Spaces for children can be an afterthought in big design projects, but not for this Charlotte designer and mom of four. Crystal Nagel calls children of her clients "mini-clients," especially the ones with lots of opinions.
“We love to do children's spaces because they're always so whimsical and fun,” Nagel said.
Whether she’s designing for adults or children, Nagel’s transitional style brings clean lines, muted colors, unique shapes and most notably, playful wallpaper. That's plain to see in this Myers Park home where she transformed the playroom suite into a showstopper by coordinating wallpapers with the same color scheme.
She started on the wall behind the sofa with Lulie Wallace wallpaper called “Penelope,” a modern take on a flower motif in pinks, oranges and greens. They complemented it with pink geometric paper in the half-bath off the playroom and the vestibule, transforming what had been an all-white entryway.
“We just loved how they fit together and work together,” Nagel said. “Luckily, this client is all about some fun patterns and wasn't scared of mixing. You can see all these papers from one space, which is fun for the kids.”
She had the walls painted pale pink in Benjamin Moore’s “Melted Ice Cream” and accented it with a pop of green (“Card Room Green” by Farrow & Ball) on the guard rails. A new Pottery Barn sofa is accented by pink and green pillows from Etsy. One tufted ottoman acts like a chaise lounge and the other is perfect for popcorn during movie sessions.
This client’s children are making the transition from wanting lots of toys to wanting more time to hang out with friends. Double bunk beds for sleepovers and plenty of hang-out space is the perfect solution–for parents too.
“Everybody goes in those rooms, not just the kids,” Nagel said. “So it’s nice to have a fully finished feeling.”
ADDING POPS OF COLOR AUGMENTS GIRL'S BEDROOM
Using a child’s favorite color doesn’t mean a bedroom has to be covered in it. Designer Crystal Nagel used this 8-year-old girl’s favorite color–purple–in the lavender-striped window shade custom made with Schumacher fabric for this Dilworth home. An abstract Laura Park print on the bedding and pillow features lavender tones as well, and they complement the stripes to give the room a playful sophistication. The built-in cabinets and window seat are painted pale blue. The rainbow bookends on the shelf are a nod to the child’s love for Harry Potter, proving again that favorite themes don’t have to dominate decor.
HOT AIR BALLOON CHARM FOR BOYS’ BATHROOM
Talk about statement wallpaper in this Sedgefield home. What boy is going to mind brushing his teeth if he gets to fly away with this hot air balloon-inspired wallpaper called “Macchine Volanti” by Cole & Son? The print is masculine without being young, which means it should stand the test of time. Even if the room needs to transition to a guest bath at some point, the navy vanity paint makes it easy to match with something more neutral. Don’t miss the sphere-shaped light fixtures from Hinkley Lighting, which are a play off the blue hot air balloons.
“STRAWBERRY FIELDS” FLORAL PRINT BRIGHTENS GIRLS’ BATHROOM
Nagel managed to create continuity between a Jack-and-Jack bathroom for two brothers with this Jill-and-Jill bathroom for their sisters by using the same navy paint and white countertop on the vanity. It’s a versatile choice which can read either masculine or feminine, depending on the colors and accessories around it. These two sisters got some wow-factor wallpaper of their own with a floral print called “Strawberry Fields” by Rifle Paper Company, featuring oranges, yellows, blues and greens. The flowers on the print are accented by vanity drawer pulls with a floral scallop around the edge. Nagel kept sphere-shaped light-fixtures, similar to the boys’ bathroom, but added more feminine accents with mother-of-pearl teeth detailing around matching circular mirrors.
WALLPAPER IN HALF BATH COMPLEMENTS PLAYROOM
Wallpaper is an easy way to tie rooms together, and that’s what Nagel did with this half bath off the playroom suite she designed for a family in Myers Park. She used a small-scale star pattern in pink to complement the Lulie Wallace paper used on an opposite wall in the playroom. She installed a textured mirror, which pulls in the texture of the playroom console. She added a Serena & Lily light fixture with a scalloped shade for a more feminine feel. The homeowner found the wall art with colors to match the wallpaper perfectly.