fawn&forest

Classic meets modern. Oilo's crib bedding, furniture and room decor mixes classic motifs in a bold, modern way. So simple, so  sophisticated.  I was thrilled to see Oilo's cobalt // navy blue  crib bedding set. Playful without the fluff! Wouldn't that just look fantastic with some red accent pieces?! And an anchor perhaps?

Oilo also has 3 beautiful gliders as well. I totally love the shape of the Penelope Gilder with the Pouf Footstool.

Another bonus? All Oilo products are made in the USA.

We are kicking off our Green-Furniture Designer Series with perhaps the greenest furniture company of all,  Q Collection Junior. Q Collection Jr. is thoughtfully on the forefront of designing safe, non-toxic furniture and bedding for our children.

Oh chilly!  notNeutral's BB2 collection is now 20% off.  This icy sale includes the BB2 twin bed and nightstand, rocker and table & chair set.

Playing Santa?  The BB2 table & chair set would look good (assembled) in front of the tree on Christmas morning. Available in 4 color combinations.

fawn&forest is excited to be included in Instyle Magazine's "Best of the Web" --as one of their favorite websites for shopping. Excellent!

Here's what they said about fawn&forest:

Check out the November 2009 issue of Instyle to read all about it & get an exclusive 10% discount code.

Bamboo grows.... faster than your kids! It's the fastest growing plant on earth (bamboo can grow up to 24" in 1 day) and produces more oxygen (35% more!) than the average tree, even though it's not a tree. Bamboo is actually a grass. 

That's why Bamboo is a sustainable resource.  Bamboo keeps on growing and has the capacity to endure. According to Kalon Studios,

"Sustainability is defined as having multiple intentions all of which center on the idea of balance, of giving as much as we take, be it through economics, the environment or on the everyday human level."

 

Kalon Studios designs thoughtful pieces for the nursery and home, made mostly of bamboo. 

A deal? Really? Yep.

Argington's new BAM Collection is the real deal. $984 will get you a bassinet that converts into a crib with the included conversion kit. The set also includes the BAM changing table. Available in white or ebony. 

Really, quite lovely. 

BAM! Whoah the BAM Collection from Argington is stunning!

According to me, BAM stands for:

B :: beautiful
A :: affordable
M :: motherly

Argington introduces a bassinet for the first time to their line-up. But wait! The BAM Bassinet, with a conversion kit, turns into the BAM Crib! A motherly solution to the bassinet dilemma. 

Affordable? Affordable must be the new luxury. BAM! your nursery for only $984 which include the bassinet, crib conversion kit and changing table.

Available in white or ebony.... i'm in love.

If you're own litto kids need a jolt of espresso, we've got you covered. Litto Kids (the company!) has recently released their popular Manhattan Crib and Dresser/Changer in a rich, dark espresso finish.

Isn't it beautiful?

Take a sneak peek at the new Oeuf Robin Collection! Simple, lovely, eco-friendly..... and you know what else? The most affordable Oeuf collection yet!

The Oeuf Robin crib and dresser will both be priced in the mid-$500 range, and will be available late-Summer/ early-Autumn.  Sign up for the f&f newsletter for more info on the Oeuf Robin Collection.

We all love our kids, we really do. We just don't want our living rooms to look like we live with our kids. You know what I mean. Plastic fantastic, etc. 

Jennifer Delonge understands. She's a mom with a load of style, and evidently... some wit! Jennifer DeLonge's pint size Ava Chair instantly became a mommy-must have. 

And now, it's all grown up. DeLonge has designed 3 beautiful gilders and ottomans for Mom. My favorite? Luxe. Such graceful lines. 

We just don't stop. f&f now carries the much loved, super designy Cabine crib and dresser-changer by Netto Collection. How fantastic is that?

The Cabine changer-dresser is really cool. The image above shows the piece with it's "flat top" -- with a flip, it turns into a changing tray with compartments to hold a changing pad, diapers, etc....!

Plus Cabine is fun to say. 

Sweet babies love Argington. Curious little children love Argington. Eco-friendly, design savvy minded moms love Argington. Budget-conscience, quality seeking dads love Argington. I love Argington. You love Argington. We all love Argington.

fawn&forest super loves Argington and you so we've teamed up with them for the Month of May to offer 10% off all furniture and bedding. 

