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Archive for the ‘Baby & Kids Room Furniture and Design’ Category

What’s worse than the Tokidoki Barbie?

Friday, October 28th, 2011

Have you heard about the Tokidoki Barbie?

Tokidoki doll

Designed by the LA fashion group of the same name, the edgy new collector’s item from Mattel sports a bright pink bob and prominent neck and shoulder tattoos – and it’s causing quite a stir among parents. Despite the fact that the $50 doll is said to be aimed at adult buyers, guardians the world over fear that the loud new ‘toy’ is sending the wrong message to impressionable children.

We’re reserving out judgment on the doll, but it does remind us of some other truly strange children’s products that have crossed the FADI desk – and which are yet to catch the attention of concerned carers.

So in the spirit of Friday afternoon, here’s our guide to what not to buy your tots this holiday season.

 

Ouch!

Na Zha Cradle

The Na Zha Cradle, from the boutique’s outrageously unsafe line of stainless steel baby furniture.

 

The Baby Cage

The baby cage

This frightening wire contraption, which allowed inner city parents to store their children outside city windows, was patented in the US in 1922.

 

And we’ve heard of baby mobiles, but…

From Mommysentials: “The Babykeeper Basic is an infant carrier style seat, that hangs from the stall wall in most public restrooms, and can also be used in many public fitting rooms and locker rooms.”

 

For a safer and much less controversial selection of baby furniture visit our sponsor, Cymax Stores.

 

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Hassle-Free Themed Bedrooms

Tuesday, April 5th, 2011

Has your spring cleaning has spilled over to your children’s bedrooms? Are you thinking about what it would take to start over with a whole new look?

The Doll House
Tradewins Doll House Wood Loft Bunk Bed


Redecorating a child’s room can be just a few short steps. Look for colorful finishes and faux structures like houses and tents.

The Fire House
Tradewins Fire House Twin Size Loft Bunk Bed


Some children’s twin over full bunk bed designs feature so much attention to detail that you’ll need to add little more than a few accent pieces to tie the room together.

The Circus Tent
Coaster Kids Twin Metal Loft Bunk Bed With Slide and Tent


Instead of the plain summer-camp-style look of futon bunk beds, choose any of the above loft bunk beds to create a self-contained theme that does all the work for you.

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Don’t Forget the Bunkie Boards!

Wednesday, March 30th, 2011

If you’ve been reading Furniture and Design Ideas recently, you know we’ve had bunk beds on the brain. And why not? Today’s bunks are more versatile than ever, creating fun, yet practical living spaces in modern children’s bedrooms. They can be playful, sophisticated, and all points in between.

We’ve talked about building a boy’s bedroom with loft bunk beds from South Shore and twin over full bunk beds from Alligator Enterprise.

And if you read our post on seaside-inspired teen furniture, you saw a great Young America bunk set, perfect for artful shabby chic rooms.Wolf Corp Bunkie Board for Twin Bunk Beds

Look for contemporary bunk bed features like:

• Desks and bookshelves
• Platform storage drawers
• Vertical cupboards
• Rolling or spring trundles

Yes, there are a lot of great bunk beds out there, but naturally, size, structure, and design all vary. So today, we also want to talk about bunkie boards.

And what are they? For bunk bed frames that don’t include built-in mattress support, these boards fill the role of a box spring or wood slats.

It makes sense when you think about it; a bulky box spring isn’t going to work well with bunk beds – especially on that top bunk!

When you’ve decided on your dream bunk bed, find out if the frame includes slats that support each mattress. If not, you’ll want to add bunkie boards. Some bunk beds will only need one board for the top bunk alone, while some models need support for both mattresses.

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The Advantages of a Convertible Crib

Thursday, February 10th, 2011

As convertible cribs grow in popularity, you’ve probably noticed a few popping up here on Furniture and Design Ideas. You have an idea of what’s involved in setting up a crib to start, but have you been wondering about how you’ll convert the crib down the road? To get into more detail about what to expect when making future conversions, I’ve asked the knowledgeable staff over at Lusso Baby to guest blog.

