push pause
Reflections, valuable insights, hand-picked product recommendations, and so much more, all aimed at enhancing the everyday homes of families!
dream boat
I am proud to stand alongside these incredible women (and some not pictured). Each of us brings our own light, but together, we're a blazing fire 🔥🔥 .
Here's to the strength, wisdom, and grace of women — may we know them, may we be them, may we raise them✨️
eva’s basement playroom
We loved working with @thehappilyeva on her basement playroom transformation!
She trusted us to deliver something special, and we took the time to understand her family and their needs and wants.
The result is a beautiful, supportive space all three of her children can enjoy.
You can read more about our process and see all the stunning images in Eva's blog post, linked in our bio.
Where there is trust, there is pure magic✨️
incorporating mirrors
A well-placed mirror can transform simple play into an opportunity for learning and growth.
When children interact with their reflections, it helps them understand emotions. They can see how internal feelings change their facial expressions, which is vital for emotional intelligence and empathy.
By watching themselves in a mirror, children also better understand their body's position in space, enhancing their spatial awareness and coordination. This is particularly important for gross motor development.
While traditional designers turn to mirrors because they multiply light and make the space feel larger, we use mirrors so that children can explore their expressions and movements in a safe, engaging environment.
Incorporating mirrors into our playrooms transcends aesthetics; it's a strategic choice supporting early childhood development.
couch-climber combo
The couch-climber combo is a favorite in our play space arsenal. It provides comfortable seating and extends your child's gross motor activity at the same time.
Comfortably hang as your child builds physical strength, enhances problem-solving skills, and boosts confidence, all while keeping your home's aesthetic intact.
Why choose between chic decor and supportive play when you simply don't have to?!
giving your child ownership
Did you know that children’s brains are wired for rapid visual processing? Before they master language, they rely on visual cues to understand their environment.
To play with intention, your child first needs to understand where things belong, and visuals tap directly into the innate language of a child’s brain, ultimately giving them ownership of their space.
When you provide children with a space at home that is thoughtfully and intentionally created just for them, they are given the opportunity to explore their ideas and practice skills they are developing purposefully.
So when we say the success of the playroom lies entirely on the label, we mean it✨️
perspective is everything
Perspective is everything.
And when your child has a space designed specifically for their unique (and changing!) needs, it allows them to reflect on their ideas and experiences.
It provides perspective.
setting up for success
Environment impacts performance. I bet many of you reading this right now spent hours (days?) rearranging your workspace to achieve your definition of "greatness."
In the way a properly conceptualized workspace sets you up for success, a purposeful playroom reinforces the skills critical for healthy development.
Our core philosophy hinges on the playroom being one of the most critical areas of a home, and we believe it should be treated as such.
When you provide a child with a space at home that is thoughtfully and intentionally created just for them, they are given the opportunity to explore their ideas and practice skills they are developing purposefully.
through your child’s eyes
Imagine a playroom where your child's development and creativity are supported, every toy has a home, and your space is organized and serene.
We swear it's possible. Our playrooms are proof it can happen!
It's about seeing the world through your child's eyes and making everything accessible, categorizable, and, most importantly, easy to tidy up!
Creating a space where your child can explore, play, and learn purposefully starts with functional storage solutions.
emotional transformation
When a space goes under renovation, the results aren't limited to the physical transformation. The process can also be filled with emotional transformations, too.
This time last year, I was in the middle of renovating our showroom and office. It was the manifestation of so much hard work and hope. I was overcome with a profound sense of accomplishment as it all came together.
Our playroom projects are no different.
We feel the same sense of accomplishment when completing a playroom, knowing that the process is not just about the physical transformation✨️
this is your sign
Consider this your your sign to do something with that closet under the stairs (other than throw junk in it!).
Happy valentine’s day
All you need is love 💕
And the best team ever ✨️
Happy Valentine's Day from the girls of Greenwich Play!
positive play interactions
Did you know that you can influence the type of play you hope will transpire simply in the way you set up your child's space?
When your child can easily make sense of where things are, freely access what they need, and have space to engage with materials, you can eliminate frustrations before they have a chance to surface and make space for more positive play interactions.
super bowl sunday
Our Super Bowl Sunday goes down in the playroom, where the players are under four feet tall, and a touchdown is scored when toys are put back where they belong.
