Interview about Adventure Nest Children's Room , winner of the A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award 2025
This space is designed for two little adventurers, where every detail is tailored for movement, play, and rest. The unique two-level structure combines cozy sleeping areas below with a spacious play zone above, optimizing space. The climb is both safe and functional, with built-in storage drawers in the steps. A sports corner with a climbing wall and Swedish ladder encourages activity, while a soft-mat relaxation area creates the perfect balance between energy and comfort.
View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.
View Design DetailsThe concept for the Adventure Nest Children's Room was born from a deep understanding of how children interact with their environment and how their needs evolve with age. We began by observing real families and how their children used their rooms not just for sleep, but also for play, creativity, privacy, and self-expression. We noticed that children naturally seek elevation—climbing onto sofas, beds, or even furniture—to create their own "nests" or hideouts. This insight inspired us to design a two-level structure that offers both a sense of adventure and a calming personal retreat.From a design standpoint, we wanted the space to feel immersive and imaginative, like a scene from a child’s dream. We collaborated with child psychologists and early development experts to ensure that the levels would support not only physical activity but also emotional development and creative independence. The upper level serves as a magical play zone or reading nook, while the lower area offers a cozy, grounded sleeping space. Structurally, we engineered the furniture to be safe, stable, and compliant with EU standards—while also appearing light and dreamlike.Throughout the journey, we challenged ourselves to eliminate the division between function and fantasy. The result is not just a piece of furniture, but an experience—a small universe where a child can grow, dream, and discover. Adventure Nest is the physical embodiment of our belief that every children's room deserves to be a masterpiece, shaped by both imagination and thoughtful design.
Our decision to integrate sports elements like climbing walls and Swedish ladders into the Adventure Nest design was driven by both personal observations and expert research in child development, physical therapy, and neuroplasticity. We have worked closely with pediatricians, Montessori educators, and occupational therapists who emphasized that physical activity is deeply linked to cognitive and emotional growth in children. Active play not only strengthens the body but also enhances coordination, balance, spatial awareness, and self-confidence.Many modern homes lack outdoor access or the ability to provide safe, daily movement opportunities, especially in urban settings. We wanted to address this gap by creating a room that supports a child’s natural need to move, climb, and explore—all within the safety and comfort of their personal space. The sports components are not treated as add-ons but are fully integrated into the design language of the room, making them inviting and intuitive to use.What makes these features unique is their adaptability: younger children use them for gross motor development and imaginative play, while older children utilize them for physical challenges and energy release. Every ladder rung and climbing hold is placed with ergonomic precision and safety in mind. We even consulted with sports engineers to ensure grip-friendly textures and load-bearing calculations that meet international safety standards.Ultimately, the inclusion of these elements transforms the room into a miniature ecosystem that nurtures not only rest and imagination but also active growth—helping children build healthy habits and a strong relationship with their own bodies from an early age.
From the very beginning, safety was not a constraint for us—it was a design driver. We believe that a children’s room should feel like a wonderland, but function like precision-engineered architecture. The storage-integrated staircase in Adventure Nest is a perfect example of this philosophy: every step had to be stable, every edge smooth, and every handle reachable, all while blending seamlessly into the room's narrative and visual harmony.We started by studying how children of different ages move: how they climb, how they shift weight, where they typically reach or grab while ascending. This led us to design steps that are deep and low enough for small legs, with rounded corners, anti-slip materials, and soft-touch finishes. Each stair also acts as a drawer or hidden compartment, encouraging tidiness while maximizing functionality—a win for both kids and parents.Achieving aesthetic balance was equally important. We wanted the staircase to feel like part of a magical treehouse or adventure hideout—not a utilitarian fixture. So we carefully selected materials that echo the rest of the room: warm woods, soft matte lacquers, and natural tones that complement the overall palette. The handles are subtly integrated, and the lines of the drawers follow the visual rhythm of the architecture.Behind the beauty lies rigorous engineering. Every element is load-tested and produced by experienced craftsmen under strict quality control. We follow EU child safety standards not as a minimum requirement but as a starting point. Safety and aesthetics are not separate priorities—they are fused in every decision we make. That’s what allows our designs to feel both dreamlike and trustworthy.
