www.roomplanners.com

roomplanners JULY-AUGUST 2011

colors for kids perfect paint picks for a

back-to-school room makeover

other bedrooms making the most of your

Nickelodeon inspires a fun, fresh approach to kid’s décor… including a collection devoted to fans of

SpongeBob!

on the cover

If you’ve been waiting for inspiration to tackle your kid’s room makeover, wait no longer. A creative collaboration between Nickelodeon and Lea Furniture offers some fresh and flexible ideas to get your creative juices flowing… and your kid’s room done before school starts!

All written information herein is copyright ©2011 Room Planners Incorporated. All rights reserved. No part of the material protected by this copyright may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means without written permission from Room Planners Incorporated.

Find us online at:

WEB SITE www.roomplanners.com

TWITTER www.twitter.com/roomplanners

FACEBOOK www.facebook/roomplanners

BLOG http://blog.roomplanners.com

Editor-in-Chief Loreen Epp

Food writer Wendi Hiebert

Contributing writer Dominique Waters

5

20

Not receiving our

free issues?

SUBSCRIBE NOW!

COMING OF AGE Changing lifestyles cast a spotlight on changing

bedroom needs.

SpongeBob Surf Club casual, beach-y and laid-back

this month...

12 16

10

OUT OF CHARACTER! Nickelodeon and Lea Furniture broke the kid’s furniture mold with two fresh collections.

Nick Teen cool, urban and current.

2 JULY AUGUST 2011 www.roomplanners.com

COLORS4KIDS Four popular color palettes make pairing kid’s furniture

with paint colors easy!

movie set design

Venice beckons... Recently released on DVD, The Tourist (GK Films /

Columbia Pictures, 2010) is worth a see for its hand-

some views of Venice.

The movie set design includes views of the Hotel Danieli’s dramatic lobby, a breath-taking hotel suite on

the grand canal and an elegant ballroom scene. Jon Hutman, Production Designer, was intent on revealing

the beauty of Venice through the film. Along with

elegant palazzo backdrops, the city’s terracotta brick

color and contrasting green-blue of the water and blue of the sky created the palette of the film. READ MORE.

Not receiving our

free issues?

SUBSCRIBE NOW! from our blog

healthy home

Hemingway on healthy homes

Actress, restaurateur and author Mariel Hemingway, was at the National Kitchen

& Bath Show recently to speak about healthy food and homes. Her message? Slow down

and be more present in your own home. “It’s important to make careful decisions about

your home,” she told us, “and to know what's right for you.”

Hemingway believes that being conscious about the healing power of food and home

decor "is powerful enough to change your life." READ MORE.

American kitchen and bath remodelers

recently let us in on consumer spending on kitchen and bathrooms remodels in

2010.

For kitchen remodels, the most popular

budget (for 28% of us) was between $20,000 and $35,000; but 13% of us spent

under $10,000; 9% more than $70,000.

For bathroom remodels, the most popular budget (for 38% of us) was under

$10,000; but 5% spent more than $70,000.

remodeling

what should I spend?

www.roomplanners.com JULY AUGUST 2011 3

downsizing

4 JULY AUGUST 2011 www.roomplanners.com

Following the trend to make hotels more 'like home', the Inn at Lambertville in New Jersey recently

partnered with Ethan Allen to remodel their 42 suites. Six design styles were chosen after Ethan Allen's

Contract Division spent a week exploring the surrounding Lambertville Station's architecture,

history, bed-and-breakfast culture and picturesque setting along the banks of the Delaware river.

Neutral colors, grasscloth-like walls and distinctive wood finishes were used to create an oasis of calm,

giving a facelift to, but honoring, the hotel’s existing traditional architecture. READ MORE.

bathroom design

zen-style bathing An Asian-inspired bathroom received top honors from the National Kitchen & Bath

Association this year.

The clients, raised in Japan, wanted to

incorporate Japanese family-style bathing, which often takes place outside. Interior

designer Holly Rickert placed a sculptural Japanese-style tub in front of picture

windows that open. Space was borrowed from a neighboring room to create a walk-in shower and water closet. READ MORE.

style trends

modern softens If the recent International Contemporary Furniture Fair in NYC is any indication, modern style is

embracing the organic... with reclaimed woods and rustic, open grain woods being applied to

substantial forms.

