KidStyleFile

The Kind + Jugend 2009 trade show was held last week in Cologne, Germany. Kind + Jugend represents the cutting edge of baby and toddler goods globally, with the most prestigious brands in the market exhibiting.

KidStyleFile’s German correspondent Anna attended the show, and today shares with us her Best in Show selection – Angela

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Mamas & Papas – www.mamasandpapas.com

Please see full coverage here.

Ebulobo – www.ebulobo.com

It was my absolute pleasure to meet French toy designer Anna of Ebulobo and her irresistible new line ‘Wood Ours’.

As mother, an educator, and a lover of thoughtful design and the creative process, I was completely captivated by this divine Papa Bear, his little Baby Bear, and the delightful fabric pieces that help to create their story.

Anna explained this captivating range to me with a tale of meaningful connection: Papa Bear is as strong as an oak tree (hence the fabric ‘wooden’ knot which doubles as a pouch for baby on his tummy), and Baby Bear has long arms which help him to attach himself playfully all over his Papa. Papa is carrying a fabric fishing rod, satchel containing fish, and a lovely flower to take home to Mama bear.

There are a number of items in the ‘Wood Ours’ range including a fabric picture book, fabric ball with inner pouch and smaller bear characters.

Ebulobo products are distributed in Australia by: Divisible by Zero Pty Ltd – www.dbz.com.au

Ju-Ju-Be – www.ju-ju-be.com

Imagine that you happen to have a background in engineering and bag design, that your partner is well experienced in the trendy design world an international accessories company… and add to that the knowledge that raising 6 children provides!

Ju-Ju-Be is a Californian bag company that was born from just this scenario. The result is highly functional, edgy bags and accessories made with soul.

Their top selling product is the ‘Be All’ Parent’s Bag. These bags come in a huge range of colours and patterns. Their outer Teflon coating and inner Agion coating means that they are both hardwearing and anti-microbial.

A great deal of industry and parenting experience has been incorporated into these bags. The organizational features include plentiful pockets, mesh pouches, a parent’s pocket, light coloured lining and a change mat with memory foam. These gems are even machine washable!

Ju-Ju-Be can be found in Australia through www.cheekybubs.com.au

TimKid – www.timkid.de

What if I told you that you could have a safe, stylish, space saving place for nappy changing…. and that it can eventually become a child’s fold-away desk?!

No longer just a dream, TimKid created ‘Owo’, the egg-shaped changing table when they failed to find one similar for their own growing family.

Made from Birch Plywood, the Owo and various other furniture items from Tim Kid, are exclusively produced in Germany, and the quality is exceptional.

TimKid is not currently available in Australia. We’ll keep you posted on any developments.

Dot Pot – www.dotbaby.eu

If you are at the same stage of parenting as I am – then you can see toilet training in your not-too-distant future!

One product I defintely want in my arsenal is the Belgian ‘Dot Pot’. This product is a baby itself, having only been launched 2 weeks ago.

Not only is it aesthetically as pleasing as a potty might be, it is also three products in one. At first a potty (with hygienic flip handle for parents), it then graduates with your child to become a toilet minimiser seat and a handy step.

I love that this means I will be saving on storage space, adding less items of plastic to the planet, and only shopping once for three items! Even better – the product is made from recycled materials with the ability to be recycled itself in the future.

Dot Pot is not currently available in Australia. We’ll keep you posted on any developments.

Beaba – www.beaba.com

French company BEABA have marked their 2010 range with the use of beautiful soft, muted colours and simple graphics. They are well known in France for their stylish and practical solutions to daily life with babies and toddlers.

One particular item, which caught my eye, was the Folding Baby Bath. It is designed for both daily use and travel and folds away to nothing! When assembled it is large enough for a bath recliner and it has a handy integrated plug.

Beaba is not currently available in Australia. We’ll keep you posted on any developments.

Krooom – www.krooom.com

Environmentally conscious products with gorgeous designs, Krooom (yes, that three ‘o’s) continues to provide quality children’s furniture made from laminated recycled cardboard. Don’t be put-off by the fact that it is cardboard, their children’s stools even withstood my weary pregnant bod!

