Making a house a home is a daunting task, then add children to the mix to make it nearly impossible. A dream space for me, and another for them...how to accomplish both?

The Mine is helping me bridge the gap between adult and kid space, providing thoughtful furniture to create some inspired corners in the most important, and used, rooms of the house. After years of keeping things separate, I’m trying something new, inviting my little ones to share my space — all of them.

The focus: high design in place of dumbed-down kids' decor. Also, community over isolation.

In an attempt to embrace the current co-working trend at home, my goal is to have an environment where we can work and play alongside each other, with independent activity happening in open shared spaces.

The Mine offers storage solutions that are as beautiful as they are functional. Investing in multifunctional pieces that we won’t grow out of, I picked a variety of seating and shelving to be mixed and matched and moved around as my girls mature and their needs change — modern furniture for a modern way of life.

My picks include kid-friendly, statement-making furniture that’s impossible to mess up — molded plastics that are easy to wipe clean and fun to play with, tiny chairs that feel as special as the adult version, a sleek bentwood table that’s perfect for both play and display, a low profile credenza ideal for easy-to-reach art supplies, and an oversized wall shelf that has plenty of storage for all the current favorites.

The takeaway: breaking down boundaries and dismissing old rules of an off-limits, fancy and formal home allows a more relaxed rhythm in the house. Shared spaces and inclusivity seem to go a long way with my little ones. Gathering together rather than spreading apart feels better and functions better. After all, sharing is caring, and it’s always best to teach by example.