We are sure by now you know Joh. As in, one of the best interior stylists going around Perth. This week, we sat down with her to get aaall her secrets on how to design kids' rooms better.

Joh knows the perfect formula for balancing playfulness and longevity, making design choices that reflect kids' personalities and give them room to grow, whether they are three or thirteen. 

How did you get started in Interior Design? 
I started at Granite Lane in a marketing position but knew that my real passion was for interiors. After a few years of designing spaces and helping customers with their furniture selections, I knew that this was an area I wanted to expand my knowledge, so I decided to study interior design.
 
What draws you to designing spaces for kids? 
The fun and whimsy that comes with their designs. I love that you can be a little more adventurous when designing kids' spaces.

 
Tell us a little bit about the brief for this weeks' feature project?
Our client had initially used our services to design a nursery for her little boy. Fast forward a few years and he was now ready to transition to a more grown-up room. The brief was to create a space that could grow with him over time and a room that was functional for both sleep and play. We wanted to focus on neutral, calming tones, with pops of colour throughout to keep the look playful.

How collaboratively do you work with your clients and why is this so important? 
From the get-go, we like to meet with our clients to discuss their ideas, what they need from a space and to establish their interior style. We then collaborate with them all through the design process to ensure that they are in love with their space and the selections we have recommended. I think it is important to communicate throughout all stages to make sure everyone is on the same page and that we create a space that will suit their needs.
When designing a child’s room what are the most important factors for you?
Style, function and fun. Kids tend to have a lot of ’stuff’, so including lots of stylish storage solutions into their designs is a must. I also want to create spaces that will knock their socks off so not only does the final design have to appeal to adults, but more importantly the kids themselves.

What are the current trends for kids' rooms? 
Definitely a feature wallpaper, neutral-toned furniture and playful linen. I am loving sourcing fabrics in petrol blue tones mixed with leather pieces for boys at the moment and peach pinks and mixed with sage green for girls at the moment.

How important is it to create a space that kids can grow in? 
As kids grow their tastes change quite rapidly so it is important to design a space that will suit their needs for years to come.

By carefully selecting timeless furniture items in neutral tones rather than bold colours, you can change the look of their space quite easily as they grow and work with their ever-evolving tastes. For example for this space we designed our Brooklyn Bed in a beautiful oatmeal fabric that can easily be dressed in different bedding looks as our little man grows.

I was also drawn to the Lilly & Lolly range for this same reason. Their beautiful natural timbers will compliment the space throughout the years, no matter what colour objects are displayed on them.  In this bedroom, we used Lilly & Lolly's  Charlie Bedside, Colour Box Lowboy and Scoop Bookcase 6 Cube.

Are sustainable and locally made products a factor in your decision making? 
Absolutely! As a family business, we love to support local. Our main furniture range is made right here in Perth by other family-owned businesses. From a sustainability perspective, the benefits of local sourcing rather than importing means that we can keep our local economies thriving and alleviate a lot of the environmental impacts of importing. The benefits of local sourcing extend not only to our local communities but also to the planet, wildlife, and our customers.

Joh is available for in-home or online styling consults. Email 
hello@granitelane.com.au to book in!
June 07, 2022