Stickybeak of the Week: A Monochromatic Room for a Growing Toddler
Charcoal walls, smart white furniture and red accents rule in this adaptable and versatile transitional nursery
‘Lenny’s Room’, as it’s fondly known, is a lively monochromatic space designed for a growing and energetic two-year-old boy. Lenny’s ‘big boy room’ serves as a fun and playful space that Lenny can call his own, and is intended to change and adapt with the toddler’s needs.
“Our clients wanted to move away from a ‘nursery’ and create a toddler room Lenny could play in independently,” says Amy McBride, who created the space with fellow Max and Duke designer Bianca Helena. Indeed, that’s certainly what they did, and with no trace of traditional children’s room colours in sight!
“Our clients wanted to move away from a ‘nursery’ and create a toddler room Lenny could play in independently,” says Amy McBride, who created the space with fellow Max and Duke designer Bianca Helena. Indeed, that’s certainly what they did, and with no trace of traditional children’s room colours in sight!
Szkudlarek and Paino’s light-filled and newly renovated four-bedroom house in Sydney’s Inner West provided a blank canvas for McBride and Helena. Taking the style of the house into consideration – particularly its modern, sharp lines and primary colours – “we took a mainly monochrome approach with a pop of red as a feature,” says McBride. “This enables the couple to style the room with Lenny’s toys and books as his tastes change.”
Bunny print: Miniwilla; Bobby & 2.0 custom-made print: Little Bread Prints; triangle throw: Le Edit
Bunny print: Miniwilla; Bobby & 2.0 custom-made print: Little Bread Prints; triangle throw: Le Edit
The renovated room had new beige carpet and blinds along with white walls, but the designers were keen to paint the walls a charcoal colour. “After several paint samples, our clients opted for Dulux’s ‘Deep Walnut’ for the feature wall,” McBride says. “Betina and Martin were skeptical, thinking the charcoal walls would be too dark, so we painted the longest wall first. Then they agreed to the second wall to extend the design feature, and they were very pleased with the end result.”
Black-and-white storage shelves and wooden balance bike: Mocka Australia
Black-and-white storage shelves and wooden balance bike: Mocka Australia
Black and white furniture with strong geometric lines pops against the charcoal wall, as do the red accents. McBride and Helena also customised some items in the room to suit the colour scheme, including the wall-mounted wooden shelf from Willow & Wood, which they painted with charcoal around the front.
Grid t-shirt: Hux Baby
Grid t-shirt: Hux Baby
Betina and Martin requested the space be functional as both a playroom and a bedroom. “We needed to include sections such as a reading area, play/creative space, a cot, and toy storage,” says McBride.
Sussex cot: Baby Bunting; L Marquee Light: Little Letter Lights Co; Monochrome storage sack: Executive Concepts
Sussex cot: Baby Bunting; L Marquee Light: Little Letter Lights Co; Monochrome storage sack: Executive Concepts
“The Ubabub Booksee shelves were a great space-saver and fantastic for displaying colourful books.” McBride and Helena installed the bottom shelf at a height Lenny could reach, to give him the independence to sit quietly with a book when his parents are busy.
Red felt wall dot/pinboard: AL+EM Designs; lego storage cubes: Peter’s of Kensington; Dachshund crayon holder: Bear & Sparrow
Red felt wall dot/pinboard: AL+EM Designs; lego storage cubes: Peter’s of Kensington; Dachshund crayon holder: Bear & Sparrow
The existing built-in wardrobe with floor-to-ceiling mirrored doors not only gives the impression of a much larger space, but also provides more storage for toys.
Oyoy Adventure Rug: Top 3 By Design
Oyoy Adventure Rug: Top 3 By Design
The end result is a room for a toddler that can easily transition into a room for a preschooler and school-aged child. The charcoal will always remain a neutral and adaptable backdrop for colourful accents and ‘big boy’s’ furniture.
YOUR SAY
Have you decorated a nursery or toddler’s room? Show us your favourite photos of it by posting them in the Comments.
MORE
Less Cute, More Chic: The Path to a Sophisticated Nursery
Boy, Oh Boy! Imaginative, Chic and Oh-So-Fun Themes for Boys’ Nurseries
10 Steps to a Scandi-Style Nursery or Kid’s Room
YOUR SAY
Have you decorated a nursery or toddler’s room? Show us your favourite photos of it by posting them in the Comments.
MORE
Less Cute, More Chic: The Path to a Sophisticated Nursery
Boy, Oh Boy! Imaginative, Chic and Oh-So-Fun Themes for Boys’ Nurseries
10 Steps to a Scandi-Style Nursery or Kid’s Room
Who lives here: Betina Szkudlarek and Martin Paino, their two-year-old son Lenny, and brand new baby boy.
Location: Sydney, NSW
Size: 9.5 square metres
Design and decoration: Amy McBride and Bianca Helena, Max and Duke