Kids Haus

WOOLI storage by Babies Breath

Funny thing, one of the most common questions I've received from Kids Haus readers in my nearly 2 years of writing this blog has been, "...where can I find a good toy box or toy storage?". I've written about several very cool toy storage options but maybe none as cool and beautiful as the WOOLI by Babies Breath (in my humble opinion). Designed and handmade by a mom, the entire toy storage box is made of wool felt so it's literally impossible for tiny fingers to get smashed. They also have full draping closure to hide everything inside and you could easily keep these (particularly the grey version) in your living room without being conspicuous. Custom orders are also available. Did I mention how much I love the WOOLI?

Pouch Pals

One of my favorite online toy stores is Romp. Their selection of amazing toys is endless and I always discover something new-to-me. So, I came across these fantastic Pouch Pals and would love to have a couple, though I'm not even quite sure I'd want to stuff things into their pouches yet. I'm simply drawn to the pelican & kangaroo silhouettes and I love heavy-duty wool felt -- I would just like to hang them on the playroom wall and let the girls' use their imagination.

Bin-Go

It's hard to deny good storage bins, especially when they're as cool as the Bin-Go. The colors are fabulous and you can put them in any room of your house, stash your toys, blankets and books inside and voila! -- instant clean-up. The large circle handles are great for toting them around and if, by chance, you don't have a purpose for the Bin-Go, they'll fold flat for storage -- but I don't see why you would ever need to do that.

Oeuf Classic Toy Store Shelf

I stumbled upon the Oeuf Classic Toy Store shelf today and it's simplicity is what struck my fancy. Of course, any well-seasoned parent knows that organized compartmentalization is what saves us, right? And when you've got compartments that are open, it makes it that much easier for your child to see their toys and ultimately easier to clean up afterward. What makes the Toy Store even more functional is that the shelves can be tilted (as shown) or laying flat and each compartment comes with dividers so you can customize! The sophisticated design makes it so it can be used for more than toys -- I'm thinking for a craft room, garage or kitchen. Love it...

 

Karinsdotter

With all of the baubles, jewelry and trinkets we have accumulated over the years, an easily accessible box to store these random little items is completely essential. We've got a little wooden box to stash jewelry right now but we're to the point of needing two separate boxes, one for each girl, to avoid potential complications (if you know what I mean). Karinsdotter is an avid book binding maniac and has a severe obsession of papers, so she binds books and makes these lovely little boxes in her spare time. Bean saw them on my computer this morning and immediately proclaimed her love for them. I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree...

Organize!

What's so fantastic about the beginning of a new year is it's psychological benefit of making us feel like we have a clean slate...a fresh beginning! With my clean slate, I'm pretty determined to organize and clean our house until there is no closet untouched. It sounds a bit daunting, doesn't it? My first project is the girls' bedroom. I don't believe I mentioned that C moved into Bean's room in December -- into their new bunk bed! With that, there is the conundrum of where to put both sets of clothes, added toys, shared artwork, etc. There's a lot to do but I'm starting with the basics. 1) I'm clearing every toy and object that is practically ignored (sadly, there are too many). 2) I'm making a better home for Bean's artwork, notes and awards. 3) I'm refining our storage situation by grouping like items together (like Legos!). I'm really fond of Little Pretty Studio's hoop.de.doo bulletin boards and saw these vibrant, Paisley Bins that come in different sizes while out shopping a couple weeks ago. I'll keep you up on my progress...whew!

Claudia Textil Storage Bags

These functional and adorable Textil Storage Bags by Claudia come individually so you can button them together for your desired length. They're ideal for storing books, toys, hats, mittens or...more. I really need one of these by my front door as the kids unload their things as soon as they cross the threshold. This way, we won't have one mitten by the front door and the other under the couch.

CASAKids Design

Roberto Gil of CASAKids Design is a Brooklyn-based designer and architect with an amazing talent. He's designed successful furniture ranges for Offi, Simplicity, Alex Toys, Ameriwood, Crate and Barrel and Williams-Sonoma. What caught my eye, however, were his custom room designs. As parents, I think we could all agree that organization is the key to keeping the clutter at bay. When everything has it's designated "home", it's easy to keep clean. These spaces by Mr. Gil are dreamy! They're spacious, light and clean. I dream of having a space like any these someday...

 

Funday Table (streamlined!)

The functional Fundy Table that we know and love has gone through a subtle redesign. The appearance has been streamlined and looks a bit more "grown up" now. Amazing what changing a few legs and slimming the table will do. You can choose from a chalkboard or dry erase surface and it comes in either orange, blue or natural. If I had the space, I would definitely have a Fundy table for stowing the stacks of paper and pens that are left in the aftermath of an afternoon of drawing.

Eco Tot Tuffet

I'm particularly drawn to kids' furniture that has duel purposes (especially when it involves hiding toys) just like these fancy little "tuffets" that are actually an ottoman and toy storage unit all in one. The Eco Tot Tuffet is made from 100% recycled or compostable materials that are also completely recyclable and has concealed casters for easy mobility.

