Harley Davidson Roaring Rocker
When my husband and I moved recently, despite the many stresses and the pressure to pack everything away just so, I must admit that I was delighted to know that I’d be decorating my son’s room with all new gear.
Children’s furniture is a favorite splurge of mine. (Make anything little enough and it’s suddenly cute!) The main difficulty for me is limiting myself to furniture that’s likely to be useful.
So I really try to take my time and select useful, sturdy, attractive, and —yes, it’s possible!— relatively unique furniture to take home. KidKraft furniture, I’ve found, is especially full of possibilities. My most recent KidKraft purchase is definitely an all-time favorite. My son had been running around the house making vroom “motorcycle” noises for months. No joke — months. Talk about a long-term phase! Of course, the running around was better than when the “motorcycle” rammed my leg repeatedly, I must admit.
At any rate, I couldn’t believe it when I saw KidKraft’s Harley Davidson “Roaring Rocker!” An actual Harley Davidson rocking horse… my husband used to own a Harley. Talk about a match made in heaven!
Of course, my first concern was how well it would hold up, because it was just too darling. Let’s face it, rocking horses aren’t exactly known for their stability, but the anti-tip base works exactly as it should.
A mother really knows to appreciate the time that goes into a well-thought design, especially where her kids are involved. It’s certain that they’ll exploit any potentially dangerous use of a product — especially my boy.
The details really make this Kidkraft toy as cute as it can be, with little side mirrors on top and reflector lights. The seat is made out of black leather-like material, and has just the right about of padding for a little boy bottom. At twenty-four pounds, they’re solid when one of my little darlings bumps into them, so that’s one less thing to worry about.
Best of all? It makes the vrooming noises for him! (Of course, that doesn’t stop him from making them anyway.)
But I didn’t truly fall in love with the product until I saw that they had one for little girls, too! It has those gorgeous tattoo-like designs that are so hip right now on everything from tee-shirts to purses; well, to rocking horses now, too, apparently.
There are little scrolls and flowers all along the rocker base where it says Harley Davidson, and frankly, the fact that it’s not the Pepto Bismol pink that is far too prevalent in girls’ toys is also a real win!
We now have pictures of both of the kids looking tough over their handle bars and faux headlamp. The hardest decision was whether the Rockers would look cuter in their bedrooms or paired together in the playroom. I wouldn’t be surprised if my daughter, who just loves her new toy, starts making vrooming noises all day too.
For once, even my husband was absolutely enthralled with a piece of children’s furniture. Who’d have thought?
Brabantia Touch Bin
There is nothing worse than trying to put an armload of trash in the garbage can without the help of a free hand to open the lid. Well, actually, maybe there is something a little more dreadful than that. Think about the times you have reached down to open the trash can and put your hand in the sticky residue that was left courtesy of the last item to make it into the bin. Maybe it is just ketchup. Maybe it is something worse. Only the person that put it in the bin really knows for sure.
This is not only messy, but it can make you and your family members sick. Trash bins are sacred ground for germs. Every time someone touches the garbage can lid, they risk picking up a nasty germ or two. Even with all of these faults, trash bins, like those from Brabantia, are a household necessity. Every house makes trash, therefore every house must get rid of it. What to do?
Luckily for everyone with waste, the garbage bin revolution has jumped into action. Sensor technology allows for touch free lid opening. A quick wave of the hand and voilà, the garbage can is open and ready to receive trash. No touching. No germ transfer. No mess.
In search for the perfect touch free garbage bin, it is easy to get sidetracked by inferior products. They look shiny and pretty, but they do not live up to all that they can be. No, when you look for a trashcan, you have to find something that is going to lock out smell, and not leave you end up spilling rotten tomato all over the kitchen floor.
The best sensor bins are made out of brilliant steel. Brabantia relied on this truth while designing their 50 liter bin. This steel is not only pleasing aesthetically, it is also very durable. This prefinished material resists rusting and refrains from chipping and flaking. Brabantia makes it easy to invest in a product that is made for the long haul, justifying that yearning for a top of the line trash can.
The wrong trash bin can make life miserable. It needs to have a large capacity to handle everything that you throw in it. It also needs to have a wide enough opening to easily accept any piece of trash. This will stop the need to stuff trash into the can just to make it fit in opening. The Brabantia 50 liter is made to handle it all. It also boasts of a large opening, to ensure easy use.
