For many young families leaving New York City, Westchester offers something incredibly appealing: more space, access to nature, and the opportunity to create a home that truly supports daily life.

If you’re moving to Westchester or updating your home, here’s how to think about design in a way that reflects both lifestyle and longevity.

Motherhood has changed the way I see everything, including design. Before I had kids, my approach was all about composition: the perfect balance of tone, texture, and proportion. Now, my design philosophy is still about beauty — but it’s also about life.

Designing with kids in mind doesn’t mean compromising on style. It means creating a home that works hard — one that feels calm, elevated, and authentic to the adults who live there, while still supporting the joyful chaos of everyday family life.

At Style & Space Interiors, I always say: good design isn’t precious, it’s intentional.

I’ve designed for families with kids and pets for years. I talk often about livability, durability, and real life. But there is something about living with a puppy in real time—mid-accident, paper towels in hand—that gives you a whole new level of empathy.

When I started designing homes, I believed good design was all about control — a perfectly balanced palette, a tidy vignette, every pillow fluffed just so. Then I had kids. And everything — the schedule, the priorities, the floor plan — changed.

What surprised me most wasn’t how much my kids challenged my sense of order, but how much they taught me about design. They gave me a new way to see what home really means.

Here’s what I’ve learned from them.

As the holidays approach, our homes start to hum with energy — twinkle lights, gift wrap, and that familiar mix of excitement and chaos that comes with little ones counting down the days.

Prepping the playroom isn’t just about finding storage — it’s about creating space for joy, imagination, and a bit of calm amid the holiday magic.

Here’s how I approach it each season:

Let’s just say it: summer is beautiful... and also mildly unhinged.

One minute you’re lighting a citronella candle and sipping something that contains at least one sprig of mint, and the next you’re triple-booked between a wallpaper delivery, camp pick-up that “absolutely cannot be late again,” and a surprisingly intense pickleball tournament you signed up for on a whim.

Somehow, amidst it all, we’re still making beautiful spaces happen—and if that’s not a design miracle, I don’t know what is.

If you're like most families we work with, your home has to do a little bit of everything: playroom, work zone, dinner spot, cozy movie night hub, and maybe even a scooter racetrack on rainy days.

The good news? This year’s design trends are full of inspiration for creating homes that are not only stylish but truly livable for life with little ones.