Penguin Books Blog

Far more than your average décor and design book, Cool Spaces for Kids written by Capetonian Sam Scarborough shows parents how to create spaces where their child will not only feel safe, but will also be encouraged to play, grow and develop.

Discover how to spot potential in every square inch of your home and transform even the most mundane cupboard into a fantasy play area. This handbook is filled with clever ideas and cool projects for creating appealing spaces around the home and garden for children of all ages. From imaginative indoor play areas to secret hideaways and even a magical fairy garden.

Cool Spaces for Kids shows you how to create special spaces for your children that will help them to enjoy playing, working, relaxing and learning. Featuring inspirational photography and over 50 stunning ideas comprising step-by-step projects, stylish alternatives, quick fixes and more, you’ll be able to give your kids cool spaces they’ll enjoy for years to come.

About the author – Capetonian Sam Scarborough, accomplished stylist and author, is an expert at designing healthy and engaging play spaces for children. Her Waldorf upbringing has encouraged a creative approach to parenting, one that she is passionate about sharing with other parents.

After the birth of her daughter Georgia, in 2002, Sam started a small children’s decor company and began creating specialised items to personalise children’s rooms. She designed curtains with pockets for extra storage, personalised beanbags, created toy and storage bags to save space, and introduced a range of linen and old-fashioned quilts.

At the same time, she was working as an art director on magazines and spent many hours directing photographers and stylists, an enterprise which turned her home into a constantly evolving canvas of creative ideas. Juggling a demanding career with parenting led her to develop practical ideas that are easy to put together and to adapt as children grow older.Cool Spaces for Kids will be released in May.