droolicious : bedroom

These Walls CAN Talk

JeanneSager — Thu, 28 May 2009 16:01:00 GMT

Ever wondered what the walls of your kids' bedroom would have to say if they could talk?

Let your kids scribble out any thought that pops into their head on the wallpaper thought bubble chalkboards from Scribble on Everything.

Putting them up takes some work (kudos for the detailed instructions), but once up, the thoughts can flow. A set sports five bubbles in varying sizes, so you can let their dresser talk, leave a mini bubble floating over the bed and put the big one near the door for family doodles. They are removable, but not repositionable, so make sure you're in serious like before you commit to putting them on their walls.

Get all five for $33.15 from Scribble on Everything.

Lighten Up Your Blackout (Blinds, That Is) with a Safari Theme

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 21 May 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Blackout blinds are essential for ensuring lights-out during naptime, but they don't always have to be bland, thick sheets of white. Case in point: these blackout roller blinds from John Lewis, which doll up the aforementioned white sheets with playful, safari-themed prints.

Starting at £29 (around $45 U.S.) at John Lewis. [Bambino Goodies]

BoConcept Storage Bed: Can I Get 3 in Kids' Size, Please?

Aaron Burgess — Wed, 06 May 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Unfortunately for the growing piles of stuff around your kids' current sleeper, the BoConcept Storage Bed is only available in queen size -- but, hey, if you're gonna spring for something deluxe in the kids' room, why not make it an 83" deep bed whose frame lifts to store everything from winter clothes to rainy-day toys? This goes without saying, but the BoConcept bed would be pretty great in Mom and Dad's room, as well.

$1,649 from BoConcept. [Outblush]

Robot Light: Tin Man With a Heart

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:00:00 GMT

During the day, this robot light appears to be just another unfeeling bucket of bolts -- but flick the switch, and we see one tin man who apparently got his wish to have a heart.

Dimensions are 18" x 9" x 4", and it includes a 40W bulb -- $29 from The Afternoon.

Bedding That Will Take You From Toddler to Teen

JeanneSager — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:27:00 GMT

The trick to transforming the nursery to a big kid room? Finding a style that will last longer than their baby teeth.

As we make the transition from toddler bed to big girl double, I've been scouring the marketplace and come up with the best bedding to take them from toddler to teen.

Little MissMatched's bed in a bag sets are packed with creativity - because, true to name, nothing matches. Coordinating colors bring the sets slathered in stripes and dotted in dots together, and make this bedding that will grow with them - because they can change things up whenever they feel like it simply by flipping over the reversible comforter or realigning the reversible bedskirt.

With nary a kiddie character in sight, the Little MissMatched bedding is available in twin, full and queen so you can get them for the toddler and keep them around for the teen or let siblings mix things up.

Want to match their growing with your pocketbook? Seven piece sets come with comforter, three pillowcases, two sheets and a bedskirt, and they're priced from $90 for twin to $110 for queen (get free shipping on them - all orders over $75 qualify). Get them at Little MissMatched.

T. Rex Wall Decal Makes a Big Statement

Aaron Burgess — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 12:00:00 GMT

I've seen a lot of (mostly ugly) dinosaur wall decals in my day, but this T. Rex skeleton from e-glue stands out for its clean lines and huge variety of colors. It's available in two sizes -- XXL (shown here) and a mere XL -- and though the range of choices might seem a little overwhelming, just play with e-glue's color-wheel application until you're ready to add it to your cart. Finding room for it in your budget, on the other hand, could be another story: The XL set starts at €75 -- or around $100 U.S.

Curl Up in Anorak's New Sleeping Bags

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:30:00 GMT

It's not often that you find a kids' sleeping bag that hasn't been overrun with tacky licensed characters, so kudos to the design team at Anorak forgiving us these sleep sacks that manage to incorporate cuteness while retaining a keen sense of style.

Though Anorak dubs the collection "Kissing Animals," the little tough guy in your house will be none the wiser when he sees his new stag-themed sleeping bag (left); meanwhile, his sisters will be drawn to the orange bunnies (right), powder-blue ponies and black robins on the set's other three bags.