Designers of the Brabantia sensor bin have thought of it all, making it the dream garbage can for anyone. Its ingenious design makes for easy liner changes. Simply pop off the lid and change it out. Once the liner is in place, it is out of sight. Even the design of the bin’s hinge was well thought out. The hinge has been designed and tested for years of trouble free use. The tastefully incorporated handles are also a plus, making it very easy to move the bin from space to space. Most importantly, this sensor bin operates silently, letting its superiority speak for itself.
KidKraft - Firetruck Toddler Table
When it comes to children’s furniture, I must say, sturdiness is the first thing that I look for. Well, that and, of course, a very high rating in the (so difficult to explain to my husband) cuteness factor. I hardly seem to find that combo in any brand except KidKraft toddler furniture.
Frankly, it isn’t always as easy as I’d like to find both in a single product. Typically, when one of my kids likes something, it looks horribly flimsy, and anything that I think will stand up to the worst temper tantrum, they don’t find attractive at all.
Kids really seem to be drawn to bright colors and exciting patterns, especially those that incorporate their favorite themes. Whereas, so often, the furniture made with these themes looks as if I could blow it right over! With kids, you just have to have that extra sturdiness in furniture like Kidkraft, or it just won’t last.
Also, (and I don’t believe I’m alone in this, after examining current trends) I really prefer the look of wooden furniture to that of plastic. Plastic kids’ furniture tends to look too much like large toys, if you ask me.
But so often these days, it seems as if the plastic furniture is designed more with kids in mind, while the wooden furniture tends to look as if it were made for miniature adults.
This is where KidKraft just blew me away with their darling fire hydrant toddler table. With its bright, contrasting colors — red and white, with a dash of yellow — I knew it would be an immediate hit, without being so glaringly bright that it blinded my design-oriented eyes.
The fire hydrant cut-outs that make up the sides of the table are theme-oriented enough to delight any mechanically-minded or otherwise, little boy, just as they did mine. The idea of the firefighter as an American hero has especially taken off in recent years, and, honestly, I think it’s pretty neat to be able to fill my son’s room with images that are both trendy and subtly inspirational.
KidKraft really did a great job with the table’s functional design, too. From the moment I saw it, I knew that wide, flat base would keep the table upright while my toddler was working (well, scribbling!) feverishly away. With its weight at approximately nine pounds, I’m not terrified to bump into it, either, which is nice.
The little drawer in the table, (besides being ridiculously cute!) is just great for storing crayons, markers, map pencils, paper, and everything else, so I don’t have to look at it when he’s not using it. Plus, it has a darling little fire-hydrant knob that’s a replica of the design on the side. Something about cleverly-shaped drawer knobs just slays me with cuteness.
The surface is nice and slick — read that as “easy to clean.” Honestly, all I was looking for was a surface at the right height for my little boy to color — a surface that wasn’t my kitchen table! KidKraft really delivered on this one. I’m officially a customer for life!
There really are times when I almost miss the retro ‘Kitchen of tomorrow, Today’ imperative in our culture. Kitchens used to be the inspiration for home innovation, and the place where technology became a part of the home. Ovens, refrigerators, and even microwave ovens brought high tech into the lives of the middle class. Many companies who became famous for advancement in the kitchen have moved on, but some, like Brabantia, are still keeping up a strong tradition of futurism in the kitchen.
I started thinking about this just the other day, while I was shopping for, of all things, Tupperware. You see, I do NOT have a technologically advanced kitchen of tomorrow. I have a sloppy kitchen of ‘dishes that should have been washed two weeks ago.’ So I was looking for some bins to keep my pastas and rice in. I wasn’t particularly interested in anything pretty – at least not until I came across the Brabantia line of amazing decorative bins online. The Brabantia bins are available in prints, or with see-through (and very futuristic looking) fronts.
I must admit, I got a little excited by the prospect of having something in my kitchen that had form as well as function, and being the utilitarian person that I am, I loved that the Brabantia bin sets came in black. It goes with everything! Now my kitchen of yesterday is looking a little bit more streamlined.
I love the Brabantia bread bin that comes with this set. Before, I was the sort of person who tends to buy a loaf of bread, twist the end of the bag to close it, and toss it up on top of the fridge. Since I’ve started using the bread bin, it seems like my sandwiches are just a bit classier (fresher, anyway), and I can go just a little bit longer in between trips to the grocery store. For someone as busy as my family, this is appreciated.
The Brabantia canisters are just perfect for my dried goods too. I used to worry about boll weevils in my cereal, rice and oatmeal, but these canisters seal up with a very satisfying airtight seal that pops closed. They look really nice in the kitchen too. I almost feel like my life is somewhat organized when I have these filled.
