When designer Hadley Quisenberry teamed up with Ethic LLC to renovate her family’s new Eastover home two years ago, she decided to leave the playroom undecorated. She thought her children, then 9 and 12, would enjoy having free reign over the second-floor space.
But they never hung out in the room.
“We put all of their toys and games in there, but it just wasn’t enticing them to spend time in the room,” explains Quisenberry, owner and principal designer of West Trade Interiors. “So we decided to surprise them at Christmas with a revamped playroom.”
Quisenberry sealed off the door, telling her children they needed to do some repairs in the room, and began collaborating with her friends at the custom playroom design company Wild Child to design a more interactive space tailored to her children’s needs and interests.
Wild Child was founded by Cassie Albergotti and Susan McBarnet after McBarnet decided to install a climbing wall in her garage for her children during Covid.
“My children needed more outlets for physical activities, and we were so limited during the pandemic,” says McBarnet. “After I installed the climbing wall, we became the most popular house on the street.”
Albergotti and McBarnet, who met through their children, combined their skill sets of interior design and marketing as well as their shared interest in childhood development to launch Wild Child in Charlotte in 2021.
“We have talked with occupational therapists and teachers and researched specific products so we can create playrooms with a purpose,” says McBarnet. “A climbing wall isn’t just a climbing wall; it is improving kids’ grip strength, which helps with handwriting. Monkey bars help with core strength, so kids can sit up straighter in class and become more coordinated.”
Quisenberry oversaw the color scheme, selecting a Cowtan and Tout vinyl wallpaper with blues and earth tones that reminded her of their family vacations to Montana. Albergotti and McBarnet determined what furniture and equipment would work best in the room.
“We frequently partner with interior designers on our projects,” says Albergotti. “It’s like having your general practitioner and your specialist, and our expertise is kids’ spaces.”
The Wild Child team installed a variety of products, including monkey bars, a trapeze bar and a basketball goal. They incorporated a Pac-Man machine and a punching bag that Quisenberry sourced herself. They created two desk areas for art or homework. Albergotti and McBarnet chose a multipurpose modular sofa that can be disassembled and used as a crash pad that can be folded out into a bed or built into a fort.
“We source pieces that balance durability with play value—they’re tough enough for daily use and irresistible to kids,” Albergotti says.
Quisenberry’s children were blown away when they opened the door to their new playroom on Christmas morning.
“My kids couldn’t believe it,” says Quisenberry. “They absolutely love the room and use it all the time. We are now the hub for hangouts, which was my goal.”