This month marked an exciting chapter for our family, including our beloved dog, as we journeyed to Brooklyn for several days. Our mission? To bring to life the design concepts we’d been meticulously crafting over the past five months for this year’s highly anticipated Real Simple Idea House. This project has been a significant endeavor, and we’re thrilled to finally pull back the curtain on our contribution.
For those who may have missed the initial buzz, perhaps our recent podcast episode or Instagram stories, we’re here to catch you up. Prepare for a comprehensive tour of the *nearly* finished space, a behind-the-scenes look at the final touches needed before the magazine’s grand photoshoot, and insights into how some unexpected, last-minute challenges surprisingly enhanced the room’s design. We’ll also reveal the inspiring fate of all the items once the Idea House project concludes. So, settle in – we have a rich story to share.
The Real Simple Idea House: A Design Showcase in Brooklyn
This initiative marks the second consecutive year that Real Simple magazine has transformed a Brooklyn home into an inspiring Idea House. Each room is meticulously curated by a diverse group of talented individuals, typically a blend of certified interior designers, influential bloggers, and television design personalities. The culmination of this creative effort results in stunning, professionally photographed spaces featured in the magazine – our room is slated for their October issue. It’s an honor to be part of such a distinguished lineup. Last year’s house was truly captivating, and we especially enjoyed following it, particularly since our esteemed friends, Jenny Komenda and Sabrina Soto, each designed a room.
Designing the Ultimate Multipurpose Room
We were genuinely surprised and incredibly excited when Real Simple extended an invitation to participate this year. We were assigned the “multipurpose room,” a concept that resonated deeply with our design philosophy. The vision was clear: a versatile space functioning primarily as a guest room with a twin bed, seamlessly integrated with a dedicated small kids’ play area. This challenge felt perfectly aligned with our passion for creating highly functional, adaptable rooms, especially those that adeptly balance the distinct needs of adults and children – even if the family inhabiting this space is, for now, purely imaginary.
The Remote Design Journey: From Concept to Reality
Our journey began in March, working remotely but collaboratively with the Real Simple team to bring this room to fruition. The process was a fascinating blend of distance and detail. They provided us with essential resources: detailed photographs of the space (like the one below), precise measurements, and architectural floor plans. In response, we meticulously crafted design plans, compiled inspiring mood boards, refined floor layouts, and curated a comprehensive list of product selections with direct links. Every single item and design concept required approval from their vigilant editors. This rigorous process ensured coherence across all rooms, preventing any single space from feeling incongruous or featuring duplicate/overly similar items or ideas. It was an intricate puzzle, pieced together from afar, demanding creativity and strategic thinking.
Installation Day: Navigating Challenges and Celebrating Progress
Once all our carefully chosen items had arrived on-site, we embarked on a marathon installation day in Brooklyn. It was a whirlwind of activity, meticulously placing furniture, hanging decor, and styling the space. As is often the case with projects of this scale, the day was not without its eleventh-hour challenges. Most notably, our beautiful long white curtains, intended to soften the room’s industrial back wall, were unfortunately back-ordered. While this meant they wouldn’t be installed for the initial styling, the Real Simple crew will ensure they are perfectly hung before the photographer arrives, transforming that wall and completing the room’s aesthetic. As these photos show, the room is approximately 95% complete, a testament to overcoming hurdles and maintaining a clear vision.
A Family Affair: Kids as Design Consultants
Indeed, that’s our son’s feet playfully peeking out in the image above, and our daughter nestled comfortably on the daybed under a blanket! We decided to make this project a true family adventure, primarily to visit relatives and friends in the NYC/NJ area, but also because we believed it would be an invaluable and fun experience for our children to witness the design process firsthand. It truly became a unique “take your kids to work” adventure. Both embraced it with enthusiasm, eagerly offering suggestions for what they’d like to see in the space. Our daughter even sketched out some charming ideas on her magnetic drawing tablet. They both took their roles as “quality control specialists” very seriously, ensuring the beanbag was optimally comfy and the rug was soft enough for playful rolls. In short, their presence added an immeasurable layer of joy and authenticity to the entire experience.
