Trés Chic! A French/English Home Montessori Classroom

This home classroom was designed for one of my dearest friends, and this project was personal in the best possible way. She taught my girls when they were younger, and watching her pour love and intention into education has always inspired me. When she's not teaching at school, she tutors and leads all kinds of activities right from her home. So when the opportunity came to design her classroom space, I was all in.

The bones of this place were absolutely perfect. She had a converted terrace that was long, light-filled, and set a step down from the main living area which naturally created the most ideal classroom layout I could have asked for. It practically designed itself. Almost!

Being a Montessori classroom, there were specific guidelines around furniture type and height, as well as how the space needed to be organized and set up. I took those parameters seriously and worked creatively within them. We lined the space with ample low storage throughout, keeping everything accessible and at the children's level — exactly as Montessori philosophy intends. Rug tiles were used to create a seamless, continuous flooring surface that kids could comfortably sit on during group activities without a single seam interrupting the flow.

In the corner, I tucked in a small, cozy sitting area to serve as a one-on-one teaching station, giving her incredible flexibility for different activities and teaching moments throughout the day.
What a perfect space to learn, grow, and thrive