http://www.milwaukeenari.org/nr_07202009.php

Brookfield interior designer Anna Janke was quoted in a July 20, 2009 NARI article "MILWAUKEE/NARI OFFERS TIPS ON UPDATING BEDROOMS FOR CHILDREN, TWEENS AND TEENS". In the article, Anna Janke provides her thoughts and recommendations on interior design for children, tween and teen bedrooms.

As back-to-school time nears, and students get ready to move up a grade in school, parents will shop for school supplies and new clothes. Gym shoes and backpacks will be checked to see if they are a good fit. Accordingly, it's the perfect time to check whether a child's bedroom is still a good fit for his or her age.

A young person's bedroom is a multipurpose homework center, playroom, TV room, and retreat. So, give the children at your house a comfortable room that expresses themselves, offers privacy, and is updated to reflect that childhood and young adulthood bring change and growth every year.

Anna Janke, interior designer at iDesign 4 Interiors, LLC, in Brookfield, offers ideas for creating age-appropriate, versatile, kid-friendly bedrooms. The firm is a member of the Milwaukee/NARI Home Improvement Council, Inc., the area's leading home improvement and remodeling industry resource for more than 47 years.

Allow Room to Grow: Janke suggests a practical approach of using color-coordinated, long-lasting pieces rather than matching accessorized items. For example, in a nursery, use a bear lampshade rather than a bear lamp base, and don't insist that every item in the room feature a bear design. This way, the pieces in the room allow a more practical transition to an older look. A child might get temporarily attached to a favorite cartoon character or series of books. But what happens when interest in a certain character fades? A quick update can be made if you limit character themes to a lamp or a poster rather than wallpaper.

Right Height: To be considerate, Janke advises hanging artwork at a child's eye level. Also arrange shelving at their height, and hang closet bars within their reach for easy access to clothing.

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