mreddesign

I’m super excited about this room reveal I’m about to share for many reasons.
1. It was a special present from his Mom for a super smart straight A and very cool (do the kids still say cool?) tween boy – age 11! #boymoms unite.
2. He’s a huge Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James fan (I grew up in the Cleveland Hts. area – so I was stoked to hear that.)
3. It’s a not so little known fact that kid spaces are my favorite to design because you insert just the right amount of whimsy, fun and lots of function into the design. Adults take their spaces so seriously with all the brown, beige and blah – I always jump at the chance to design spaces for the young and the young at heart.
In order to design any space, I try to learn about my clients (even the little ones) and their real lifestyles, interest and must haves. I was told that this kid is studious, love sports, gaming, needed lots of storage for shoes and clothes and was all about LeBron James.
The new space would also need to be classic and not trendy – because it has to be last well into his teen years. I decided a sophisticated varsity inspired themed sports room was the way to go.
We changed some of the foundation elements that would add major impact immediately, switched out the carpet for hardwood floors and an area rug, plus updated the original vertical blinds with shutters.

At the final room reveal the kid did a pretty good job of not letting a super cheesy smile slip out – while his Mom on the other hand jumped up and down and all around… I so love reactions like this. Later, she told me that he said ‘Ms. Micaela totally gets me!’
I sure do and I’m so glad you know it : )
Design: M.Red Design

Photography: Megan Weaver

We recently installed a big boy room design just in time for a little guy’s 4th birthday. Ahhhhh to be single digits again…
His new bedroom was his birthday gift so our timeline was very important. Mom and Dad called us for a birthday room space with one main goal in mind – ‘get him out of our bed and sleeping in his OWN room’.  OK!, challenge accepted.
I’m on team #boymom too…so designing little dude spaces are an extra special treat for me. I am always super happy about this! Designing spaces for the itty bitties is an opportunity for a bit of fun!
The only other criteria given for the space were to have it completed by the little guy’s birthday AND since he loves to build forts and tents – try to incorporate one into the space somehow. Makes me all warm and fuzzy inside when clients give me full creative license. It feels like having a brownie sundae for breakfast!
We went with a camping inspired theme, with a crazy amount of pattern and bold saturated colors – that’s my signature. I believe that kid spaces should function for their real lives, with the right amount of whimsy and character. Throw in a teepee and a chalkboard wall (every kid probably needs a chalkboard wall. Yes?) and you’ll guarantee yourself a kid that actually ‘wants’ to be in their room. Big highfive Moms!
We also make sure to get the wall-art just right and Chickadee Art and Co. definitely came to the rescue with camping prints that we then framed in glass-free frames (safe for the littles). They have so many amazing options – definitely a go-to for printables for kid spaces.
The best part was at the end of a very long day during the reveal to my little client, he said it was ‘SO awesome!’.  Warm fuzzies all around.  There simply ain’t nothing better than to put that big of a smile on someone’s face.
Oh yes and I’m happy to report that that the little guy is happily sleeping in his room at night…in the teepee.
I can totally dig that.
;- )
Photos + Design: M.Red Design

As a designer and fine artist –  I believe that style is as important as function. The way cool thing here was this nursery design project was for my own baby, so it was very easy to determine what the client wanted, since the client was me! I wanted my baby boy’s room to have lots of interesting patterns and bold saturated colors, which little ones are naturally drawn to. I choose an extra big comfortable rocker with extra soft fabrics as I knew there would be many nights I would likely fall asleep there. I looked high and low for the perfect vintage mid century modern dresser (turned changing table) and nightstand, forever pieces that can grow with him through many finishes and paint colors in the coming years. My favorite thing in the room is the art work! All personal and custom art I made just for him. I also found some vintage comic book posters, which added more color and were another nod to the mid-century era. The final touches were vintage toys that he could actually play with and doubled as rad decor. Overall, I did not want his space to be too serious. I think nurseries should always have just the right amount of whimsy, function and interest for a little one and not look like an adult space. Now every night when my now toddler, choose a book from his ‘just the right height’ bookshelf for storytime or rides his old-school ‘neigh neigh’, I’m proud that he enjoys his room as much as I enjoyed putting it together for him.
Designer: M.Red Design
Photo Credits: Megan Weaver