There are a lot of new things going on over at Nurseryworks this week. They have a completely redesigned web site, as well as a few new pieces of furniture. The new pieces are what I like to call Lux Modern, a mix of clean modern lines and colors with more traditional “luxury” ornate elements. It is a trend that I have been seeing growing in popularity in the modern furniture realm, and one that I can’t say I am very excited about. Pricing is similar to the rest of their line, which is in the medium to high end range. The question is will Lux Modern continue to push out good clean design? I hope not.

See the rest of the new line (including puffy headboards) at Nurseryworks.net.

Read more

I’ve always been a big fan of melamine plates. They are super durable which is nice if you have kids, and they are a nice medium to print graphics on. I stumbled across these Thomas Paul sea life plates, and I am loving them. It looks like I’m not the only one loving them too, as many retailers are backordered. The set includes the four plates shown above for $28, which is admittedly a little steep for melamine plates. Also available is a nice melamine tray.

Available from Burke Decor for $28 for the set of four.

I have to admit that if you are looking for a affordable modern kids chair and table, Ikea can’t be beaten. If you just don’t like Ikea, or are looking for something a little different make sure you check out the Alma chair and Linus table. Not nearly as affordable at $56 a chair and over $200 for the table, the Alma/Linus combo is still a good looking set. The chairs are available in 4 different colors of made of injection-molded polypropylene goodness. The table only comes in white.

Available from Unica home $56 - $258.

The Jerry Lamp could very well be the ideal lamp for a kids room. It’s made of nontoxic hypoallergenic silicone that is unbreakable and never gets hot to the touch. That means it can stand up to the abuse of a toddler, and get knocked off a table without causing any tears. The Jerry lamp sits about 10″ high and 5″ wide and is currently on sale at DWR for $50, a huge savings over the normal $145 price tag. It is available in white or green.

Available at DWR for $50.

It’s no secret that here at Grassrootsmodern we love Etsy. Prices are usually much more affordable than anything you would find at a real store, and it makes you feel good knowing that the majority of the money is going directly to the artist/designer. I was skimming through some products this morning when I came across tinymodernist. They have all sorts of great baby clothing and accessories, everything from cross stitch patterns for Eero Aarnio’s globe chair to American Apparel kids t shirts with Mies and Eames classics.
Check out more at tinymodernis.com.

Our little guy is quickly coming up on one year old, and with a growing mouth full of teeth, he loves to eat. Up until about two months ago, we didn’t have a highchair which made feeding time not so easy. Arrington now takes his meals in a Boon Flair Elite, and it is so much nicer. The Elite is just like the normal Boon Flair, the main difference being the stainless steel base instead of the plastic. I was impressed with all the extra’s it came with, two different seat covers, two washable trays. The two things that really set it apart from any other high chair are the pneumatic lift and the fact that it can roll around. I thought we would use the lift more than we do, but we honestly don’t use it much. The rolling feature is quite nice though. The base is quite heavy to keep it stable, so rolling it around the kitchen is a nice alternative. It does have a brake too that you can set when you get it in place. The Flair is $199 and the Flair Elite is $349, neither of which is cheap, but the quality is great, and I’m sure it will hold up to many feedings to come.
Boon Flair available from Target for $199.

Boon Flair Elite available from Costco for $349.

More info at Boon.

Read more

My love for Balsa airplanes goes back a long time. When I was a kid, every time my Grandfather was in town he would take me down to the toy store to buy one. The best ones were the ones that were self powered via a rubberband. They proved to be cheap and provide hours of fun. I don’t however remember them ever looking this good. These Yoshida airplane designs date back to late 1800’s and they still look great today. They come in a single and double propeller version, both of which cost $19. They would be a perfect gift for any kid 10 yrs and up, or great as a mobile for the little one. For the big kid (read adult) check out the expensive, but amazing Carbon Butterfly indoor flyer.
Yoshida Plane Kits available at Build It Play It for $19.

It’s been fun watching Avalisa’s offerings grow. She started out with a couple of nice prints and now has expanded to offer cards, rugs, and her latest, memory games. Memory is one of those classic games that is entertaining for any age group. These 3 x 4 cards feature all the great Avalisa designs you already know printed on a sturdy little card. They come in a lead free metal box to make sure that they don’t get bent up while traveling. The price is a very reasonable $15, and as always you can choose to donate to Cure International.
Available from Avalisa for $15.

I have a thing for wooden baby toys. Maybe its because I grew up with them, or maybe I just like how simple they are, either way I’d take a wooden toy over a plastic one any day. It’s hard enough to find good wooden toys, but it’s even more hard to find ones that are made of sustainable woods. Wild Dill has a great Maple Landmark Mini Disk Rattle that is made in Vermont from Sustainably harvested wood, and painted with non-toxic paint. Best of all it’s only $8. If your looking for other good eco accessories for your little guy (or girl) Wild Dill has a good selection. Admittedly “green” products are usually a little more expensive than their counterparts, so to ease the sticker shock Wild Dill has offered a 15% discount for all Grassrootsmodern readers. Just enter the coupon code “grass15″ at checkout.
Available from Wild Dill for $8 (or $6.80 after your discount!)

Who says a plastic cup can’t look good. Though these B1 cups might have a grown up modern look, the sturdy plastic makes them a great option for kids. Each cup is made of a white hard plastic exterior and a softer brightly colored interior. They are available in blue, green, yellow, orange, and red, and each cup stands 4″ tall and 3″ wide. Just to make things a little easier they are microwave and dishwasher safe. They are $7 each, which is quite a bit more than my plastic Ikea tumblers, but then again, they do look quite a bit better! Plates and bowls are available as well.

Available from Rose and Radish for $7.