The Room That Started Something
A playful combination of pattern, color, and art to inspire two growing imaginations.
All interiors used in this story are original work by Rachel Anderson and photographed by Evernew.
FROM BEFORE TO AFTER
Playful Airy Maximalism
Some projects have an impact so great, it can only be seen in hindsight. This room is one of them.
It grew into something bigger than I could predict and that has been meaningful because this space was designed with heart. It was my first big lesson in how good design can incorporate function and organization without sacrificing beauty. And on top of it all, it was fun to pull together.
But first, it was just an empty space full of potential. Here’s how I got from the before to the after.
BEAUTY THAT WORKS
Room to adapt
As the first area that greets visitors at the front door, this room has the difficult task of needing to clean up quickly for guests while easily inviting our little ones into play.
Furnishings sized for adults but clad in color and pattern create an inviting space for all ages without taking itself too seriously. Nearby lidded baskets look like art but perform double-duty hiding random toys and dress-up clothes. Their handled sides make them easy for kids to drag toys to the rug and also work as the very best hiding spot for little ones.
GROWING ALONGSIDE THEM
Room to play
While the two chairs by the sunny bay window give weary parents a comfy spot to view the chaos, a little table and chair set in the center invites kids to play.
When the zoomies eventually kick in, the mini dining set can move off to the side, while tiny feet can breeze through in circles. A play tent filled with blankets and pillows in a dark corner makes for a welcoming resting spot to dive into when the games end.
A WALL OF ART + MEMORIES
Room to create
This expansive wall runs the length of the space and is a focal point from the entryway.
I explored endless possibilities—adding wallpaper, continuing the millwork from the dining room, painting a pink faux wainscoting. All were beautiful options. What we really needed, though, was a home for the art that hadn’t found a place post-move.
Blending pieces of varying sizes, finishes, and styles was challenging at first, but came together with some patience. The result was a balanced composition of colorful, playful, and sentimental pieces that live on in the room years later.
Together, they give the room a uniqueness that it wouldn’t have otherwise.
Years later, gallery walls have become a passionate part of my work. No two galleries are the same and there’s so much opportunity to infuse memory and personality. What could be more fun or meaningful?
AN INVITATION TO WONDER
Room to imagine
A pretend market and mini kitchen became a little world within the larger space, solving a design dilemma in this tricky corner thanks to a challenging floor vent. Rather than placing furniture over it or leaving the area unused, I looked to the wall instead.
Making use of that vertical space for a kid-sized grocery market turned the nook into a destination of its own, while allowing the floor vent to remain unobstructed—and become barely noticeable in the process. Baskets hung within reach, tiny shopping carts waited below, and a handmade striped awning helped transform an ordinary stretch of wall into somewhere imaginative play could unfold.
The mini kitchen nearby extended the story, giving all those pretend groceries somewhere to go and creating a natural little rhythm of shopping, cooking and playing house. It was a simple solution to an awkward constraint, but it became one of the hardest-working—and most loved—areas of the room.
Sometimes the thing you have to design around is exactly what leads you to the best idea.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
A Surprise Ending
This pretend home + market corner has brought us, our family, and our friends endless joy and memories—fulfilling all my hopes for the space.
But just when it seemed like this room couldn’t get any sweeter, we received exciting news. It would be featured in the Spring 2020 issue of Magnolia Journal in an article by Joanna Gaines. It was a heartwarming end to an exciting personal project.
And the best part? It was included in an article titled “Rooms with Purpose”, highlighting the creative use of an awkward corner. Of all the things she could have focused on—the hand-stitched floral curtains, the unique gallery wall, the splashes of color—she noticed this little spot’s creative blend of function and beauty.
At the time, having my work noticed by Joanna Gaines herself felt surreal. It came at a time when personal tragedy hit my life, and this news was a light in the middle of the sadness. Years later, it was this room that brought me back to design after devastating loss that had me question my design career in 2022.
This space and the article remind me of my original goal, long before the outside world clouded my judgement. That interior design is a worthy pursuit in spite of tragedy. That this work can be meaningful and helpful beyond surface-level impressions.
It’s a gentle reminder that design performs best when it’s done with a joyful heart and a thoughtful mind.
What could your room do?
The best rooms aren't simply beautiful. They make everyday life a little easier, more enjoyable, and more you.
Whether you're working around an awkward corner, making room for a growing family, or simply know that something in your home could work better, thoughtful design can uncover possibilities you may not have seen yet.