Playroom · Project story

The Dragonfly & the Fairy

Service: Full-Service
Room: 180 sq ft
Ages: 1 and 3
First idea to first climb: 1 week

The brief

A little room for togetherness. And a little room apart.

The family wanted a playroom that would work for two young children in very different stages of play. Their older daughter was deep in her pretend-play phase, creating imaginary worlds and wanting a little space of her own. Her younger brother adored following her around, which was sweet, but didn't always leave much room for independent play.

We wanted to give them both something special without separating them completely. An elevated platform with a ladder became her own little world, somewhere she could climb up, invent stories, and enjoy some independence. Beneath it, we created a cozy reading nook for the whole family to enjoy, whether that meant curling up with a book, taking a quiet break, or spending time together.

Soft blues, natural wood, and a hand-painted botanical mural brought the room together. A beautiful dragonfly and a tiny hidden fairy added a little magic for the children to discover.

Design decisions

Why it's built this way.

Imagine
A little independence, just a ladder away.
At this stage, the older child needed somewhere she could get lost in pretend play without her little brother constantly tagging along. The elevated platform gave her a space of her own, with a ladder creating a natural separation between their play areas. As they grow, that same platform can become a place for shared adventures.
Regulate
A cozy spot for the whole family.
We turned the space under the platform into an inviting reading nook with soft cushions and warm lighting. It's a place for the younger child to settle in while his sister plays above, but it's just as much a spot for parents to curl up with the kids, read together, or enjoy a quieter moment.
Design
A ladder worth looking at.
One of my favorite details in the room is the handcrafted natural wood ladder. Its warm tones and simple, sculptural shape bring a beautiful contrast to the soft blue platform, making it feel almost like a little architectural feature of its own. Paired with the hand-painted botanical mural, it gives the room a lovely balance of warmth, softness, and whimsy.

Before & after