The Storage Solution That Actually Keeps Up With Family Life We spoke with Mustard Made's Becca Stern on building a home that actually works — and looks good doing it. Written By Sally Voyles
No one really tells you how important storage becomes once you have kids. No matter how minimal you try to keep it, the fact is, children come with a lot of stuff. All it takes is one visit from grandma to feel like you're suddenly drowning in a flood of scattered toys, books, and tiny wayward socks. We’d tried it all — baskets, bins, and every storage hack under the sun — until we discovered one that actually works: Mustard Made, a brand started by two sisters who believed storage could be practical, beautiful, and full of personality all at once. We chatted with Becca Stern, Creative Director and Co-Founder of Mustard Made, to learn more about how they design pieces that grow with families and still look beautiful.
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Storage Designed For Real Spaces A Weekend at Wildflower Farms, Auberge Resorts Collection
The idea for Mustard Made came from a very familiar problem: too much stuff, too little space. When Becca and Jess started the brand, they were each navigating that reality from opposite sides of the world: Becca in an older-style Australian home with a new baby, Jess in a snug Victorian flat in London. "The challenge was to create something that was beautiful as well as practical," Becca explains, "that would work for young children all the way through to grown ups, and be as useful in a nursery or playroom as it would in an office or living space." That meant designing for flexibility. Shelves are adjustable, hanging rails can be added or removed, and a range of baskets and accessories let you configure each piece to suit your space and reconfigure it as your family's needs change.
If you can snag a reservation, don’t miss the opportunity to spend a few nights at one of the buzziest new, luxury hotels in the Catskills—Wildflower Farms. Situated in the town of Gardiner, this 140-acre resort has plenty to keep the whole family busy all weekend. If you can swing it, book the Ridge Suite or one of the two-bedroom Meadow Cottages so you don’t have to curl up with your iPhone in the dark while trying not to wake your babe up. (Note: Pack ‘n plays are available upon advance request but the hotel does not have cribs.) If your kids are mobile, they will love the on-property farm and the Natural Playground, which is complete with a zip line. If you venture off the resort property, check out the nearby Wrights Farm or Apple Hill Farm for pumpkin and apple picking (during the season). Or, spend the afternoon in the charming town of Kingston, just a half hour north of the hotel. Don’t miss Rosie General, a family-run spot that has just about anything and everything you could want to eat, from delicious breads to sandwiches to baked goods and snacks for the kiddos. Or, go to Lola Pizza for good vibes and delicious food.
Pieces That Grow With You A Weekend at Little Cat Lodge
One of the most common mistakes families make when buying for children's spaces is thinking too short-term. Becca's design philosophy is built around the opposite instinct. "Timeless absolutely doesn't have to mean bland or boring," she says. "We have such a big focus on creating pieces that aren't trend-driven, but have their own personality and impact." The goal is pieces with staying power, ones that feel just as right in a toddler's room as they do a teenager's. Good materials matter here. Mustard Made uses powder -coated steel precisely because it holds its color and stands up to years of use — no fading, no sad-looking furniture that needs replacing before your kid hits middle school. "Kids tend to love color," Becca points out, "so letting them choose their favorite is a great way to let them put their own stamp on their space." The locker is her go-to example of a truly multi-stage piece: "We love that it can work as toy storage, a wardrobe, to store sports equipment — and even move out with them when they go to college."
Partners Noah Bernamoff and Matt Kliegan (of The Smile, Black Seed Bagels, The Jane Hotel, and Pebbler Bar fame) opened this 14-room property in Hillsdale just a few months ago. Situated at the base of Catamount Mountain, where the Hudson Valley meets the Berkshires, Little Cat Lodge is perfect if you are looking to do some hiking and check out the waterfalls at Bish Bash Falls, or, when snow season hits, skiing and snowboarding at Catamount Mountain Resort. Book one of the two suites (note: they don’t have cribs but they do have pack ‘n plays), if available, and enjoy the hotel’s restaurant Tavern (which is equipped with high chairs for the littles and apres-ski bites and booze for the parents, along with a more expansive menu of classic alpine dishes) and pool, if the temps lend themselves for a dip. If you and your family aren’t so into the great outdoors or the aforementioned sporty endeavors, drive about 30 minutes west to Hudson and spend the day doing some antique shopping. Grab a bite to eat at Kitty’s, like the hashbrowns, egg and cheese sandwiches, and the homemade pop tart. If you’re doing dinner, order the spinning chicken and a martini (you might need it after a few hours in the car). For dinner another night, take a short drive to Clare de Boer’s Stissing House in Pine Plains. De Boer, who has garnered well-deserved acclaim at her first restaurant, King, opened Stissing House–her first solo project–earlier this year. The restaurant’s historic, expansive building, which dates back to 1782, is a perfect place to enjoy a home-cooked meal and let the kids run around and play.