Mastering Multipurpose Room Design: Balance and Functionality
When it comes to designing multipurpose rooms, striking the right balance between various functions is key. The “percentage” of each function can vary widely. For instance, some spaces might be 95% playroom with a small futon that occasionally serves as a 5% guest room – a rare occurrence. Our brief from Real Simple, however, emphasized creating a space that felt predominantly like a welcoming guest room, one that any adult would appreciate and enjoy sleeping in, while also seamlessly integrating a compact, well-designed kids’ area. This kids’ zone needed to incorporate both cleverly hidden storage (think bins, baskets, and drawers) and visually appealing display elements (such as open shelves and lidless baskets).
Ultimately, we settled on a 75% guest room and 25% playroom allocation for this particular space. When approaching your own multi-use space, remember to prioritize what truly works functionally and feels authentic to your home and lifestyle. The key is adaptability and thoughtful planning.
Key Design Elements for a Seamless Blend
Pulling together the design for this room began with one foundational piece: the daybed. I have been utterly obsessed with this specific daybed for years, so as soon as Real Simple expressed a preference for a single bed in the space, it immediately became the launch point for the entire room’s design. Imagine my excitement – a moment of pure design triumph!
Daybeds are exceptionally versatile, effortlessly transitioning between a comfortable bed for guests and a stylish sofa for playful activities. We extended this dual functionality to other furniture selections as well. A generous side table, adorned with books and magazines alongside a convenient reading lamp, perfectly serves the guest room aesthetic. Conversely, on the other side of the daybed, large lidded storage baskets expertly address the playroom’s need for hidden toy storage, maintaining a clutter-free environment (as seen in the photo above).
The Serendipitous Choice of Wallpaper
Our chosen wallpaper was a delightful, albeit accidental, success. Our initial wallpaper suggestion featured a subtle tone-on-tone pattern that I absolutely adored for its playful charm. With its extremely neutral color palette, yet fun pattern, I envisioned it as the perfect backdrop for this dual-purpose space. However, the editors expressed concern that it might lean *too much* towards a playroom aesthetic. Consequently, we opted for this more affordable palm-patterned alternative. While we are utterly delighted with how the room ultimately turned out, I still harbor a fondness for the original choice – it would be fantastic for a dedicated playroom or kids’ room. In fact, as an adult, I’d happily incorporate it into my own space!
I am absolutely captivated by that charming octopus, and our children were equally smitten. There’s something undeniably endearing about a large stuffed animal with a slightly whimsical expression that instantly wins hearts! A little secret from our photoshoot: some of our pillow inserts hadn’t arrived, so that seemingly perfectly plump bolster pillow below is actually artfully stuffed with spare bath towels. Ah, the magic of photo styling! Additionally, this striking large print from Juniper Print Shop proved to be an impeccable choice. Its harmonious color palette complemented the wallpaper beautifully, and it possesses a universal appeal that captivates both children and adults alike – our kids even inquired whose house it depicted, a delightful sign of engagement!
Another essential for any functional playroom, and indeed a versatile room, is a dedicated table or desk area that can serve as a hub for crafts, art projects, or games. Given the room’s limited continuous wall space – primarily windows, closets, and doors beyond the bed wall – a floating desk or compact table was our most practical solution. A round table often excels in such scenarios, and we knew our chosen drop-leaf table would offer bonus points for its exceptional flexibility. Its leaves can be folded down, making it wonderfully compact when needed, maximizing space efficiency. Furthermore, there’s ample room for two inviting blue-gray chairs, which can be effortlessly positioned around any of the table’s four sides. Flexible furniture is always a winning strategy in adaptable spaces.