This super sale was also to celebrate BKLYN DESIGNS Show they were recently a part of. BRKLN attendees, make sure to use your special discount code!

Sale ends May 31st!

To kick off the Month of May + the BKLYN DESIGNS show we have teamed up with Argington to offer 10% off all Argington products for the month of May. 

How fun is that?

If you live in NYC, be sure to check out  7th annual BKLYN DESIGNS and meet Jenny Argie and Andrew Thornton of Argington! The show will be held May 8 - 10, 2009, at St. Ann's Warehouse, 38 Water Street in DUMBO, Brooklyn.

To read more about the creative force behind Argington, click here.

Just in time for summer, the Popsiclekids project table + stool set by Ecotots! So delicious it comes in 3 flavors: cherry, lime or fudge bar.

Made of FSC/Rainforest Alliance Certified SmartWood, 100% formaldehyde-free and finished with 100% non-toxic, water-based stains.

And of course features the patented EcoTots no-tools assembly method. 

Yummy Popsiclekids.

I've been telling Danny that we need to donate our sofas in the family room and have only rockers. A whole room full of rockers? Sure! The rockers + gliders from Monte only confirm that this is a good idea.

The Monte rockers + gliders are refined classics that fit into any decor. They're not only beautiful but are available in a wide range of fabric options and all have ottomans to kick up your feet. My favorite? I'm split between the Luca and the Vola (above left).

The baby can rock out too, with the Ninna-Nanna bassinet. Click to find out it's secret. It does more than meets the eye! Hint: view the last image of the bassinet. 

Oh, Monte. How I love thee. 

I have a real place in my heart for anything that involves "3 in 1". The new Luna Crib by Q Collection Jr. is not only graceful, but fullfills the 3 in 1: Conversion allows for three easy configurations: crib, daybed, and toddler bed.

How thoughtful is that?

Plus it's so "green" you could lick it? Made of a hardwood frame in locally sourced birch. The ends + applique elephants are made of no formaldehyde added MDF. All finishes are non-toxic, water based finish, free of VOC health hazards.

And the Luna elephant is just too sweet.

If you have ever wanted something with a pneumatic lift, now is your chance! The Flair Highchair by Boon not only glides smoothly in all directions but has a pneumatic which lift allows for an effortless height adjustment. Sounds like fun to me!

The Flair's seat is made of BpA-Free, Phthalate-Free, PVC-Free plastic and is available in 3 likable colors -- blue, white and pink. Flair has all the other bells + whistles you'd expect, like a 5 point harness and a seat pad that's not going to get all grody. 

Pneumatic Flair!

Roebuck Studio sings the song of spring with their bunnies, chicks, birds and barns. 

Roebuck is also stimulating the US economy by manufacturing and using locally sourced materials in Michigan.  Each piece by Roebuck is available in a variety of non-toxic colors and i made of birch ply. 

My favorite is the chick bookends, pictured above, left. Super cute.

I think if you have room in your home for a vanity, you've got a bit of sass. The Cabana Vanity by Ducduc in red hand limed oak (shown in image above) is way sassy. It even has a pop up mirror.

This is like every 10 year old girl's dream station. 

Fresh from the woodshop is the new Kalon Ioline Dresser. It's sexy. It's modern. It's sustainable. It's made in the usa. The bamboo is hot and I am totally loving it. 

Three drawers and guess what? The Kalon Changing Trunk fits snugly on top if you'd like it that way.

Is it weird to have a crush on a dresser? 

New from Cariboo is the Kiwi Cot Collection! Nursery pieces that do double duty is terribly exciting, I have to say.

Cariboo, who makes fantastic bassinets, is introducing the new Kiwi Cot crib (above middle) that not only transforms into a toddler bed (above right) but also a daybed/couch (not pictured).

Also part of the Cariboo Kiwi Cot collection is the dresser, which has 4 spacious drawers and a spot on top to hold a changing pad. Both pieces are available in 2 non-toxic finishes -- espresso and teak.

The Cariboo Kiwi Cot Collection will be available at fawn&forest soon  -- early April!

New! The Kalon Toddler Bed. I love toddler beds. They're like a cozy little world for your munchkin. 