Team Tidy for the win! 🏈 🏈 🏈
to learn and grow at home
During consultations, I usually get asked in one way or another, “How did you get into designing playrooms?”
It's a fair question!
In 2017, I left teaching to start Greenwich Play, which originated as a consulting agency offering children and caregivers professional support and age-appropriate resources to develop healthy habits at home.
I spent a lot of time with students one-on-one and quickly learned that there were spaces of frustration within the home that ignited unwanted behaviors.
More often than not, the playroom was the number one offender. Sure, it would have lots of toys, books, and materials, yet somehow the space served no purpose.
• It would have no direction, no flow.
• The walls would be covered in an overstimulating and distracting wallpaper.
• The lights would be too bright.
• Nothing was labeled appropriately.
• The storage wasn't functional.
• There were no clearly defined zones.
Enter chaos, mess, and frustration.
I thought that if we could make these areas of the home function better for the child, it would eliminate many of the problems these families were encountering.
As an early childhood expert, I understand that when a room is designed with a specific child in mind, they aren’t consumed by overstimulation, inappropriate materials, or confusing organization. Instead, they connect to their unique learning patterns and interests through independent and stimulating play.
As grown-ups, it’s our job to guide our children to play independently and with intent. This begins with the environment with which we provide them to learn and grow at home.
Lights, camera, action
Lights✨️
Camera🎥
Action🎬️
It's all about the functional organization and easy access to materials in this sweet "backstage dressing room."
fail, succeed, learn
Children have ever-changing needs and unique perspectives, requiring spaces that are adaptable to their growth, interests, and abilities.
Your playroom is an opportunity to inspire your child to take risks, learn something new, fail, and succeed!
Clearly defining areas of a playroom helps children remain focused and understand what's expected of them, ultimately eliciting more positive play interactions.
sweet, simple, inviting
Sweet✨️ Simple✨️ Inviting✨️
These are some of the ingredients we use in our recipe for a purposeful play space!
purposeful play
A sprinkle of this, a shake of that, et voila!
✨️purposeful play✨️
Ha! If only it were so easy.
Purposeful play doesn't just organically transpire because we want it to. You can, however, create the conditions to set your child up to thrive in their play space at home.
Not sure where to start? That's what we're here for! Link in bio to learn about how we can work together.
pass-through spaces
Unused or neglected pass-through spaces in the home, like hallways or transitional areas that link different rooms, often turn into a dumping ground for various miscellaneous items.
But that won't be the case if we have any say in it! That's because we know how critical these pass-through spaces are to the overall flow of the home and how the family operates.
This family challenged us to create a purposeful playroom out of their pass-through space. Despite only having two walls, we were able to subtly define different functional areas using flooring, wallpaper, and strategic design.
The result is a functional and thoughtfully planned part of the home that is also adorable.
✨️swipe to see how it started ➡️
the vestibular system
When spinning your child around or watching them learn to pull themselves up, their vestibular system is hard at work.
The vestibular system is a key part of our inner ear and brain that helps control balance and eye movements. It’s like an internal compass that tells us how we're positioned in space - whether we're standing up straight, tilting, moving, or spinning.
By incorporating specific types of play equipment and activities into your play space, you can create an environment that stimulates and challenges this crucial sensory system in fun and safe ways.
For example...
• Add swings, rings, and other hanging equipment.
The swinging motion helps your child understand and regulate their body's responses to changes in direction and speed, improving balance and spatial awareness.
• Include balance beams or boards to encourage your child to maintain their balance as they walk across them. This not only supports vestibular development but also enhances concentration and coordination.
• Incorporate a climbing element like rock walls, ladders, or indoor gyms. This challenges your child’s balance and gives their vestibular system a workout as they adjust their movements to stay upright.
• Create an obstacle course with various elements like crawling under or over objects, jumping, and balancing, which can integrate multiple vestibular challenges, promoting adaptability and agility.
Creating a play space with these elements in mind allows your child to engage in play that's not only fun but also critical for their physical and sensory development.
We strive to design spaces that support the vestibular system in an organic, playful way, laying the foundation for improved motor skills, balance, and coordination!