One couple makes design adjustments to accomodate their growing son -- without sacrificing style or function.

In a corner of their loft, Rebecca Robertson and Marco Pasanella created a play space for their son, Luca, left, that's kid-friendly and blends in with the grown-up decor. They paired a lacquered with vintage chairs and made a custom chalkboard by mixing paint with unsanded tile grout. Martha Stewart Living Paint (on chalkboard), flat interior latex, in Azurite, marthahomedepot.com/marthastewart.

Rebecca transformed a bookcase into a storage bench by turning the piece on its side, sewing a cushion cover, and mounting casters. Above it, hooks were hung at staggered heights, some low enough for Luca. Lack shelving unit, in White and Ikea Stockholm Blad curtains (fabric on cushion), ikea.com. Stable hooks, in Aluminum, restorationhardware.com.

"Luca's learning in school that there's a place for everything," says Rebecca, who designated a low drawer, left, for Luca's set of plastic dishes. To remind him what goes where, Rebecca painted a silhouette of each dish, labeling the placeholders in English and Italian (Luca is learning both languages).

"I wanted to display Luca's artwork for both him and us," Rebecca says. To create a graphic, tidy arrangement, left, Rebecca painted pieces of 13/8-inch lattice in high-gloss paint and adhered them to a wall with glue and nails. She then screwed Bulldog clips to the lattice to hold a rotating selection of Luca's art, as well as other meaningful pieces (such as the painting by Marco's father, an artist, in the lower right-hand corner). Lattice, Martha Stewart Living Paint (on lattice), interior/ exterior latex, in Cornbread, homedepot.com/marthastewart.

A built-in bookcase which is backed with a striped wallpaper that echoes the walls' yellow lattice, displays additional artwork, including a painting of a girl by Rebecca's father and a giclee print of red chairs by Leah Giberson. Wilton Stripe wallpaper, in Yellow, cowtan.com (to the trade only).

Next to Luca's bed, the couple set up a compact arts-and-crafts spot. A gooseneck curtain rod was installed on an Ikea table to hold a roll of paper, with a slat of lattice securing the paper to the other end. A lazy Susan and wall-mounted caddies keep supplies organized. Lack coffee table, in White, Mala drawing paper roll, and Grundtal cutlery caddies, ikea.com. Gooseneck brass barrel brackets, 2", in Brass, annwallace.com

The family strung up a tire swing smack dab in the middle of the living area. "It's hours of fun for Luca and his friends," says Rebecca, who replaced the swing's original industrial metal chain with a blue-and-white rope from Home Depot to give it a softer feel and help it fit in with the room's decor. Playmor tire swing, in Blue, sassoconstruction.com.

To create attractive bins for toys in the common area, Rebecca painted wooden crates in several shades of blue and labeled them. She then arranged them on an open shelving unit. Crates (similar to shown), woodthings.com. Martha Stewart Living Paints (on crates), high gloss, in Twilight, Cloudless Day, Myrtle Blossom, Azurite, and Darkening Sky, homedepot.com/marthastewart. Powder-coated steel shelving,rtishelving.com.

Our decorating editor's favorite online sources for kids' rooms.

ikea.com: It's great for affordable kids' furniture, but many of its adult pieces also work well in kids' spaces. I also love the graphic linens.

nonchalantmom.com: This Rhode Island parent sells chic kids' room accessories and clothing, and writes an inspiring blog.

montessori-n-such.com: Many of the toys on this site, such as the natural lacquered tower, are beautiful enough to display as sculpture.

clementineart.com: I'm a big fan of these natural, nontoxic art supplies -- if Luca takes a bite of one of the crayons, I don't have to worry.