Kalon's cozy little world is made of bamboo and available in 3 options: sloped sides (above right), squared sides (above left) or no sides at all.

And those little slats? Wouldn't kids have fun putting little toys + cards through those spaces?  yes.

We are thrilled to now carry the HiLo highchair by AGE Design. 

My favorite features:
1. The whole chair flips. It's a 2 in 1. HI for the highchair and LO for the toddler booster seat.
2. Fantastic colors. Who can argue with Asparagus green?
3. Thoughtful design and the whole thing is wipe-able.... because we all know how grody highchairs can get.

For all you dark wood fans, good news. The Q Collection Jr. Cielo crib and changer & the Solara crib now come in "nighttime"!

Really, so lovely. And dig it: Q Collection Jr. is super green: non-toxic finishes, made of hard wood, made in the usa + happy. Quite happy.

Also check out that great new pink-ish bedding: Roxy! and........ the new toddler bed conversion rail!

A long winter sure does make everyone antsy to get outside. Breath fresh air and play. New from notNeutral, the BBO2 table + chairs, a collaboration with Loll, made of recycled high density plastic. So fresh, so eco!

Loll is an outdoor furniture producer of contemporary, durable all-weather furniture. Loll sustainable furniture is fashioned with superior grade recycled high density polyethylene (HDPE). The HDPE Loll uses has an attractive aesthetic and does not have the look of more common recycled material. High grade stainless steel fasteners hold everything together, forever.

The BBO2 table + chairs would also make an excellent indoor play option. And would surely stand up to all the abuse. Markers, glitter, glue and tap-dancing.

NEW for 2009: the AJ Collection by DucDuc! The AJ collection offers even more options for your nursery. 

The AJ crib features built-in storage with open shelving or closed storage with doors.  The AJ dresser/changing table comes in 2 heights and offers closed storage with doors or drawers as an option, as well as easily accessible open storage.  The AJ armoire features the convenience of open shelves with closed storage as well.  

True, you can never get enough storage. 

40% off. Sweet words.

My friend at 10 Grain recently wrote and said: "Are we having fun yet? With the financial markets tanking, 401K's imploding, foreclosures rising and the general economic outlook bleak, 10 Grain is taking the initiative to raise the spirits of the masses. How, you say? The 10 Grain Lounge Desk and Play Pad Promo, of course."

Of course. 40% off 10 Grain Play Pads and Lounge Desks. Sweet. 

New from Q Collection Junior, the Alberto Winged Glider. It is absolutely breathtaking. The Alberto Glider is inspired by traditional wing chairs which in early American homes were meant to protect the lounger from a draft. This Winged chair envelopes the lounger and quiets the noise of the everyday bustle.

The Alberto Winged Glider is also meticulously crafted, with sustainable hardwood construction and 100% Belgian linen slip cover is pesticide and herbicide free, 100% biodegradable and available in 3 color options. 

The Alberto is beautiful. Stunning.

This very well may be a once in a lifetime chance: Netto is actually on sale! The Netto Case Study Crib and Changer are now both 20% off, while supplies last. 

The Case Study Crib turns into a really sweet daybed....and the Changer? A wet bar?

Clean the toys up! For a limited time we have Argington's Fuji Toybox on sale: 10% off + a free cushion (plus free shipping). The Fuji Toybox features one large storage area and a cute cubby space (car garage? doll house?). Throw the (free) cushion on top the Fuji, and it instantly transforms into a bench for seating. How convenient!

Available in 4 wood finishes + 3 cushion colors. Includes both leg runners and caster wheels (not shown).
Sale ends Monday (1.26.09) 3pm pst.

I would have gone crazy for this Oeuf Classic Toy Store when I was a kid. Three levels of compartmental goodness! The Toy Store would be perfect fun for a game of grocery store or a sleeping spot for a bunch of baby dolls. 

And check this out: The bins lay flat or swivel at an angle and have removable dividers so you can store a multitude of items of varying sizes. And, as with all well designed pieces, the Ouef Classic Toy Store is versatile: it can be used in any room of the house. As in it would make an amazing snack-shack in the kitchen!

Available in 2 woods colors, walnut stain and birch. 