I’ve used Brabantia products before, and I have always been very impressed with their quality and durability. I even found out that most things from Brabantia come with some kind of warranty. I’ve got several Brabantia trash cans that I think I must have had for at least five years without any kind of problem. I love the way these bin sets make my kitchen look. I can finally stop feeling like I have a kitchen stuck in the past, and start to take a little pride in it.
I’m the kind of cook who has to know where everything is. I’m a visual sort of person in general, so seeing where my supplies are is important to me, as is organization. I’ve got a large family, and I enjoy (very much) cooking big meals for them, but it can turn into a major hassle if I spend any amount of time trying to lay my hands on a particular ladle, or knife, or see how much flour I have left.
I’ve been shopping with CornerOne for a few years now, and was always eyeballing the Brabantia line of products. When I have a little bit of money set aside, I invested in my kitchen happiness! With free shipping, it made the decisions easier, knowing I wasn’t going to have to throw part of my budget away on exorbitant online shipping costs.
I went first for the Brabantia Wall Rail, with 7 moveable hooks. I’ve got my whisk, ladles, spatula, peelers, and manual can opener hanging up there now, the things I use most. It’s pretty, too. It looks a little like a piece of abstract art, hanging on my wall, and that makes me almost as happy as the efficiency the set-up offers me.
To hold my cookbooks up and out of the way, I got the Brabantia Cookbook Holder. It’s got a small profile and is chrome-finished, so it looks nice with my other things, and it’s so handy to not have a cookbook taking up counter space.
My Herb Jars Organizer is cool too. It’s chrome, and looks like an old-fashioned condiments caddy. It works well with the Kitchen Tools Organizer; both have a T-handle on top to move the organizers around easily.
I got the Wall Rail Shelf (two come in the case) and it’s easily one of my favorite additions. I’ve got all the things I use most (spices, small containers of flour and sugar, olive oil, red wine vinegar, etc.) up on the wall where I can see it. More importantly, it’s away from the heat source of my stove and ovens, so the spices and oils won’t have their shelf life shortened. I can see when I’m getting low on something, so it makes life easier to know I’ve got to go to the store before I make…whatever. I like the look, too, of the color of the spices and the oils and vinegars, openly displayed against the wall, on the shiny chrome shelves.
My family is happy that I’m happy. Given that I’ve rarely had a failure at the dinner table; it shows that I’m more efficient, and a less-harried cook, when something comes out fabulous (especially that I may have never tried before). The look of the kitchen now is like that of a professional chef’s kitchen, with the chrome and black, my good knives on display like you’d see in a restaurant. I’m very happy with everything about what I’ve done in there, and only have Brabantia and CornerOne to thank for it.
I run a small, humble church nursery, every Wednesday night and Sunday mornings (for two services). My staff and I take care of the littler kids, the ones too young for services or bible study. We’ve been working with donated furniture and toys and while the toys are okay, the furniture was outdated, none too clean (until we tackled that) and not necessarily safe or kid-friendly. Through the kindness of some of our congregants, we were given a modest budget with which to refurnish our nursery.
Keeping kids (from babies to four year-olds) occupied can be a challenge, and since the nursery is right off the sanctuary, it’s important to keep them busy (and quiet) during services.
I had heard about KidKraft from a girlfriend, and went to CornerOne’s site (because I love them) to see what they were offering, and wow, am I happy now. For one thing, there’s free shipping from CornerOne on every KidKraft item, and if you’ve ever paid shipping on a heavy item, you know how much it can eat into your budget. So, yeah, this was the place for me.
I went with the KidKraft LEGO 2-in-1 Activity Table, first off. It’s got 200 LEGO-compatible blocks, a 30-piece train set and storage right under the table. It’s big enough that the kids aren’t crowded, and low enough so that even the smallest child can stand and play.
I also got four Aspen Chairs, for additional seating. They go with the table, and the finish is smooth and safe, and my kids like to sit on them when they’re reading.
Another easy choice was the Dollhouse Bookcase, which is so realistic, a couple of my kids clean it out and play with it as a house, then put everything back when it’s time to go. We keep the smaller toys and books in there, and it’s really pretty in the nursery.
We also got a couple of the Nantucket bookcases, because we have quite the bible storybook collection, and are always getting more donated. They’re white, with detailed wainscoting, and very pretty.
I guess the thing for me was to make a safe environment for the kids, where they feel like they’re first priority, and we can have fun while establishing some routines. They come in, take off their shoes, and put them in the little KidKraft Lockers we got. They’re GREAT. The kids feel like they have their own little piece of real estate, and they have their names on their own shelf with a piece of masking tape.
