From Floorplan to Final Touches: My Approach to Family-Focused Interiors
Family homes can be the most rewarding homes to design. Because a thoughtfully designed home enhances and increases precious moments with your people. In fact, when you have a space you love, with comfortable furniture encouraging lingering conversation and functional storage keeping clutter at bay, you’re suddenly free to soak up more intentional, quality time together. When building your forever home with your family, you want to make the most out of your investment. Your investment starts long before any furniture is selected. I approach designing family focused interiors with one thought in mind ----great design begins in the blueprint.
Laying the foundation (no pun intended:) for a design project starts first with smart space planning. When collaborating with your architect and builder, I will redline and talk through effective changes that will increase flow function and felxibility for YOUR family's needs. Once the shell of the blueprint is finalized, I begin with penciling in zoning areas and building a floorplan that allows for quiet areas, high traffic areas, multi use spaces, etc. In past projects, I have designed playrooms that can evolve into study areas then into teen hangout spaces and then into bunk rooms for grandkids.
After laying the foundation, I work on the elevations of a project starting with kitchens and nooks, keeping functionality in mind. On the construction side of things, I have worked very closely with quality craftsman to incorporate usable built ins, hidden storage, and functional step ups throughout the entire home. The lighting plan is another functional compnene as we decide on electrical at the construction phase. Adding sconces above a teen's nightstand will give them more space for books, phones, and knick knacks where a table lamp will not. Having a fan in a room with vaulted ceilings and used high traffic family time is a must in order to circulate air flow. Not one inch of space is left without a purpose. On the furnshings side of of things, I think about the individual family and how they will be using the individual spaces. Storage is always a problem as a family grows and expands so ensuring that there are even furniture pieces that have functional compenent is key.
From here, I move into selecting materials, first for the hard finishes and fixtures and second for the home furnishings. Family homes tend to to focus on durability and practicality but that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice beauty and sophistication. Some of my go to materials are scratch resistant finishes, sealed stone, and performance fabrics. There is a balance to selecting pieces that are durable and beautiful. I don't recommend a plethora of white grout lines on tile floors just for the reason that in an active family lifestyle, that becomes an eye sore because it never gets cleaned or it becomes a chore to constantly be cleaning. If we are using upholstered chairs in the dining room, you can guaruntee those chairs are stain resistant and easy to clean.
Once items have been selected, it is time for the final finishing touches meaning personalization and cohesion. Ways that I add personality for my families is through paint colors, curated wall art, and incorporating family pieces. Not every piece has to be brand new. To make a family home feel warm and inviting without being cluttered, it takes a talent of layering textures, color palettes, and statement pieces. I love designing my client's family homes to truly speak their personality through intentional accessories and soft goods that promote wellness and family time.
Designing a home for a growing family isn’t just about making it look beautiful—it’s about creating a space that works for you now and adapts for the future. From the initial blueprint stage to the final finishing touches, every detail matters in shaping a home that is both functional and personal. Thoughtful space planning, durable materials, and intentional design choices ensure that your home enhances your daily life rather than complicates it. At the end of the day, a well-designed family home isn’t just a house—it’s the backdrop to your most cherished memories. With the right approach, you can create a space that not only stands the test of time but also evolves with your family for years to come.