Convertible cribs are a growing trend for savvy parents who want all their furniture purchases to last for many years. When you need to purchase a baby crib, why not choose the model that converts to a toddler bed, a daybed, and then to a full twin-size bed?

At Lusso Baby, we love helping busy moms and dads save time and money, without losing the style they crave. So we carry a number of trendy convertible cribs that provide the opportunity to shop once for up to four beds. Parents can save the time and trouble associated with several rounds of furniture shopping. Choosing a convertible crib is also an eco-friendly choice that means a lower carbon footprint and less overall waste in packaging and product.

We carry convertible cribs from Aldi Juvenile, Ap Industries, BabyLetto, Da Vinci, Lea, Natart Juvenile, Nurseryworks, Status Furniture, Stokke, Stork Craft, Tulip, and Westwood Design. While most of these cribs are solid wood, design influences range from contemporary to classic, covering European-style or antique-inspired themes.

Many of these convertible cribs can be purchased with coordinating wood dressers, changing tables, and armoires. Parents can choose an entire bedroom set for the nursery that will grow with baby, lasting until it’s time for college.

To walk through the conversion of a crib, we’ve chosen the DaVinci Kalani crib, popular for form, function, and affordability. The Kalani is available in cherry, honey oak, ebony, espresso, and white.

4-in-1 Crib Stages

DaVinci Kalani in Espresso

The first conversion is from crib to toddler bed. This transition is fairly straightforward and requires that you remove the lower front side of your crib and replace it with a smaller partial rail. To convert to the daybed, simply remove the toddler rail.

For the last conversion, which is the most involved, you’ll be removing the sides of the crib leaving only the tallest back side of the frame. The back of the crib will become the headboard of your child’s twin bed. You’ll then attach the twin bed rails and add the original lower front side of the crib for the footboard. Remember that you will also need a new twin size mattress at this point.

DaVinci Kalani 4-in-1 Convertible Crib Nursery Set

DaVinci Kalani 4-in-1 Convertible Crib Nursery Set

Using a convertible crib, alone or as part of a bedroom crib set, requires storage of these additional parts when not in use. You might be tempted to purchase the additional conversion rails as you need them, but we recommend purchasing the toddler and twin rails along with your crib. If the manufacturer decides to stop making your crib, you’ll already have the parts you need.

Purchase a baby crib set including a changing table and conversion rails, like the one shown above, and you’ll have the foundations of a bedroom that will last your child well into the teen years.

~ Lusso Baby Staff

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From the Design Files of Heather B – Bedroom for Baby-to-Be

Monday, January 24th, 2011

Design Question

Hi Heather,

I need your help. My husband and I were enchanted my different pieces of furniture that have different colors, such as a white crib (the best we could afford, but they only have it in white), a cute dresser in lilac, yellow and a bit of pinkish on the top (which will be almost all covered by the changing table), and a rocking chair in pine color with a blue cushion that a friend gave us to help us save money. The walls of our little princess-to-be’s bedroom are light yellow, and the floor is light hardwood. We don’t have too much money to spend on buying more/new baby nursery furniture, but we could paint the walls and change the chair’s cushion, but I have no clue about what to do. Please, help us.

(Desperate) Mom-to-be Cris H.

Design Answer

Hi Cris,

Congratulations on the new edition to your family! This is an exciting time for you and your husband and one of the best ways to welcome your little princess is to design a nursery for her.