For 2009, a couple new players in the Oeuf Classic collection: the Oeuf classic 4 drawer dresser (with optional hutch attachment, converting the dresser, well, into a hutch.) The Oeuf Classic 3 drawer is fantastic (I know, I have one in my son's room) but I am so intrigued by the additional storage of drawer #4 as well as the increased organization bits of the hutch! We all seem to be up for more organization + space, right?

The Oeuf four drawer dresser fits a standard size changing pad to convert the dresser to a changing station (yep, Oeuf is smart!) though the hutch ony fits the new 4 drawer dressers, so no retro-fitting your classic 3 drawer. 

Mega sale of the year to kick 2009 off! Up to 75% off Nurseryworks including some hot-ticket items: the Loom Crib (50% off!), the Goodnight Glider + Stool (50% off) as well as crib + twin bedding (75% off). On sale while quantities last. 

Time to spend your Christmas bonus?

This is nice: 10% off all Cariboo bassinets + accessories. A $30-$45 savings on the bassinets; available in 4 models. The perfect spot for your little turkey to snooze in the early days.

Also don't forget to check out all the fun promotions we have going on right now!

Fatboy really knows how to rock the soft seating! They have just debuted the Avenue Collection of modular seating. The Avenue consists of 2 shapes (square and a curvy peice)  and in 2 fabric designs: a squiggly "parc" and a grid-like "avenue" (get it?). And in usual Fatboy fashion, the Avenue Collection is available in a range of lovely colors!

Happy Friday.

A lovely little resting spot for your babe, the Svan Bouncer :: now in a brand new model with a few extra features. In addition to a few new colorways (and that  gorgeous balloons Baby Star fabric!) the new Svan Bouncer has a recline that lays almost flat and has velcro instead of a snap enclosure. And see that bent wood? That allows the bouncer to gently bounce with the tap of your foot. 

You know what else? The original model is on sale!

Ecotots: you know they were going to do it! The twin bed. The bookcase. First made popular with the simply designed project table + stool set, Ecotots has now released 9 new kid-sized peices of furniture to compliment their existing pieces (project table + stools, art easel and coat rack).

The Ecotots pieces are quite creative. Included in the Surfin Collection: a surfin twin bed, big kahuna bookshelf, beach locker, surfboard growth chart, boogie board desk + stool, sideboard storage unit, first wave step stool and bonsai book caddy. 

All available in 4 finishes: fire red, leaf green, natural wood and cocoa brown. Ecotots also has a patented "no tools  necessary" assembly method, where all the pieces fit together and all you have to do is follow the directions and give them a good wack.

And yo: 100% formaldehyde-free, FSC Certified real wood and featuring an eco-friendly, non-toxic, eco-friendly finish!

My favorite? Eliot would love to put his shoes on while sitting on that beach locker (pictured above, far right)!

Oh look! New to fawn&forest, the grand-daddy of modern baby furniture, the Moderne Collection by Netto. The Moderne Collection includes 3 pieces: crib, dresser and changer. Optional accessories include linen storage boxes (to utilize the sliding shelf on the crib) and wool felt baskets (for the changer). Plus, the Moderne Crib converts into a sweet toddler/day bed.... Nautical style.

Nice.

This is cool. A modern kid-size rocker from Spot On Square's Hiya Collection. I had the thought awhile ago to get rid of the sofas in our family room and replace them with rocking chairs. Is that a good idea? Well, kids like rocking chairs too. Kid size rocking chairs.....

The Hiya Rocker is form + function. The shape is lovely and it has a pocket in the back to hold books and other stuff. Eco friendly non toxic paint available in 2 colors: orange or white. Seat is wide enough for a bigger kid or 2 small children. Sounds like fun.

Take a look at DucDuc, new to Fawn&Forest. DucDuc takes the words "astonishing" + "custom made" to a whole new level. And there is a freaking ton of pieces. Astonishing! DucDuc is on the classic - go - modern baby + family furniture take-over. Rulership.

Let me tell you: DucDuc has seven (count them... 7!) furniture collections, in additions to their rockers and "the cube". And in each of those collections is yes, an astonishing amount of furniture pieces.... and also a shocking amount of options to create the ultimate custom made nursery, kids room, play room, dining room......

