I was invited to a talk by Christopher Day in Cardiff so thought I’d take a look at his work to see just what he was about. Can’t say I established that fully, but I did find an very interesting article by Christopher that feeds into the research I’ve been undertaking recently into my sons bedroom. The article, Environment for Children by Christopher Day gives some useful guidence in designing an environment for small children.

I recommend that you read the article for yourself, but my summary follows:

“Childhood is, essentially, the journey of growing up [...] Small children need
protection from the wider world, whereas adults are only fully alive when engaged in it.”

Small children need:

• As “small children live in a world between fantasy and fact” they need somewhere to retreat to, somewhere not too well lit, somewhere that provides a daydream inducing twilight.
• A secret place, a calm, safe, protective place. We all remember our dens behinds settees or under cushions - a place to hide, play or simply retreat to.
• Angles, edges and regularity are for the adult world, small children need spherical, soft edged, womb like places.
• “Infants don’t think. They experience - with their whole bodies and through all their senses.”
• Touch-friendly, tactile materials in their surroundings. Natural materials such as wood, clay and stone have a tactile vibrancy and ‘life’ not found in ‘unwelcoming’ man-made materials such as concrete or plastic.

“Even in unpromising surroundings, we can create environments for children.”

These needs are best provided for in out-of-the-way places in cellars, attics or under utilised parts of the home. Children want secret territories, adult unfriendly environments.

“The reassuring substantiveness and visual softness of curvilinear cob walls, for instance, suit infants, whereas exposed timber posts’, beams’ and struts’ visually explicit logic suit teenagers’ intellectual curiosity.”

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While writing an upcoming post on the subject of walls, I realised that I had never properly concluded the thread that was bubbling away through 2008 concerning what to do about the leaky, south facing gable end wall. After finding it was ‘infested’ with stalactites and stalagmites, I considered whitewashing the wall, then eventually it was bag-pointed and whitewashed. The pointing tidied up the mortar joints then the wash gave a consistent overall coating.

The evidence of this has been staring down from the header of My Barn Conversion for some months now:

From MyBarnConversion 2009

(In case it’s not obvious it is the creamy coloured end wall to the right of the building I’m referring to.)

So, did it work?

I must admit, I don’t know. The work was completed in October 2008, so has only had last years damp summer to dry-out - and it didn’t appear to do that as there have always been damp looking patches across it. I’m hopeful that this summer will be different and provide a proper opportunity to dry out. Cosmetically I really like it - the creamy undulating finish is very easy on the eye.

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I’ve been considering what to do with the second bedroom in the barn. It will be my son’s room once it’s been relieved of its current duty as store room. I’ve been planning on installing a built-in-bed, both for reasons of practicality and desire. Practical because part of the construction can be used to solve my tricky carpentry challenge and desirable, because the child in all of us would like one.

I didn’t have to look far for inspiration as I favourite site of mine, Remodelista came up with the goods as it so often does - Children’s Rooms: Built-in Beds and Bunks

Here are my favourites - those from which I’ll take some inspiration:

[The photographs link to their original source where one was available.]

I like the white painted wood and the nifty under-bed pull-out mattress.

Close to what I envisage - a lovely childs bed with plenty of storage.

Great lighting, use of natural and painted wood and yet more storage. Those steps are pretty great as well - wonder if I can fit some in?

Lovely wood, nice use of the mirror and I really like the book storage at the end of the bed.

Painted wood looks good and nice bunny!

I like the regularity of this space and the high level book shelf is a great use of space. Lovely looking wood again.

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As a consequence of my growing obessession with fire-wood I found myself buying a wood moisture meter that allows me to measure the moisture content of cut logs. You ideally need a moisture content of below 20%, although the intermittent 25%er won’t do too much harm. This handy gadget also allows me to measure the [...]

… construction material, requirements for attic space?…
Consider the following: Do you need to replace the roof?
The answer may be a resounding and obvious YES - you may have holes as large as tiles or a ridge line like a camels back. But there are more subtle reasons to replace a roof. To conform with insulation [...]