From Childhood Bedroom to Grown-Up Bliss —
A New Chapter Begins
The door closes. The car pulls away. And just like that, you’re one kid closer to an empty nest.
As we gear up for Rory’s senior year and Kennedy’s final lap through middle school, Brian and I have been feeling it. That tug of pride. That flash of excitement. And yes, that slightly panicked flutter in your chest when you realize—this is happening. They’re growing up. And they’re getting ready to fly.
I’ll be honest—this whole “Rory’s about to leave” thing is hitting me harder than I expected. He hasn’t even graduated yet, and I’m already imagining walking past his empty room, feeling that lump in my throat. I have a full year to work through these emotions, to get ready for the day he really leaves—and then? In just four short years, it will be Kennedy’s turn. Our baby girl. I don’t know if we’ll survive that one. So, maybe, just maybe, planning what that empty room will become can be more than a design project—it can be a way to prepare, to process, and to have something to look forward to.
Some parents want to preserve a bedroom exactly as it’s always been—Jimmy’s posters, his trophies, the socks that haven’t seen a hamper since 2019. It’s comforting, familiar. But others see it as an opportunity—an invitation to dream up a new purpose. A cozy home office? A creative studio? A dreamy yoga room with sage and serenity? The possibilities are endless, and maybe a little transformation can help ease the transition. Reimagining a space doesn’t mean you’re erasing your child’s presence. In fact, it can be a tribute to the growth your whole family is experiencing. You’re not losing a room—you’re gaining a new chapter.
And if you’re going to dream, dream big. Imagine transforming that empty room into a moody home library with rich, rosemary-green walls, reclaimed leather club chairs, vintage Tiffany lamps casting a warm glow, and a custom wall unit filled floor-to-ceiling with books. Add a turntable in the corner spinning your favorite LPs and that 30-year-old scotch you got from your dad on your wedding day—the one you’ve been saving for “something special.” Or maybe you swap the library for a light-filled sewing room with wall-mounted pegboards and a vintage farmhouse table, or a sleek home gym with mirrored walls and matching Pelotons so you can start each day side-by-side. The details matter because the design itself becomes part of the therapy.
These empty rooms aren’t just about what you’re losing—they’re about what you’re gaining. More time with your partner. A chance to rediscover who you are outside of carpool schedules and cross-country practices. A home that grows with you. And if you’re not sure where to start, that’s exactly what The York & Co. does best—helping you design spaces that not only look beautiful, but feel like the next chapter of your life.
And if all else fails? Well… Brian and I have lived in 18 different homes over the years. Maybe when Rory leaves, we’ll just skip the whole “empty room” problem entirely and move on to house number 19.
— Gabe
