There are kids’ rooms… and then there are kids’ rooms in an 1875 brick Italianate in Boston with 12-foot ceilings and a double bunk moment that deserves its own zip code. 

Whitney and Brian of @futureasbuilt didn’t just repaint their daughters’ bedroom. They reimagined it (with Vintage and Timeless) into a space that feels historic, cozy, sophisticated and somehow still fully prepared for three kids. 

Yes, three. In one room. And somehow it feels bigger than before. 

Let’s get into it. 

A Home With History (And Three Daughters) 

“Our building is a brick Italianate built in 1875,” Whitney shares. Originally a single-family home, it was converted into two bi-level condos in 2007. Whitney and Brian moved in during 2020—when their oldest daughter was just six months old. 

Fast-forward to today: three daughters, one shared bedroom and a whole lot of creative space planning. 

“We now have 3 daughters and have had to be very creative with the ways in which we use our space!” 

Creative is putting it lightly. 

Transitional… But Make It 1875 

The couple describes their aesthetic as “transitional but informed heavily by the building itself.” Even though much of the original detailing is gone, they’re intentional about respecting the home’s era through materiality and profiles. 

“We were initially drawn to this home because of its high ceilings, open floor plan and proportions,” Whitney explains. “Our appreciation of Victorian architecture has only grown over time and greatly shaped our design aesthetic.” 

It shows. 

The Before: Tiny Bed, Big Chaos

By summer 2025, their oldest had outgrown her toddler bed and the layout simply wasn’t working. The solution? A custom double bunk design that allows all three girls to eventually share the room while freeing up as much floor space as possible and maximizing under bed storage.  

Storage + style = parenting win.

Choosing the Color (AKA: The Hardest Decision) 

“Choosing the paint color for the bunks was one of the most challenging decisions, mostly because there were no bad options!” Patting ourselves on the back.  

In the end, they landed on Vintage for the bunks: a rich, red-toned hue that instantly deepened the room. “We just loved how rich it made the room feel.” 

The ceiling and trim? Painted in Timeless, a warm, creamy white that softened the contrast and added a polished finish. And yes, they did their homework. Color studies, animations, mock-ups. This was not a “grab a brush and hope” situation. Watch their process come to life in this video on Instagram.

The Light Plot Twist 

Here’s where it gets interesting: the room faces east. 

“The window faces east which means that for much of the day, the ambient light tends to cast a blue tint,” Whitney explains.

Blue light + red paint could feel dramatic in the wrong way. But with Vintage? It works. 

“With Vintage, we actually really love the way it changes throughout the day.”

The Big Surprise: It Feels Bigger

Let’s address the fear everyone has before going bold: Will it make the room feel smaller? 

“We were a little nervous that the room might feel smaller if we went for a bolder, moodier color but it was quite the opposite. In fact, the first thing everyone says when they walk into the room is how much bigger the bunks make the room feel.” 

Part of that is architectural; they took the frames all the way to the ceiling, so they feel tall and dramatic. But Whitney suspects it’s also the paint.

“We couldn’t fully grasp how the room would feel until we filled the shelves with the kids’ books and toys,” Whitney mentions. Styling each bunk to reflect each daughter’s personality created “some pretty adorable vignettes.” 

And honestly? That’s when a kids’ room becomes magic.

Why Vintage Works for a Growing Room 

“One of the biggest reasons we love Vintage is that it’s an extremely versatile color,” Whitney says. “You can dress it up to create an ultra-luxe feel or you can dress it down to feel warm and approachable.”

That flexibility matters in a shared kids’ room that needs to grow with three daughters over time. It feels historic but fresh. Cozy but elevated. Playful but not babyish. 

In other words: Vintage is timeless. (Sorry, we had to.) 

If you’re designing a kids’ space and thinking bold might mean “too much,” let this be your sign. Sometimes the moodier choice is the one that makes everything feel bigger, richer and more magical.

Related: From Attic Storage to Dreamy Hideout: The Bunk Room Every Kid (and Parent) Wants