It sounds like you are off to a great start by selecting baby nursery furniture pieces that are pleasing to you. So, don’t stress out; you’re on the right track. There are some simple things you can do to bring all of the current elements in the room together – and they don’t have to cost a lot.

a) Pick a theme. Choosing a theme for your baby’s bedroom is a quick and inexpensive way of connecting the different elements in the room. The theme could be anything that interests or inspires you such as rainbows, butterflies, a particular nursery rhyme, the alphabet or characters from children’s literature like Winnie the Pooh, Alice in Wonderland or The Wind and the Willows.

b) You said you’d be willing to paint the walls – I would. While the color looks all right on its own, it’s too close in tone to both the dresser and the floor. I suggest a yellow that is a couple of shades lighter than what is now in the nursery; one that is more lemon or sun than sand or gold. It might be different in “real life” but based on the picture that you included, the current wall color seems to make the room seem smaller.

c) Buy crib bedding that matches the theme you picked and will complement the wall color in the room.

d) If the cushion color doesn’t go with the nursery bedding, I would replace if with a cover that does.

e) I would purchase an area rug for either the rocker area or by the crib. Don’t forget that this is “your” room too since you will also be spending as much time here as your baby will. Making the baby’s bedroom comfortable for you as well is important too.

f) If you have the budget for it, I also suggest you change the window treatment to match or complement the new wall color and the bedding.

Thanks for writing in. I hope this was helpful. Let me know how it turns out.

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Posted in Baby & Kids Room Furniture and Design, From the Design Files of Heather B, Home Decor and Design Ideas, Home Decor Design Ideas | 4 Comments »

Modern Interior Design – The Bedroom

Friday, December 11th, 2009

As discussed in parts 1 and 2 of this mini series on modern interior design, modern style is characterized by clean, spare lines, sleek and polished surfaces and geometric or asymmetrical profiles. While metal and glass are popular construction materials, wood also plays a role in modern interior design. But again, the look is smooth and polished, even when the wood is bleached or has a textured appearance. Form is function: no decorative detail allowed! Visual interest is created through the design and structure of the furniture piece itself. This is what makes modernism so attractive when decorating a room: the result is neat, clean and soothing.

Benjamin Moore 

Color palettes are predominately neutral. Whites, grays and taupes are popular shades. For the room we are creating today, one of the whites like “ice mist” or “snowfall white” would provide the perfect contrast for the bed that will be the focal point of the room. 

Deceptively simple in design, a platform bed is a minimal, rectangular form, often without a headboard or a footboard. It is for this reason that platform beds are often associated with modern style. Since a platform bed generally doesn’t need a box spring or any other type of foundation to support the mattress, the bed stands closer to the floor. This can work to your advantage when decorating a smaller sized room, because it can make the space appear larger. The Modloft Ludlow Platform Bed (New) in White Leatherette With Wenge Frame has clean lines and an angular profile. The button-tufted detailing provides visual interest while the white headboard paired with a dark wood frame creates a stunning contrast. 

Ludlow Bed

When dressing the bed, you can choose one of two options. The first is to keep it “stark” by using white bedding as pictured. While some people are attracted to the clean, minimalist look of modern design, they might be reluctant to go that route but are afraid it will turn out too bleak or cold, the second option is to select bedding that will introduce color into your modern interior bedroom design. 

Three-Drawer-Nightstand-Cappuccino

The angular profile of the Modloft Ludlow Nightstand in Wenge Finish (Set of Two) (pictured above with the bed), echoes the profiles of the bed frame and the headboard. Another excellent choice for our modern style bedroom would be the Lifestyle Solutions Zurich 3 Drawer Nightstand. As sleek and linear as the bed is, the base of this nightstand mimics the frame of the platform bed. 

Global Furniture USA Camilla Dresser

White Table Lamp

The final finishing touches to our modern style bedroom would include accessorizing. While the whole point of accessorizing a room is to make it more comfortable and inviting, as well as functional, you will want to be true to the spirit of the modern interior by sticking to the rule “less is more.” Surfaces should not be cluttered. Make sure you include plenty of storage options, like the Global Furniture USA Camilla Dresser, which will allow you to put things away, out of sight. Table lamps or bedside table lamps should be punctuation points in the design of your modern bedroom. Again, select lamps with clean lines, whether rounded or angular. Forms should be simple yet distinctive in order to provide sufficient amount of light. To add drama to the room, choose bedside lamps that have the appearance of a piece of sculpture.

