With twins outgrowing their shared bedroom, Markus Bannert and Thomas Birer bought a studio adjacent to their current home, an apartment in a 1938 art deco building. The pair of dads contacted Messana O’Rorke with a request for a reinvention that would be both minimalist and able to hold up to their children’s energy. Although not the obvious choice for a young family, white (and more white) was a natural for this household–because it lets the architecture speak for itself.

“Family-friendly” isn’t usually this chic, but the designers found a way to have both. Fabrics are durable, furniture solid. The white rug does (occasionally) need to be professionally cleaned.