If your customers are seeking some big-ticket items to put under the tree this year, you may want to direct their eyes to some fun artwork for kids' rooms, or wooden — and even cardboard! — furniture for play spaces. See TDmonthly's Holiday Preview of Furniture and Decor for a look at some newer launches.
CribWrap Convertible Crib Rail Cover by TREND LAB, LLC
This wrap-and-tie crib rail cover is designed to protect baby and protect cribs from teeth marks. It is lightly padded with a waterproof layer, and machine washable in soft Sherpa fleece. The product is available in solids of chocolate, natural, white, pink, blue and sage green, as well as the company's Max and Maya dot print. It may be purchased in one long piece for the front or back rails of the crib, or two short pieces for the side rails of the crib. "[It's] tie on, not Velcro, so can be knotted, which makes it difficult for a child to remove from crib," Marchelle Lyons, marketing coordinator for Trend Lab, told TDmonthly. "[The] waterproof layer prevents the chewing and drool from soaking the wood of the crib." Launch date: May 2009.
A fun way to decorate a room! These one of a kind fabric wall stickers go on easy and can be moved, and removed with no damage to the applied surface - even glass! Decorating a room is as easy as picking your favorite character and putting them on the wall. Lots of characters to choose from.
Little One's Table and Chairs - Orange by P'KOLINO
This durable, practical table for children has modern appeal with clean lines and a bold color. It comes with two chairs and features a sizeable workspace.
This 66-lb. cube features acrylic, distortion-free mirrors on the top, bottom and sides, and measures 29" on each side. Part of the company's collection of early learning furniture, it is designed to offer a fascinating perspective of self-awareness. Launch date: January 2009.
Afun and simpletoddler-sized wooden seat that flips over and becomes a table or with another flip becomes a chair again, fulfilling a toddler-style need to make every side of every structure into something useful. A sizeable seat for a toddler, they last up until at least age eight as seats for pulling up to the coffee table for an afternoon of coloring, or the conductor's perch on a toddler train. Made from FSC Certified formaldehyde free 1/2" plywood and finished with non-toxic environmentally friendly finish. Measures 11 3/4" x 11 3/4" x 11 3/4".
Muu, the new children’s furniture line created by Robert Kwak, is inspired by the Zen concept of Mu, which teaches that there is no difference between us and our environment. This modern crib can be tailored to your personal taste. A centerpiece that is safe, comfortable, and elegant, it will become a family heirloom. Make it your own with a custom MuuPanel® … which is a snap to change for baby number two … or three. Made in the USA, the Sam Crib features fixed side rails for greater stability, three-level adjustable mattress position, easily converts to toddler bed with Sam Toddler Conversion Kit, fits standard 28" x 52" full-size crib mattress (not included), made of solid maple, poplar and recycled wood fiber MDF, white non-toxic lacquer finish, easy assembly. Launch date: February 2009.
From the sustainably-minded Plan Toys company comes a dollhouse built with many of the latest advances in green engineering in mind. The house itself is made out of recycled rubberwood accented with safe vegetable dyes for color. It includes a retractable canopy wall made from organic cotton, a wind turbine, solar panels and recycling bins. The house is available furnished and unfurnished. Launch date: 2009. — Plan products were named as best sellers at Green Frog Toys in Portland, Ore., in March 2009. “They’re eco-friendly and beautifully designed and made,” Owner Patricia Fiedler told TDmonthly.
This children's knock-down cardboard chair kit comes with six 12" x 12" decorative color sticker sheets. The chair seat and back are interchangeable and reversible. They are kraft on one side and white on the other so that kids can use crayons, paint, markers or other materials to decorate their chair. The product is made in the USA from up to 80-percent recycled fiber and is 100-percent recyclable. Launch date: December 4, 2008.
Ahoy mates. This pirate’s crate was designed for storing loads of treasure! Pirates (even big ones) can sit comfortably on top of it. The padded lid can be detached. Made of nylon and foam, with wooden panel for sturdiness. Launch date: February 2009.