This organic look may seem to hearken back to the

1970's, but today's natural take on modern rooms is more sophisticated... sharing the stage with

textured silk or linen, mirrored or steel finishes, both polished and rustic. READ MORE.

hotel design

just like home

COMPLIMENTS OF

ASPENHOME FURNITURE

downsizing

www.roomplanners.com JULY-AUGUST 2011 5

Apparently, so do their children; 85% of college grads moved

home in 2010! When asked about the future, many grown kids

expect it may be the other way around, with their parents living

under their roof.

Turning a kid’s bedroom into an adult retreat, or a house into two

homes (with in-law suite or guest room addition) are becoming popular reasons to remodel. This

new (actually, very old) idea of housing three generations under

one roof has some significant

of AGE COMING

Sometimes a bedroom needs to be so much more than a bedroom.

With stalled job and housing markets bringing more adults

together under one roof… more home buyers opting for smaller,

smarter homes... and more aging baby boomers downsizing, we’re

shifting the way we think about our bedrooms.

LIVING TOGETHER The American dream of owning

a home may have taken a beating recently, but we don’t love our homes any less.

Today’s baby boomer plans to live at home as long as possible.

aspenhome®

Cambridge

6 JULY-AUGUST 2011

homes in a new way, giving as

much consideration to rooms

that houses the privacy-conscious teen, college grad or

aging parent, as we do the master bedroom.

MOVING INTO A SMALL

APARTMENT OR MULTI-

GENERATION HOME MAY

SQUEEZE OUR SPACE, BUT IT

DOESN'T HAVE CRAMP OUR

STYLE, says Bryan Edwards, VP

Sales with aspenhome® in Phoenix, AZ. According to

Edwards, the company’s first-home furniture collections, designed for smaller bedrooms

are growing in popularity.

Efficiency, multi-function and embedded technology are a big

part of the reason why, he

advantages: financial security,

care for aging parents and

more adults to care for young children.

DOWNSIZING Condos and apartments are

also in demand, as aging boomers look to downsize, or families opt to rent rather than

own.

STARTING OUT Over 77 million Millennials (a.k.a. 20-somethings) are

entering their first apartment and first-house years... with

needs that don’t quite resemble their parent’s at their age.

THE NEW HOME Home builders are already responding to these market

shifts with more flexible home designs. Most new homes are

smaller than the McMansions of the past, with priority given to larger public spaces. (Floor

plans with open views between kitchen, living and dining

rooms help a small home look and live bigger.) Areas for

privacy, though, may be more limited, requiring the bedroom to double as a place for work-

time or quiet-time alone.

Smaller homes don’t have to sacrifice style or function, but

they do suggest we look at our

explains. “Furniture that makes it easy to relax, work and stay

plugged-in is a must for the text-messaging Millennial who grew

up on computers and digital media.” But it’s also important

to people who work from home, Facebook-moms or grandparents that wants to stay in touch from

their vacation condo, he adds.

Edwards suggests that today’s furniture needs may not fit strict

master bedroom or kids’ room labels. “In many ways, our other bedrooms may work harder than

our master bedroom … perhaps doubling as an office or offering

a place to escape the large communal spaces in today’s

open floor plans.

COMPLIMENTS OF ASPENHOME FURNITURE CLOCKWISE

FROM TOP, LEFT : aspenhome®

Cambridge (eggshell)

aspenhome®

Cross Country (saddle brown)

aspenhome®

Cambridge (eggshell)

entertainment chest.

www.roomplanners.com JULY-AUGUST 2011 7

A small space needs a big vision!

Plan the perfect multi-use

bedroom, whatever its size,

using these proven techniques!

ASSESS YOUR NEEDS Think about other bedrooms as the multi-use spaces they’ll inevitably become. Start by listing everything each room is used for, besides sleep.

THINK MULTI-PURPOSE Now think about the needed furniture. Since the space may be small, get creative about how you might use one item two ways: a bed with storage, a night stand that’s also a bookshelf...

KEEP IT SIMPLE Choose a simple, timeless design for furniture and décor. (This isn’t the place for a big wow factor!) Simple, designs are most versatile in the long run; they’ll also appeal to a variety of guests and make the

room look bigger.

Expose the baseboard.

It’s a little-known, but easy way to expand the look of a room. From the door, make sure you can see the baseboard on the far wall… even just a few inches of it.

Keep a low profile.

Skip poster beds or footboards taller than the mattress. Low furniture at the center of room opens views around the room, making the space look airier.

Use a dark floor.