At FeliFam, we approach material selection as a vital part of our responsibility—not only to the families we serve but to the planet those children will inherit. The Adventure Nest Children's Room was designed with deep consideration for children's health, indoor air quality, tactile experience, and long-term environmental impact. We see sustainability not as a marketing feature, but as an essential design foundation.Our process begins with rigorous research into materials that are both safe and sustainable. We prioritize FSC-certified wood and MDF with low formaldehyde emissions, and we finish all surfaces with water-dispersion paints and lacquers that are VOC-free, odorless, and resistant to wear. These finishes are chosen not only for their eco-credentials but for their pleasant, soft-touch feel—critical when designing for little hands.We also work exclusively with local manufacturers who share our ethical standards in production. This allows us to reduce the carbon footprint associated with long-distance logistics, while also maintaining full transparency over material sourcing, paint application, and packaging. All textile elements are OEKO-TEX® certified and hypoallergenic, ensuring they are safe even for the most sensitive children.Beyond compliance, we consider the psychological impact of materials: the warmth of natural textures, the calmness of matte finishes, the emotional tone of organic colors. These choices contribute to a nurturing environment that supports better sleep, deeper focus, and emotional regulation. In other words, sustainability for us is not just ecological—it’s emotional.We’re proud that Adventure Nest proves it’s possible to deliver a premium design experience while making ethical, health-conscious, and planet-friendly choices. In fact, many of our clients now come to us specifically because they know their child’s wellbeing is our highest priority.
Designing within 18.48m² required us to think not in square meters, but in experiential zones, flows, and moments. One of our core principles at FeliFam is that a child's room—regardless of its size—should feel limitless in possibility. The biggest challenge was to fit sleeping, playing, studying, storing, and dreaming into a space that never feels crowded or overdesigned.To begin, we mapped the daily rhythm of a child: where they wake up, where they reach first, how they transition from rest to play to homework and back again. We then designed multi-functional elements where every centimeter worked double-duty. The two-level structure was essential—not just for visual excitement, but for creating vertical zoning: play and discovery above, calm and restoration below.The staircase became not only a way to access the upper zone but also a generous storage unit. The desk is integrated seamlessly into the structure without visually fragmenting the room. Hidden lighting enhances perception of depth, and soft curves in the furniture help space flow organically, avoiding the feeling of rigid boundaries.Color psychology and material choice also played a vital role: we used light-reflective finishes, warm tones, and natural textures to visually expand the space and make it emotionally cozy. In this compact room, no wall is left without purpose, yet no area feels forced. That balance came from countless prototypes, virtual walk-throughs, and even 1:1 scale mockups.In the end, our goal was not to make a small room feel "big", but to make it feel complete—a personal universe where nothing is missing and everything has meaning. That’s the art of space optimization at Felifam: thoughtful, emotional, and child-centered.
When designing Adventure Nest, we didn’t start with furniture—we started with the daily life of a child, from the moment they open their eyes in the morning to the final bedtime story. We visualized the room as a dynamic environment that adapts to a child’s rhythm, mood, and energy levels throughout the day.Morning begins with soft, indirect light entering the room, gently waking the child in a peaceful atmosphere. The bed is positioned to create a sense of privacy, yet still gives a view of the room—offering security and spatial orientation. The nearby wardrobe is easily accessible, helping foster independence in morning routines.As the day begins, the study area becomes the central hub. We designed it with ergonomic proportions, calming colors, and integrated lighting that reduces eye strain. It’s slightly separated from the play area, so the child intuitively shifts into a focused mindset. Storage is nearby but not visually overwhelming, encouraging tidy habits without constant reminders.In the afternoon, after school or quiet time, the upper level becomes a stage for imagination. The climbing wall and Swedish ladder allow for physical release, while the upper nook offers a hideaway for reading or daydreaming. This vertical transition from "focus mode" to "free play" is a subtle but powerful psychological shift, giving the child autonomy in how they choose to engage.Evening is when the environment softens again. Warm dimmable lights, natural textures, and calm zones invite the child to slow down. The bed is visually and emotionally grounded—it feels safe, cocooned, and separate from the day’s stimulation. Even the layout of nearby shelving and personal items is curated to support a gentle, soothing wind-down process.Every corner of the room is designed with a role in this daily journey. It’s not just a space—it’s a storyboard for life, where transitions are seamless, natural, and emotionally supportive. That’s what makes Adventure Nest truly more than just a room—it becomes part of the child’s internal rhythm.
Receiving the Bronze A' Design Award for Adventure Nest was both an incredible honor and a pivotal moment for our team at FeliFam. While our core mission has always been to create meaningful, emotionally rich, and developmentally supportive environments for children, this international recognition validated that our deep, child-centered design philosophy resonates far beyond individual families—it has global relevance.The award has inspired us to raise the bar even higher. It reinforced that design for children can be taken as seriously and innovatively as architecture for any other demographic. Since the recognition, we’ve invested more in cross-disciplinary collaboration—bringing in not only designers and engineers, but also child psychologists, educators, and even children themselves into the creative process. It’s given us the confidence to push boundaries, experiment with new spatial forms, and explore technology-enhanced environments that support cognitive and emotional development.It has also opened doors for meaningful conversations with like-minded architects, brands, and institutions across Europe and beyond. As a result, we are now expanding our international presence and building a network of flagship spaces and showrooms that bring our vision to new markets. The award was not the culmination of our journey—it was a launchpad.But perhaps most importantly, it has reminded us that children deserve great design. Not just functional or cute solutions—but intentional, safe, beautiful spaces that elevate their daily lives. The recognition has deepened our commitment to designing children’s rooms not as “miniature adult spaces,” but as dreamscapes crafted for their scale, their needs, and their imagination.