And breath easy. And clean. All DucDuc pieces are made in Connecticut of hardwoods that are sustainably harvested from regional forests so as to minimize the carbon footprint as well as utilizing finishes that are non-toxic and Hazardous Air Pollutant (HAPs) free. As a special bonus, all products do not contain MDF or particle board.

The Campaign Collection, shown in the image above is one of my favorites. And I am totally loving the Collins rocker! I have this thought that I want to get rid of the sofas in the family room and have an assortment of rockers instead. Is that strange of me?

Deals! The Astronomer's Stool by Q Collection Junior, which is available in 2 sizes and 4 colors is now 25% off. And feel good: it's hand made  in the USA from locally-sourced solid aspen and non-toxic, low VOCs, water-based finish.

Be sure to check out the rest of the sale section: currently on sale is furniture by 10 Grain and Offi  as well as some clothing by Baby Star.  

Anka is the ultimate in stylish, wood fold up + away baby turn toddler highchair. Part of the new Anka collection made by the folks who make Svan of Sweden.

Conveinetly enough, the Anka highchair has a handful of selling points: totally adjustable seat depth, tray and foot rest. It folds flat for those in the spacesaving mode and is made of sustainable hardwood. And so you sweet babe doesn't get any cooties the removable plastic tray is Phthalate and bisphenol-A free. Yay!

I really like how the Anka can be pulled up to the family table for dinnertime + drawing.  

Meet your (kids) bed's new best friend: Hali. The Hali nightstand by Argington compliments the Argington Ayres twin bed quite wonderfully with it's spacious cubby + roomy pull out drawer. You know where else the Hali would be nice? As a side table next to a rocking chair in the nursery. 

Argington has also recently introduced the Rhodes kid-size chair. For some reason it reminds me of chairs from grade school, except cooler (duh) and with a more organic shape. And while Rhodes would be nice by itself, it conveniently fits with the Giza play table.

Even if your kids are past the baby crib stage or you no longer have need for a rocker, you just HAVE to click and check out the new Nurseryworks American Collection. It has a bit of an attitude + I am totally lovin' it.  

The Nurseryworks American Collection, designed by Lawson-Fenning for Nurseryworks, includes 5 new pieces: a Spindle Crib,  Canterbury Changing Table-Dresser, Empire Rocker and 2 headboards, the Harvard and the Vale. Nurseryworks' new collection combines:

The principles and craft of mid-century California and Early American furniture.... The result is a comfortable modernism with subtle connections to the past; pursuing values like, warmth, character, even sweetness...Tufting, turned wood spindles and the wing-back all are a nod to our past, but updated in a playful modern way.

Plus, Nurseryworks has introduced a new velvet fabric for the rocker + headboards that comes in 3 lovely new colors: delft, lilac and rosette.

Oh, this is exciting! The Case Study Armshell Rocker is one of those iconic pieces of furniture that seems to strike a special place with just about everyone. We all pretty much want one, right? For the nursery or otherwise! So, for a bit of fun, while you drop the big cash for that dream nursery of yours (or whatever else you'd like to throw in your cart for a grand total of $2200) we'll be sending you an Armshell Rocker of your choice. For free. And free shipping on the whole bunch of it.

Ocean shell with zinc base and walnut runners? Sure! Celery shell with a black base and maple runners? It's yours! This Mid-Summer dream of a deal runs through August 15th.

The Bebe Nursery Collection, designed by Robert Gill for Offi is a simple wood + white set with a reasonable price tag. And it's even more of a deal now that the whole collection is on sale!

The Bebe Nursery Collection includes 4 pieces (crib with optional trundle, dresser, changing table and storage cabinet) each on sale for $100 off the list price, plus.... free shipping + no sales tax!

Offi is a company with an interesting start. When Offi was first created, instead of hiring staff designers, founder Kirk Hobbs relied on the connections he had made through previous design projects. Designers were hired on a contract basis to create product, a concept that made sense both creatively and financially for a startup. A bit later, Eric Pfeiffer came aboard and served as design director. But after five years, Pfeiffer got the itch to go independent, which was perfect timing for Offi, Nicholson said. "After five years, it was time to go back and develop individual designers," he said. "It keeps us fresh."