This playfully smart art easel has so many neat-o benefits. Use it as a traditional easel, a chalkboard, a white board, or a puppet theater. Included are two fabulous “coloring-book” scenes to use as backdrops when this clever easel is in puppet theater mode. There is room in the back to add a P’kolino Play Kit and the entire unit folds flat for easy storage. Launch date: May 2009.
This “sports car” themed rocker is hand painted pink with silver and white accents. Seat back design is a rear “window” with attached fuzzy dice. Dashboard panel opens and closes and features shiny headlights, a heart-shaped hood ornament, a working steering wheel, and “speed queen” and “cute meter” gauges. Removable seat cushion and armrest “fins” complete this cool rocker.
Both decorative and informative, this 36" x 24" ready to hang picture depicts the continental United States through state license plates. The image is available in several presentation styles: Contemporary Mount (with beveled edge), Creative Canvas Wrap, Framed Canvas, Gallery Framed, Heritage Framed and Art Block Mounted. "Art4Kids is not sold in discount stores. Our artwork has no glass to break in a child's environment," Joy Phillips, founder and owner of Creative Images, told TDmonthly. Launch date: November 2008.
This activity table and stool set has pop-out play pieces and includes a stand-up Handy Manny and his Toolbox. The table is reconfigurable, allowing for four different arrangements: large square, L-shaped, long rectangle, or two smaller rectangles. The product is super safe, recyclable, and manufactured in the USA. Made of Eco-Lock™ foam, it is vibrant, sturdy, durable, lightweight, and easy to clean. The design is under license from Foamables, LLC. It's an "innovative combination of versatile functionality and imaginative shape play," Kristine Bello, product manager for Kids Only, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.
This hip, 12"-square piece of artwork is one in a series that also includes drums, electric guitar, and microphone versions. The image is available in the following styles: contemporary mount (with beveled edge), creative canvas wrap, framed canvas, gallery framed and artblock framed.
There’s never a traffic jam on this playful rug where every car gets to its destination. Two other designs for 2009 include a pink and red princess and a light and dark blue knight on his stead. All play rugs are made of 100% polyester for durability and easy cleaning. Launch date: February 2009.
The Snake can function as a table, and may be used together with other tumbling animals in an obstacle course. It can also be turned upside down and used as a boat. "bObles is a playful interior environment for children, with a design their parents would love to place within their homes. The tumbling animals can be used as furniture, but [are] meant for play. The whole idea is to enhance children's motor skills while playing!" Director Mette Dyhrberg of bObles told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2008.
Add intrigue and whimsy to a child’s nursery with unique mobiles imported from Denmark. From counting sheep to marching hedgehogs to whale watching, there is a style perfect for every child. The elephant party mobile is also a classic icon in Demark. It makes a great baby shower or birthday gift.
Series 800 - Brookfield Collection by Status Baby Furniture by STATUS BABY FURNITURE, a div. of STORK CRAFT MANUFACTURING INC.
The Series 800 Status Collection Stages Crib, features a posh finish that will take a child from the birth to teen stages of life. It can add a touch of elegance to a child’s room in the form of a crib, toddler bed, day bed or full-sized bed with an intricate, modern detailed headboard and footboard. This innovative stages crib is crafted of solid wood products and veneers for long-lasting durability and strength. It is available in a variey of finishes: Walnut, Mahogany, Rubbed Black, Antique White and Espresso. There is a conversion kit available for purchase to convert the crib into a full-sized bed. Launch date: May 31, 2009.
This colorful tent with a flag on top is constructed of cotton and polyester, mesh fabric and plastic rods. It can be folded for storage, and the mirror and window are removable.
Writer's Bio: Julie L. Jones has written articles for both newspapers and magazines. Before joining the staff of TDmonthly Magazine, she worked as a communications writer and provided editorial support for a market research company. Read more articles by this author
Writer's Bio: Julie L. Jones has written articles for both newspapers and magazines. Before joining the staff of TDmonthly Magazine, she worked as a communications writer and provided editorial support for a market research company. Read more articles by this author