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Bedroom Ideas Kids

Monday, September 14th, 2009

Bedroom Ideas Kids – Spaces for Sleep, Study, & Play

Designing children’s bedrooms can take a kid-size imagination for the right ideas. Your kids’ bedroom design needs to be both fun AND functional, incorporating their main activities of play, study, and of course, sleep. As a result, you should begin this interior design project by dividing up space for each of these activities.

Lacking for space? Do not worry! With today’s many versatile furniture and accessories choices, you can easily arrange your kids’space no matter how limited. In fact, just do it with A LOT of imagination, and they will see unlimited possibilities as should you.

Bedroom Ideas Kids – Sleep

The first choice for a kids’ bedroom is…their bed! Once your children have outgrown the crib, it is time to invest in a bed of their own. Experts recommend replacing our mattresses about every 10 years.

However, children’s natural playfulness might cause more wear and tear than usual. Therefore, start with a good-quality mattress that can withstand “jumping on the bed” from time to time. However, always put support on top of the list when shopping for a new mattress.

It is vital that you make sure your kid test the mattress you plan to purchase at store for them. Better yet, choose various models within your budget and have him/her select their favourites.

As for bed frames, you have several options to fit your space and wallet, including platform, poster, bookcase, and bunk beds, among many others.

Kids Loft BedsAnother option growing in popularity are loft beds like the Lea Kids Loft Beds

Desk Loft BedLea Freetime Desk Loft Bed and

Loft Bed Tentthe Getaway Loft Bed with Entertainment Centre and Loft Bed Tent that allow for a play or study area underneath, room for a desk, storage, or other kids furniture.

Twin Loft BedYou can even fit in another bed if you have more than one youngster with the Tradewins Birch Youth Twin over Twin Loft Bed or the

Loft-Wood-BedUniversity Loft Urban Extra Long Wild Cherry Senior Crew Loft Wood Bed .
Loft beds will work ideally if your children’s room has 8” or more ceilings.

Bedroom Ideas Kids – Study

There are many hidden benefits to making your youngster’s study area fun and comfortable by choosing the right desk or kids table and chair. Imagine if homework became more like play and not like a chore. As a result, make study time as pleasant an experience as it can possibly be, and you might just see the results (in winning report cards) in no time

.
White Kids DeskYou can choose from something traditional and simple like the Kidcraft Avalon White Kids Desk with Hutch and Chair to

Home Student Deskthe sassy and shiny Powell Monster Bedroom Counter Height Computer Home Student Desk . While your ultimate choice will be dictated by style, keep these things in mind:

  1. Make sure they have enough surface space on their desk whether it is for using a computer or writing in a more traditional notebook.
  2. Make sure the desk has enough storage space! Apart from encouraging your kids not to leave out too much clutter, more storage space allows for more ways to organize as they get older.

If you are looking for more storage space, hutches that fit over the desk or bookcases are useful choices.

Boys BookcaseFor the latter, you can choose from the playful Levels of Discovery Kids Firefighter Boys Bookcase

Princess Bookcaseor Levels of Discovery Kids Always a Princess Bookcase .

Kids White BookcaseOf course, there are more minimalist yet very functional choices like the Young America by Stanley Hampton Pointe Piano Key Antique Kids White Bookcase

Ladder Bookcasesand the bare yet spacious Berg Furniture Enterprises 34” Ladder Bookcases .

Bedroom Ideas Kids – Play

Last but certainly not least with kids is a space dedicated to playtime.

Kids TV StandThis can be any set of activities from watching cartoons on a TV housed in the Young America by Stanley Summerhaven White Kids TV Stand

Boys Benchto an exciting world of toys and games creatively stored in the Levels of Discovery Kids All Star Sports Boys Bench Seat with Storage

Painted Toy Boxor Teamson Design Sunny Safari Hand Painted Toy Box .