£42 (around $59 U.S.) from Anorak. [Babygadget]

Cupcake Storage Bags a Sweet Idea

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Besides keeping you constantly hungry for sweets, these cupcake storage bags from KangaRoom have enough space to sock away all the toys and trinkets your little sweetie can stuff into them. The "cake" portion of each bag zips open for easy storage, and the "icing" portion (which allows for separate storage) pulls closed with a cherry-topped drawstring. The medium bag measures 10" tall by 10" around, while the large one (which can also store its smaller sibling until you need it later) runs 13" tall by 12" in diameter.

$24.99 from KangaRoom.

Post-Holiday Toy Storage for Your Pirate Hordes

Aaron Burgess — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 16:30:00 GMT

With the holidays now a fading memory, the last thing many of us are thinking about is what new toys to buy. Finding a place to store all those new toys, on the other hand, may have just become a top priority, and Emma at The Toy Zone has put together an awesome round-up of some well-made wood chests to complement a variety of decorating styles.

My personal favorite -- even if it's out of my price range -- is Powell's oak and mindi-wood "Shiver Me Timbers" chest, accented with antique aged-brass-finished doubloon-style pulls and completed with a real working lock. Ships fully assembled, and at 44 pounds, it's a big'n.

$239 from Amazon.

Let Your Kids Draw On This Dresser!

SunnyChanel — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:30:00 GMT

Let your kids write on the furniture. Yeah, you heard me right. Let ‘em! If you’re used to yelling at your offspring to stop drawing on their dressers, this will be quite an adjustment. The Kendal Chalkboard Dresser by Pottery Barn Kids is a classic dresser but with a blackboard finish. Allow your children to draw and doodle all over their furniture, just don’t let them get too used to the idea, you don’t want your dresser to get graffitied up too. $549 here.

New Frontrunner In Annoying-Alarm-Clock Sweeps

Aaron Burgess — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 13:31:00 GMT

Kids still not waking up when you want them to? The latest in what seems to be an endless wave of annoying timekeepers, this Rocket Launcher Alarm Clock literally "blasts off" when it's time to wake up, and the only way you can silence it is to return the rocket to its base.

$24.99 -- unleash your inner sadist at Perpetual Kid.

Ducduc's New Cabana Vanity

Erin Behan — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:41:00 GMT

Most little girls dream of a vanity at some point in their dress-up days, and the newly released Cabana Vanity by Ducduc fufills those dreams while being safe for the environment and kids. While non-toxic finishes are becoming standard, Ducduc is also made of 100 percent locally harvested hardwood (no MDF or particle board here) and made by craftsmen. Best of all, this vanity comes in an array of punchy colors--blue, red, pink and white for a fun yet functional look. Buy the Cabana Vanity at Fawn and Forest for $1,295 with free shipping and no sales tax.

Let the Butterflies Take Over

SunnyChanel — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 02:56:00 GMT

You know what’s hard to do? Commiting to a paint color or wallpaper for your kid’s room. When they’re really young, you have know idea what kind of being they are going to be, what they will like, hate, or adore. That’s what’s super cool about the assortment of wall stickers that have been coming out lately. One of my favorites that I recently came across is this Butterflies Wall Sticker. They come in red or black and include 21 creatures. Whimsical and wildly stylish, and if your kid get sick of them in a couple months, just yank them off. All things are temporary. $64 here.

Black Cats And Other Animal Pillows From k studio

Chris Ford — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 21:30:00 GMT

This black cat pillow is one of a few different animal pillows made by design firm k studio. Each pillow is made from green and sustainable materials such as hemp, organic cotton and recycled wool (they recycle wool?). There is a dog, cat and bird versions, but I'm a fan of the cat pillow. Plus, what could be more holiday appropriate right now than a black cat pillow?

Cat Pillow, $110 from Design Public.

Nothing Says, 'Go To Sleep, Little Baby,' Like a Jack Skellington Nightlight

Aaron Burgess — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:04:00 GMT

Dunno what kind of gadgets you use to keep your kids comforted once the lights go out, but if you're looking at this Nightmare Before Christmas Jack Skellington plug-in nightlight and thinking, "Holy @#$%, that's exactly what we need!" I think it's time we made a playdate.

