Touring The Playful Home Of Megan Schiller

 

 

 

 

 

 

Megan Schiller & Her Home

Get ready to wish that you were little again! Today, we’re touring the home of Megan Schiller, founder of The Art Pantry, and a mom who’s on a mission to instill a love of art in the hearts of her little ones and those of her clients, too.

As a professional kids’ creative space designer, Megan is always looking to come up with new ways to pack her own home with playful excuses to let the imaginations of her two daughters run wild. With family game nights and spontaneous paint projects a regular routine around the Schiller household, it’s no surprise that their space sports a lively personality to suit this family of four.

We invite you to scroll on for a look at Megan’s bright, contemporary home, a space that our team couldn’t help but fall head over heels for. Plus, we have a feeling that you’ll gain some valuable insight from this designer and teacher for ways to motivate your children to make creativity part of their daily lifestyle. Prepare to get playful!

Tell us a bit about your background. What part of your life influenced your interior aesthetic today?

Growing up, I was always interested in art and design, but saw it more as a hobby rather than a career. After college, I taught preschool for a few years. I became the art studio teacher and fell in love with teaching art to kids. This led me to open my own children’s art studio and eventually to designing kids’ creative spaces. My interior aesthetic has been influenced by my experience as both a teacher and a mom, as well as by my travels and my interest in minimalism and modernism. I also enjoy playfulness and have always wanted to bring playful elements into our house. I remember watching a TV show in the 1980s—I think it was “My Two Dads”—where the main character had a swing in her room. I thought that was the coolest thing ever.

Why do you believe creativity is important to foster in children?

Creativity is widely accepted as one of the most important skills in life and in the workplace. People who have learned to develop their creativity tend to be great problem solvers; they learn to try new things, to be flexible and to adapt if necessary. I also think it’s important for kids to develop a creative confidence at a young age. This allows them to feel empowered to make things, to work with a variety of tools and materials and to feel like they are capable of creating anything they imagine.

Trends are fun to play around with, but don’t be afraid to do something totally unexpected that might not appeal to everyone. Be confident in your vision and people will respect it, whether they like it or not.

Is there an underlying philosophy to your parenting and playful spaces?

Yes, I believe that kids are way more capable than people give them credit for, and that it’s important to allow them plenty of independence. Playing with our children and having family creative time is awesome, but I think it’s equally important to give kids the freedom (and teach them the skills) to be independent in their play and other activities. I always design spaces with this in mind. Kids should be able to access most of their toys, tools and materials themselves. Art supplies should be visible and easily accessible so that they can use them whenever inspiration strikes. This also applies to the things that kids need in order to take care of themselves on a daily basis like getting dressed, getting water or a snack, cleaning up after themselves, etc. If you make these things accessible to kids and teach them how to use them independently, they will happily take you up on it.

What do you wish for your children to remember about their childhood?

I wish for my children to remember a childhood full of surprises and adventures. I wish for them to remember feeling deeply loved and supported, to remember laughing, being silly and being immersed in their imaginations.

How would you describe your family’s aesthetic?

I would say our aesthetic is playful, whimsical, modern, minimal and casual—with a dash of bohemian.

Do you prefer to work with certain colors?

I’m drawn to cool colors like blues and greens, but on the other hand, two of my favorite colors are pink and yellow. I also love black, white and gray. So no, I guess I’m not too particular! With clients, I work with the colors that they love and that work well in their homes.

How do you balance practicality and style in a children’s space?

Of course, I always try to balance style with practicality, but when I am designing for kids, I always favor function and practicality over style. Luckily, there are a ton of products for kids that are both stylish and practical these days. When I first got into designing kids’ spaces about eight years ago, there were way fewer options. Sometimes I’ll come across a product that I think would look amazing in a client’s space, but I don’t end up using it because it isn’t practical. I never want to design a space that looks great, but is frustrating for the family or doesn’t get used much because it isn’t practical.

What have been the biggest challenges and rewards of designing for children?

The biggest challenge I have when designing for children is creating a space that works for kids of many different ages. It is especially tricky to create an art space for a family with an older child and a toddler. I want to make it exciting for the older child, while still making it safe and fun for the toddler. This is a challenge that I love—it keeps me on my toes! The greatest reward when designing for children is getting to see them working in their finished space, whether it’s in person or through photos that the parents send me. There is always so much joy and pride in their faces.

I also think it’s important for kids to develop a creative confidence at a young age. This allows them to feel empowered to make things, to work with a variety of tools and materials and to feel like they are capable of creating anything they imagine.

How do you keep your children’s clutter at bay?

I am terrified of clutter, so I have found a few tricks that work well for keeping the cutter out of the house—or at least under control. We always do a major toy purge right before birthdays and holidays. We talk about how there won’t be room for their new gifts if we don’t get rid of some of their old toys. They are so excited at the idea of new toys that they don’t mind giving away toys that they no longer play with.

We store all of their toys in a few dedicated bins. The kids know that all of their toys need to fit in these bins so when they fill up, they understand that we need to get rid of some things. For the art space, I keep everything organized in containers by category and if we have extra supplies, I store them away in bins in the closet until we need to replenish or swap things out.

How do you stay inspired?

I get inspired by reading magazines and blogs, listening to podcasts, scrolling through Instagram, reading books, playing with my kids and being in nature.

What are some of your favorite art activities to do with your children?

One of my favorite projects that we did as a family was a collaborative layered canvas. My kids and I also love painting, printmaking and building things from recycled scraps.

How do you encourage your children’s creativity?

When I feel like my kids need a little encouragement, I like to set up “invitations to create” or art prompts. I choose a few materials from their art area and lay them out in an inviting way on the table. I make it look purposeful and irresistible, so that when they pass by and see it, they can’t help but sit down and mess around with the supplies. Sometimes they focus only on the supplies that I leave out, but mostly it jump-starts a creative project and they end up gathering more materials from the shelves to add to their work.

What are your favorite art books for children?

The Artful Parent, Tinkerlab, Art Lab for Kids, Art Lab for Little Kids, First Art for Toddlers and Twos, The Language of Art, Tangle Art & Drawing Games for Kids

What are some of your favorite décor stores to find affordable pieces for your home?

My go-to stores are West Elm, IKEA, Target and The Land of Nod. I also love antique fairs for unique pieces.

I wish for my children to remember a childhood full of surprises and adventures. I wish for them to remember feeling deeply loved and supported, to remember laughing, being silly and being immersed in their imaginations.

What advice would you offer to others entering a creative field?

Follow your gut and be true to your unique creative aesthetic. Trends are fun to play around with, but don’t be afraid to do something totally unexpected that might not appeal to everyone. Be confident in your vision and people will respect it, whether they like it or not.

Resources:

• Kitchen counter stools
• Dining table
• Dining chairs
• Bookshelf
• Coffee table
• Pouf
• Plant pot
• Bed
• Bunk bed
• Pegboard shelf
• Bookshelves
• Play kitchen
• Magnetic wall organizer
• Marker caddy
• Kids’ chairs
• Large bins
• Colorful mini drawers
• Wall art display clips

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