Candy-colored and sized just for kids, with a price tag parents will love, the Kapsule Chair by Karim Rashid is made of sturdy, injection molded polypropylene. The chair separates into two pieces (think plastic Easter eggs) to stow away toys and other objects - a hole in the back allows for quick deposits. Light weight, compact, and child friendly. Available in purple, blue, orange, or green.
Kapsule Chair by Karim Rashid available from GNR8: $49
If time is money, then it's time for tea! This coin bank from Megawing is a fun (and functional) new take on a classic object. Drop your loose change in the pot and when you need a few extra cents, just pour! Available in white ceramic.
Teapot Coin Bank available from MollaSpace: $32
For the little budding explorer or animal lover in your life, these lights are sure to please! Sized just right for a nightstand or tabletop and made of unbreakable polypropylene, these lamps do not heat up and are safe for use around children. Designed by Ramin Razani for Officine CREA. Though there are 9 different styles, I was only able to find the Giraffe and Elephant readily available for U.S. customers.
See the whole Zzzoolight collection here.
Giraffe and Elephant available from PID.se: $94
I know a lot of people having babies these days and typically I dole out Blabla dolls like some sort of fairy godmother whenever a new kiddo arrives. But these handmade animals from Sopa de Principe have me reconsidering my usual go-to gift. Each little animal is made in Buenos Aries and baby friendly (the eyes are soft, cloth "buttons"). They're a little pricey, sure, but they're unique and actually quite large. (Sizes range from 9x7" all the way up to 43x40" - the Perro Grande.) I'm sure though, with a little know how, you'd be able to make something similar - and one of a kind. These quirky dolls are available from LAMA (Latin America in the Modern Age).
Cute dolls all the way from Argentina available through LAMA Designs: $30 - $80
A fun twist on the ol' piggy bank, the Emergency Money Box made me a chuckle. If you want to get to your money, be prepared to break the glass! Designed by Suck UK.
Emergency Money Box by Suck UK, available from Sirtified: $16
These little vinyl critters from SWIGG are super cute! The material allows for easy cleaning, while the silk screened graphic allows for endless smiles. Stuffed with poly-fill and poly-pellets for some heft. Available in various colorways in Giraffe, Rhino, or Beaver.
Critters from SWIGG: $28 for 2
Wooden toys are so timeless, aren't they? I love these animal pulls and rattles from Etsy shop The Wood Garden. All of their toys are handcrafted from sustainably farmed hardwood trees. The husband and wife duo behind The Wood Garden began creating natural wood toys for their own children before turning it into a full time business. Be sure to check out more of their unique wooden toys - each handcrafted and finished with certified organic flax seed oil.
Wooden toys from The Wood Garden: $11 - $34
Why should becoming a parent mean that you have to compromise your own sense of style? Products for your baby are a part of your life and home. They don't have to be disposable or an aesthetic after-thought. Good design is important for even the youngest members of your family.
I couldn't say it better myself! I don't have kids of my own yet, but knowing that companies like DwellStudio exist and are challenging the idea of what kid/baby products can and should be is certainly a comfort.
Mod Parents: what are some of your favorite modern baby/kid lines? Share in the comments!
DwellStudio Baby Rugs available from Design Public: $200 - $550
A dollhouse for the eco-kid: Earth-friendly dollhouse is a natural fit for the eco-conscious family. House features a play wind turbine, solar cell panel, a barrel for collecting rain and recycle bins. Shade canopy can be pulled down to prevent or allow wind and sunlight (or little brothers) from coming through. Furniture sets included.
If you're serious about being green, shouldn't your kid's dollhouse reflect that too? Probably. This toy puts its money where its mouth is: the home is constructed of replenishable rubberwood while the furniture and accessories are all made from recycled materials. It seems a little pricey at $229, but you pay for what you get. I mean, can you really put a price on instilling earth-friendly values that will eventually save you (and them) much more than the cost of the toy? Of course, do you need a toy to teach them these principles? Conundrum!
I like when you find a "kids toy" that appeals just as much to adults, if not more. In fact, I'm half tempted to add this to my own Christmas list - forget coffee table books, I'll take this as a coffee table toy!
About:
Infinitely restackable, Dado cubes give kids a chance to learn about building, balance, volume and color gradation in an ever-changing format. The cubes catch the interests of a very wide age range, plus, whatever form they take, these are great left lying around as a modernist sculpture. They're even a fun size-match challenge to put away. Adults will find themselves reshaping their, ahem, abstract vision of utopia long after the kids have gone to bed.
Available in pink or blue.