Today’s kids’ furnishings not only offer a variety of options whether they dream about sports or unicorns, but they also are versatile enough to fit a number of functions, such as storage and seating. With this versatility in mind, the essence of successful bedroom ideas kids design is to make room for all the various activities associated with being a kid, such as (in no order of importance) play, study, and sleep.

Nicolette Interior Design Diva

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Baby Crib Buying Guide

Tuesday, June 30th, 2009

Selecting Your Baby’s Crib

One of your first steps for baby room design is picking the right baby crib. Your newborn is going to be sleeping in their crib until the age of 2 or 3, so you’ll want a crib to hold up through those growing years. Because a crib is so essential to your baby’s health, you’ll want to opt for the latest models.

Earlier types of cribs may not be up to the industry standards, and may have been recalled at some point for safety hazards. Newer cribs may be more expensive, but they’re at the height of safety, so you should definitely consider quality over price. Avoid impulse buys as well – shop around and be sure you find the style and features that you want in your baby’s crib.

Baby Crib Types:

Standard – these cribs are divided into two different kinds: no drop sides and drop sides. No drop cribs have stationary sides that don’t drop down, but they offer different mattress heights to make it easier to place and remove your baby from the crib. Drop cribs allow you to lower the sides for easier access to your baby.

White Baby Crib

No drop: Bratt Decor Heritage White Baby Crib

Wood Drop Baby Crib

Drop: Young America by Stanley Hampton Pointe Piano Key Antique Wood Drop Baby Crib

Cherry Convertible Baby Crib

Convertible – also known as a 3-in-1 or 4-in-1, depending on what they can change into. These cribs can transform from a standard crib, to a toddler bed, and even to a day bed along the road. Convertible cribs are obviously more expensive, but they will save you from buying a toddler bed and day bed for your child in the future.

Canopy Baby Crib

Canopy – for an elegant, classic look, canopy baby cribs with four poster rods attached at the top allow you to hang fabric or curtains from it.

Round Baby Crib

Round – round cribs are the latest in fashion right now. Sharp corners are eliminated, and no matter what position your baby ends up in, they’ll be able to see their surroundings – and you’ll be able to see your baby!

Crib Mattresses:

Firm vs. Soft – you’re going to want a reasonably firm mattress for your baby’s crib, because babies need a more solid sleeping area. If the mattress is too soft, it will be hard for the baby to turn itself out of position, which is dangerous if it ends up face down. Also, it doesn’t matter whether the mattress is foam or coiled – they are both considered safe. It’s all about personal preference.

Steel Spring Crib Mattress

DaVinci Crescent Mini Steel Spring Crib Mattress 50 Coil

LA Baby Crib Mattress

L.A. Baby Maxi Support Memory Foam Cotton 2-in-1 Orthopedic Crib Mattress

Sizes – Most crib mattress sizes are standard nowadays, so it shouldn’t be hard to find a mattress to fit the crib you have in mind. Just be sure to double check the size of your baby’s crib and the mattress itself to make sure it will fit snugly inside.

Organic – these crib mattresses will normally be more expensive, but they’re more natural compared to regular mattresses, and are better for the planet.

L.A. Baby Superlastic Latex Organic Cotton Reversible 2-in-1 Crib Mattress

Stokke Sleepi Organic Crib Mattress

Stokke Sleepi Organic Crib Mattress by Natural Mat

Organic Coconut Fiber Baby Crib Mattress

L.A.Baby Organic Coconut Fiber Crib Mattress

DaVinci Natural Baby Crib Mattress

DaVinci Willow Natural Baby Crib Mattress

Crib Features:

