Furniture

These Fairies in the Garden Alphabet Wall Cards are reproduced from Melissa Sweet’s watercolor illustrations onto heavy laminated stock. I can think of several ways to display these beautiful reproductions. They’d be lovely as a wall border or around the frame of a doorway or window to brighten your little girl’s bedroom. You might even frame and hang them as separate pictures or display along a shelf or molding.

Each card measures 8″x10″. A set of 26 costs $25.50  at HannaAndersson.com.

I can see something like this custom-made Noah’s Ark Canopy Crib (and dresser, toy box, and armoire) really growing on a person. It is painstakingly hand-painted with charming animals and, of course, the ark. There’s even bedding one can purchase to go with it.Though it strikes me as fairly boyish, it’s not limited to a boy or girl’s room; it’s fine for either.

I would accessorize with hand-painted canvasses depicting similar animals and perhaps a boat mobile for over the crib. Curtains in the orange of the animals featured on the crib would really add a punch to the room, but a more subtle color (also in a rug) would add a touch of class.

A splurge item for the upscale mommy at $1700, it can be found at ABaby.com. The other furniture is special order but not unattainable.

Now, this is an item for a mother to love! My daughter’s closet is stuffed with stuffed animals. Every time I get around to cleaning out her closet I ask her to choose just her favorites to keep, but somehow we’re still stuck with stuff.

The Trio Animal Storage Bag is a practical and fun way to store all those friends. You just zip them into each of the compartments and use it for a play area.

You can purchase one for $99.99 at PiccoliniOnline.com.

Storage and compactness! Whether you have one child or three (like me), keeping their rooms neat is a never ending task. That’s just what the makers of the KidKraft Table with Primary Benches kept in mind. I like that the benches fit under the table completely, giving you more room when needed. There’s a storage bin that fits right uner the table which is very convenient. If you decide to use this table exclusively for art then you can store all the art materials in the storage bin ready for use.

It’s versatile and attractive with the bright primary colors and well worth the price of $104.95 at SensoryEdge.com.

We already know that Lazy Susans work in the kitchen and at the dining table but what a great idea for the craft table! Kids are always reaching over each other for the “blue” crayon or the “pink marker.” Just keep the buckets filled with plenty of creative materials and I’m sure this Lazy Susan will be a big help in keeping peace in your home, or school, or nursery, or anywhere there are children at play.

Each set includes Lazy Susan and five mini buckets. My children are grown now but I would definitely have one of these handy for when I’m babysitting my nieces and nephews or when it’s my turn to volunteer in the nursery. Toddlers don’t share. For them, It’s barely a concept and hardly a reality to them yet!

Lazy Susan base available in Light Green, Navy, and Light Pink. Buckets come in Red only.

Price: $49.00 at potterybarnkids.com.

These cabinets by Cameron are a dream! Depending on the pieces you purchase the price range is $149-$899 with Baskets by Sabrina sold separately. So depending on the available space in your child’s room (or the available space in your wallet) you can build your own set.

Mix and match the cubby, open base and cabinets to create the storage area that fits your child’s needs. A great feature of the cabinets is that they are available with corkboard for displaying your child’s artwork (give your refrigerator a little space break) or posting personal notes from mom.

Cabinet faces are also available with chalkboard. This is a beautiful and fun way to keep a room tidy. The Cameron Creativity Storage Cabinet system looks like it has a place for everything - keeping everything in its place and off the floor.

Available in Honey, Espresson, and Sun Valley Honey.

Dimensions: Lower Storage Wall System is 87 x 21 x 40″ h.
Cubby is: 29 x 14 x 24.5″ h.
Base is: 29 x 21 x 15.5″ h.
Cabinet is: 29 x 14 x 24.5″ h.

Price: $149-$899.00 at potterybarnkids.com

There are a lot of reasons to like these U Chairs. First of all, they’re made with recyclable foam that contains 25% soy based materials and the cotton covers are removable for washing. Secondly they’re brightly colored and come in a variety to choose from:  Rose Bloom, Red, Russet Orange, Meadow Green, Horizon Blue, and Peacoat Navy. And the best reason to choose these U Chairs for your child’s room is their shape.

Our children never like to leave anything the way they find it! A craft table in their bedroom becomes a tent or a fort. The toybox becomes their sailing vessel and the closet is a mysterious cave! With these durable eco friendly chairs they can build and rebuild as far as their imagination can take them.

I’ll bet they’d make for comfortable seating too.  Whenever it was time for our family to gather around our favorite TV show (Are You Afraid of the Dark) everyone would grab a pillow off of the sofa. Now your kiddies can grab their favorite U Chair and settle in for a fun family time together.

Dimensions: 28 x 14 x 14″h.

Price: $29.00 each at potterybarnkids.com.

I could not have survived my son’s infancy without my vibrating bouncy chair. In fact, I had two, one for when my son was a little bigger and appreciated more stimulation (it had an overhead piece with ocean movements and sounds.)

The Pod Bouncer by Combi is much more stylish than either of the seats I own and it is certainly eye-catching as well. I like the colors (there are others available should mandarin not be your flavor) and the removable “friends” hanging just in baby’s sight range.  The design of this pod is genius; I can’t count the number of times we tripped over the legs of our bouncy chairs, as they protruded so much from the actual seat.

