One of my favorite things about designing for children is that the space is never really just about the child. It’s about the memories being made there. The books read before bed, the backpacks tossed by the door after school. The family dog curled up nearby. The traditions, routines, and the little moments that shape a childhood.
As we’ve been working on expanding Brooke & Lou’s Kids & Pets collection, I’ve found myself returning to the same question I ask when designing a home: How do we create a space where someone feels like they belong?
Children deserve rooms that feel special and personal, but I also believe those spaces should be able to grow alongside them. That’s why I’m always drawn to pieces that feel timeless, layered, and collected rather than overly theme-driven. Pieces that can move through different seasons of life while still feeling meaningful.
This collection is filled with items that do exactly that. They bring personality and warmth to a room today, while becoming part of the stories a family tells for years to come.
Here are five of my favorite items from the new collection:
1. My Mother’s Story Book
If you’ve been following along with my book journey, you know how much I believe that our homes are shaped by the stories we carry. This journal immediately spoke to me because it preserves something so important: the memories, thoughts and experiences of the women who came before us. It’s the kind of keepsake that becomes more valuable with time.
As someone whose own mother played such a significant role in shaping my understanding of home, this is the type of piece I would treasure forever. It feels thoughtful, meaningful, and beautifully designed enough to leave out on a bookshelf or bedside table.
Sometimes the most important things we pass down aren’t objects, they’re stories, and this book can help capture those for years to come.
2. Little Duck Study
I have always loved artwork in children’s spaces that doesn’t necessarily feel like children’s artwork. The Little Duck Study feels like something you might discover at a small antique market and instantly know you need to bring home. Between the plaid matting, rich wood frame, and understated palette, it has that collected quality I am constantly searching for in my own designs. This piece is also part of a series, so if we need to fill a wall you can add the whole collection together for the sweetest moment in child’s room.
3. Mother Goose Hook
This might be the most charming piece in the collection. I’m always looking for opportunities to make practical items feel beautiful, and children’s spaces need functional storage just as much as any other room in the home. The brass finish gives it an heirloom quality, while the sweet row of geese adds personality without feeling overly juvenile. I can picture this in a playroom, nursery, or bedroom holding everything from backpacks and jackets to dress-up costumes. It’s a small detail, but those are often the pieces that make a room feel memorable.
4. Golden Hour Collar & Leash
Anyone who knows me knows that our golden retriever, Hunter, is very much part of the family. As we expanded our pet products, I wanted pieces that felt as thoughtfully designed as the rest of the home. Why should pet accessories be any different? The soft sage color feels classic and elevated, while the warm gold hardware gives it a polished finish. It’s functional, durable, and beautiful—which is really the sweet spot for anything we bring into our homes. Because let’s be honest: our pets belong in the family story, too.
5. Harbor Cane Desk
If I had to choose one furniture piece from the collection, this desk would probably be it.
One of the biggest mistakes I see in children’s spaces is choosing furniture that only works for a very short season of life. The Harbor Desk is the opposite. The classic silhouette, cane detailing, and soft sage finish make it feel timeless enough to transition from elementary school homework sessions all the way through the teenage years. I love pieces that work hard and age gracefully, and this desk does both. It’s beautiful, functional, and designed to grow alongside the child using it.
Why Designing for Kids Matters
Children’s spaces deserve the same level of thought and care as the rest of the home.
In fact, I would argue they deserve even more. These are the rooms where imaginations grow, confidence develops, friendships are nurtured, and family traditions begin. They are often the first places where children start to develop a sense of identity and belonging.
1. My Mother’s Story | 2. Little Duck Study | 3. Mother Goose Hook | 4. Golden Hour Collar & Golden Hour Leash | 5. Harbor Cane Desk
When I design for kids, I’m always thinking about creating a timeless foundation. Beautiful furniture, quality materials, and thoughtful details, then layering in personality through pieces that can evolve over time. The goal isn’t to create a room they’ll outgrow in two years but instead to create a space that feels like theirs.
A place where they feel safe, loved, inspired, and known. Because at the end of the day, that’s what home should do for all of us. And whether it’s a keepsake book, a piece of art, a functional accessory, piece of furniture, or even pet accessories, I love finding pieces that help tell that story.
Questions about this post? Drop a comment and I’ll answer any of your questions!
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