Cynthia Taylor-Luce I understand your point but you have to remember that these pictures were taken as portfolio pictures which show how the room looked when the designer completed it. The moment the photographer and designer left, you can be sure there will be a newspaper or magazine on a table and a cup of coffee somewhere, and the remote control handy! And we all know what a kitchen looks like when we prepare a meal or do some baking! These photos are meant to be aspirational, not a snapshot of the everyday life of the family that lives there.
C Wright Design Hi there! I completely understand your point but as the previous replies have stated, these photos are snapshots of perfection for each space. The thing to look for in terms of kid-friendly (or just life-friendly, for that matter!) is the materials, lighting, layouts, etc. All good designers work with their clients to determine how the spaces will be used. So, for example, if our new client has 2 young children and a dog but also entertains for business we need to choose all finishes to be durable AND beautiful. So, no silk fabrics or white area rugs, but rather beautiful durable fabrics that pass the Wyzenbeek tests with a high scores and an area rug with a pattern that will be soil hiding. If you look at the photographs on Houzz through these eyes it is actually very informative! Hope this helps!
mpoulsom If you are new here and have a question, there are many professional, and everyday people, that are smart, experienced, and have great ideas! Just include that you have babies and your lifestyle situation....you may be amazed!
Dytecture One could say the same about 'staging' photos in real estate websites, but I agree unless the photos are designed for kids' room, you will rarely see them in photos.
PH Interiors, LLC A good design is always practical taking into consideration the clients needs first and foremost like C Wright says. The rooms in the photos may not suit your particular needs but I think we all look at them and use them as inspiration, tweaking them in our imaginations to be just right for us.
olldbobbi There are many ways to make a house kid friendly and practical. In the living room, storage ottomans are great for keeping toys neat. Indoor/outdoor area rugs have come a long way, and the same with fabrics. Vinyls are the easiest to keep clean with kids around.
I agree, your home needs to be a home for everyone. It's just more challenging with kids !!!
apple_pie_order mamaoft3: I've often thought that good categories for houzz photos would be "practical", "easy clean", "kid friendly" and "universal design". "Cat proof" and "dog friendly" would be good categories, too.
beattieboggs You could also ask how to make a particular room kid friendly? As a mother of 4 I always knew how to do that but appreciate that others might not.
ETA: I planned family rooms with the children in mind. The children grew up around antiques etc and were always respectful in the formal areas.
zenhome When do you ever see a design magazine, website or real estate photo that hasn't been staged. There are a lot of great spaces on this site that are designed specifically with kids in mind. Dytecture's photo is a great example.
I agree, your home needs to be a home for everyone. It's just more challenging with kids !!!
ETA: I planned family rooms with the children in mind. The children grew up around antiques etc and were always respectful in the formal areas.