Offi has about 16 designers/teams on its roster, and a select group that routinely creates items for the youth line. Nicholson (VP Sales, Offi) said that sometimes designers will come to Offi with their own ideas. Other times, he and Hobbs will go to the designers with an idea and ask them to execute it. An example was when the duo decided to go into cribs and they asked Carpenter and Gil for designs. The team will also go to designers when they sense a piece is missing from a current collection, such as adding a high chair.

Text above adapted from this article. To read more, click here.  

What are they?
VOCs are chemicals that become vapors at room temperature. They are typically used in furniture in wood glues, wood stains and paints.

Why you should care?
VOCs are considered air pollutants and cause harm when inhaled.

Not all VOCs are created equal: Many manufacturers claim to be using low-VOC materials. Sadly, the EPA exempts many harmful VOC's from consideration when labeling a product low-VOC. The exemption is not based on any scientific criteria and has been described by a prominent health official as poorly based science that makes a mockery of freshman chemistry at college. In other words,low VOC is a great idea but it doesn't mean you are getting materials that are free of concern.

Q Collection Junior's solution
Every material Q Collection Junior uses is independently reviewed by an expert on toxic chemicals. In addition, they are the first children's furniture independently testing all of their furniture in air chamber testing facilities. Q Collection Junior knows down to the parts per billion what materials are in their glues and stains and consider all of the federally exempt materials. 

Image + text from Q Collection Junior. The Astronomer Stools by Q Collection Junior, above is available in 4 colors and 2 sizes.

I received a sweet announcement from Offi yesterday: the Nest Nursery Collection, formerly branded under the Ooba Nest Collection, designed by Scott Wilson has made a new home + has gotten cozy with Offi! After a 1 year hiatus from the market, the Ooba Nest Nursery Collection is back for the lovin' and is available on fawn and forest, here. 

Currently the Nest Collection includes the bassinet (shown above left + right) which converts into a toy box (or a pint size yacht?) and play table, as well as the impressive Nest Crib. Both pieces are available in Walnut or Maple Veneer.  

Internationally respected designer, Scott Wilson (also the designer of this watch) joins the esteemed design partners at Offi to deliver unique and fresh ideas for the home.  I am so excited to see what else is on the horizon!

And I'm thinking of ordering a bassinet in walnut  for baby#2.

Even if you decide to go the minimal route in baby gear, you will most likely have a bouncy seat on your list. Most are ugly + don't fold up and are just plain clunky. You know the ones. Thankfully, the Svan Bouncer is different. Made of bent birch plywood with a non-toxic finish. And that cushion? Totally wipe-able and PBDE free.

And it folds up nearly flat to look like a sled! The fully adjustable seat allows your baby to lay down for naps, sit up to observe their surroundings, or lounge anywhere in between. Rock that sweet child to sleep with a gentle tap of your foot or allow it to bounce with your child’s own movement. Available in 6 colorways. 

And, while there are no lullaby music options or moving plastic gizmos, a free set of Cloud B soft hanging toys will be included with your purchase through May 15th. That's nice.

Ecotots collection of children's furniture is quite possible the greenest wood furniture for kids, ever. Your kids can sniff it + lick it and even eat off it (right?) and they won't be off-gassed on or consume any other yuckies like formaldehyde. I like!

All 3 pieces of the Ecotots Collection (by Inmodern) are made of 100% formaldehyde-free, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certified/environmentally friendly SmartWood® and feature a durable, 100% non-toxic water-based finish. All 3 pieces, the coatrack, project table + stools and art easel are available in 4 colors -- fire, leaf, natural + cocoa. 

Easy to assembles and disassembles (for easy storage) in minutes with Inmodern's patented, no-tools assembly method. Which is cool, not an allen wrench it needed! Though I will tell you from experience, these peices will need a real good whack as they are designed to fit snuggly together. 

Some other noteworthy goodies:  Pieces are UV cured finishes minimize greenhouse gases, all materials sourced in North America as well as wholly designed and manufactured in USA. Member of the SFC (Sustainable Furniture Council) and a sweet lifetime construction guarantee .

Brand new to the Oeuf Sparrow collection: the Sparrow Crib in Birch + the Toddler Bed Conversion Kit.

