The celebrity chef’s enormous ash kitchen island acts as family headquarters.

Carrara marble on the island and on the 24″-deep pantry counter is a classic French choice that is both durable and stylish. Bar stools allow the kids to hang around while Trish cooks, and the open space allows her to keep an eye on the kids playing in the living room.

See more of chef Trish Magwood’s home in our photo gallery. Also, get more decorating ideas in our Family Friendly Homes photo gallery.

Easy-to-clean, colourful throw pillows brighten up a couch.

Throw pillows are a small investment well worth the expense, especially when your living room is a sea of neutrals. Choose removable slipcovers in a sturdy material that is machine washable.

Homeowners Krista and Chris Cooper renovated this Whistler chalet to accommodate their family of four.

Warm, neutral fabrics, durable wood furniture and a textured rug are dog- and kid-friendly. “I love having kids running around and we encourage all of our friends to bring their pets,” says Krista. An open-concept living-dining area allows them to spend more quality time together.

Get more decorating ideas in our Family Friendly Homes photo gallery.

Build intimate spaces for kids only.

Krista and Chris dug out fifteen feet of bedrock wall right off the media room to create a cosy space for their two children. A wall-to-wall mattress on the floor and piles of warm pillows and throws add to the cosy winter-cabin feel.

Maximise seating and storage with a banquette.

Interior designer Cindy Bleeks and husband Ryan Johnson used every inch of their small home. Built-ins were essential to hide this busy family’s belongings. The dining area made the most of a small corner with a banquette and a round pedestal table. Moulded-fibreglass chairs are durable and easy to clean. Busy wallpaper is right on-trend and camouflages finger prints.

White paint in a satin or semi-gloss finish makes cleaning easy.

Interior designer Cindy Bleeks, a mother of two, built a floor-to-ceiling armoire to hide main-floor essentials like coats and kids’ toys. A gorgeous Eames chair and cushy leather ottoman are as cosy as they are stylish. A bold chevron rug protects Cindy’s dark wood floors and allows the kids to lounge comfortably while watching television.

This shared bedroom in gender-neutral hues includes clever nooks under the eaves.

Storybooks are stored above the bed instead of on a bulky bookshelf, and built-in drawers and a cupboard maximize storage in an awkward corner. An Eames molded plastic rocker works with Ikea staples to create a playful space.

For more storage tips, see our Organizing Kids’ Play & Work Spaces photo gallery.

A bright textured rubber floor is low maintenance and comfy underfoot.

Victoria Webster — here with sons Charlie and Isaac — went for a modern cooking space that requires minimal upkeep. The high-end, modern Bulthaup kitchen is stylish and much more forgiving than glossy or white cabinetry. Decorative white vases are kept high up on an open shelf, away from sticky fingers.

Watch video tours of this house, plus get more decorating ideas in our Family Friendly Homes and Orange Rooms photo galleries.

A boxy, masculine leather sofa is ideal in stylist Trish Johnston’s stylish and livable space.

Spills can quickly be wiped off — a boon given that she has two active sons. The softly curved coffee table keeps bruised knees at bay and adds a feminine touch. More precious items, such as the lamp and painting, are kept close to the perimeter of the room, where traffic is minimal.

Watch a video tour of Trish’s condo and get more decorating ideas in our Family Friendly Homes photo gallery.

Rich dark hues give this room a grown-up vibe that boys won’t grow out of.

The saturated royal blue walls in stylist Trish Johnston’s boys’ bedroom create an inviting, den-like atmosphere. Trendy graphic numeric prints are an inexpensive Ikea purchase that can be replaced as the boys’ tastes change. Striped drapes add punch.

Watch a video tour of Trish’s condo and get more decorating ideas in our Family Friendly Homes photo gallery.

Wood panelled drawers and cupboards keep toys and clothing out of sight.

The two architects behind Toronto firm Studio Junction designed their home with functionality and the environment in mind. This modern bedroom and playroom for their two preschool-aged children keeps stowed items behind seamless Douglas fir panels. Shelves above the bed display storybooks, and high-up storage cupboards offer a perfect spot for out-of-season clothing. A bold rug adds a fun pop of colour to the sleek space.

See more photos, or take a virtual tour through this award-winning Courtyard House.

For more storage tips, see our Organizing Kids’ Play & Work Spaces photo gallery or check out more organized family homes.

An enclosed yet sunny deck built onto this modern home is a family-friendly outdoor living space.

This Asian-inspired cedar terrace provides a safe area for children to play outside of this urban courtyard house. Hanging laundry alludes to the home owners’ eco-friendly lifestyle.

Take a virtual tour through this award-winning home in our Courtyard House video.

See more indoor outdoor design inspiration in our photo gallery.

Faux-leather upholstery is hip yet family-friendly.

This family chose to pair low-maintenance black Thonet chairs with a larger cushy bench — perfect for their two sons. The curved light and sturdy table add a luxe touch. Inexpensive graphic subway-style art can be wiped clean in a snap.

Watch a video tour of this kitchen and see other photos in our family friendly homes photo gallery.

Unexpected seating adds character to a bar counter vignette.

A creative Montreal couple — photographer Maude Arsenault and film director Eric Tessier — daringly painted their home gallery-style white. Acting like a blank canvas, the snowy hue brings ordinary objects — like the fire engine red highchair and Maude’s oversized photography — to life.

For more great homes from eastern Canada, see our Photo Gallery: Best Of The East.

A durable fabric runner is quite forgiving in a high-traffic area — and helps prevents slips and falls.

Maude and Eric Tessier added colour to their staircase with a boldly striped runner. The white-framed mirror reflects the colour into the space and creates an artistic optical illusion, which the children love.

Keep centerpieces low when dining with children.

The colourful Jetsons-like Bloom high chair enhances this family-friendly table. Low-key tableware takes a back seat to the bright colours, as does the iconic furniture: curvaceous Panton chairs and an oak cross-based table.

Keep decorative items and bulky furniture to a minimum.

A contemporary rug, some floral branches and a few throw pillows are all this room needs for colour and texture. Small, round side tables are easy to move aside, freeing up space for kids to play.

Graphic prints elevate a standard kid’s room.

Punchy patterns and colour make this design, which would work for either a girl or boy, hip and fun. Mixing prints — both in style and size — adds interest and keeps the bedding from feeling too matchy.