droolicious : chairs

Seat Your Little Somebody in a Sustainable Little Nobody

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 21 May 2009 14:30:00 GMT

Proudly sporting seven design awards, the Little Nobody chair by Komplot also gets points for its sustainability. Each 16.5" high chair in the line is made from PET Felt, otherwise known as post-consumer recycled soda bottles.

Get yours for kr 1.599 (around $205 U.S.) from Hay.

Panton Junior Chair: Classic Design Meets Kids' Seating

Aaron Burgess — Fri, 01 May 2009 15:00:00 GMT

One-quarter the size of the classic Panton chair, the Panton Junior was never considered cost-effective enough for mass production until now. Based on Verner Panton's original drawings and specifications, the polypropylene chair comes in six different colors (the lime, light blue and orange shown above, as well as red, white and light pink), and at 24.75" high with a 13.75" seat height, it's perfectly sized for preschoolers through grade schoolers.

$130 from Arango.

Shark on the Lawn!

Heather Kuldell — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:08:00 GMT

While you're waiting for the spring rains to lighten up and the temperature to stabilize, it's a good time to deck out the deck. Land's End, purveyor of many durable outdoorsy goods, offers the beach-chic Shark Adirondack Chair ($139), which is made of hardwood and sealed with polyurethane. The back of the chair resembles a shark's silhouette — complete with teeth and dorsal fin — and offers a comfortable, reclined position. It also supports up to 100 pounds, so it's doubtful the kids will outgrown it until a few springs have come and gone.

What's Hatching At This Furniture Shop?

JeanneSager — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 17:26:00 GMT

If being a dad changed Scott Anderson, it was for the good of the environment.

When daughter Georgia came along in 2004, Anderson quit his job at a telecommunications firm to become a stay-at-home dad, aware that soon the family would be moving cross country to settle in the Seattle area. Creating decorations for Georgia's room that Anderson realized would have to be portable, Hatched Egg'rs came cracking out of the egg.

"After working for a number of years in a corporate environment I wanted to create my own business, but I also wanted to be very connected to my kids," Anderson says. "And I thought at the time what better way to connect with your kids than to draw silly pictures for them. At the same point I never wanted to have to explain to my kids (when they are older and start asking questions) why I used a material or a finish that hurt the environment or had the (even if it was small) potential to hurt people. So everything I designed I tried to incorporate sustainable practices (local, non-toxic, low impact, and little packaging)."

Hence Melville chairs, toddler-sized wooden seats that flip over and become chairs again, fulfilling a toddler-style need to make every side of every structure into something useful. A sizeable seat for a toddler, they last up until at least age eight as seats for pulling up to the coffee table for an afternoon of coloring or the conductor's perch on a toddler train.

"They are made from FSC certified wood, finished with non-toxic, environmentally friendly finishes (recommended for people with Chemical Sensitivities), and packaged with recycled, minimal packaging," Anderson explains. "Not only are the chairs environmentally responsible and sustainably built (sourced, manufactured and finished here in the Northwest), but they are really unique with a whole line of customizable images to adorn them with (customers can pick what colors will work best in every picture I produce)."

The same images made for Georgia and little brother Jake now grace not only the chairs but exquisite toyboxes and wall stickers made to crack kids up without cracking the paint job in the nursery.

"When I am creating new characters, I get out pencils and blank paper, for me, my daughter, and my son and we all sit at the kitchen table together and draw," Anderson explains. "During that time my kids tell me stories, act silly and create worlds of their own, and sometimes they look over at what I am drawing and laugh - that is the favorite part of my work."

Our favorite part of his work? All of it - from the green start to the grin on our kids.

Image: Hatched Egg'rs

CES 2009: New Pyramat Disney Gaming Chairs And Sofa In Q3 2009

Chris Ford — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 17:00:00 GMT

The cool thing about CES is sometimes you see stuff that hasn't been seen by anybody before. And when I do, I then get to introduce it to you. Pyramat, maker of gaming chairs we've written about before, have announced a new partnership on a couple of new products with Disney.

The Disney Chairs (prototypes pictured above) and Disney sofa (pictured kind of in the background to the left) have the usual Pyramat stuff built in (two speakers at the head rest and a sub woofer in the seat) and will of course have fabric designs by Disney. The other cool thing is that they will also fold flat for storage (to go underneath a bed for example). The sofa has a speaker that raises out of the back, and again has the same subwoofer seats that we love.

The chairs should retail for around $120 and the sofa for somewhere in the $700 to $900 range. More details will definitely be available in the future, as they're looking for a September 2009 availability.

Read all of the posts from CES 2009 the Consumer Electronics Showcase on Babble.com here.

