Design Notes from Nicolò’s Room

Preface: I'm emotional writing this.

When I first started pulling together my son Nicolò’s room, I didn’t have a finished vision in mind. It evolved slowly, and honestly, which felt right for a child’s space—something organic, playful, and responsive to the way he moves through it.

We had already bought the dresser and crib before the design even began. Those two wood pieces became early anchors, and rather than fight them, I leaned in, matching their tone to the oak flooring and natural wood used throughout the rest of the house. But with so much wood, I knew I needed balance. So we kept the built-in closet a solid greige—quiet and grounding, and a clean visual break from the wood grain.

The Starting Point: A Pillow and a Rug

The palette came together in a truly unplanned way. A close friend (and former client) gifted Nicolò a yellow “N” pillow when he was born. Around the same time, I came across a blue rug (on sale!) at West Elm that felt like it belonged. Between the two, we had a starting point: warm, unexpected, muted colours, rooted in comfort and joy.

A Wall That Feels Like Play

I wanted the room to feel imaginative without being overstimulating. The walls became the place to bring in that sense of fun, specifically through shape and colour.

The forms are inspired by Ettore Sottsass: hard geometry, playful proportions, unexpected combinations. I had his book cover taped to the wall as my inspo while sketching the mural (photos at the bottom of this page), letting the energy of his work guide the lines and layout.

Ettore Sottsass and The Social Factory print that inspired it all

The colour palette, on the other hand, came from Le Corbusier’s colour collection. There’s something so enduring about his tones: rich but not loud, they have a softness yet they're full of life. They bring personality without overwhelming the space. Alive, but calm.

A Room That Respects Scale

One of the most intentional decisions was how high to take the mural colours. The room has a vaulted ceiling, which is beautiful but can feel huge for a child. When I was living in Milan, I worked for a colour-theorist (who was also one of my professors), Francesca Valan. She had just completed a design for a daycare inside a correctional facility and was studying how spatial perception affects children. One of the things I learned from her was to keep visual interest low—to create a low datum line so the space feels comfortable to children.

So, in Nicolò’s room, the colours stay grounded. It makes the whole space feel warm and human-scaled, even as he grows.

Design That Adapts, Like Children Do

This room never had a rigid plan. It evolved—piece by piece, colour by colour. And yet every decision has a purpose, whether visual, spatial, or emotional. It’s a room designed to adapt, just like Nicolò will. My love. 💛

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BTS look at the making of...