Oeuf has made it a mission to ensure environmentally sound products, starting with the choice of materials to the manufacturingg processes to the selection of recycled packaging.

All Oeuf furniture is produced in the small European country of Latvia. On the Baltic sea, Latvia is covered by over 70% forest and thus has a proud tradition of woodworking.  In the manufacturing process, 100% of the wood waste is recycled into briquettes which is then used to fuel the modern, self reliant heating system. Additionally they have a state of the art dust collection and reprocess waste into usable fuel. Oeuf is also a Forest Steward Certificate (FSC) holder.  

And... all finishes are non-toxic and when used, low-emission mdf. And don't forget about an organic mattress to go with that lovely green crib! 

To celebrate the greenest day of all, Earth Day (April 22nd) on the Notes, I will be featuring amazing green products from innovative designers, fun projects and other green-ish bits for the next 2 weeks.  

To kick the week off, 2 amazing pieces from DMFD in all their corky-ness! The CUB children's chair + the adult size SWAY stool, pictured above, are made from 100% cork. The cork DMFD uses originates as the waste material from the bottle stopper industry. The pieces are created by casting cork, which produces a dense, unusual texture, highly attractive and intriguing to the eyes and hands of young children + adults alike. By Casting cork, the designer, Daniel Michalikam, is able to insure the ecological responsibility of all binding agents used in his cork peices, as well as streamline from scratch the production processes.

Corks is amazing!! It is a renewable, sustainable product. In other words, the more the material is harvested, the more is created! Cork is recyclable, waterproof and extremely buoyant. Cork is naturally resistant to all forms of rot and mold growth. Your piece of cork will remain unchanged for centuries to come with normal use and is naturally resistant to bacterial and microbial growth. No nasties hiding in your cork furniture! Cork is highly absorbent of sound and vibration and is a fantastic insulator as well as being naturally heat and fire resistant. Cork will turn black under extreme heat, but will not ignite. It is even used by NASA to line the interior of the Space Shuttle's fuel tanks!

DMFD is also a part of the Sundance Channel's The Green, Big Ideas for a Small Planet show, airing April 8th at 9p est.  Images + information above (paraphrased to fit), provided by DMFD. For even more info on DMFD + cork, click here.

Now is your chance boys + girls to get super sweet deals on select Nurseryworks pieces. The 40% off sale has now ended.... and now select items are on clearance (until sold out) at 50% off!

The 50% off sale includes the Playdate Table + Stools (in all colors, shown above left) and all upulstered pieces in Microterry, Canvas, Felt and Microsuede in Navy -- Including the Goodnight Gilder (pictured above, middle), Goodnight Ottoman, Sleepytime + Storytime Rockers, Perch Stool and the super fun Mini-Sleeptytime Rocker + Ottoman for the kids (pictured above right). 50% off!! And no, this is not an April fool's joke!

Neither the Goodnight Gilder + Ottoman or the Mini-Sleeptyime Rocker + Stool were included in the previous Nurseryworks sale, so now is your chance! Certain fabrics do tend to sell out quickly. And as they say on those cheesy tv ads "when it's gone, it's gone" -- all sold out fabrics are then being discontinued and will no longer be available.

Correction 04/10: the Mini-Sleepytime rocker + stool is no longer included in the sale. 

Two companies, Natural Mat and Naturepedic (pictured above, left + right) provide the organic answer to the toxicity of conventional crib mattresses. In a nutshell conventional crib mattresses are downright nasty. They are generally composed of vinyl (polyvinyl chloride or PVC), phthalates, polyurethane foam, harsh chemical fire retardants, and other chemical additives. In doing a bit of googleing, you will find studies linking SIDS with the toxicity of the conventional crib mattress as well as the multitude of other health effects it has on our babies and children. 

Below is a list, taken from Naturepedic, that clearly illustrates the insanity of conventional (non-organic) crib mattresses. Amazing + disgusting at the same time. 

To continue reading the article on the 5 Major Problems With Conventional Mattresses, click here. To see the full selection of organic mattresses + accessories, click here. Image on left is an organic Natural Mat mattress, image on right is an organic Naturepedic mattress.