The perfect toy for your jet setting darling! The "home on the go" dollhouse is a compact little camper consisting of 13 colorful wood blocks. With over 1300 ways to arrange them, this toy lets your little one's imagination run wild! Gorgeous colors, versatile pieces and lots of creativity. Also includes 2 small felt blanket/rug/bed/landing strip pieces plus large felt roof/driveway/rug/carry-all. Wrap it up and away you go!
Available in warm or cool color palettes.
These beautiful, eco-conscious wood toys from Idaho-based shop Little Sapling Toys are a breath of fresh air. Unlike the many plastic, battery-operated, whirling, flashing, and buzzing toys that saturate the market, these handmade toys will last generations.
About
Our family designs, crafts and tests quality wood toys from our new home in Boise, Idaho. Our goals are to make toys that will be beautiful to look at, fun to play with and cherished for generations. We hope these toys will be passed from our children to theirs. The wood used for our toys is either reclaimed or FSC Certified hardwood and is sanded satin-smooth. We use a local beeswax and organic jojoba oil finish to bring out the natural beauty of the woods. Our teethers are left bare.
All the paper products and packaging Little Sapling Toys uses is recycled and recyclable. We plant a tree through Trees for the Future for every toy sold. We also participate in Idaho Green Power Program to offset our business and personal energy usage.
Wood Toys from Little Sapling Toys [Free worldwide shipping!]: $8 - $49
Sure, you could fill it with cheerios for your kids, but why not keep it for yourself? A perfect way to transport those chocolate covered raisins you love so much, without the threat of them melting into one giant lump. Either that or fill it with Advil. You choose.
Yup, potty. I'm going to go ahead and just say "That's one sexy potty!" as well. The new potty training chairs from European brand Hoppop have it all: looks, user friendliness, and easy cleaning / 'content' disposal. There's an amusing/creepy video that demonstrates that last part on their site. I'm not sure if there are any U.S. distributors yet, but you can order online from several UK sites, including JollyTots and KiddiCare. Price is around £14 or about $23. Once your little one has graduated to the big pot, consider one of Hoppop's colorful stepping stools.
You read that right. MINIATURES. Handmade with patience and passion by Lene Dragon of DragonDee. Lene is a freelance industrial designer who also specializes in package design. In her spare time, she creates these painstakingly detailed (and high quality!) modern miniatures. What doll wouldn't want a Barcelona Couch? Check out her Flickr page to see complete furnished rooms.
Doll-sized modern miniatures from DragonDee: $5 - $72
Modern bedding for babies/cribs is relatively easy to come by. But once that baby becomes a kid? That's another story. Not much exists in the form of modern bedding for "big kids", a dilemma a lot of mod-minded parents eventually have to face. Enter Boodalee. Boodalee began in 2005 when Jeanice Skvaril, a mom and graphic designer, suddenly realized that her "little man" was doomed to a life of licensed characters unless something was done. With an entrepreneurial spirit and a few industry connections, Jeanice started Boodalee: designs that embrace your style and also resonate with your little dreamers and their big imaginations. Boodalee has grown to include bedding, pillows, wall graphics, blankets, and (soon) hooded towels.
Pictured: Space Collection
The DUKTIG Mini Kitchen is a new addition to the Children's IKEA line. It features 'hot plates' with light diodes, adjustable legs to grow with your child, and an optional top section complete with a microwave and utensil hooks. The modern style fits the parents' tastes while still offering plenty of fun for the imaginative child. The mini price tag isn't too shabby, either.
DUKTIG Mini Kitchen from IKEA: $100 - $140
Taking inspiration from typography, nature, and abstract form, Spin Spin creates screen printed and hand sewn goodies like these tea towels and elephants. Each elephant is made from a unique combination of different materials, including some of Spin Spin's own limited edition, screen printed fabrics. These fabrics (and tea towels) are designed and printed in Melbourne using water based, eco friendly inks. Check out more great designs in the Spin Spin shop!
I've always had a thing for mobiles. I love the subtle energy they bring to a room and enjoy watching their slow, graceful movements. Maybe that means I'm just a baby in an adult's body, but that's okay! It would help explain my obsession with this mobile from Bookhou. The Flock Mobile is made from hand laminated maple veneer cut into the shape of abstract birds. Each bird is a different shape and size. Perfect for real babies or adult babies alike.
I can understand how you might think I'm developing an obsession (healthy, of course) with wooden toys. I mean, the evidence is there (here and here, to be precise). There is just something sublimely appealing about them - tactilely, aesthetically, and cool-factor-ly. Take these toys by David Weeks, for example. Hardwood limbs, elastic muscles, endless poses - AWESOME. They're even made from sustainably harvested beech wood so you can feel good about life. Seriously, what's not to like? I for one am standing strong in my love for wooden toys - join me if you like!
Wooden animals for cool kids and hip adults available from Design Public: $55 - $125.