Motherhood & Design: Brooke's Warm, Washable World

“We wanted to go with a French farmhouse vibe. Natural stone & timbers, filled with warmth and some antique statements.”

Warm embrace

Motherhood has shifted Brooke's design perspective in subtle yet meaningful ways. "Let's just say... I used to be a beige mum but now I love a pop of colour here and there," she reflects. This evolution toward incorporating more vibrant elements mirrors the energy children bring to our lives—sometimes chaotic, always colourful, ultimately enriching. Despite this shift, Brooke maintains her design integrity, creating spaces that don't compromise on sophistication.

This balanced approach stems from a deeper philosophy guiding her decisions: "We are creating a 'home' and a safe place they can remember growing up whilst still trying to keep things clean and minimal." The transition from her previous "white white white" aesthetic to the current palette rich in "beige, walnuts and warmth" serves multiple purposes beyond mere visual appeal. These beautifully thoughtful choices reflect her commitment to creating spaces that honour both her design sensibilities and her family's lived experience, making a home that feels both authentic to her style yet incredibly functional.

Practical Magic

When it comes to materials and furnishings, Brooke's approach is refreshingly straightforward and practical. "I always purchase items that you can wash!" she emphasises, highlighting her number one rule for family-friendly interior choices. This wisdom stems from lived experience rather than design theory: "There's going to be accidents so my number one rule is always get washable items so you are saving money by washing any spillages rather than replacing them." Her commitment to functionality doesn't compromise style—instead, it represents thoughtful decision-making that anticipates the realities of family life. 

Brooke maintains clear boundaries around which materials work for family living, particularly in high-traffic areas where spills and accidents are inevitable. Her practical assessment of what can and cannot be easily maintained reflects an unwillingness to sacrifice pragmatism for trend-following or purely aesthetic considerations. This grounded perspective feels particularly refreshing in an era of curated, picture-perfect interior design imagery that can make parents feel inadequate about their own lived-in spaces. Brooke's approach merely reminds us that the most successful family homes aren't just beautiful—they're functional, forgiving, and designed to accommodate real life in all its messy glory. 

Heart of home

The emotional centre of Brooke's home isn't a carefully styled corner reserved for Instagram photos – it's the bustling, multi-functional heart of family life. "Our kitchen is the heart of our home - it flows into the dining and lounge and this is where we cook, dine, watch family movies, do arts...lots of things happen in this little space with our family," she shares. This open-concept arrangement reflects a contemporary understanding that family life doesn't happen in neatly separated compartments but flows together in overlapping activities and moments.

This central living area embodies Brooke's approach to motherhood and design – creating spaces that accommodate multiple functions while maintaining a cohesive aesthetic. The flow between cooking, dining, playing, and creating mirrors the flow between Brooke's multiple roles as mother, designer, creator, and homemaker. Rather than separating these aspects of life, she's designed a home that embraces their interconnectedness, creating an environment where daily family activities become opportunities for both memory-making and aesthetic appreciation.

For mothers navigating the sometimes overwhelming task of maintaining a home that feels both stylish and family-friendly, Brooke offers this wisdom: "Declutter regularly! It may seem extravagant but less items, less to clean. Have a spot for everything." This advice, which she admits is "100% still something [she’s] learning after moving into a smaller home," cuts to the heart of creating liveable family spaces that don't sacrifice style for function or vice versa.

Brooke's home reflects a mindful approach to family living that embraces both the practical needs of raising children and the aesthetic desires that make a house feel like home. From washable materials to warm tones that hide inevitable messes, her approach reminds us that motherhood and beautiful design aren't fighting forces. They're complementary elements of creating a home that, in Brooke's words, "feels like a big warm cuddle every time we come home" – which might be the most perfect description of successful family-friendly design we've ever heard.