droolicious : dutch design

Like Motel 6, the Birds Will Leave a Light On For You

Lisa Mulcahy — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 14:00:00 GMT

I love Dutch design. It’s even better when it’s wired for stateside use.

Since most kids like to leave a light on at night, this birdhouse lamp from Inke, $300, is way more interesting than the standard wall plug variety nightlight. It’s made of recycled oak and comes with a light bulb, cord and a back access panel for changing the bulb. The best part is that even though it’s made in the Netherlands it’s wired for North American outlets.

Up Yours, Recession: Here's a $2,500 Titanium Trike

Aaron Burgess — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:47:00 GMT

As luxury gifts go, this Dutch-designed $2,500 titanium tricycle at least has practicality in mind: Your tyke would have to wrap the thing around a tree after leaping a school bus just to put a dent in the thing.

Considering that the trike will probably go unused after a few weeks of mild play, you might want to aim a little lower this holiday season, especially if you're worried you'll be standing in a bread line by January. A Slinky, for instance, makes a fine gift.

If you've gotta have it all, though, more power to you: The trike is an exclusive offering from the owner of Loopfietsjeswinkel.nl, which I've given up trying to pronounce. [Via OhGizmo!]

Tomorrow's Hobby Horse: Bobbel Rocking Sculpture

Aaron Burgess — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 17:04:00 GMT

From the mind of Dutch designer Chris Slutter, this Bobbel rocking sculpture strips traditional rocking-horse construction to its bare essentials. The seat supports up to 44 pounds of kiddo, and the entire sculpture -- made from aluminum tubes and teak -- weighs just a hair over five pounds. While it could present a tripping hazard to smaller children, it looks sleek enough that you generally won't need to hide it after playtime is over.

Grab one for 395 Swiss francs, or around $387 U.S., at Kidsmodern.

Puzzle Dinner Tray Promotes Motor Skills, Teaches Place Settings

Aaron Burgess — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:03:00 GMT

Playing with your food takes on a whole new meaning with this melamine Puzzle Dinner Tray from Dutch design house Royal VKB. The cup, knife, fork and spoon slide in and out of their place settings (the utensils even have peg handles to make them easier to manipulate), and the tray's rubber feet keep the whole mess in place. Here's hoping that if kids don't enjoy your cooking, they'll at least have a reason to sit quietly at the table while the rest of the family enjoys dinner.

Oh, yeah, the bad news: It's $50. (Via La Prima.)