Anyway, everybody takes off their shoes, gets comfortable and we settle down with a bible story. Then everybody gets out what they want to play with; they play like little wild animals for a while (with me going, “Shhhh!!”), run around pretending they’re monkeys, got to the table and play with the LEGOs and trains, and then they put everything away when services are over.
My nursery is safe, pretty, and well-supplied, and my little kids couldn’t be happier.
Brabantia bread bin and canister set
I’m a very organized cook, needing everything where I can easily access it, having all my supplies in places where I can just lay my hands on them without having to search. I like to have function, as well as form, however, and finding products that meet those requirements isn’t always easy. I have my tools in a specific place, my food grouped together by function (such as baking, breakfast, snacks, etc.) and know what’s in my spice rack at all times. I can’t stand having something tucked away, unused in the refrigerator or pantry, because I forgot it was in there, or wasting food or necessary ingredients because I couldn’t see it out to keep track of it. Brabantia is great for this!
I needed something for my counters, my mismatched set of canisters and breadbox kind of bugging my sense of form and aesthetics, and I needed something that would securely store my non-refrigerated perishables, like flour and sugar. Having different kinds of outdated storage bins and plasticware and tools just didn’t fit with the sleek, efficient look of my kitchen, so I decided to make a change.
I came across the Brabantia line of products in an Internet search, and I’ve never looked back. Sleek and functional, my kitchen has never been more efficient, and super easy on the eyes. With the breadbox and multiple canisters in varying sizes, I have the tools now to put my hands on what I need, when I need it. I have light birch cabinets with stainless steel appliances; a medium granite countertop…So coordinating tools and accessories is extremely easy with the Brabantia line of products. I can switch out the look from season to season or whenever the mood strikes me and still have the same quality products storing my supplies.
The sleek design of the Brabantia bins makes them easy to clean, which if you’re concerning about food safety like I am, is a huge bonus. Very few crevices, nooks or crannies take up the clean lines of the designs, and they’re all easily wiped clean with an antibacterial wipe. They’re smooth and look like professional quality storage solutions, only they’re for your home and priced that way.
There are five different styles to choose from, including a see-through set, and two blacks and two whites (matte finishes and “silhouette”). One of each of the black and white sets come with a really cool trees motif, and the other black and white ones are just clean style, solid-colored. They don’t take up a lot of room on the countertop, and are easily accessed, which is a big deal when you’re juggling more than a few things in the kitchen. Laying your hands on exactly what you need, right when you need it, can be the difference between a gourmet delight and a gastronomic disaster.
Brabantia makes other kitchen storage gadgets, tools and storage solutions, that I’ll looking forward to diving into as soon as I get dinner on the table.
Savannah Kidkraft Dollhouse
I’ve always been attracted to the notion of dollhouses and miniatures, and while I was never able to have one as a kid, as an adult, I get to treat myself to what I’d been missing. I was looking around the Internet to see what was out there – did I want to build one from scratch? Did I want to build the furniture myself, or order a kit with the sofas, dressers, beds, etc. already included? What scale did I find most interesting? Would my grown-up hands be able to comfortably manipulate the furniture and people? Did I want something completely put together, where all I do it move everybody around till I’m happy with it? I found the KidKraft line of products and was floored.
But the choices they offer gave me a whole new set of problems! Did I want the Kidkraft “Savannah,” with its four levels of pretty wallpaper and ginger bread detailing? Did I want it because of the furniture included, or because I loved the patio area?
Then I see the “Georgia Peach” by KidKraft and realize, great, now I’m torn. I love that it’s made of wood, it’s got two staircase, there are 13 pieces of furniture, and again with the patio area. It’s in pretty pastel colors, and I could sit in front of it, rearranging furniture and placing dolls to my heart’s content. Then, I see there’s the “Doll Cottage” and I’m even more in the weeds with my decision-making. It’s got four 4” dolls, is made of wood, comes with furniture and is a little smaller, easier to fit in my apartment.
I ended up with a coin-toss, two times. I got the “Savannah,” from KidKraft because I loved the look of it. I know that I can do any kind of decorating I want, and get the dolls I want to go inside (or on the patio!).
Perhaps the greatest thing about this is though, is that I can share it with my nieces when they come to visit. It’s big enough that I can easily move stuff around, getting a room just so, or they can play for hours, doing the same thing. It’s sturdy enough so that I won’t have to worry about anything breaking, and they won’t have to worry about how goofy they want to get with the house, furniture and dolls.