At FeliFam, we believe that a child’s room is not just a physical environment—it’s the first universe they truly call their own. It’s where they form their earliest memories, nurture their imagination, and develop a sense of identity. Our goal with Adventure Nest was to honor that reality by designing a space that responds to a child’s emotional landscape, not just their practical needs.The inspiration came from observing our own children. We noticed how deeply they feel space—how they instinctively retreat to corners when they’re sad, climb to higher places when they feel excited, and wrap themselves in soft textures when they need comfort. These behavioral patterns became our emotional blueprint. Rather than creating one mood or one function, we set out to design a space that would breathe with the child—supporting a full spectrum of feelings, energy levels, and experiences.The sleeping area was conceived as a “nest”—soft, enveloping, low to the ground, with calming tones and indirect light. It’s a place of emotional grounding, where the child can feel safe, cocooned, and separate from the world. In contrast, the upper level was intentionally designed to spark curiosity and adventure—it’s elevated, open, and invites movement, creativity, and self-expression.Even the transitions between zones were carefully choreographed to support emotional shifts throughout the day. We used materials, colors, and lighting not only for their aesthetics, but for their ability to evoke calm, joy, independence, or focus. The room is layered with sensory cues—smooth wood, soft textiles, filtered daylight—that work subtly to support the child’s emotional wellbeing.Ultimately, Adventure Nest is not just a room—it’s a narrative space. A place where a child can be an explorer, an artist, a student, a dreamer—and feel fully supported in each role. That emotional intelligence embedded in the design is what we believe sets our work apart, and it’s what continues to guide every room we create.
The collaboration between Lyudmila Oreshkina and Anastasia Dzhunko was the heart of Adventure Nest. What made this partnership so powerful was not only their complementary skill sets, but their shared emotional intelligence and deep respect for the child as the central figure in every design decision. Their dialogue was not about ego—it was about vision, empathy, and co-creation.Lyudmila brought an incredible sensitivity to spatial flow and psychological zoning. She has an innate ability to “read” how a child will move through a space—how transitions between activity, rest, and imagination can be made intuitive and emotionally supportive. Anastasia, in turn, offered a masterful approach to materials, visual storytelling, and balance between form and function. Her attention to tactile details, light behavior, and proportion ensured that the room didn’t just work—it felt magical.Throughout the design process, they challenged and inspired each other. What began as a sketch or a conversation often transformed through iteration and constructive dialogue into something neither could have achieved alone. They walked through each version of the room as if they were the child, asking questions like: “How does this corner feel at night?” or “Would a 7-year-old naturally climb this or avoid it?” Their collaboration turned the technical process into a human one.Their synergy also allowed the design to stay coherent yet multidimensional—functional without being rigid, playful without being chaotic, premium without being cold. The final result is richer precisely because it was shaped through trust, shared values, and mutual creative respect.Adventure Nest is more than a room—it’s a reflection of a creative friendship, of two women who design with both their minds and their hearts. And we believe that children can feel that, even if they can’t yet articulate it.
We see Adventure Nest not just as an award-winning project, but as a prototype for the future of children’s interior design, especially in the context of dense urban living. As cities become more crowded and real estate becomes more limited, families are increasingly challenged to provide their children with spaces that are both practical and emotionally enriching—without compromising on safety, beauty, or imagination. Adventure Nest offers a clear response to this need.We envision this design becoming a new standard in how we approach compact children's rooms: not just by saving space, but by amplifying its potential through multi-functionality, vertical zoning, and deep psychological understanding. It shows that even 18 square meters can hold an entire world—if designed with intelligence, empathy, and precision.We believe that this project will inspire a shift in values within the interior industry: from superficial styling to deeply child-centric design thinking. We hope it encourages architects, developers, and parents alike to see children’s spaces not as afterthoughts, but as foundational environments for growth.Furthermore, we aim to evolve this concept into a modular system that can be adapted for apartments, micro-homes, and even hospitality or educational spaces—allowing more families around the world to access functional, emotionally safe, and inspiring environments for their children. Our dream is to create a global language of design that respects childhood as a phase of life worth designing for with as much intention as we do for adults.Adventure Nest is the beginning of that vision—a proof that when we combine emotional depth with spatial intelligence, even the smallest room can become a limitless world of development, joy, and memory.
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