No Ponies Were Hurt in the Making of this Wing Chair

Lisa Mulcahy — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:58:00 GMT

When I was growing up I think kids' seating came in two varieties: school desk chair or beanbag. So I’ll go ahead and say the cliché, “the kids these days don’t know how good they have it.” This pony print wingback chair could very easily saddle up to your own Le Corbusier in the living room.

Perfectly sized for little buckaroos, it’s upholstered in super soft microsuede. And with a solid maple frame you can expect a long lifespan for the $540 investment. Get it here at Chasing Fireflies.

First Look: Q Collection Junior Glider

Nicole Feliciano — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 21:36:00 GMT

This isn’t your grandma’s rocker. The greenest glider around is all new from Q Collection Junior.

Abandon your notions of rocking chairs being fussy and dated. Is your head clear? Now think modern, sustainable and hip. That’s better. What you’ve conjured up probably looks like the Alberto Winged Glider ($1,995—no we’re not off our rocker that’s the price).

Part of the new 2009 collection, all this glider has in common with traditional rockers is the magic touch (er, movement) to get fussy babies to sleep. The Alberto could easily be slipped into a Design Hotel next to Stark-designed chairs. We’re green with envy of the lucky few who can swing the price of the coolest nursery chair in town.

In addition to ample seating space, the glider is a tree-huggers dream. All the wood used is FSC (forest stewardship council) certified wood. Everything else used in construction is safe (formaldehyde-free glue, soy-based foam, natural jute webbing, etc.). Plus, we love that the design incorporates a slipcover. Making damage control a heck of a lot easier when baby decides to spew—no more crying over spilt milk.

Iconic Ghost Chair Gets Resized For Kids

Lisa Mulcahy — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 13:28:00 GMT

There are design critics out there that say Philippe Starck’s day has come and gone. I beg to differ. I’ve loved his sense of whimsy from the moment I first stepped into NYC’s Hudson Hotel (back when the boutique hotel craze was starting to take off). Though he’s recently been quoted as hating design and his profession, I think he’s been pretty good at redefining design. His Louis Ghost Chair for Kartell is a prime example of taking something staid like a Louis XVI chair and transforming into an icon for a new age. And now it’s gone through another evolution. This year at the Milan furniture fair the Lou Lou Ghost Chair for kids was launched. At All Modern it’s $136.99 and right now they’re offering free shipping!

Etsy Alert! The Three Bears Revisited

SunnyChanel — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 18:43:00 GMT

One of my daughter’s new favorite books is the old school classic Goldie Locks and the Three Bears. In our daily recitation of the tale of the Blondie and the bears, she loves to include her own “just right” with a very elongated “righhhhhhht”. It’s adorable. So this Etsy print by Sarah Jane Studios totally caught my eye. But in this updated version of the three chairs it features a Eames dining chair “too hard”, a traditional arm chair “too soft” and what looks a lot like the “Sleepytime Rocker” from Modern Tots.

You can get your own updated chair print here for $24.

Tavo High Chair From Monte Design Is Small And Modern

Chris Ford — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 20:04:00 GMT

The Tavo High Chair from Monte Design is a product I missed at the ABC Kids Expo this year, and it's definitely a regret. The Tavo is a basic under-the-table high chair that looks great and doesn't look like it will take up a lot of space in your home.

The Tavo High chair seat is made of black or brown "bonded leather" which is (as I learned) a type of recycled leather. It also makes it a soft-seat (which is kind of unique) and easy to wipe down. The base is solid maple (an appropriate wood type for a product made in Canada) and is for kids who can sit unassisted - six months to four years.

The Tavo High Chair, available now for $345 from MonteDesign.com

Very Big Toys: Video Game Beanbag Chair - Pyramat Gamebag 2.1

Chris Ford — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 23:07:00 GMT

Getting your kids a special comfy chair with built-in speakers is kind of encouraging them to play video games, watch movies or generally waste time, but think of it this way. When they go to bed you'll have a totally sweet chair to waste time in too.

The Gamebag 2.1 is a bean bag type chair made out of "breathable microfiber fabric" that has surround sound speakers and a subwoofer in the seat. It's compatible with all gaming consoles (XBOX, PS3 etc.) as well as televisions, DVD players, hand held video games and iPod/MP3 players. There's even a smaller version (pictured below), the Gamebag Mini, that is pink only and is a little cheaper.

The Gamebag 2.1 is apparently available now at Linens N' Things for $89.99 and the Mini is available at Toys R Us for $49.99 (though nothing is available at their respective web sites yet). You can also check out products from Pyramat at Pyramat.com.

