above: A custom-designed playroom that focuses on the sensory and educational needs of two young boys
When Karri Bowen-Poole designs custom playrooms, her room concepts begin with her musing about how a room will engage and nurture young minds. Of course, paint swatches and whimsical kid-centric themes are part of her detailed design process, but the founder of Smart Playrooms believes play and learning are interconnected.
“It’s the teacher in me,” says Bowen-Poole. “But the first thing I look at when I walk into any playroom is what’s in there to encourage good, sound, emotionally stimulating old-fashioned play.”
The former teacher worked in classrooms at Greenwich Academy, the Stanwich School and Rye Presbyterian before she began outfitting upscale playrooms in private homes from Greenwich to Los Angeles. Her growing business now includes a team of designers (all with advanced education degrees) who share Karri’s philosophy that playrooms should be fun, inspiring and stimulate learning.
“The play we knew as kids, when our parents told us to go run around outside and find something to do, has kind of become a lost art,” she says. “But play matters. It’s a chance for kids to reset. And when good play is happening, there’s a lot of thinking and socializing and learning going on.”
Smart Playrooms works closely with clients to create personalized design schemes that suit their tastes and their kids’ whims. A signature of the smart design aesthetic is banishing clutter and keeping elements pared down to a few go-to toys and spaces zoned for favorite activities.
“You want places where kids will write, draw, craft and make puzzles and play with their Legos,” says Karri. “And you also want places that support what a kid genuinely likes to do. So, if they love music, there’s a place for a keyboard and karaoke; and if they are sporty, there are hoops on the wall and nets to kick things into and things to climb on.”
Karri made the transition from the classroom to design after some local families called on her to help organize their cluttered playrooms. “I lived at the Container Store,” she says. Her business soon evolved into complete playroom design. Things got busier at the height of the Covid pandemic, when indoor play areas became more necessary.
Today, her services range from virtual design consults that come with detailed plans and suggestions for purchases to more elaborate bespoke design commissions, which can take rooms from studs to playdate-ready. Karri has also launched Project Playroom, an online store where designers and parents alike can find items like indoor monkey bars, swings and more.
Trending with Smart Playrooms clients right now are indoor sports courts and ninja-themed rooms that feature lots of places for kids to, well, climb the walls, which Karri thinks is a good thing. “I’m all about downtime being fun,” she says. “They spend so much of their day sitting and memorizing things. Swinging from some monkey bars is good for their minds.”
STYLE IQ
Karri’s tips for making any playroom a little smarter
START WITH PAINT
“It’s the easiest and most affordable way to change any room,” says Karri. “Does your kid love bright green? Even if you don’t, remember it’s their space. It makes the kids feel a sense of ownership and pride and more eager to head into play.”
MAKE IT TIDY
Clutter and too many toys detract from play. “Stick to a few things they love and tuck the rest away,” says the designer. Even some inexpensive Ikea storage bins can be transformative.
BE AGE-APPROPRIATE
“I always design with the oldest child in a family in mind,” she says. “If they like the environment, the younger kids will follow their lead and grow into the room.”
KEEP THINGS CHILL
Comfy, durable chairs and a table for arts-and-crafts projects are requisites for any playroom that stands the test of time. “By the time a kid is seven, they’ve lost interest in sitting on the floor,” she says
MINIMIZE DISTRACTIONS
Karri recommends banishing screens from playrooms. “By keeping screens out, you are making it a place to disconnect, which is what play should be about for our kids.”
Photographs: courtesy of Smart Playrooms