When I flip through home magazines at the salon or see design shows on HGTV, I see the picture-perfect rooms and always think, “Just wait until they have kids!” or “That house wouldn’t last 10 minutes into a play date!” We all dream of magazine-worthy homes, where the kids’ toys are tidy, there’s never any clutter, and everything has its proper place. But is that simply a pipe dream when you have young children?
We posed the question, “How have you decorated and remodeled since having children?” and most moms just laughed. “The kids’ stuff is all over the house. There is no decorating!” said Troy mom, Lily S. Birmingham mom, Linda M. said, “I’ll decorate when the kids move out!” With children ages 4 and 6, that will be a very long time…
It was clear with the many moms that we spoke to, they felt out of control in the space and design of their homes. Sitting areas and even master bedrooms made them feel frustrated, stressed, and exhausted. So, we asked Linda Shears, ASID, residential interior designer and “Lifetime Achievement Award” recipient from the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) for help. Featured in many national and Detroit-area publications and TV, Linda partners with her clients to create interiors for homes of all shapes and sizes. So, we created a challenge for Linda that can help us all!
The Design Challenge: Decorate an “average” home in a family-friendly, budget-friendly way.
- Home is an “average” Troy family ranch—1800 square feet, 3-bedroom.
- Home décor is dated, but with no structural problems.
- Re-use as much of the existing furniture & décor as possible.
- Children must be able to have full use of their bedrooms and family gathering areas.
- No room can cost more than $5000 to update/decorate.
- No project element (carpet, paint, décor, furniture, electrical) can cost more than $5000 in total.
- Total home project budget is $10,000.
- Each part of the home project should be easily duplicated for any home, allowing families to see the difference that remodeling an individual element or individual room can make.
Follow our journey as we discover design tips for family homes and learn from award-winning designer, Linda Shears. Find out more about Linda’s expertise in The Designer: Interview with Michigan Design Center’s Featured Designer, Linda Shears, ASID.
Before: Dark, dreary, dated, and boring…
Photo Credit: Gary Castaneda
Home Series Week 1: Design Challenge & The Designer
Home Series Week 2: Bathrooms
Home Series Week 3: Girls’ Bedrooms
Home Series Week 4: Boys’ Bedrooms
Home Series Week 5: Master Bedrooms
Home Series Week 6: Living/Family Rooms
Home Series Week 7: Family Home Makeover & 7 Tips for Decorating in a Family-Friendly Way