The Hiya Collection from Spot on Square is the newest addition to the modern nuresry genre, making their debut this month at the CA Boom Design show in LA. Spot on Square is a husband + wife team, a collaboration that brings together two things: good design and children, with a background in industrial design, education + real life experience as mom + dad to 3 small kids. 

Say hello to the Hiya sleep collection: the crib + the toddler bed. Solid construction made of bamboo or birch and eco-friendly, painted (non-toxic + low-voc) mdf. Playful design the kids will like + versatile enough for mom + dad. The height of the crib is slightly shorter than most cribs (which is a plus if you are part of the shorter-set), with a 3 level adjustable mattress height.  The toddler bed has seamlessly designed side rails while still being low enough at the end of the bed for mom or dad to sit, tuck in + read stories.

Simple + sustainable + thoughtfully manufactured in the usa. Sleep!  

Graceful like a swan is the Svan Highchair. Sturdy construction, simple form. It tucks nicely in the corner of the living room when not in use while being small enough to have your child keep you company in the kitchen, with room to spare. I was actually quite surprised + then pleasantly pleased with how compact, yet efficient the Svan is. The tray is, well, not huge. The highchair itself does not stand very high. But I am sure all the Svan babies will give a shout out of thanks for being parked at the dinner table, with the family... at eye level, unhindered by a huge sea of plastic in front of them. 

It has been fun to see sustainability go beyond the forest + into our lives. Now seeing the svan highchair enthusiastically used as a 'big kid chair' by our 2 year old and not left for abandon in the garage has fully convinced me that good design is worth the investment. 

Available in 5 wood finishes (natural shown above) + 9 cushion colors. The Svan is also fully adjustable to fit your growing child (seat + leg height and tray depth). And by removing the tray kit, it simply transforms into a "big kid" youth chair. Image at left compliments of this blog.

We had a coffee table. With sharp corners. It was quite lovely. Until Eliot fell on the corner of it, got a big bloody cut to his right eyebrow. After we got home from the emergency room we hauled the coffee table into the garage.

Perhaps the same thing happened to designer Eric Pfeiffer and that is why he designed one the most functional, kid-friendly, intriguing + beautiful coffee tables?  Whatever the case may be, the Scando Coffee Table has gracefully filled the hole in the family room that the old coffee table left behind. The Scando is available in 4 finishes (walnut is shown above) and has a neat bent "u" shape at the end - a perfect race track-tunnel for the cars or for holding story books. There are no sharp corners or edges (!) and if you can prevent the kids from using it as a stage or bench, they can safely run circes around it.  

Q: What is the difference between the Nurseryworks Sleepytime Rocker + the Storytime Rocker (shown aove left)?                

A: Besides the visual difference in design, the Sleepytime Rocker was designed to rock + lull the babies to sleep. It's a comfortable nursing chair as the arms are lower + the backrest is at a comofortable position. The Storytime Rocker, on the other hand, was designed for a parent + child to sit and read stories in. The arms are a bit higher and the seat is slightly deeper. Both rockers were designed to coordinate with the Perch Stool. The Sleepytime, Storytime + Perch are still on sale, though March 31st, though a handful of fabrics have already sold out.

Q: Is any bedding on sale?

A: Yes! Select crib + twin bedding is 25% off through the end of March. The 'pinwheel in pumpkin' crib set shown above is one of the sets on sale.

Q: Is Nurseryworks "green"?

A: In a nutshell, yes. Nurseryworks uses uses low-VOC finishes, lacquers, + glues, renewable materials such as Paulownia wood and when used, grade EO mdf (which is the safest grade available). In addition, the products are air-chamber tested to examine + eliminate toxic materials. The testing methods are intense and measure materials down to parts per billion. The first concern is that products are not emitting dangerous toxins. While the bedding is not organic, Nurseryworks uses formaldehyde-free dyes.

Q: Are these pieces 'sustainable' beyond the nursery? 

A: Yes. This is exactly the vision Nurseryworks was founded on. To provide clean, simple, and modern furnishings to create the ideal first environment, one that reinforces the nursery's relationship to the rest of the home decor. Rockers + bookcases can be moved around the house, a changer becomes a dresser, cribs become daybeds + even a desk! Sustainability relates also to the longevity of a piece in your home. Nurseryworks furnishings were designed for lasting family life.