living room, which serves as their children’s designated play space, is furnished with lazybones style sofas and furniture items with reduced heights such as low, round coffee tables to give the overall vision more of permeability.
Wooden grid panelling on the ceiling serves as simple, harmoniously detailed spatial partition. When the children grow older, the space below the partition will provide them with a library- like reading space. The windows that frame and reflect the everyday lifestyle of this happy family are also the main feature of this extended spatial design. Each time a family member steps into the home, their line of sight will automatically rest upon the pleasing landscape afforded by the large, expansive window.
The comfortable built-in window seat means that Lucas can lounge a little while enjoying a view of the city, rain or shine, while Kelly may also tuck into the cosy space with her computer and enjoy a leisurely afternoon of writing and home-brewed coffee.
The kitchen and dining rooms are undoubtedly the heart and soul of the entire household. Both being passionate cooks, the couple often prepares family meals side by side. Based on their personalities, we employed a subtle, modern contemporary style in our design of the kitchen island and back wall, paving them with black mosaic tiles to colour-coordinate with the grey ceilings of fair-faced concrete coating, all of which exude a sense of wintry coolness. Tall sky-blue wood grain cabinets were inserted to match the concrete surface Scandinavian chandelier and imbue the space with a little warmth.
The extended wooden table is reminiscent of a stretch of canvas that quietly complements the vibrant colours of each delectable dish. Both kitchen and dining are structured with a variety of materials in gradations of blue that create a strong sense of spatial dynamic. For instance, the kitchen door that leads to the balcony is made out of a perforated board from which S-shaped hooks can be hung to accommodate kitchenware display. The perforation serves as both ventilation and storage, a design that is at the same time practical and aesthetically pleasing.
The Illusion Series brings a touch of magic to the children’s playroom decor. This kids’ furniture set includes a table, a stool and a chair, the perfect addition to every bedroom and playroom where kids can develop their skills and learn new things. The beautiful illusion is created by the use of the translucid acrylic that gives the feeling of suspension on the air. Besides being a place where kids can play and study, the surface of the table also allows kids to draw with chalk and have way more fun. It also features a pencil cup where kids can store and organize their paint and study supplies.