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The Trick To Actually Staying Organized A Weekend at Innes Getting organized is one thing. Staying that way — especially with small children in the mix — is another. Becca's approach is refreshingly simple: "It's so much easier to stay organized when everything has a place." She recommends using baskets inside your lockers to keep smaller things contained, and if you want to set your kids up for real success, color coding does the heavy lifting. "It's such a great way to help kids know what goes where," she says. Let each child claim a locker color, match the baskets inside, and suddenly even a three-year-old can follow the system.
Situated in Accord, New York (a little over two hours north of Manhattan) Inness was dreamed up by Taavo Somer, a trained architect and the man behind NYC hits like Freemans and the Rusty Knot, designers Post Company, and development team Michael Barry, CBSK Ironstate and Lee Pollock. The idyllic, 220-acre property boasts 28 cabins and a 12-room farmhouse to sleep in. (The biggest cabins are still only one room, so make sure to request a pack ‘n play or bring your own, along with crib sheets and potentially a SlumberPod to keep it dark for your little one.) The hotel has plenty to offer everyone, from the golf course to the pool to the seasonally-driven, casual restaurant. You could spend all weekend on the property and not even leave. However, if you’re looking for a day trip from here, drive north and stop at the Phoenicia Diner. What kid doesn’t love a diner moment? Bring your littles for a pancake breakfast at this Hudson Valley classic. From there, continue on to Cooperstown to check out the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Ps. Strollers are allowed in the museum! Once you’ve got your baseball fix, you could also check out some of the neighboring gems, like the Fenimore Art Museum, The Farmers’ Museum, and the Glimmerglass Opera. After you are museum-ed out, grab a bite to eat at Brooks House of BBQ or Fly Creek Cider Mill (young kids will particularly love Tractorland and the ducks).
A Little Color Goes A Long Way A Weekend at Callicoon Hills
Color is central to everything Mustard Made does, and if the idea of a bold locker feels like a commitment, Becca's advice is simply to start small. One or two accent pieces against a neutral base is all it takes. "Adding a few little pops in one or two highlight colors will keep the space feeling cohesive," she says — and once you see what a single cheerful piece does to a room, you'll want more. Her favorite combinations: Ocean, Olive, and Sage for a nursery that feels calm and timeless. Butter and Mustard for a warm, inviting playroom, with a pop of Poppy if you want to turn up the energy. And for a bedroom that leans pink without going overboard, Blush, Berry, and Poppy together — the palette Jess used for her own daughter's room — is just right.
Originally opened as a family boarding house in Callicoon Center in 1905, Callicoon Hills is a 65-room, 23-acre property in the Western Catskills with a rich history and plenty to offer the whole family. Book your stay in the Pool House, which has double rooms that have multiple beds. (Note: The hotel does not have cribs but they do have pack ‘n plays available upon request.) Spend time in the game room playing arcade games, board games and ping pong, or sit by the fireside in the evening and make s’mores. The hotel’s two dining venues, the Conover Club (open for dinner and weekend brunch) and Rise & Shine Coffee Shop (open for all-day coffee, grab-n-go meals and snacks)–are both extremely kid-friendly. If the weather permits, go fishing in Roscoe or take a hike along one of the nearby Sullivan County trails. For a morning or afternoon adventure, drive about 25 minutes to The Museum at Bethel Woods (children 5 and under are free), a space dedicated to preserving and celebrating the iconic Woodstock festival. Starting November 25th and running through January 1st, check out the drive-through holiday light show. Advance tickets recommended for the light show. On your way back to the city from Callicoon Hi lls, take the kids (if they’re old enough to enjoy it and weather permits) to Legoland.
Turn Everyday Life Into Art
One of their newest pieces, the Storyboard, has quickly become a family favorite. Mustard Made designed it intentionally open-ended — part mood board, part planner, part display. Families have used it as a rotating scrapbook, filling it with birthday invitations, show tickets, artwork, and little treasures that deserve a moment in the spotlight. "Seeing it become part of a family's rhythm is so rewarding," Becca says. It's functional, personal, and genuinely beautiful on a wall — which is pretty much the whole Mustard Made philosophy in one piece. Whether you're starting with one locker or overhauling the whole playroom, Mustard Made is the kind of investment you'll feel good about every single day. Shop the full collection at Maisonette.
Kristin Tice Studeman is a NYC-based lifestyle writer and mom to her one-year-old son, Myles. Her work has appeared in global publications such as The New York Times, Vogue, Conde Nast Traveler, and more..28
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