In The News

Karri chats with Roombldr about her mission to change the way kids play by creating the ultimate play spaces for kids to explore, play and learn. Karri Bowen-Poole used her background in teaching and education to launch her business, designing and creating amazing projects all over the country.

Inspired by the Montessori principles of education and purposeful design, the Fudas knew the types of activities they wished to incorporate — from active play areas to art and reading stations. However, the process of actually designing the space and sourcing products that felt cohesive to the rest of the house soon became overwhelming. That’s when Bowen-Poole, who holds a Master of Education degr...

This mom of 3 has designed more than 1,000 playrooms. Here are her 8 tips for creating spaces that facilitate independent play.

The educational value and learning aspects of a board game are also important when shopping because while games should be entertaining and engaging, they should also help foster growth of different developmental skills. “Look for games that incorporate learning into their mechanics,” says Smart Playrooms founder and CEO Karri Bowen-Poole. “This could include aspects like math skills, language deve...

And use this paragraph underneath: The Varets have a 8 year old son Julius and a 6 year old daughter Zelda. They reached out to Smart Playrooms design a playroom in their Los Angeles home on the historic neighborhood of Hancock Park. Kim Varet purchased EDesign 2 package called All Out which included a mural painted by Lana Gomez which added a burst of...

“Karri took an idea and after a newspaper ad, her idea took flight! I find her story absolutely inspiring. Not only is she doing something amazing for kids and their families, but her dream came true. Should inspire anyone to follow their heart!”

Almost any parent will tell you they wish their children played on their own a bit more. Independent play isn't just important for mom and dad's well-being — it's also a key component of child development. As a mom of three and former teacher, I think solo and peer play goes further for teaching our children about ...

How do you bring warmth and joy into a modern townhome in NYC? Interior Designer, Jennifer Morris will quite literally have you jumping off the walls with joy in this house. With a stunning not-so-formal living room, an artsy and open kitchen, and a playroom like you have never seen before. With unique art and an added element of nature, this home is the perfect balance between peace and joy in th...

Karri Bowen-Poole has been designing play spaces for 13 years through her company, Smart Playrooms, but it was only recently that she created a dedicated space for play in her own home.

Take a tour inside Karri’s garage with Inside Edition. Karri explains to Inside Edition how she converted her garage into a space where the kids could be physical and workout while her entire family was home during quarantine.

A former teacher and the owner of Smart Playrooms, a design service in Rye, N.Y., Karri Bowen-Poole transformed her underused detached garage into a family-friendly gym and play space. Her three kids range in age from 12 to 25, so the area had to be flexible en...

“When building a playroom for a child with special needs, such as autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, developmental delays, or sensory processing disorder, each design choice should accommodate learning, therapy, comfort and play. Karri Bowen-Poole is a mom, educator, and interior designer who specializes in creating playrooms… by selecting furnishings, materials, and equipment that are developme...