Opt for a darker, rather than lighter floor. It’ll appear to recede, making the room look bigger. Or add a dark area rug on top of your carpeted or hardwood floor.

Eliminate clutter!

Ok, you’ve heard this one before, but it bears repeating… less stuff keeps us organized, clears our head and expands the perceived size of our rooms.

from the pros

Use the walls.

Walls are as valuable as floors in a small room. Utilize every square inch by choosing tall, rather than wide, furniture, hanging wall shelves or adding hooks.

Use cool colors.

It’s amazing how well this works! Cool blue or green wall colors (with a clear, airy quality) appear to recede. They also mimic the outdoors where there are no walls!

other-bedroom

COMPLIMENTS OF ASPENHOME FURNITURE

ideas smart

8 JULY-AUGUST 2011 www.roomplanners.com

HIDE THE CLUTTER With a pull-out laptop surface, storage drawers and printer station, this multi-use cabinet hides away clutter in a bedroom that doubles as a home office. aspenhome® Tamarind

server credenza

SMART STANDS Nightstands are indispensable, especially if they’re well-equipped! This one hides a plug-in for re-charging portable electronics. aspenhome® Bayfield

nightstand

ALL-IN-ONE... It’s not just a concept for printer and fax machines; all-in-one furniture let’s you store, work and entertain all at the same time. This tall, rather than wide, design also conserves floor space. aspenhome® Reede’s Landing

desk chest

SLEEP + STORAGE Choose a bed with drawers tucked into the side rails or footboard. (A bed on legs is more elegant and smaller- looking than one that runs

right to the floor.) aspenhome® Lincoln Park

storage bed

Need to remodel a bedroom for teens,

grads, visitors or aging parents? Or for

multiple uses? Check out these ideas for a

stylish, hard-working private space.

making the most of your other bedrooms

smart, compact, stylish COMPLIMENTS OF ASPENHOME

A PLACE TO SIT A place to read or put on

shoes adds hotel-style

comfort. In a small bedroom, place a tall-

legged dining chair

in the corner, or with a desk. aspenhome®

Tamarind

side chair

ROOM TO WORK This slim, 48” work-

anywhere desk is perfect

for hard-working bedrooms! aspenhome® Centennial

e-desk

RIGHT-SIZED SLEEP When it comes to bed size, a few inches

can make all the difference. Choose a full-sized (rather than queen-sized) bed

to save space… or a full-sized (rather than twin-sized) bed to take

a kid’s room to full adult status! aspenhome® Tamarind

bed

A CHESSER! Is it a dresser or a chest? Actually, neither. And both. This clever hybrid cabinet, with as much height as width, provides plenty of storage

without using valuable floor space. Just add mirror or TV above! aspenhome® Cambridge

chesser & mirror

LIGHT-

WEIGHT LIGHTING Choose a lamp with clean or contemporary lines. A narrow, tall, straight or small shade is ideal. Good rule of thumb in a small space? The

darker the lamp, the smaller it should be. Lamps Plus® Swing Arm Desk Lamp, 41243-23750

www.roomplanners.com JULY-AUGUST 2011 9

STORAGE +

ENTERTAINMENT Skip the cheesy TV cart in

favor of one with a luxurious hotel room feel. This one does double (triple?) duty with a shelf for components, a drawer that pulls open to reveal a laptop work area (with power and HDMI cables!) and a drawer for clothes or paperwork. aspenhome®, Bayfield,

LIV 360 Entertainment Chest

10 JULY-AUGUST 2011 www.roomplanners.com

www.roomplanners.com JULY-AUGUST 2011 11

out of character!

Who better than your kid’s favorite friends to inspire some cool ideas for their room? We sat down with Rachel Leber - Nickelodeon's Sr. Director of Home Furnishings - to find out how their collaboration with Lea Furniture broke the kids’ furniture mold… and birthed two room collections that rock!

SpongeBob Surf Club A casual collection

with a beach-y vibe... for

Sponge Bob fans of any age

12 JULY-AUGUST 2011 www.roomplanners.com

+ + +

+

www.roomplanners.com JULY-AUGUST 2011 13

Why would an entertainment empire enter the

furniture market?

Rachel: It was a natural progression – and a great

way for us to create something new and different.

When we originally considered the idea, we talked about the fact that that moms want more functionality in their kids rooms. We knew we had

to deliver on that, with high-end quality pieces that would last through the life of their children at home

- and with pieces that would stay suitable as the age of the children changed.

