Home Field Advantage
PLAYROOM, ACTIVE SPACE, CREATIVE SPACE
A play space created for all the cousins, all at once
LOCATION: Burlington, Canada
THE KIDDO: Turning 1
FEATURES WE LOVE:
A playroom designed to grow with all the cousins ages 0-8
Two-storey playhouse with a built-in slide
Monkey bar frame for climbing up and across
Sensory swing, triangle climber, and disc swing
Basketball net and wall padding for a spontaneous game of mini sticks
Creative lounge under the playhouse with accessible materials & supplies
Magnetic chalkboard
Magnetic artwork display
“We want to consider the larger family when creating the space — somewhere for all the little cousins to play.”
The Tricky Space
With their baby’s first birthday approaching, my clients were thinking beyond a traditional playroom. As one of the youngest of a big group of cousins ranging from 0–8 years old, they wanted their home to become the cousins’ hangout — a space where girls and boys of different ages and interests could all play together, and one that could grow right along with them.
The challenge: Their basement had a long, awkward stretch of unused space along one wall with no real plan for how to make the most of it.
The Transformation
I created a custom plan that took advantage of the long wall and packed in something for everyone — active play, imaginative play and creative activities, with pieces sized to work across a wide range of ages.
The centrepiece is a two-storey playhouse with a built-in slide. With the basement’s extra-tall ceilings, I designed a custom monkey bar frame that connects the playhouse to the wall, allowing the monkey bars to sit at an age-appropriate height rather than all the way up at the ceiling. A detachable triangle climber, sensory swing and disc swing add even more opportunities for climbing, swinging and movement.
Because this family loves sports, having a dedicated active-play zone was especially important. A basketball net and wall padding create a spot for spontaneous games of mini sticks, while the climbing equipment keeps the kids moving in between.
Underneath the playhouse, I tucked in a cozy creative lounge with accessible art materials and supplies, along with a magnetic chalkboard and dedicated artwork display. It gives the quieter kids a place to create while the more active ones are climbing, swinging and sliding nearby.
The result is a play space designed for the whole cousin crew — with enough variety to keep kids from toddlers through early school age engaged, and enough flexibility to evolve as they grow.
Ready to transform
your space?
Let’s create a space you and the whole family will love for years to come. Book a free call to learn how we can bring your vision to life.