This play- and guesthouse in Arizona works hard for the entire family. It's a space where kids run around at full throttle, where their parents frequently entertain and where guests sleep over on weekends. "The entire family wanted a space that felt fuss free, fun and completely accessible to people of all ages," says designer House Today. But before she could move forward with the final design, she needed the family to trust her instincts when it came to her color choices for the 600-square-foot space. 

"Many people think that they'll soon tire of strong colors or that strong hues affect the resale value of a home. Based on my experience, this couldn't be further from the truth. After seeing how the strong colors made the home feel more inviting as well as helping it stand out from the rest of the pack, my clients embraced the strong colors of the space and couldn't be happier with our choices," says Borden.

This modern reinterpretation of a 19th century Sydney terrace house takes full advantage of its narrow site. New butterfly roofs top both structures, an inverted tribute to the surrounding roof pitches and a solution for the tight lot's limited natural light.

The home's location and narrow site directed its new look. "The design was all about getting natural light, views to the sky and ventilation into the old house, while maintaining privacy," says Walker

This new house was under construction when House Today was commissioned to design the interior spaces for this vacation home.  The interiors were developed  to provide plenty of relaxing spaces .
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Sometimes referred to as the heart of the home, the kitchen is a place to prepare and cook food and, depending on the size, can be used to eat and entertain guests. In Ancient Greek homes, this room was a central open air patio but it was not until around 1800 that the stove, which enclosed fire completely, made cooking indoors possible. As technology advances, so do kitchens' design and efficiency. The introduction of the kitchen island has lent more flexibility to the positioning of the kitchen cabinets and kitchen sink, and helped make open plan kitchens and dining rooms a reality.

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The literal translation of "a room with a bath" has evolved into a more technical description where a "full bathroom" must comprise four plumbing fixtures: bathtub, shower, toilet and sink. After these four essential elements, it is all up to us to mix and match materials to transform a utilitarian room into a peaceful private spa, a glamorous spot to put on make-up or an eco-friendly place to shave. Bathroom cabinets and bathroom vanities store the ever increasing number of necessary products. Today, well designed bathrooms are beautiful, durable and highly functional.

Known as parlors in the 19th century, in the 20th century this space was renamed the "living room" where one can entertain guests, watch television, read, and practice the art of living. The living room is sometimes a rarely used room, without a television or other media, where visitors are formally entertained. Either way, living rooms provide a design set piece for you to display your signature look from a stylish combination of living room furniture.

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For a child, a bedroom is more than just a place to sleep. It is a place to do schoolwork, listen to music, play games, sprawl on the floor, rough-house, read, build models, daydream, visit with friends and keep innumerable possessions. You’ll need to plan carefully to create a room that serves all those functions, is comfortable and inviting — and has enough staying power to require only minimal redecorating every few years. The ultimate experts on what kids like best are kids themselves. Make kids feel involved in the design process by letting them help with selections for the room. Include the children’s interests and ask for their opinions as you create a decorating scheme. But don’t go overboard: Children’s interests change often, so use accessories that can be easily replaced when interest wanes. What you want is a room that both meets your needs and pleases your child. The furniture and accessories should be appropriate for your child’s age, but they should also be adaptable, not trendy. Pick baby and children’s furniture that can grow with your child — and any siblings who might be sharing a bunk bed. Also, plan to provide space for the many activities that may take place in a child’s room. This includes space for visiting friends and sleep-overs, a place for play (remember to have room for a train set or dollhouse), and a spot with a desk and good light for doing homework. Children should have a sense of control over their environment. They should be able to hang up clothes, reach toys and books, and sit in chairs that suit their size. An added benefit: They’ll learn early that they can do things for themselves.


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