The Savvy Five: Décor for Kids
Just like the birdies, the coming of spring often inspires us to feather our own nests, especially the ones where our little chicks rest their heads. So for this month’s SavvyFive, here are our favourite kid décor picks for some savvy design direction.
3 Sprouts Storage Bins
Good for: Corralling toys, books, laundry and more
Why It Made the List: Made from 100% certified organic heavy cotton canvas and 100% eco-spun felt (made from recycled water bottles), these bins by Canada’s 3 Sprouts not only add a hit of colour and a smile to every room, they’re a space-efficient storage solution. Sturdy enough to stand on their own when empty, and available with your choice of a purple hippo, brown owl, navy or pink elephant, or yellow monkey, add a few to the bedroom or playroom and make it a menagerie. ($38, available at www.saplings.ca)
Zid Zid Kids Mini Poof
Good for: Sitting on, playing with or brightening up a corner of the room (we always like the multi-tasker)
Why It Made the List: Based on the timeless ottoman designs of North Africa, the handmade (in Morocco, no less) classic Mini Poofs are soft and sturdy, yet lightweight and made with beauty in mind. Sewn with fabrics such as brushed cotton flannel and denim and filled with recycled cotton, the covers can be machine-washed and air-dried. The only problem we had was trying to decide which design to go with—we loved the whimsy of them all. ($85, available at www.babybot.com)
P’kolino Clothes Tree
Good for: Encouraging kids to pick up their clothes
Why It Made the List: This sculpture-esque alternative to the standard clothes rack looks so good you might not want to cover it up, but it’s got the capacity to handle a week’s worth of clothes, and since it’s available in four different colours, you’ll be sure to find one that works for any room. ($106.99, available at www.modernkaribou.ca)
Beetling Creations
Good for: Inspiring imagination (the kids will find themselves on safari, in outer space, back in the age of the dinosaur and more)
Why It Made the List: These individually cast and painted three-dimensional
wall-mounted works of art can liven up any child’s space. Canadian-made (using PVC and HCFC free foam) and painted with low VOC, water-based paint, the mom-invented Beetling is easy to install and uninstall (unlike murals or decals), making it reusable over and over. ($39.99 and up, available at www.beetling.com)
Scwibble Artwork
Good for: Capturing your favourite piece of childhood art into something you can all treasure forever
Why It Made the List: We can’t keep every creation that comes home from preschool. But with an original piece from Calgary-based artist Lucy Curtis, you’ll get gallery-worthy art that you might even want to hang in the living room. Send Lucy your child’s original work of art and she creates a unique piece of art inspired by the original (which is printed as an archival quality giclée on acid-free canvas or 100% cotton art paper or alternatively silk-screened by hand onto either a raw silk or artist’s canvas). Depending on the piece, it is either framed behind glass or stretched on a wood frame. Scrapbooks are also available, which can capture multiple works of art. ($150 and up, available at www.scwibble.com)
It’s ‘by design’ we put this month’s SavvyFive together. You may just find ‘room’ for something new.
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Tested by Denise S., Toronto |  |