Patagonia Great Divider

For some reason, this Patagonia Great Divider bag made such a huge impression on me months ago that I still think about getting one for myself. Mind you, this bag is intended to be used for anglers (fishermen) on a boat so that crucial supplies won't get wet but our friends used it on a day trip to Portland fully stocked with baby's essentials. A bigger and more functional diaper bag of sorts. This bag is completely water-proof! Inside, it has adjustable foam dividers that can be configured to any formation and removable end pockets to keep track of small things. It's perfect for keeping those crucial items neatly organized in the car for those frequent emergencies.

The Toadstool Trinket Box

The Small Object truly has a knack for making unique containers and boxes and they've charmed me again with the Toadstool Trinket Box. The perfect little spot to stash a first tooth, first lock of hair or miniature treasure.

Jennifer Delonge: Storage Options

I think I've finally found the ideal storage unit that will mesh seamlessly with the rest of our decor. Jennifer Delonge has come up with these sophisticated and functional pieces of furniture that are highly forgiving of child's play. The Audrey Storage can be nested or used as individual storage units and you can opt to have the lid chalkboard or lacquered painted.

The Charles Storage is very similar but without the nesting units. It can masquerade as a gorgeous side table while it secretly hides blankets or toys. I'm definitely in love with both of these pieces!

Nurseryworks - Loom Storage Trolley

Nurseryworks Loom Storage Trolley is a toy box/storage unit on wheels that also has a removable cushion on top! I'm a sucker for anything versatile and practical. It can also be tucked nicely under the Loom Storage System.

 

The Pull String Person

With the holidays underway, this adorable Pull String Person from The Small Object is perfect for storing twine or string to wrap those packages. This could also make a great gift for Ms. Bean to add to her arsenal of art supplies.

Opus Shelf

I absolutely love this Opus Shelving, designed by Sean Yoo. How fun would it be filled with a bunch of kids' books and accoutrements? It's unconventionally shaped cubbies add so much character to what would otherwise be a basic shelving unit. Apparently, Yoo was inspired by a Roman wall technique called "opus incertum" and then found the same pattern repeated in dried lake beds and broken sidewalks. You wouldn't think that this shelf is super lightweight, made from 100% recyclable polypropylene, and can be stacked or set side-by-side using a strong tape.

Via Toy Boxes

Being from Seattle, we like to take mini-road trips to Portland for that sense of escape. Portland is hopping with amazing restaurants, smart city planning and a wave of incredibly creative artists and craftspeople. So, not surprisingly, I discovered Via Toy Boxes out of Portland. Inspired by his daughter, Jon Spencer began building open toy boxes because he found toys were always getting buried in their cavernous toy chest. Via Toy Boxes is a ready-to-assemble modular storage system that allows you to customize any set-up that fits your needs -- check out their website to see the endless variations. Great stuff...

 

Loom Pop Bins

These nifty little storage bins from Loom are cute enough to keep on display while hiding all of the things that are better stashed away. The Pop Bins compress flat for shipping and then magically pop into shape.

PJ Pocket Pillow

We're off for a mini family-road-trip to Portland this morning. It's such a fun and easy place to escape with the girls. We'll be making a couple of kid-friendly stops that I'll be sure to highlight next week. Until then, I thought I'd leave you with these Japanese anemone boxes so beautifully designed by Modern-Twist. They make a great place to stash stuffies, PJs, toys or a baby sister (just kidding).

Boom Toy Box 2

This Toy Box 2 by Boom design is smart because they've given it two drawers and one lift-top box for a little versatility and added function. If you want one of your own, the Toy Box 2 is made to order and has a two week turnaround.

School Year Memories

This handy School Years Keepsake book may just solve my quandaries about storing all of the mementos, pictures, report cards, etc. that you tend to accumulate through the years. Of course I could probably buy a standard folder contraption but this keepsake has so much more style. The one thing worth noting, however, is that the size of this book is 9.4" x 7.4" (surprisingly). Nevertheless, I think it will still be helpful in corralling all of my scraps.

P'kolion Ottoman

Ottoman, storage unit or side table, The P'kolino Ottoman is so practical it would be hard to resist just getting one -- which is why they probably chose to make this fancy little ottoman in 10 different colors.

Operation Organization

The time has come for me to take action and organize my girls' play room. Every time I step into that room, I'm so subconsciously overwhelmed by it's frenzied appearance that I usually have to step away and close the door in denial. Ms. Bean goes back to school in 2 weeks which will allow me a little extra time to take on a project. Their play room is what we call the "sun room" because it sits off Ms. Bean's bedroom and it's the sunniest, and warmest, room in the house. It's a long & narrow room, so a tricky space to design; however, not impossible.

Here are my goals:

1. Get rid of the clutter! Less is more!
2. More utilitarian cubbies to organize books, baskets with art supplies, etc.
3. Make the current reading area more useful and inviting
4. Creative way to display the girls' artwork
5. Keep costs to a minimum
6. Paint the room (it's the same, boring beige color from when we purchased the house)

So, with these goals in mind, it's time for me to begin my mission in organizing this space to maximize it's potential. I will continue to keep a journal of my process...wish me luck!