Where Luxury Meets Learning: Inside a Smart Playroom in Greenwich
If keeping your kids entertained this summer is on your mind, here’s a playroom makeover that’s sure to inspire you. Interior Designer and Playroom Specialist Karri Bowen Poole of Smart Playrooms shared a bit about the process: “We were honored to be part of this beautiful Greenwich project, where our clients were purchasing and renovating their very first home. It meant so much to be included in the playroom design—a space that would become a cornerstone for their children’s growth, creativity, and sensory development.”
The family dreamed of a luxury, high-end first-floor basement that reflected their love of soft blues, creams, and whites, while also supporting the unique needs and interests of their young children. With two generous play spaces to work with—adjacent to a stunning home theater, guest wing, and adult gym—Poole and team were able to create a sensory-rich environment filled with intentional design and custom details.
A standout feature is the custom floating loft, designed as a cozy hideaway with plush pillows, calming lighting, and sensory walls to encourage reading, regulation, and quiet play. Beneath the loft and throughout the space, we integrated dynamic elements like indoor monkey bars, gymnastic rings, a basketball net, and sensory swings to promote movement and support sensory input in a joyful, active way.
These before images reveal the scale of the transformation:
Smart Playrooms also included soft foam mats and a large foam pit for safe exploration, custom built-in storage to keep everything beautifully organized, and a custom market to encourage purposeful, independent play. One of our favorite design moments is the oversized, custom map wallpaper—adding both educational value and a stunning visual element that ties the space together.
With natural light flooding in through the large sliding doors that open to a spectacular pool, this playroom feels bright, welcoming, and deeply connected to the rest of the home. It’s a space where luxury and intentionality meet, designed to evolve with the family while supporting their daily lives with beauty and purpose.