A family of three finds a ton of fun in a Brooklyn apartment where playtime is built in

Stylist and creative director Sarah Clary recently started a new chapter as a single mom with a new address. See how West Elm Kids helped her two little ones feel at home, using a few imaginative solutions.

“Kids’ rooms often get stuck in primary colors, which means that parents have to make big changes as their tastes evolve,” Sarah says. “If you use slightly more sophisticated shades, such as the muted pink in my daughter’s room, they can grow into it. This doesn’t mean you can’t have fun, either! Pink plays really well with ocher and sage green.” 

“I was getting divorced and finding my next home. We needed a different neighborhood, but also, we had to stay here. You know the saying, ‘It takes a village?’ It’s so true, and Brooklyn is a village.”

— Sarah Clary

“When we were sourcing items for my kids’ rooms, we looked all over—the outdoor section, the kitchen section, the bathroom section, everywhere!” Sarah says, “The striped chair in my son’s room could be used outside, but it works here. Just because something is ‘supposed to’ belong in a certain room doesn’t mean you can’t bend the rules.”