We hoped that upon arrival, this arrangement would seamlessly integrate, and we are absolutely delighted with how it complements the windows. Imagine the joy of coloring or piecing together a puzzle in this sunlit spot, gazing out on a beautiful day. Please also envision our double-wide, flowing white curtains, which will soon be installed. Their presence will significantly soften the industrial black window frames you see below, making the area feel much more harmonious with the rest of the room’s aesthetic. I eagerly anticipate seeing the professional magazine photos, as they will brilliantly demonstrate the transformative power of curtains in any space. Stay tuned for that reveal!
Innovative Storage Solutions: The “Doors Off” Philosophy
A significant advantage of this room was the presence of two symmetrically aligned closets along the wall to the right of the window. This presented a clear and elegant solution for organization: one closet was designated for guests, providing space for their clothing and luggage, while the other was dedicated entirely to kids’ storage, housing games, books, and art supplies. The guest closet is being expertly outfitted by professional organizers – who are also tackling nearly every other closet and the pantry in the house. Our focus, therefore, was on the kids’ closet. We envisioned an open, accessible, and visually appealing system – charming enough to be on display 24/7. Our first bold step was to remove the sliding doors entirely.
Taking a “doors off” approach might seem counterintuitive, especially when the quickest way to tidy up for guests is to simply hide everything behind closed doors. However, our experience has shown that this method can inadvertently lead to what we affectionately call “Monica closets” (a nod to the infamous episode of Friends where Monica’s secret, chaotic closet is revealed), particularly when toys are involved. Moreover, this is an Idea House – where’s the fun in a kids’ area if all the delightful items are perpetually concealed? Instead, we seized the opportunity to create a captivating nook brimming with functional and beautiful storage. The stenciled dresser, for instance, is a brilliant piece – aesthetically pleasing while offering smart, out-of-sight storage for clutter.
We encourage you to consider adopting similar storage strategies in your own home. By creating a system where everything has a designated, logical home – whether openly displayed or neatly concealed – you can counteract the impulse to simply shove items behind closed doors. This approach fosters a manageable and visually pleasing environment that’s genuinely easy to maintain. When toys and games have a clear spot to return to after play, even children can develop the habit of cleaning up almost on autopilot. It’s a simple system that truly empowers lasting tidiness.
This concept is brilliantly exemplified in the back wall of our bonus room at home. There, we integrated concealed cabinets that cleverly store games, art supplies, puzzles, and even extra guest blankets and pillows. Simultaneously, fun open shelving displays playful and functional items, making the space both organized and inviting. It’s about finding that perfect equilibrium between hidden practicality and visible charm.
A Happy Accident: The IKEA LISABO Shelves
Returning to the Idea House room, the shelving proved to be our biggest unexpected challenge and consumed the largest portion of our installation day. Our originally selected shelves were unfortunately backordered, a discovery made too late to reorder alternatives. Initially, our plan was to feature colorful shelves brimming with books and toys. However, once we were physically present in the room, it became evident that this wall urgently needed the warmth of wood tones. This would create a much-needed balance with the daybed and other beautiful wood elements on the opposite side of the space.
And so, we cheered for the colorful shelf delay! It truly was the best possible hiccup, as these new wood shelves undeniably elevate the room’s aesthetic far beyond what the original plan would have achieved. Upon arrival, we immediately began a frantic search for in-stock, same-day options. Our quest led us to these LISABO shelves from IKEA. Fortuitously, an IKEA store was located just 15 minutes from the Brooklyn house, allowing us to have them in hand by lunchtime!
We even filmed a segment with Real Simple demonstrating the shelf installation (though whether our sleep-deprived commentary was coherent enough to use remains to be seen!). As you can observe, these more neutral shelves still exude vibrant color and playful energy, thanks to the thoughtful arrangement of various toys, books, and blocks. I understand that the idea of color-coding shelves can sometimes elicit an eye-roll, but for this compact space, it proved to be a fantastic solution. I didn’t approach it with excessive Type-A precision; I simply and quickly grouped items mostly by color. You’ll spot yellows and pinks in the top right, and oranges and hot pinks in the top left – a testament to a quick, organic styling process rather than an overwrought one.
