Designer Stephen Saint-Onge

You have lived together for years now and raised a family. Over this time, you have merged your two, individual styles together. Now that you're empty nesters, there comes a chance to explore what that unified style means now. You've seen the world, you've seen that world through your own eyes and from the eyes of your children. Explore what you have learned and think about how you can bring your couple style into a new light. It should come from both of you. With a plan of action in mind, move forward.

Examine the furniture you have in the space. Does it work into your new creative direction? Maybe there are pieces in another part of the house you like better -- switch them around! You don't have to buy all new stuff -- but you can certainly do so if you wish.

If you have always had a traditional home look, go for a modern look. Or if you have had a contemporary look but always dreamed of a weekend country house, go for that romantic country style in this room. Have some fun together with the creative process.

 

With a theme or style in mind, decide what the room is going to be used for. Maybe the old bedroom is going to be your creative getaway -- a corner for him and a corner for her to be creative, organize, or just have down time watching an old film. Is it a room that can have dual use as a screening room and living room for entertaining at the same time?

Look at technology in a new way. The kids and grandkids in empty-nesters' lives have made them "the most tech-savvy empty-nester generation in history!" Their kids knew a lot about technology and, in many cases, passed that along to Mom and Dad -- making them more comfortable with computers, television accessories, and handheld products. It's now the foundation of how they communicate with their kids and the rest of the world. A Philips 19-inch flat-panel monitor can double as a TV, a computer can double as a stereo system. Today's technology is streamlined and beautiful so it blends into any style of environment.

I created a "communications central" in my parents' home. It's a home office area where they communicate with their kids and friends but it is a place that is very much about being in touch while surrounded by things they love. Not only can they e-mail, pay bills, plan out their garden or whatever, they can also have one place that becomes the hub of their communication needs.

For my own parents, I set them up with a flat-screen monitor, a hard drive (computer) that is only for downloading their digital camera images, a photo printer, and Digital Photo Display -- they can now keep up to date with the images they take in one central location. They can use it as a editing station for those images and for storing them properly. This makes it easy and stylish! You could do this space anywhere -- off the laundry room, in an unused closet area, or in a nook in your pantry! But having it separate from your regular computer is good. It serves a purpose and will help you stay organized and on top of the pictures!

If you're doing a space for yourself in your child's old room, remember to keep something of them in that space. As a dad and husband, I firmly believe that the room where you grew up is important to you -- it is your first space. So keep this in mind if you're a parent looking to claim your child's room after the nest is empty. It's nice for your kids to come home to their old room and see familiar things. You can still be creative in the space, but sometimes in those rooms it's nice to keep an essence of the old room. So talk to your son about your plans, and his feelings, before you start painting his old room pink!