By: Jackie Braitman

Jackie Braitman — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:34:57 +0000

Kerry – Thanks for your question. I must admit, it’s made me think — in part because I don’t know what age kids you have — but I assume they are fairly young. My mother’s solution was to use materials that were easily cleaned and were quite forgiving of bumps and bruises (to both the furniture and to little heads). My family didn’t entertain much when we were little or just entertained families who also had kids so it didn’t matter much what things looked like. I think the real challenge is for families that want their living rooms to look sophisticated and to also be kid-proof. Today’s textiles are so much more advanced than ones from even just a few years ago. Today’s micro-fiber faux suede is terrific! It looks sophisticated and comes in terrific colors — I have a couch in royal blue in a micro-fiber suede. I’ve had it for almost 10 years and it still looks new. You can clean anything off of it — the only problem is scratching from animal claws. Crypton has also started making dog and kid-friendly high-end textiles. Leather is also incredibly forgiving of stains. In addition, many of today’s carpets are also kid and dog friendly. If carpet is not your thing, they have terrific new rubber flooring that looks sophisticated and is soft. Using a large, firm ottoman for a coffee table can eliminate a lot of bruises and is very flexible. Finally, if you have lots of storage — built-in or free-standing, good-looking bins and baskets — it’s also a breeze to clean-up when company is coming. Good luck – let me know if this helps.

By: Kerry

Kerry — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:52:49 +0000

I like the idea of of a basement playroom for kids, but if you don’t have a separate space, is there something you can do in the living room to keep kids from getting into trouble while you’re cooking dinner?

Comments on: Basement Playroom

By: Jackie Braitman

By: Kerry