At last, a table that will seat three children comfortably! For those
with more than a couple of children, here's a circular beauty
that seats them for work or play, plus the occasional meal or snack.
There are three spots carved out of the sides of the
Kukka Table, and being fairly low,
it's an ideal choice for those who prefer to sit on the floor. Pad their
bottoms with a chic floor cushion and slide it underneath after use.
Compact abodes will benefit from the dual-use opportunity the Kukka
provides. Kiddy table by day, stunningly beautiful coffee table by
night. Two pieces of furniture are built into one finely crafted
object, with the frame made from compressed birch veneer and the
top from birch plywood.
Available with a beautiful birch and wengewood floral illustration by Jani Tolin, or if you prefer, a solid matte colour,
you can choose one of seven colours
and three sizes. The colour you select is also featured on the inside walls of the table so it can be admired when the children
are in bed.
From Finnish design company Tunto. Contact them about
shipping internationally.
There are lots of things that make me want to be a little girl again - being allowed to get messy when eating ice cream, having an afternoon nap, not having to work - and this super-stylish (and yet functional) toddler bed from Florida-based designers P'kolino just confirms it - children really do have it good.
This brand new miniature bed has just been released, with its rounded corners and tangerine accents (it would be rude not to opt for the orange model!) wouldn't look out of place in a trendy 20th century modern furniture showroom and yet it's a fraction of the price of a designer piece and multi-functional too.
I've never really been convinced with the idea of toddler beds, given that children seem to grow so rapidly and then it's bye-bye mini bed, hello eBay. But the best thing about the ingenious P'kolino toddler bed, which comes with side rails, is that when your little one outgrows the bed it smartly folds into a gorgeous chair. And the designers promise that its easy to fold out again if needed, for sleepovers.
I love this brand, and after visiting their online store, I am afraid for my credit card. Too long have I been searching for play furniture that looks good, is practical and won't mean I have to re-mortgage the house. P'kolino Toddler Bed is US$189 plus shipping and you'll need a re-shipper for this one.
The Bloom Otto children's table and chairs set is
one way to keep the invasion of furniture at bay. When we have children, we see our spaces taken over with
the accoutrement of modern-day childhood. Of course this is also a wonderful thing as we welcome into our homes all manner of
beautiful objects, but some of us simply don't have the space to accomodate it all.
The art of the Bloom Otto set is the way the chairs slide into the
inside of the table, and are completely obscured. The backs of the
chairs make the table appear to be one piece of furniture, and allow
you to free up some floor space when the children are in bed.
Every night, my husband and I diligently pack away the toys and move
the toddler chair and table to the side of the room, to claim back our
adult space. With the Otto, it's as easy as clearing the top and moving
the chairs inside to cosy up together for the evening.
With the chairs pushed in, the Otto looks like a high-end side
table, superbly formed into a patented shape from stylewood in two
colours - mocha and natural. You can choose an optional centre panel in
orange, or plain wood. Each end has a slide out tray for
quick access and storage of art materials so the clutter is kept out of
sight. No assembly is required and it's
suitable for use from 18 months on. With such beautiful
styling, the Otto is going on my wishlist!
The set is $599.95, from
Bébé who ship all orders
over $100 free of charge.
In March, we let you know about the Grow Up Booster Seat by Mutsy. They have just arrived in Australia and are available from Urban Baby for $99.95.
The portable booster is for children up to age 4.
The Grow Up Booster Chair
sports spaceage looks, and weighing
only 1.5kg, can easily be transported around. It's refreshing to see
such a good looking booster! Available in aqua, raspberry, blueberry and nut.
Also check out the Mutsy
Easygrow, which
is an industrial beauty of a chair
and a fantastic investment, lasting children from babyhood,
right up to 12 years. Parents don't want to pay large amounts
of money for something that will only last until toddlerhood, when the
adult chairs are still too big, yet the highchair too small.
Mutsy is providing an alternative to the more earthy-looking wooden
chairs produced by other leading brands. For those of us still loving
our stainless steel appliances and large industrial spaces made into
living quarters, the Easygrow is just what we want stylistically,
as well as practically.
Smaller babies, starting out in their first chair will be as snug as a
bug when it is fitted with the 'flexible seat reducer'.
The Easygrow
already comes with the footrest,
tray and bumper bar, so only one optional extra is great on the hip
pocket. Choose from pleasing neutral colours in a
selection of opaques and solids. There's also orange and green for
those wanting a brighter look.
Here’s a coffee table that will keep your kids, their friends and your own friends amused for hours. The PLAY! Coffee Table from BCXSY is like a giant version of those plastic slide puzzles you find in party bags. But this table doesn’t just look good, it’s useful as well. The pieces slide to reveal 16 secret compartments perfect for hiding cds, toys, crayons and all the other clutter that comes with kids.
The table is handmade from walnut veneered plywood with a lacquer print and is on swivel castors to make moving it around the living room so much easier. It is available from Canadian company, Generate for US$7599 but you will need to organise your own international courier.