What makes a Nickelodeon fan unique?

Rachel: Our fans are passionate. They’ve

grown up with our characters and they love, love, love them. Especially our SpongeBob

fans. They really encompass the whole personality of Sponge Bob... being happy

and living that way in their everyday lives.

+ +

14 JULY-AUGUST 2011 www.roomplanners.com

The SpongeBob collection looks subtle; not

the bright colors we might expect?

Rachel: We wanted to provide a sophisticated

look for our older Sponge Bob customer. So the collection incorporates his character, but yes, it is more subtle. It has longevity and will grow

with the child. Plus it has a coolness factor. When it comes to Sponge Bob products, we’ve

sold men’s boxers, square toilet seats and baby bottles. We really say the age range for him is

two to ninety-nine... plus!

How did you come up with the designs? Was

it a collaborative effort with Lea?

Rachel: Yes, and it was a really great

experience. Lea brought a real understanding of kid’s furniture and a great quality tradition. We

brought our knowledge of kids! We had lots and lots of meetings – down in North Carolina and

up here in New York. Our creative teams were constantly going back and forth discussing what

we wanted, and needed, to deliver.

+ + + +

Do you have a favorite piece in

the collection?

Rachel: I love the entire Sponge

Bob collection! But there’s one

dresser… the top of it slides over to one side, creating a desk space.

All the electronic hookups are in this hidden space under the dresser top. Very cool!

“Nickelodeon fans are passionate, especially our Sponge Bob fans. They

encompass his whole personality... being happy and living that way

everyday.”

+ +

+

www.roomplanners.com JULY-AUGUST 2011 15

Teen Nick A hip collection

with a city vibe: for contemporary

tastes and cool gatherings.

+ + + 16 JULY-AUGUST 2011 www.roomplanners.com

What do kids want in their rooms? Or from

their rooms?

Rachel: That really hasn’t changed a lot over

the years. They want their rooms to be their

own space; a place that speaks to them. So if their friends come over... or to their parents, it’s who they are. Their room is

a space that they own, or feel like they own. It’s their self identity.

What role do their electronics play?

Rachel: Obviously, electronics are a big part of

their everyday lives. So both their laptop and their desk are important. We thought long and

hard about where they needed to go, and what needed to go with them. We didn’t just add an

outlet box; there are hidden places that open up, with capabilities for setting up TV’s and radios. And all that functionality happens

behind the scenes, so it doesn’t take away from the furniture.

+ +

www.roomplanners.com JULY-AUGUST 2011 17

“We wanted kids and moms to get involved and

say... I want something different... my child is

his or her own person and we want to configure

the furniture our own way.”

+ +

18 JULY AUGUST 2011 www.roomplanners.com

Where can our readers find the collections?

Rachel: At www.nickelodeonrooms.com

All the collections are there and they can leaf through the catalog pages. They can also see

them on Lea Furniture’s web site at www.leafurniture.com - and find an

authorized retailer in their area.

Do you have a favorite piece in this

collection?

Rachel: There are some very cool

chairs in this collection. We actually

stole a few from Lea and have them here in our office! Everyone loves them! I especially love the all-yellow

rocker.

The beds are fun; some look like more like a sofa,

rather than just another headboard!

Rachel: Lea really broke the mold with these lines. They

brought something new and different that we were really

excited about. Furniture for kids had been exactly that: a bed with a headboard, sometimes a footboard and a stan-dard dresser. We sat down and said what makes sense

for kids? How can we open the doors for kids and moms to get involved and say, I want something different… my

child is his or her own person... we want to configure the furniture our own way.

+ +

www.roomplanners.com JULY AUGUST 2011 19

4

Lea Furniture, Deer Run

Four perfect color palettes for a perfect kid’s room makeover... before school starts!

Pick the color palette that suits the ambiance you want in your kids’ room. Colors in each palette will work together, or alone!

color kids!

pretty

bohemian 20 JULY-AUGUST 2011 www.roomplanners.com

Get more info about our complete RoomColors system, including paint color numbers, on our web site.

RoomColors Interior Color-Style System

$9.95

fresh rustic

modern

youthful

uncluttered

energetic country

woodsy

simple

rugged

elegant

fancy

dr

feminine global

wild free-spirited

adventurous

Lea Furniture, Sponge Bob Surf Club Lea Furniture, Emma’s Treasures