Available Now
True or False: Our neighbours to the south have way better options for the latest in children’s furniture than we do.
Answer: False
Reason Why: Fabulous new stores with fabulous new-to-Canada lines are popping up everywhere around town, the latest being Baby on the Hip and Smoochie Baby.
What You’ll Find: More and more eco friendly lines of furniture built with sustainable harvested wood. You’ll find furniture that is not just good for your conscience (and our environment), it’s great for the aesthetics of your home.
Two of our fave lines now available in Canada (we feel like we’ve been waiting forever): ducduc, sold exclusively at Smoochie Baby and Argington now at Baby on the Hip in the hipster ‘hood of Leslieville.
Ducduc sounds like a cute name for children’s furniture but that’s not how we would describe its looks. They call it ‘sustainable style’, but we know it just looks fabulous and is made from durable eco-friendly materials, including sustainable hardwood and natural fibres. Penelope Giaouris, the proprietor of Smoochie Baby is responsible for bringing ducduc to Canada for us. She lived in New York for 15 years as an actress but decided to move back to Toronto after the birth of her first child to raise her family.
Good to Know: The first ducduc shipment will be in store by next week but you can go into the store and order from the catalogue in the meantime. If you’re not looking for a big ticket item, there is plenty of New York style for the junior fashionista at Smoochie Baby. Check out the exclusive lines from Vincent shoes and egg and avocado onesies (we love them).
Argington is another wonderful eco-friendly line of furniture that lasts beyond the child years. It is the masterpiece of husband and wife team Jenny Argie and Andrew Thorton (savvy parents to two boys aged two and four). Four years ago (after the birth of their first son) they decided to fuse their backgrounds in fine art and architecture to create modern children’s furniture that is clean, simple, and tasteful. The result is wonderful and you can see for yourself at Baby on the Hip.
Good to Know: Cheryl Tschupruk and Gini Bechard are two former social workers who opened Baby on the Hip so that moms can buy natural alternatives for their families and their home. In addition to Argington, you will find everything from PBA-free baby bottles to organic crib mattresses. Also worth a look is Speesees, a new organic yoga line only available at Baby on the Hip.
Savvy Special: Mention that you are a savvymom and get 10% off all carriers, slings and diaper bags at Baby on the Hip during the month of May.
So no more cross border whining. It’s all here.
Smoochie Baby
2615 Yonge St.
(416) 322-9600
Baby on the Hip
969 Queen St. East
(416) 465-4141
www.babyonthehip.ca
