WINNER
Storage-Minded Plaid Playroom
MTK Design Group
This handsome playroom, created by MTK Design Group owner and lead designer Megan Kanz for a new build in Fairview, involved plenty of video chats during its making. Megan worked remotely with her clients, a family of five moving from Washington. (She even orchestrated a grand reveal of their newly finished home just one day after they closed on it and arrived in the Lone Star State!) With three boys under the age of 6, there was one major goal for this space: storage. “Not only do the console, trunk table and oversized benches provide storage, the sectional also lifts up with hidden storage inside,” Megan says. An entertainment center from Liberty Furniture fit the bill perfectly with plenty of shelves and spaces, and a simple play table with Surya Rugs poufs became the perfect spot for the boys to perch and play. For an added touch of bold, Megan opted to create a design statement with plaid-patterned Fabricut wallpaper, installed by Pete Torrez. “Bringing out the architecture with the wallpaper accent not only brought attention to the ceiling lines and oversized window, but also brought attention away from all the toys,” she explains. “Our overall goal was to provide a functional space for the kids to play with hideaway storage for the toys, but also give a sophisticated vibe that the parents could enjoy as well!”
FINALIST
Red, Wonderful and Bold
Maven
Two very lucky boys, aged 9 and 11, were quite excited to discover their newly redesigned room inside their grandmother's Westover home. Maven owner Kellye Hunt Raughton created the fabulous, fun-loving space with vivid hues and boyish details, like the framed Ferrari that inspired the look. “That was how we decided to go with the red, and she loved the boldness of it,” Kellye says of her client. A textured grasscloth wallcovering overlaid with burlap by Phillip Jeffries features bronze faux nailhead trim, the perfect backdrop for the striking red beds — which Kellye drew up and had custom made. Both feature a bespoke bolster paired with a euro and coverlet from Pine Cone Hill and a Jonathan Adler cashmere throw. “I love the way twin beds look,” adds the designer, who chose red fabric by C.&C. Milano. “And when you get to do them in bold colors, they are just so different and beautiful.” Between the beds, a blue lacquered desk from Worlds Away gives the boys a charming work space, and custom-crafted Schumacher draperies and Roman shades make for gorgeous window treatments. The most challenging aspect was the above-bed lighting from Barbara Cosgrove Lamps. But it was Kellye's father to the rescue, enabling the boys to each have their own nearby switch for cozy reading time. “My dad handles all our electrical work,” Kellye says. “So he jumps through some serious hoops for me in getting things done!”
FINALIST
Pink and Blue, Made for Two
Fresh Design
Fresh Design's Kristin Wallach put her creative skills in overdrive to create this colorful, fun-loving space for sweet sisters, aged 9 and 11. It was her second time to work on a residence for the family, as she'd also designed their previous home. But now that the girls were older, they needed a room that was individualized to their likes and also provided personal space for each of them. The room was originally very dark with deep jewel tone colors and felt closed in. The first step was to lighten the walls, bring in more lighting and capitalize on the natural light from the window. Second most important was accommodating the girls' preferences — they both liked flowers and animal prints, but their color choices were opposites. “One loved pink, and the other loved blue,” Kristin says. “I tried to tie all that in together. They also helped with the process and chose their fabric and their prints.” After a great deal of searching, Kristin finally found wallpaper by Duralee in just the right colors. And to give the room a truly bespoke feel, she custom-made the Roman shades, seat cushions and pillows. The girls each had their own built-in desk area, and Kristin saw to all the charming details. She used monogrammed chair covers for the desks and added adorable pompom trim to each of the bedspreads — one in pink and the other in blue, of course.