Kids’ Room and Guest Bedroom in 2012 HGTV Green Home

The 2012 HGTV Green Home in Atlanta, which I got to take a tour of recently, has some great ideas for kids’ rooms and guest rooms. Picking up where we left off on the main level of the home, which includes the master suite, dining area, kitchen, tv room and an unconditioned sunroom, you have to head upstairs via an airy stairwell to get to the kids’ and guest rooms.

The windows and, though you can’t see it, open-riser staircase design keep the space feeling open. I can just imagine some mischievous kids spying through the windows adjacent to the staircase to see who has stopped by for a visit or possibly ambush mom or dad. At the top of the stairs, HGTV interior designer Linda Woodrum squeezed in a great little craft area that would be any kid’s (and parent’s) dream. The generous work space doesn’t interfere with hallway traffic at all and offers a play area separate from the kids’ bedroom. It’s also conveniently located across from the kids’ bathroom:

… and the laundry room, which can also be moved downstairs if need be.

Usually an afterthought, this laundry room is just as sophisticated as the rest of the house. It includes a tile accent wall, sink for pre-treating stains, an energy-efficient front-load washer and dryer, counter-height storage and work space and pops of bright green. Fun and functional!

At the end of the hallway is the kids’ room, which can accommodate two kids comfortably in a pair of twin beds along with a couple pals for a sleepover in the custom-designed loft.

The gender-neutral bright green color scheme sets a festive mood, while the custom black-and-white headboards take the design to the next level. And how fun (and space savvy!) is the overhead loft complete with a bucket-and-pulley system for sending and receiving notes, stuffed animals and more.

On the other side of the upstairs hallway is the guest bedroom, which offers sweeping views and could easily be turned into an additional kids’ bedroom or home office. In the current layout, guests would be sharing the same bathroom as the kids, which is a little impractical in my opinion. I would much rather see the basement of the house finished and a guest room and bathroom added there for more privacy. The designers did leave the basement unfinished so that whoever wins HGTV’s Green Home Giveaway can do what they want with the space, which could also be used as a man cave.

Sadly, this is the end of the tour, but I’m glad you came along, and I look forward to taking you inside more great Atlanta homes soon! Check out these tips for decorating kids’ rooms if you’re hungry for more.