This play- and – guesthouse in Arizona works difficult for the entire family. It’s a space where children run around at full throttle, where their parents frequently amuse and where guests sleeping on weekends. “The entire family needed a space that felt fuss free, fun and totally accessible to people of all ages,” says designer Valerie Borden. However, before she could proceed with the last design, she desired the family to trust her instincts when it came into her color options for the 600-square-foot space.
“Many people feel they’ll soon tire of solid colours or strong colors affect the resale value of a house. According to my experience, this could not be farther from the truth. After seeing how the strong colours made the house feel more inviting in addition to helping it stand out from the rest of the package, my clients embraced the solid colours of the space and could not be happier with our choices,” says Borden.
in a Glance
Who performs here: A couple, their 3 children and sleepover guests
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
Size: 600 square feet
Chimera Interior Design
The play- and guesthouse includes bath, kitchenette, dining space, a TV area and loft. Walls, cabinetry and furnishings in white and light gray provide a neutral foundation for bright, colorful splashes and patterns.
“We went with a palette of teal, orange and lime green, which the clients feel really uplifted the distance. You feel this jolt of energy once you input,” says Borden.
Dining table: custom, Chimera Interior Design; chairs: Overstock.com
Chimera Interior Design
Borden maximized the distance by placing the sleeping loft directly over the toilet and closet (marked with the orange window doors). “This is a new structure, so we designed the space to match their needs entirely,” she states.
The loft is 5 feet wide by 24 feet long. Three sleeping mats fill it, together with a shaggy rug, lots of cushions and reading lights. “It was actually the customer who had the idea to produce the loft, in addition to the fire pole,” says Borden.
Interior paint: Cool December, Dunn Edwards; cabinets: Ikea; sectional: client’s own
Chimera Interior Design
A Kaiser Tile backsplash and a light fixture which casts geometric shadows on the ceiling add visual interest into the kitchen. A concrete counter tops and Ikea cabinets stand up to the wear and tear of both kids and guests. The upper cabinet on the left hides a microwave.
Chimera Interior Design
The layout of the bathroom inspired. “We knew we wanted a psychedelic effect for this little space,” says Borden, who spent hours on hours sourcing the perfect treatment for those walls. “We originally discussed a tiled wall, but it would’ve killed our funding. This wallpaper adds so much drama to the distance without crippling our funding.”
Chimera Interior Design
An Ikea dressing table and mirror, and wall sconces found at the clearance aisle of Lamps Plus, play a supportive role into the high drama of the wallpaper while giving the distance a clean, modern feel.
Chimera Interior Design
Semifrosted glass connects the shower into the outdoor place. Orange and white tiles out of Sicis provide this pool shower a beautiful sheen.
Chimera Interior Design
The designer cut down costs and gave the children ownership of the space with them paint the artwork in the markets using the teal, orange and green color palette. “They shot a few classes at a local art studio and voilà — our Pollock-inspired masterpieces came into existence,” says Borden.
Chimera Interior Design
A peacock feather pattern plays up cushions and a rug from International Views. “My customer absolutely loves peacocks and literally jumped for joy when I discovered them,” the designer says.
The orange doors behind the sofa and dining table open into an adjoining garage workshop, in which the clients work on creative projects.
Chimera Interior Design
Borden used diamond plate on the door’s workshop side, making cleanup easier when the clients get cluttered in their creative space.
“We are working on the rest of this Southwest modern house’s redesign. We are transitioning outside the Southwest and leaning more modern,” says Borden.