$7.99 from Panik's Toy Box -- and if you want to see a really scary nightlight, check this out.

How to Roll With Clean-Up Time

Erin Behan — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 18:06:00 GMT

Droolicious writer Mir wasn't a fan of the OFFI rolltop bench, but I must agree to disagree by pointing out the loveliness that is the OFFI rolltop chair. I am just beginning to appreciate how much space children's toys take up and how they are always underfoot, no matter what. Furniture that does two-in-one duty has always been high on parent's list of must-haves, and this rolltop chair has the added benefit of being attractive. For kids, of course, the key is the secret compartment where they can "hide" (aka put away) all their belongings. At 22" high, 24" deep and 15" wide with a 10" seat, it's also sized for kids only, increasing the appeal.The tambour is solid birch and the base is painted MDF. It's $168 at Follow Function.

You're in the Army (Bed) Now

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:04:00 GMT

Sure, you may have your hangups about surrounding your brood with the trappings of war, but the plain fact is that kids like to play Army, and this all-wood toddler bed (which, incidentally, also comes in pink -- if you're really feeling transgressive, buy that one for your son) would make a great centerpiece to any bedroom's camo motif.

If you're ready to cave in to your inner Sgt. Hartman, the Military Toddler Bed is $300 at Just Kids Stuff.

Spit Up: Teddy Bear Lamp

Chris Ford — Mon, 19 May 2008 20:03:00 GMT

Sometimes the picture says it all. I'm not even sure where to begin with this one, but I do know it would have given me nightmares as a kid.

And who is supposed to be buying this? College kids? For £46.99 it seems kind of expensive for a novelty lamp.

Did I just type "novelty lamp"?

The Teddy Bear Lamp is made by Suck UK, £46.99 from drinkstuff.com

Shocking True Contents of Organic Mattresses Revealed!

Aaron Burgess — Mon, 05 May 2008 20:42:00 GMT

This cross-section of a $340 organic mattress from ModernTots reveals what we've long suspected, that these overpriced hippie bed-things are actually filled with a blend of 10-year-old peat moss and recycled Kent Golden Lights filters.

Got you reading, eh? Actually, the hand-made Organic Coco Mattress shown here is filled with coir (a natural substance I confess to Googling just now), which is then coated in natural latex to create a sturdy, breathable inner layer. The coir is also tucked inside a layer of lambswool, which, aside from adding warmth and sounding nice, gets its soothing, dust-mite-repelling scent from a mixture of lavender, lemon and eucalyptus extracts. (It's also fire-retardant.)

I'm particularly drawn to the warning on the Coco Mattress' label: "THIS MATTRESS MAY NOT SOAK UP VOMIT." For 340 bucks, the least these things could do is handle puke, but alas, even the hardier Organic Latex Mattress ($445) isn't equipped for that kind of job. Come to think of it, neither are the $99 off-brand mattresses my kids are using, so I guess we all lose.

See the whole line here.

Big Deal: FLOR Carpet Tiles for Kids On Sale

Chris Ford — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 17:13:00 GMT

FLOR are the tile-sized squares of carpet that are a great alternative to traditional rugs and carpet (that I've sung the praises about before). Right now they have some selected tiles on sale, including some tiles for children's rooms.

The patterns for kid's rooms are Happy Landings (a subtle, airplane design that looks thoroughly modern - pictured) and Raining Cats and Dogs (available in "Blue Sky" or "Orange Thunder"). Both were originally $10.99/tile, but Happy Landings is now $8.79/tile and Raining Cats and Dogs is $7.69/tile.

Check them out at the FLOR "Shop Sale" page at FLOR.com.

European Roll-Up Lounger is So Cozy, You'll Smooff Yourself

Aaron Burgess — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:02:00 GMT

Don't let Smooff's fire-retardant-polyester exterior fool you: Whether you're plopping it down on a linoleum floor, a pebbly beach or a wooden lounge chair, the Dutch-made sleeper/lounge cushion is designed to give your weary bones a pillowy-soft resting place. It wipes clean, too, and if you need an easily stowed-away bed for sleepover guests or a cot alternative for daycare, it also folds into a backpack-sized mass, complete with strap and handle.