The fact that there was free shipping tipped the scales for me too, in finally deciding to do this for myself. I can’t wait to get to the craft store and see what else I can do to the house, whether it’s new furniture (that I may paint myself) or some interior decorations or a new family of dolls. I can switch out anything that gets boring to me, and think about putting in lights, maybe a little “gardening,” all the things I couldn’t do as a kid because I didn’t have this. It’s great to be a grownup!
Kidkraft Cottage Dollhouse
When I was a child I used to have endless hours of fun with a small dollhouse that my parents purchased for me! I spent days moving the furniture into perfect configurations and making clothes out of fabric for my tiny dollhouse family. Playing with my own KidKraft dollhouse gave me an opportunity not only to be creative with the decorations and to have hours of fun, but gave me an activity to play for hours every weekend. Now that my young niece is 7, I decided that it was a great time to purchase a dollhouse for her as well. Her house is full of computers and electronics, and I would love to give her a gift that will ‘unplug’ her for a little while.
KidKraft has so many terrific dollhouses for little kids, I was blown away! When I was trying to make the choice of which dollhouse to purchase I took a look at these three, each totally unique and wonderful in their own ways!
The KidKraft Savannah Dollhouse was as tall as my young niece! It had four levels and six rooms of space for her to decorate any way that she wished! This dollhouse could be ordered and delivered with 13 pieces of furniture for these rooms, as well as an outdoor patio area for her dollhouse family to hold parties and bbq’s in! It also came with free shipping! The lovely pastel colors of this dollhouse reminded me of my own, as a child. some of the simpler childrens toys are still around today for good reason. A dollhouse makes an excellent gift, because it can grow with the child, and with new coat of paint, will be perfect for the next child in the family.
Another dollhouse I considered was the KidKraft Georgia Peach dollhouse. I was attracted first by its size. This KidKraft dollhouse is large enough that more then one child can easily play in it at a time. Also, it has so many large windows! My sister can check out her dolls from multiple points of view. The dollhouse has 13 pieces of furniture in varying colors and comes with artwork on the walls. This dollhouse has enough space for hours of fun!
While it was hard to narrow down the dollhouse for my niece, I knew that KidKraft had given me many exciting options to choose from. Their sturdy furniture, well designed products and inexpensive choices made this birthday an easy one to shop for! My sisters face when her daughter opened her large present and began to play, was priceless! Thank you KidKraft for such adorable dollhouses that will bring her a million laughs in the years to come.
Brabantia Fall Front Bread Bin
I always end up with leftover bread and need somewhere to store it. Luckily, I have my Brabantia bread bin! Bread bins are used to keep food, mainly bread and baked goods, from quickly going bad. Before I bought my bread bin, I would always have several pieces of bread never used. I wondered what I could buy to keep my bread from going bad. Then I discovered Brabantia’s bread bin collection! Brabantia has many styles and shapes of bread bins, each one designed to keep your bread fresh for a long time.
A couple of features that are important to any bread bin are that they have an easy open and close hinge, and can keep air and moisture out. This way the food does not dry up or go bad! Additionally, bread bins are great for people who have household pets that tend to get into their food. It also helps if you have pests, like fruit flies. This will keep them away from your food entirely.
Brabantia bread bins have some features that they all share. The come in slick shapes. Some are large enough to fit several loaves of bread. You can purchase them in silver, black or white. There are multiple styles of bread bins and you can find the one that fits your purpose the best.
My favorite bread bin from Brabantia was the Roll top bread bin. It has a new sleek design and a thick grip. It’s durable, and well made. It easily has room for two loaves of bread. This is great for a family made up of picky eaters. This design is made for a small area and is so compact that even while open it does not take up any additional space. It’s easy to clean, as well as fingerprint resistant.
My next favorite Brabantia product is the Storage Touch bread bin. This unique product has a touch closing system. No more leaving the bread bin opens a little ways and drying out your food! With one touch, this bread bin seals your food off entirely from air or other moisture. It has a very handy roll top lid, so it is very good for all types of spaces. It also has a flat top, so you can use the top of your new Brabantia bread bin as storage space. This comes additionally with a ten year guarantee! This bread bin is also very easy to keep tidy.
Each bread bin has its own unique characteristics and benefits. Picking the one that is the best fit for you and your family is the first start. You can’t go wrong with Brabantia products. They are durable, inexpensive and will last for a long time. So stop storing your bread in plastic bags on the counter. Go the fashionable route and purchase your very own Brabantia bread bin. Better start baking some bread, so you can get as much use out of your bread bin as possible!
