Adore August 2021

I n a light-filled Craftsman home in the Fontainebleau neighborhood, designer Whitney Wilkinson created a super joyful nest for Ayame and Carling Dinkler's young daughter, Ansley. "As she transitioned from her crib to a big kid's room, we envisioned a vibrant and magical space that felt gender neutral," Whitney explains. "This design will easily grow with her." The bunk beds that Whitney and Ayame designed became the starting point for the entire room's plan. The sleeping arrangement maximizes the vertical square footage under the vaulted ceiling while allowing for ample floor space for creative play. The clever installation includes easily accessed open shelving and built-in cabinets which provide abundant storage opportunities. With the ceiling painted a luscious, clear blue — Lulworth by Farrow and Ball — and the bed's whimsical scalloped corners and airy curtaining, I can easily see Ansley setting sail in her bed-boat or reaching for the sky in her treehouse or even staging skits theatre-style. The stellar concept delivers the wow factor, and I love it when fun meets functional.

"The red and blue color combination was inspired by the bright red tea set," says Whitney. It's a classic and traditional palette that feels so fresh and modern with the block print wallpaper by Gaston Y Daniela, crisp red ribbon from Samuel & Sons on the Roman shades, and a bold abstract painting by Mary Singleton from the Claire Elizabeth Gallery. I love how Whitney mixes found and vintage pieces together such as the painted dresser from Nadeau on Magazine Street with the retro blue wall lights she uses throughout the room. And the layers of natural texture — a wool rug and throw, a leather pouf, and handmade baskets and bins — keep everything cozy and authentic. This design scheme is so well thought out with places for interactive play or to curl up with a book, lots of storage solutions to keep the clutter at bay, and an energetic color story that's just right for tiny tykes and little explorers. "I like a decorative mix of custom, found, and personal," says Whitney. "And for children, a mix of whimsical elements with more substantial pieces to grow with is what makes a room most inviting."

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ADORE • AUGUST 2021

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