Dear Genevieve,
We just weaned our daughter off her beloved stuffed bunny. Now what do we do with it? Is there any way to celebrate how much it means to her by making it part of her bedroom decor?—Karin, Salt Lake City
A. I actually think it might be pure torture if you have just weaned your daughter from her bunny to then introduce it into her bedroom decor. I completely understand what you are trying to do, but honestly, I think she may have a hard time with it. I would give it some time. Clean and frame the bunny in a linen-backed shadow box and pack it away for many years later. Give the bunny back to her at an important birthday as significant piece from her childhood. Once something is behind glass, it becomes even more precious, and I think it could be a beautiful memento that she could display on her walls for her own children to see one day.
Dear Genevieve,
We told our 9-year-old son that he could choose the paint colors for his bedroom walls, and he requested one wall each in blue, green, purple, and orange. We're regretting letting him choose! Is there any way to make this scheme work—or is there some compromise we can come to?—Andy, Brooklyn
A. Children have no filters—that's what makes them such brilliant artists! However, when it comes to the interiors of your home, there should be a compromise. If I took literally some of my young clients' desires, I would be building rockets from scratch and painting rooms 19 different colors. The great thing is that children are generally some of the easiest clients to work with. They are very flexible and open to everything. So I suggest asking your son the following questions:
• What mood do you want your room to have?
• Where is your favorite place in the world, and what does it look like when you close your eyes?
• What do you want to feel when you walk through the door of your bedroom?
• What do you want to be able to do in your room?
Start having this conversation, to move beyond the walls and really design a concept together. You might be surprised. I think you'll find that he'll have great ideas above and beyond a crazy color palette. And, if he is steadfast on his original color choices, then honor those choices through the accessories, bedding, and floor coverings, and paint the walls something light and neutral for balance.
Dear Genevieve,
I have three boys—8-year-old twins and a 6-year-old—sharing one small room. How do we make it less generic, and reflect who they are individually, while still having space for stuff?—Stacey, Los Angeles
A. As tough as it may seem to translate all those personalities into one room, it is possible! First paint the walls in a neutral tone to balance out the busyness elsewhere. Next, choose different bedding for each child, so you can reflect his interests (but make sure it's all tied together by a common color). Finally, give each a small shelf—or designate separate sections on one long surface—for action figures or sports memorabilia. Then just watch: When each boy "owns" a space, he'll take pride in it—and they'll compete to keep their shelves looking good.
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