The canopy comes off, the sounds and vibrations are built into the pod, and there’s a storage compartment at the back of it. If the music included is not your cup of tea, there’s a handy MP3 feature. This pod strikes me as innovative design at its best and can be yours for $79.99 at csnbaby.com.

The K1 High Chair from the British company Kuster is hands down the most attractive high chair I have ever encountered. The styling is ultra-modern and hip, and the chair is made from high-quality wood. I love the beech version that we have, but the white version is very attractive too. Either will blend perfectly into most kitchens/dining rooms.The green and white cushion and booster are a great additional touch of modern flair.

I was very dissatisfied with our previous high-end high chair, but am absolutely enchanted with this seat. It was a breeze to put together, and is intuitively designed to be easy to use and store. The tray comes apart for easy cleaning, and there is a generous storage basket in the back for bibs, wipes, and/or toys.

If you need to store the seat between uses, it folds very easily and compactly. The legs are also adjustable, as is the footrest. The seat has a five point harness for safety, and the harness, cushion, and booster are all easily washable. Best of all, the seat grows with your child and can be used up to approximately six years of age.

You can bring this great modern design home for $250. The cushion/booster is sold separately and retails for $49.95. You can purchase both at barebabies.com. Use the code up10offkuster to receive 10% off your purchase of any Kuster product(s) from the site.

With several gorgeous plaques and a plethora of rack colors to be chosen from, the 3 Peg Rack by Parsnip Designs is divine. You’re not even limited to 3 Pegs. Single peg racks are available as well and I’ve got my eye on a single lizard rack, though I wouldn’t sneeze at one featuring the lizard and the frog.

There’s a lovely olive green rack color available that would suit my choices nicely. I use pegs in my child’s room and have from the beginning for his jackets and outfits (especially the cute ones) or even to display a few toys he wasn’t old enough for.

At $74.99, it’s a splurge but it’s certainly attractive enough to be worth it. Sold at littlebundles.ca, the Parsnip racks are sure to finish off any well-designed nursery perfectly.

I have to admit it. shopgenes.com has the coolest in baby accessories. I have run across a lot of impressive sites but this stuff really stands out.

The Victoria Staten Playard will not be outdone when it comes to chic. Done in maple and leather (yes, you heard me right—leather) with a (washable) fabric body for comfort, it offers style and practicality. There’s even a topper for convenient diaper changes.

Imagine pulling this number out at a friend’s place for an overnight stay or naptime; it’ll certainly draw in an admiring crowd. In size, it measures 28 inches H by 37 inches W by 33 inches D, great for baby’s travelling needs.

At $650.00, it’s a posh piece indeed.

The Candy Factory Wallcandy is pretty delightful, if you ask me; it’s bright, cheery, and moveable. This Candy Land inspired art encourages fine motor skills (the moving), creative thinking (designing patterns from the decals), and fun. It’d make a wonderful play room decoration or even go nicely along a hallway, perhaps one leading to a child’s room, depending on how adventurous your tastes are.

Though I’d be afraid my son would simply drag the pieces all over the place, losing them all over the house, I do love the idea of these decals. I’m a fan of all things creative and colorful. The price tag for 18 feet of grass, 12 flowers made from lollipops, 12 peppermint roses, 24 bushes in gumdrop shapes and 68 little gumballs is $75.00 at shopgenes.com.

See Carly’s previous review of Wallcandy on our Baby Blog.

Jeeto Giraffe is the ultimate in accessories for the modern nursery. Done in silk screen in two different sizes (9×12 and 18×24), it’s stretched on a solid frame and comes in two different price points ($39.00 or add $40.00 for the larger version).

I like its simplicity and the snazzy colors. I might put it in an all-white nursery with bedding and window coverings in the same shades of orange. A dresser with clean lines but very stylized would really add to the atmosphere as well.

I found it at shopgenes.com, along with a few other great canvas creations.

I have been comparison shopping for an organic crib mattress that is both high-quality and reasonably priced. The Naturepedic organic cotton crib mattress, aptly named the “No-Compromise” mattress, seems to be one of the best options available for parents who don’t want to compromise on safety, but want to avoid spending upwards of $1000 for a mattress alone.

The Naturepedic mattress offers many desirable features. In addition to being made from organic cotton for maximum safety, it features a waterproof surface, firm support, and is completely hypoallergenic, with built in protection from dust mites.

You will feel good about putting your little one to sleep on this mattress. At $259, it won’t destroy your budget. You can purchase one at hunkydoryonline.com.

I first stumbled on press for this chair nearly a year ago. Since I am a big fan of Fleurville’s diaper bags, I had to check it out. Fleurville describes the Calla as “a high chair for modern life,” and it is definitely ultra-modern and hip.

Designed by industrial designer Yves Behar, the chair is inspired by the shape of the calla lily. It features a removable tray that fits in most dishwashers and a footrest for comfort. It is designed to adjust easily for height, and the circular base provides stability as well as modern style.

The chair is a little too modern for my home, but it is definitely eye-catching. It also has yet to hit stores, although Fleurville promises a fall 2008 release. The expected retail price is $850.