Room of the Day: The Force Awakens in a Child’s Bedroom
Shiny stars and a droid photograph nod to a subtle ‘Star Wars’ theme for a 3-year-old
For inspiration while making over their 3-year-old son’s bedroom, this San Francisco couple and their designer, Julie Rootes, searched in a galaxy far, far away. “I felt like his and his father’s love of Star Wars had staying power,” Rootes says. She used the film loosely to set the tone by way of a prominently placed framed vintage drawing of R2-D2, a ceiling speckled with stars and a scattering of space toys. Then she leaned heavily on navy blues and casual modern furnishings that will last as the boy ages — and hopefully one day completes his Jedi training.
To ensure the room would grow with the boy, Rootes stayed away from boyish decor and baby blues, opting instead for shades of the night sky, husk and foggy gray. For the ceiling, she channeled the galactic theme and commissioned local artist Tricia George to paint delicate gold stars over diagonal dark blue stripes, which orient the gaze toward the large windows and the outdoors.
For storage, Rootes created dozens of places to hide toys, placing boxy, clean-lined pieces in the corner and below the windows. The storage “needed to be low, but I didn’t want it to feel generic,” she says. She custom-made the accent pillows with Alhambra-style, mustard-yellow patterns that complement the Moroccan-style lantern seen in the previous photo.
Rootes focused on low-maintenance decor that could easily be wiped down, and stain-treated the fabric used for the chair. The parents can sit in the chair and read to their boy until he’s able to do it on his own.
Dresser: Bungalow 5; mirror: West Elm; lamp: Schoolhouse Electric & Supply; table: Saarinen; transparent chairs: Knoll; window treatments: custom, with fabric by Cloth; carpet: Stark; armchair: Brownstone, with fabric by Raoul Textiles; storage units: Room & Board; artwork: Gray Malin
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Rootes focused on low-maintenance decor that could easily be wiped down, and stain-treated the fabric used for the chair. The parents can sit in the chair and read to their boy until he’s able to do it on his own.
Dresser: Bungalow 5; mirror: West Elm; lamp: Schoolhouse Electric & Supply; table: Saarinen; transparent chairs: Knoll; window treatments: custom, with fabric by Cloth; carpet: Stark; armchair: Brownstone, with fabric by Raoul Textiles; storage units: Room & Board; artwork: Gray Malin
More
10 Storage Ideas From the Most Popular Kids’ Spaces in 2016
Browse the latest kids’ room photos
Room at a Glance
Who lives here: A 3-year-old boy
Location: San Francisco
Size: 220 square feet (20.4 square meters)
Prior to Rootes’ redesign, the room served as an adult bedroom and a storage space for baby accessories. With a galactic theme in mind, she set out to create a sophisticated vibe while remaining true to the young boy’s wishes. Roote’s theory is that children’s rooms, if done right, can carry kids into their teenage years and beyond.