Room of the Week: Siblings Share a Cleverly Designed Bedroom
Built-in storage and colourful textiles make this bedroom a soothing and enjoyable space for a brother and sister to share
Annie Thornton
21 June 2016
Houzz Editorial Staff
Two years ago, interior designer Suzanna Santostefano and her husband welcomed a new baby into their family. This, among many other things, meant their two older children would be sharing a bedroom for the first time. “I wanted to maintain a clean look, even though they had lots of stuff,” Santostefano says of the room. She also wanted her son and daughter to feel at home in there. “I wanted the kids to feel they could use the space and live in it.”
By mixing built-in furniture with soft, colourful textiles, the new bedroom achieves Santostefano’s design vision while creating a space the kids can’t get enough of.
By mixing built-in furniture with soft, colourful textiles, the new bedroom achieves Santostefano’s design vision while creating a space the kids can’t get enough of.
Room at a Glance
Who lives here A brother, 12, and sister, 8
Location Austin, Texas, USA
Size 147 sq ft (13.7 sq m)
Built 1958; renovated in 2015
Designer Suzanna Santostefano Design
Santostefano designed the bunk beds, and her carpenter built them in an existing wardrobe. To maximise space, she included a trundle bed underneath for sleepovers, deep drawers on either side of the trundle and built-in shelves behind each bunk. “I wanted every inch of the bed to be used,” Santostefano says.
Building the bunks to fit a trundle bed from Ikea, rather than designing the piece entirely bespoke, saved money on this bedroom splurge.
Sheets, Target. Mexican blankets, Amazon. Walls and ceiling painted in Super White, Sherwin-Williams.
Who lives here A brother, 12, and sister, 8
Location Austin, Texas, USA
Size 147 sq ft (13.7 sq m)
Built 1958; renovated in 2015
Designer Suzanna Santostefano Design
Santostefano designed the bunk beds, and her carpenter built them in an existing wardrobe. To maximise space, she included a trundle bed underneath for sleepovers, deep drawers on either side of the trundle and built-in shelves behind each bunk. “I wanted every inch of the bed to be used,” Santostefano says.
Building the bunks to fit a trundle bed from Ikea, rather than designing the piece entirely bespoke, saved money on this bedroom splurge.
Sheets, Target. Mexican blankets, Amazon. Walls and ceiling painted in Super White, Sherwin-Williams.
Santostefano collects vintage miniature boxes and drawers, which she put on the bunk bed’s many shelves for the kids to store their collections. “It’s important to them to be able to collect what they like,” she says.
The designer finds accessories like these on vintage sites and in antiques shops, as well as at the Original Round Top Antiques Fair in Texas. She finds others on their travels. “Some of the [cushions] were picked up on a trip my husband and I took to Morocco when we were in University,” she says.
Browse more kids’ room ideas
The designer finds accessories like these on vintage sites and in antiques shops, as well as at the Original Round Top Antiques Fair in Texas. She finds others on their travels. “Some of the [cushions] were picked up on a trip my husband and I took to Morocco when we were in University,” she says.
Browse more kids’ room ideas
In addition to the bunk bed storage, Santostefano installed wardrobes on the opposite wall for each child to store clothes, toys and games, leaving the floor clear for play. A built-in window seat separates the cabinets and invites the kids to nap or curl up with a book.
These cabinets also came from Ikea. Santostefano had her carpenter build them in with skirting and connect them with a custom-made window seat. “I think what elevates them and makes them not feel too Ikea is spending a little extra to have them built in,” Santostefano says.
A rug adds colour and texture to the space. It also softens the wooden floor for playtime. “I love spaces to feel hospitable, warm, inviting, comfortable and liveable,” Santostefano says.
In the bedrooms and other areas where you want something soft underfoot, Santostefano says she prefers hand-knotted wool or Moroccan shag rugs. Turkish kilim rugs provide rich colour and have stood up well to wear in her home with their flat weave.
Pax wardrobes, Ikea. Coffee table, West Elm.
These cabinets also came from Ikea. Santostefano had her carpenter build them in with skirting and connect them with a custom-made window seat. “I think what elevates them and makes them not feel too Ikea is spending a little extra to have them built in,” Santostefano says.
A rug adds colour and texture to the space. It also softens the wooden floor for playtime. “I love spaces to feel hospitable, warm, inviting, comfortable and liveable,” Santostefano says.
In the bedrooms and other areas where you want something soft underfoot, Santostefano says she prefers hand-knotted wool or Moroccan shag rugs. Turkish kilim rugs provide rich colour and have stood up well to wear in her home with their flat weave.
Pax wardrobes, Ikea. Coffee table, West Elm.
Reclaimed wood shelves next to the door hold more books and toys, and wall hooks conveniently handle the coats. The siblings can drop their backpacks on the vintage basketball bench after school, rather than on the floor.
Although the kids have shared a bedroom for less than a year, Santostefano says it has already changed how they use their room. “Before the kids shared a room, they never played in their own rooms,” she says. “But since they’ve moved into their shared space, they’re always playing in there.”
The kids play games on the low table, and read in their beds and on the window seat. “It’s so satisfying to have them actually use their space,” Santostefano adds. “And their toys aren’t scattered about the house… for the most part.”
Check out 10 ways to carve out a space in your home just for you
TELL US…
What do you like about this children’s room? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Although the kids have shared a bedroom for less than a year, Santostefano says it has already changed how they use their room. “Before the kids shared a room, they never played in their own rooms,” she says. “But since they’ve moved into their shared space, they’re always playing in there.”
The kids play games on the low table, and read in their beds and on the window seat. “It’s so satisfying to have them actually use their space,” Santostefano adds. “And their toys aren’t scattered about the house… for the most part.”
Check out 10 ways to carve out a space in your home just for you
TELL US…
What do you like about this children’s room? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
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Love this room and use of furniture that's affordable but I doubt most 12 year old boys would share with a little sister ? but lovely
Do you know where I can get reclaimed wood shelves in Ireland (Dublin)? Thanks
Lovely room, beautifully planned and designed and a great idea. However, If the boy had been younger they could have shared for a couple more years. Most boys his age would be too embarrassed to bring friends home.