IN THE CLASSROOM:

One California Elementary student’s bedroom has a half-court for basketball surrounded by bunk beds. Another’s showcases an underground tunnel to an outdoor pool. A third has a golden wall with a shelf for sports trophies.

Zack Estarada showed off a room complete with holographic windows and electronic carpeting, a “Lego library” and workstation, and a TV that pops up out of a flat panel, complete with Xbox and Playstation.

“My mom says I need to put my imagination to good use,” he said. “Sometimes I have too much of it.”

Big spenders? Hardly. These fourth- through sixth-graders are part of THINK/Design, a new after-school class that has students learning principles of architecture and design and applying them to their own dream bedrooms. The ultimate goal, however, is something less pie-in-the-sky: a workable plan for a covered student lounge out on the school’s playground.

Davis and Andrea Krumins have never taught elementary school students before, but they know plenty about design; together, they run Davis-Ink Ltd., a design firm that has created the look of restaurants and nightclubs throughout Southern California.

Both aren’t shy to offer ideas and constructive criticism to the kids, but said they want them to let their ideas run wild in the design phase. Zack’s design changed somewhat from last week, when the Krumins duo suggested he keep some healthy space around the fireplace.

“You do have to make sure it’s something that can be done and is affordable to the client,” Davis Krumins said. “A lot of times we design something way too fancy, and we can’t do it all.”

Later in the class, the students were outside, standing around a patch of dead grass on the school field where they’ll be allowed to design a student lounge for older kids who behave especially well. Kids were sketching and scribbling away on their note pads as they planned out ideas, ranging from ping-pong tables to a glass dome.

Ultimately, they will present a proposal to the school district, and Davis-Ink clients will help donate materials to make it happen.

“We started them on elevations and floor plans, and had them working on their dream room,” Andrea Krumins said.

As for the limits of the lounge?

“Anything you can build on this baby,” she said.

Davis Krumins said even after just three weeks, he was seeing remarkable results from the kids.

“Some of them are really talented and really serious,” he said.

KIDS TALK BACK

What do you like about the THINK/Design program?

“I thought it would be fun to design, to put what you wish for in your room.”

Jason Chasemore, 9

“I like this; I like to design things.”

Andre Krumins, 10

“I like ‘em. My dad’s doing a very good job as a teacher and a parent.”

Alexandra Kline, 9

“I’m working on trying to get certain materials, like some really bright tiling for my room.”

Jake Huber, 9

“I like working on my drawing skills, and I get to express myself. My favorite part of my room’s the bowling alley.”

Griffin Kline, 9

MICHAEL ALEXANDER may be reached at (714) 966-4618 or at [email protected].