The actual hanging of these shelves took us approximately 1.5 hours – two words: cinderblock walls! – but styling them took a mere 9 minutes. No exaggeration. The beauty of open shelves is their inherent flexibility; they’re not static museum displays. As items are used, and children grow and evolve, so too do the shelves. There’s no pressure to painstakingly return things to the exact same spot each time. In fact, experimenting with different groupings is part of the fun. While this rainbow-inspired approach brought us immense visual joy, the shelves in our own bonus room at home have transformed countless times over the years. The message is simple: don’t stress about perfection. Display items you love to look at on open shelves, and discreetly tuck away anything you prefer not to see in concealed cabinets, drawers, or baskets. It’s a truly manageable system that you can genuinely maintain.
Reviewing the IKEA LISABO Shelves
A special note on the shelves themselves: they exceeded our expectations by a million percent. I had never encountered or heard of these shelves before – they were listed as “new” on the IKEA site when John frantically discovered them on his phone during our urgent “find something today” search. I am incredibly impressed. They are exceptionally solid, relatively straightforward to hang (it would have taken about 10 minutes per shelf if not for those demanding cinderblock walls, which required a masonry bit), and the wood tone is absolutely perfect. It’s a beautiful blonde, casual, smooth, and surprisingly expensive-looking finish, despite its accessible price point.
Recognizing that perfectly styled shelves aren’t always realistic for every toy, we always integrate closed toy storage. This includes the chest of drawers situated beneath the shelves, and the large floor baskets positioned across the room, as mentioned earlier. This combination ensures that both display and discreet storage needs are met, keeping the room both organized and visually pleasing.
The Unanimous Favorite: The Beanbag!
Oh, and I think we absolutely need to invest in a beanbag now! Our children were utterly obsessed with this particular one. The chairs, in their eyes, were mere bystanders; they both wanted to be on the beanbag at all times! Its undeniable comfort and appeal highlight a crucial aspect of family-friendly design: sometimes, the simplest, most comfortable items become the biggest hits.
Anticipating the Reveal and Embracing Community
We are incredibly excited to see the final, professionally photographed images of this space featured in Real Simple’s October issue. Beyond our own room, we had the privilege of witnessing many other remarkable spaces in various stages of near-completion, including Mandi’s beautifully designed bedroom and the inspiring office space crafted by Shavonda and Carmeon. Speaking of whom, we had the immense pleasure of overlapping with Shavonda and Carmeon during their visit, and it was an absolute joy to finally meet these talented individuals in person. We’ve been “IG buddies” for quite some time (you might recall that Shavonda chatted with us about downsizing on our podcast last year), so spending time with them was the perfect, fun-filled culmination to an incredibly productive day.
Shavonda also captured this wonderfully sweet and candid picture of me and John. In it, we appear to be sharing one oversized black t-shirt with three arm-holes – if that isn’t a perfect metaphor for marriage, I’m not sure what is!
Design for a Cause: The Idea House Legacy
Many often wonder what becomes of all the furniture and the house itself once the photographs for Real Simple’s October issue are complete. The answer is truly inspiring: the house is sold, and all the beautiful furniture and decor are thoughtfully auctioned off for a worthy cause! We deeply appreciate that nothing goes to waste. By creating such a vibrant and functional space, every element ultimately benefits individuals and organizations who need a helping hand. While this year’s specific charity has yet to be announced, we will be sure to share the details once they are revealed. It’s a powerful testament to design’s ability to contribute to a greater good.
So, a heartfelt thank you to Real Simple! It was genuinely a Real Fun experience. #MomJokes4Days
P.S. If you’re interested in exploring other rooms we’ve had the pleasure of designing for charitable causes, we particularly cherish this very special room makeover for a local family, this transformative teacher’s lounge for a local school, and these three delightful bedroom makeovers for three incredible children. Each project was a unique opportunity to blend creativity with community impact.
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