The document discusses how families are converting unused basement and attic spaces into elaborate playrooms tailored to children's interests. One family worked with a design team to transform their basement into an interactive "spaceship" playroom complete with pilot chairs overlooking an indoor basketball court and a console with gaming systems. Another family collaborated on a basement theater playroom with a stage, curtains, and lighting. These creative playroom conversions provide entertainment spaces for families and also aim to comfort children undergoing medical treatments, like one redesign of a playroom at a Ronald McDonald house.

1. If you want to view paradise,
Simply look around and view it
Anything you want to, do it
Want to change the world?
There’s nothing to it
‘‘
—Willy Wonka
’’
Playrooms have become the home’s own
entertainment venue. Just ask two very creative
New England families, who converted their
basements into destinations for the entire family
to enjoy.
Pinch Me, I’m Dreaming: Basements and attics are
typically considered the murky eyesore of an
otherwise beautiful home. Converting these unused
spaces into functional family areas is not out of the
ordinary, but the trend now is to create dream-like
spaces that replicate everything from amusement
parks to simulated adventures. With the assistance
of some of the most prolific interior designers,
homeowners are witnessing their playroom fantasies
come to life.
playrooms with a purpose
Written by Greg Miller

2. Final Countdown: When one Star Wars loving family
decided to convert their basement, the design team
really “launched” into action. Margot Heilbronner
of Hopkins Rose Interiors and architect Michael
Collins conceptualized a spaceship playroom; they
created not just a room, but an amazing interactive
home experience. Once aboard the “spaceship”,
you find yourself standing in a room straight out
of a science fiction movie that is truly mesmerizing
to the senses. Besides the elaborate space-age
lighting and colors, there are two fighter-pilot-style
chairs that overlook the adjacent indoor basketball
court. The pilot’s console holds a PlayStation 2, an
Xbox 360, a 48-inch plasma screen, a DVD player,
and a headset that allows players to hear the game
they’re playing and communicate with each other.
If any of the space travelers need to abandon ship,
they can escape down a slide that sends them
safely to the basketball court.
All The World’s A Stage: In one of these
dream conversions, a family collaborated
with Andra Birkerts of Andra Birkerts Design
to build a fully functioning stage theater in
their basement. The former cellar-room is
now pastel colored with cubby holes built
into the walls to hang up anything from
coats to costumes. In the center of the
theater, cushioned benches are arranged so
guests will have a clear view of the focus
of the room – a full stage with curtains and
theater lighting – a space that deserves a
standing ovation every day.

3. While these breakthrough conversions
are keeping kids entertained in private
households, there is a big push to be
more creative with play spaces in
hospitals and rehabilitation centers
that cater to children.
The New England Chapter of the
International Furnishing and Design
Association (IFDA) works closely
with the Ronald McDonald house
in Brookline, Massachusetts to keep
the house fresh for its residents.
Recently the playroom was in need
of a facelift.
Enter Rebecca Wilson of RW Interiors,
a long-time IFDA member. She headed
this project and her intent was to
design a room that offered a place
of respite and release for the young
children who are undergoing the
often grueling medical treatments for
cancer.
Fresh, bright colors were
applied to the walls, and a
nook was transformed into
a circus tent. The hand-
painted mural of colorful
tent striping matches the
fabric used on the window
treatments. A dollhouse now
fills an unused fireplace, and the
ceiling brightens the whole playroom
with fluffy white clouds and a bright
blue sky.
Whether the space is
providing comfort to
children or is an elaborate
dream-come-true, unused
spaces have morphed from spaces to
house the toys to playrooms with a purpose.