This designer transformed an under-stair storage space into a kids’ play wonderland
As a former kindergarten teacher, Vanessa Silva knows how much kids love nooks, so when it came time to renovate her basement, she jumped at the chance to create a dedicated space for her two children
What: A kids’ nook under the stairs Who: Vanessa Silva, designer Where: Bolton Size: 30 square feet
In 2019, when Vanessa Silva and her husband, Carmen, renovated the semi-finished basement of their home in Bolton, they wanted to carve out a dedicated play space for their two boys, then ages two and five. There was an underused closet beneath the stairs—she called it the “doom zone”—where the family stored folding chairs and suitcases. “I know how much kids love nooks and small spaces,” Vanessa says. “It was the perfect spot.”
As a kindergarten teacher at the time, she had ample insights into what works for kids. She designed an L-shaped playroom with a quirky half-house entrance. The space is only about 30 square feet in total, with a four-foot ceiling height. Inside, there’s a wall of book ledges and a corner with a mini-sofa for reading. “It’s actually a dog bed from IKEA,” Vanessa says. In the other wing of the room is a chalkboard and a magnetic whiteboard. The simple, neutral colour palette of white, greys and black is meant to provide a calming environment.
The couple has since had a third child, a daughter in 2021, and all their kids love using the space. “They come home from school, wash their hands and run downstairs,” Vanessa says. She and Carmen often crawl into the playroom to sit and read with them. When friends remarked on how creative the space was, Vanessa started to think about a career change. She ended up quitting teaching to become a full-time interior designer specializing in spaces for children.
Vanessa insists that you don’t need a lot of space to create a kid-friendly zone. “You can carve out a corner in an apartment to allow your child to feel honoured, represented and valued,” she says. Dedicated children’s spaces aren’t just functional—they also provide positive emotional reinforcement. “Children need a space where they can self-regulate and self-soothe. It makes such a difference in their mental health.”
NEVER MISS A TORONTO LIFE STORY
Sign up for This City, our free newsletter about everything that matters right now in Toronto politics, sports, business, culture, society and more.
Andrea Yu is a freelance journalist based in Toronto. She reports on a wide variety of topics including business, real estate, culture, design, health, food, drink and travel. Aside from Toronto Life, her writing has appeared in the Globe and Mail, Chatelaine and Cottage Life.