How to Roll With Clean-Up Time

Erin Behan — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 18:06:00 GMT

Droolicious writer Mir wasn't a fan of the OFFI rolltop bench, but I must agree to disagree by pointing out the loveliness that is the OFFI rolltop chair. I am just beginning to appreciate how much space children's toys take up and how they are always underfoot, no matter what. Furniture that does two-in-one duty has always been high on parent's list of must-haves, and this rolltop chair has the added benefit of being attractive. For kids, of course, the key is the secret compartment where they can "hide" (aka put away) all their belongings. At 22" high, 24" deep and 15" wide with a 10" seat, it's also sized for kids only, increasing the appeal.The tambour is solid birch and the base is painted MDF. It's $168 at Follow Function.

ABC Kids Expo 2008: The Tri-Chair 3 In 1 High Chair

Chris Ford — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 14:30:00 GMT

Wondering what you're going to do with that high chair once your kid outgrows it? Well, apparently there's more than one way to skin that cat. The Tri-Chair is a brand new high chair / rocking horse / desk that doesn't require anything other than the initial assembly. Stand it upright and it's a basic "at-the-table" high chair (center in the picture above). Put it on it's side and it's a rocking horse (left). Then flip it over and it's a toddler desk (right).

It's made of 100% recycled wood fibers and powder coated for durability. I'm not sure how many parents out there were looking for something to do with their high chairs other than use them for letting their kids eat, but after checking it out I have to say it was pretty cool. And I can pretty much guarantee you've never seen anything like it.

The Tri-Chair retails for $159.00 and is available at Trichair.net.

ABC Kids Expo 2008: BBO2 Outdoor Kids Furniture from notNeutral

Chris Ford — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 12:00:00 GMT

I'm a big fan of children's product design group notNeutral, and at ABC this year they had a big announcement. Working off of their already extremely popular line of bedroom and playroom furniture "BB2", they've created a durable outdoor version of the table and chairs called BBO2.

The table and chairs are made of an extremely durable post-consumer recycled plastic that won't fade or chip. Which means all those soda and milk bottles that you've been dutifully recycling all of these years have been transformed into beautiful children's furniture. The table is square (as opposed to the round BB2); available in blue, green, and special order black, white, red and brown; and should be available in January of 2009. It's not cheap, the table should retail for around $455 and each chair will go for $180. But if you've been looking for a play set that your kids can also bring outside, then this might be for you.

Check out all the other notNeutral kids products over at notNeutral.com

ABC Kids Expo 2008: Kaboost Deluxe Portable Chair Booster

Chris Ford — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:05:00 GMT

We've written about Kaboost before. It's the portable chair booster that allows your child to sit at the proper height of the table, eliminating the need for a separate high chair. The new product they are showing at ABC is the Kaboost Deluxe, which is a normal Kaboost with a travel bag (sitting on the chair in the picture) in the (Deluxe only) charcoal color.

There's no doubt Kaboost is a cool concept, and one thing I learned from the rep at ABC was that Kaboost will fit any four point chair, including a Stokke Tripp Trapp. This kind of seems like it's defeating the purpose of a Tripp Trapp in the first place, but they said they had customers who weren't happy with the height of the Tripp Trapp and the Kaboost was the perfect solution. The other interesting thing about a Kaboost is that it increases the base of any chair it is underneath, thereby increasing the overall stability of the chair.

Kaboost Deluxe, $41.95 from Kaboost.com. (And if you've already got a Kaboost, you can pick up the travel bag for $9.95).

ABC Kids Expo 2008: Dina Ultra-Slimline Folding Highchair From Bloom

Chris Ford — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:02:00 GMT

There were a lot of great products from children's furniture maker Bloom at ABC, but the first thing I'm going to write about is a band new nifty little folding highchair called "Dina."

As you can kind of see from the picture, the Dina highchair is a fully functional, full form high chair. It has a built-in tray so it isn't for sitting table-side, but the cool thing about it is that it folds up completely flat, to a form factor of about two inches wide. It folds even with the seat cover (sold separately).

The Dina High Chair is not quite available in stores now but will retail for around $300 for the chair and $40 for the pad. It's not up on their web site now, but you can still check out BloomBaby.com.

ABC Kids Expo 2008: Stokke Baby Set

Chris Ford — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 23:02:00 GMT

Stokke had some new products at ABC this year, and my favorite is what they're calling the "Baby Set." It's a plastic railing (for kids aged six to eighteen months) that goes around your Tripp Trapp chair, but now it has a higher back for extra support. I'm a huge fan of the Trip Trapp chair for older kids, and with this attachment I can really see using it as a high chair for any aged child. It's available in all eleven colors that the Tripp Trapp is available in, or you can mix and match like in the picture above.

The Stokke Baby Set should retail for $89.99. Check it out at StokkeUSA.com

Picnic Table Craft Table From P'Kolino

Chris Ford — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 23:08:00 GMT

We've written before about the kids funiture from P'Kolino, and now they've got a new activity table for kids that matches the rest of their collection. It looks fun and modern, but is a picnic-bench type of table best for you?

