kevin sharkey

When your grandmother is Martha Stewart (shh, don't call her Grandma, though), you can rest assured that your bedroom and playroom are more than just spaces to throw a few toys. Jude and Truman Stewart, 17- and 5 months old, respectively, are living the high life in a serene NYC triplex that their mom, Alexis Stewart, decorated as an urban oasis. An entire floor is devoted to her daughter and son, including an Arctic-inspired bedroom and a colorful playroom that is packed with wooden toys. In true Stewart form, both rooms are not only beautiful, but also practical, with furniture that can stay with the kids well past their infant and toddler stages.

Alexis's entire apartment is unveiled in the September issue of Martha Stewart Living, but Kevin Sharkey, the executive editorial director of decorating for the magazine, gave us a sneak peek into the tots' living space and some tips that we can incorporate into our own kids' rooms.

Copyright © 2012, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. Originally published in the September issue of Martha Stewart Living magazine

There's been a quite a revolution in the world of kids' room design. Simply stenciling a lil cartoon character on the wall and throwing some pastel sheets on a twin bed doesn't quite cut it anymore. Kevin Sharkey, the executive editorial director of decorating for Martha Stewart Living — and the uncle of 4-year-old and 18-month-old boys, welcomes the changes.

"First and foremost, the concept is now a big deal. So you're seeing merchandise available for [kids' rooms]. It's not like you have to search out things to put in a kids room now. There's a lot of things on the market. [And] they seem much more sophisticated than I would have imagined. If you look at the Pottery Barn Kids thing, that would have been my dorm room!"

The decorating guru (who happens to live just below Martha Stewart's granddaughter) took some time out to talk with me about the state of children's rooms and the biggest trends he's seeing. Check it out!