The bad news: Smooff won't land in U.S. retailers until the summer, but if you want to see what's had Europe abuzz for the past few years, design3000 is ready to take your €139 order.

The weird news: Among Urban Dictionary's suggested definitions for "smoof" (with one "f") is "the fluid a Smurf produces when he achieves orgasm." Imagine the potential for advertising on Boomerang once this sucker lands Stateside.

Rubik's Cube End Table, Perpetually Solved

Aaron Burgess — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 17:04:00 GMT

At $600, this Rubik's Cube end table is a wee bit pricier than its toy counterpart, but if you've got the budget, it'd make a great, fun addition to a playroom or kids' bedroom. It's 16" x 16" of 1'8" acrylic, and when doubled, it could also work as a coffee table. Unfortunately for the geekier among us, the pieces don't move, but that's probably for the best: Imagine the whacked-out color schemes they'd create if so.

Grab one of your own at Jellio.

7 Days of Bedding: NeatSheets for Kids and Co-Sleepers

Aaron Burgess — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:03:00 GMT

The brainchild of a husband-and-wife team who originally wanted a convenient place to stash their TV remote without getting out from beneath the covers, NeatSheets also offer a few handy solutions to common kiddie sleep dilemmas. From a kid's perspective, the sheets' patented side pockets are a great way to keep books, stuffed animals and other can't-live-without-it bedtime trinkets nearby (not to mention a perfect easy-access port for the Tooth Fairy). For co-sleepers and harried parents in general, the pockets can also serve as holsters for binkies, tissues and other necessities it's not always easy to find in a 3 a.m. daze.

As for the construction, NeatSheets are available in three styles: the mid-range Classic and higher-priced Premier Collections come in 350 and 600 thread counts, respectively, and are made from 100% long-staple Egyptian cotton with a sateen weave. If you're on a tighter budget, there's also a 200-thread-count Lifestyles Collection in cotton/poly blend.

All of the sets include pillowcases and come in standard, deep and extra-deep sizes, with the fitted sheet's edge featuring a wide elastic band to prevent slippage. And for the anal-retentive among us, the "Smart Tag" labels, stitched to the corners of the fitted sheet and the foot of the flat sheet, make it easy to find the right size and get the right corners.

There are quite a few price ranges among the collections, so before you plunk down, take an online tour to find out which set might best fit your situation.

Parker? I Hardly Know Her!

Meredith Broussard — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 16:00:00 GMT

One of my favorite toddlers is named Parker, and I think of him whenever I look at this insanely stylish Parker bed from ducduc.

If the $1465 price tag makes you gasp, you may be able to rationalize thusly: with two underbed storage drawers, this would be an awfully efficient piece of furniture. I mean, a bed AND a place to store your kid's rapidly expanding collection of small wooden trains and small wooden train tracks and small wooden train-land people? That's a bargain!

Part of the Parker collection of funky streamlined kids' furniture, this bed also boasts an upholstered headboard and footboard covered in your choice of fabric from ducduc's wide selection. I'm currently jonesing for one of their bold Marimekko prints. Walnut, oak or color finishes available; the bed frame is made of 100% sustainably harvested hardwoods.

ducduc Parker Two-Drawer Full Bed, $1465 at allmodernbaby.

Cozy Cabin Twin Bed Would Look Great in a People House

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:03:00 GMT

As much as we love Haba's toys here at Babble, we've gone just as gaga over the German company's fantastic line of beds. Looking at this Cozy Cabin Twin Bed ($1,800 from Oompa Toys), it's easy to see why. The exaggerated, asymmetrical design brings to mind a house straight out of Seussville, and as with Haba's other beds, this one encourages play as much as it does sleep: The bed separates from the set in order to create a life-size, sturdy play fort.

A few minor quibbles: One, it's expensive; two, there's no mattress included; and three, it'll cost an extra $200 to have it delivered. But if money's not an object, this could be the ultimate addition to any imaginative kid's room.

As with all things Haba, the Cozy Cabin is made in Germany, and the construction is natural wood with non-toxic finishes.