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For the Kids: Secret Forts Indoors
When it's too cold for tree houses and playhouses, create a cozy kids' hideaway indoors
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
Kids spend a lot more time indoors this time of year, and they need their own space. My brother and I made our own secret fort underneath our unfinished basement's stairs when we were kids. All it took was a rug remnant on the floor, lots of paint to decorate the backs of the risers and a notebook to record our secret meetings and make plans. For what, I have no idea, but we were out of our parents' hair for hours on end. Here's how designers are creating some clever secret forts for kids today.
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by CWB Architects
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| This space under the staircase is a lot prettier than what my brother and I had going on. The perforations in the wall add a whimsical element for the grownups and peek-a-boo spots for the little ones. |
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A simple curtain and some bright paint under these stairs is more than enough to entice a tot into the cozy space. Kids love to have a little hideaway of their own.
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One needn't feel like they need an amusement-park-worthy tree fort indoors to keep kids happy. A tent-like canopy over a bunk bed or loft is really all it takes.
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by djs interiors
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| A fun little house within the house makes a great creative space. |
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| A secret bookcase entrance is always a fun way to access a special private fort. |
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| The space underneath this clever loft bed is plenty big for playing, and the windowbox is a charming touch. |
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This secret fort is over a staircase, making great use of what was a very awkward box that surrounds the stairs to the basement.
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A ladder gives access to a small loft that hangs over this bedroom.
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Grownups like secret forts too, which is what makes this design by LabExperiment and Aldea Home for Dining by Design so much fun. It also shows us how much we can create with cardboard.
Over Thanksgiving and I watched a friend make a fort for his 3-year-old son from the box their new TV console came in. He did it with an Exacto knife in about 10 minutes. Right after he cut out a doorway, the aesthetically astute toddler was already inside, ordering up a window and a skylight.
What was your secret fort like? Please tell us about it below and post a picture if you have one!
More: Fantasy Kids' Rooms
14 Picture Perfect Playhouses
Guest Picks: Perfect for the Playroom
Over Thanksgiving and I watched a friend make a fort for his 3-year-old son from the box their new TV console came in. He did it with an Exacto knife in about 10 minutes. Right after he cut out a doorway, the aesthetically astute toddler was already inside, ordering up a window and a skylight.
What was your secret fort like? Please tell us about it below and post a picture if you have one!
More: Fantasy Kids' Rooms
14 Picture Perfect Playhouses
Guest Picks: Perfect for the Playroom
Ideabook published on Dec. 11, 2011.
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Box-O-Mania play boxes and specially-designed reusable stickers provide kids with the creative space in which they can use their fantasy through a variety of themes: a fire station, a beauty salon, a home, a clubhouse and more.
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