I can imagine this type of table being perfect for some playrooms. In apartments or other places where space is at a premium, this might be the perfect solution. But in my house, one of the best aspects of the activity table is my kids can take the chairs and move them around. Not to mention the fact that I've sat down at the table once or twice myself. Plus, with the bench attached to the table, it would have been hard for my youngest to get to the table with her sister when she was learning to walk.

But either way, if you're shopping for a play table for your kids this one is worth checking out.

P'Kolino Craft Table, $129 from Design Public.

Seating for Sports Lovin’ Kids

Lisa Mulcahy — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:28:00 GMT

When it comes to lounge chairs for kids sometimes it seems like fuzzy Tickle Me Elmo chairs and beanbags abound, with very few choices that will actually blend in with your own furniture. But here’s proof that sophisticated styling does exist for the toddler set (even if it does have soccer balls on it).

Designed for kids age 3-8 this soccer ball chair and ottoman, $299, could very well mesh with a modern living room. Even though white may not be your first choice for jelly eating, dirty-fingered tots, the synthetic leather washes well with a simple wet wipe.

Big Deal: 50% Off Select Nurseryworks Items at fawn&forest

Erin Behan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 19:47:00 GMT

One of my new favorite baby/kids website, fawn&forest is having a sale on select nuseryworks items. While supplies last, the above playdate table and chairs are 50% off at $347.50, the goodnight glider is $550 in select fabrics and the pea berry ice crib set is $175. For more sale items, check the website's nurseryworks page. Although we're past the glider and crib set purchasing stage in my apartment, I'm seriously tempted by the playdate table. If only I had room to store it!

7 Days of Eco-Friendly Décor: Offi Rock-It Chair

Heather Kuldell — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:26:00 GMT

Rocking chairs are the perfect middle ground for parents who want their kids to sit still when the kids who just can’t. Think of it as controlled, contained wiggling. But before your kids can get to rocking in the Offi Rock-it Chair, they have to put it together.

Part of the “Built By Me” collection, Offi’s chair is made of birch wood and non-toxic paint. But don’t let the assembly intimidate you; there’s only four or so pieces. This price, however, is a little steep for something DIY: $190.

Get Some New England Style in Your Own Backyard

SunnyChanel — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:27:00 GMT

With the thawing of the winter’s woes comes dreams of frost free spring and summer afternoons at the family compound at the “Cape”, sinking your teeth into freshly caught crustations and carefully peeled grapes while sipping sun brewed ice tea. Sigh. For those of you, like me, who weren’t born into a New England dynasty and who happen to live hundreds of miles from a cape of any size or shape, we can still share that waspy beachy fantasy with our kids with this child sized Vintage Adirondack Chair ($188). It’s handcrafted and already comes with that “weathered” look so you don’t have to wait to have it aged by the salty sea air.

Build-A-Chair Workshop: Wood You?

Sarah Verdone — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 13:40:00 GMT

Before high chairs got all high and mighty, there were chairs like this iconic wooden number. You too can skip the curvy plastic with the fat price tags and get all back-to-basics. But you'll have to get out your toolkit. $10 buys you the blueprints to build this 60's Era High Chair by Woodcraft Plans. They'll even throw in a Guide to Building Wood Furniture. C'mon, it'll be fun!

7 Days of High Chairs: Antilop High Chair from Ikea

Chris Ford — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 02:40:00 GMT

This week we've shown you some cool high chairs, and we've shown you some pretty crazy looking high chairs too, but my pick is easily the cheapest.

My favorite traditional high chair (that is, a chair with a tray attached) is the Antilop high chair from Ikea. It's functional, modern, and will cost you a whopping $23.99. And that's with the tray.

The Antilop high chair has been working well in my family for years. It's functional, cleans very easily, and is perfectly simple. There is a seat belt for squirmy kids, and unlike a lot of other monstrosities out there, it won't be an eyesore in your kitchen. And it's so cheap, you can be a big spender and do like I did and buy one for Grandma and Grandpa's house too.

Antilop High Chair from Ikea, $18.99 for the chair and $5.00 for the tray.

Extrasmall Alphabet Tees: E is for Eames Chair

Sarah Verdone — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 14:51:00 GMT

Teach your kids the ABC's of modern design with Extrasmall's cool collection of alphabet tees. Choose from five chairs by mid-century masters Renée Herbst, Eric Pfeiffer, Marcel Breuer, Robin Day, and Charles and Ray Eames.

Now on sale at auto for $23 (a steal compared to the price of an actual chair).

And make sure to check out Extrasmall's entire collection of extranice clothes and accessories for newborns and toddlers.