Child Craft Convertible Crib

Safety – look for the following information in your crib: there’s no more than 2 3/8 inches between crib slats, the mattresses has no more than 2 fingers worth of space between it and the crib side, the drop sides are at least 9 inches above the mattress when lowered (and at least 26 inches above the mattress support when raised). Also make sure the drop sides have a secure locking mechanism, and that there is no sign of peeling paint, rough corners, or splinters. Child Craft Watterson Lifetime Bed

Sleigh Baby Crib

Mattress Support/Height – you’ll need strong mattress supports to attach the mattress to the sides of the crib. Adjustable mattress height is essential for your child’s growth – as they get bigger, Bratt Decor Chelsea Standard Sleigh Crib in Espresso

Young America Baby Crib

Rolling Casters – if you ever need to reposition your crib, for cleaning or just a change, rolling casters with a locking system are ideal. Young America by Stanley Ma Marie Crib with 4 Locking Wheels

DaVinci Baby Crib

Teething Rail – it’s a safe coating that covers the top of the crib rails top crib brands like DaVinci Baby Crib often have these, so your teething baby will not chew on the actual crib. DaVinci Jenny Lind Wood 3-in-1 Convertible Baby Crib in Ebony

Traditional Baby Crib

Bumper Guards – they line all four sides of the crib in case your little one rolls over in the night. They won’t end up hitting the harder sides of the crib. Young America by Stanley 4 Seasons Traditional Stationary Crib with 3 Height Adjustments

Remember to send in your product registration card that comes with your crib – in case there’s a problem and the baby crib needs to be recalled, that’s how they can notify you.

Nicolette Interior Design Diva

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Babys Room Nursery Design Ideas

Friday, May 22nd, 2009

Creating a Baby’s Nursery Room

A new baby in a home is a cause for not only excitement but the thrill of designing and decorating a baby’s room will delight your inner interior designer. Many people keep the design of a baby’s room in keeping with the look of the rest of their home – contemporary, Early American or Mediterranean – while still others decide to just make this room especially for baby and not worry about whether it fits with the rest of the house. These are your two options for creating your babys nursery. convertible crib set

Today there is a trend with purchasing a crib that will be able to convert to a child’s bed once they have outgrown the need for the crib. With that in mind there are many beautiful cribs that come in a variety of wood finishes – from honey oak, cherry, espresso or traditional white.

These cribs convert to a twin or a full size bed using the same framework thus saving the need to purchase another bed in a few years. This might require a larger initial investment but it makes sense long-term as you can just switch the baby bedding to a child’s bedding when the time comes.

Most cribs – whether it is a convertible one or not – have matching pieces that come with them and usually include a dresser and often a changing table as well these work perfect for creating a consistent design. Sometimes the dresser is also a changing table too with a separate changing table pad that can be placed on top for that purpose. A nightstand might be an additional piece that is purchased at the same time as your crib set.

You will need a crib mattress organic are very popular and bedding for the crib ato match your theme. These stylish pieces of baby furniture serve the basic needs of an infant for sleeping, changing and also storage of their clothing, diapers and other essentials.

Once you have determined the wood finish and the number of pieces of furniture you will buy for the baby other considerations might be a rocking rocking chair gliderchair for those late night feedings in particular when you just want to go back to bed. With a rocker you can at least be resting while feeding your child. A cradle is also a nice touch if you have room – particularly for tiny babies as they otherwise seem so lost in the vastness of a crib making a cradle like a small cocoon and the beauty of them is that you can take it elsewhere in the house if you like.

nursery crib bedding setOne of the most fun parts of decorating the baby’s room is that thare are many choices from a pastel paint in pale yellow or blue.

Many people like to have a mural drawn on at least one wall in the room choosing a carnival or a safari or a barnyard theme any of which will delight any child. You can carry out the theme with decorative pillows, artwork or your crib bedding along with mobiles hung over the crib and plush toys in the room, such as a stuffed giraffe.

The options are endless but these often transform a room from a pretty baby’s bedroom to a fun-filled nursery that will delight everyone in the family.
Nicolette Interior Design Diva

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