New additions to the collection are a castle and house. Both are two-stories, beautifully illustrated and can also be used as bookshelves.

Krooom products are available in Australia through Room to Grow. Check for stockists here.

ella & otto – www.ellaandotto.com

Miki brought us the first news of Ella & Otto in July from the Bubble London Tradeshow, and I have been enamoured ever since. It was a joy to meet the Ella & Otto team and view their new organic collection, which oozes Scandinavian charm with its singature Moose motif.

You can purchase Ella & Otto products in Australia from The Hip Infant – www.thehipinfant.com.au.

Baby Bumex – www.bumex.ru

Baby Bumex is a Russian company found on the boarder of Finland. They are specialists in creating natural birch veneer and plywood. Recently they have branched into creating children’s furniture. Each piece comes flat-packed and most assemble without nails or glue.

In particular, I couldn’t walk past the children’s rocking chair. What a divine combination of old-world style and modern design…. All in a puzzle chair – I want one!

Baby Bumex is not currently available in Australia. We’ll keep you posted on any developments.

Today’s post written by Anna

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Playing “shop” was one of my favourite childhood games; my siblings and I spent many fun-filled hours running ours. And for me here is something of the whimsy, fun and magic of this captured at ShopHouse – www.shophouse.com.au. Big on style, it’s this simple: they stock so many of the brands that make me happy!

I just love, love, love: Oobi: and love it even more on sale!  I did a little hunting through the ShopHouse clearance bin and game away with glee! I found heaps of Oobi items on sale like the knit cardigan pictured below in white, and the Oobi Nanna’s Strawberry Knit Dress in Raspberry.

ShopHouse also stock the beautiful brand mill&mia, and you will be pleased to know that the entire Winter 09 range is on sale at up to 50% off RRP – yay!  There are some great items for styling up your little man from this brand, including the Long-sleeve Stripe Hoodie now just $24.95, and the Check Cowboy shirt now only $29.95.

ShopHouse also stock many beautiful gift items for babies and children like the Cocoon Couture Bean Bags - and they’re on sale too!!

I love the ShopHouse Suitcases, in three sizes and a great range of colours. They also have many of the great Alimrose Squeakers; Angus Cow is just too cute!

Plus it just gets better:  this week; as a KidStyleFile reader you can hit the checkout and enter promo code ‘KSFDELIVERY’ to have all your goodies delivered FREE of charge! Free Shipping closes midnight on Tuesday 18 August 2009.

So, what are you waiting for?!  Off to ShopHouse to shop ’til you drop!

1. Cocoon Couture Tiny Toucan Navy on Light Blue Bean Bag – $99.95 ON SALE $79.95
2. Cocoon Couture Early Bird Book Ends – $89.00
3. ShopHouse Rich Red Suitcase – Small $9.95
4. Mill & Mia Black/Grey Marle Stripe Long Sleeve Hoodie $59.95 ON SALE $24.95
5. Oobi Red Cable Knit Hat $29.95
6. Mill & Mia Navy Check Cowboy Shirt $69.95 ON SALE $29.95
7. OshKosh Baby George Blue Pre-Walkers $32.95 ON SALE $16.48
8. Alimrose Designs Hand Squeaker – Angus Cow $15.95
9. Baobab Chocolate Racer Dress $45.95 ON SALE $24.95
10. Krooom Follia Manooo Organiser $35.95
11. Oobi White Cable Knit Cardigan $64.95 ON SALE $44.95
12. Oobi Nanna’s Strawberry Knit Dress in Rasberry $49.95 ON SALE $39.95

Shopping is so much fun at ShopHouse and they stock a diverse range of products from the following brands: Adiri Natural Nurder, Alimrose, And The Little Dog Laughed, Annabel Trends, Baobab, Bod, Bonds, Cocoon Couture, Cookey Cat Artworks, Cuddlefish, Eco Kid.,Galmatic, Get Fresh, Huggalugs, ID Teen, Jedko Games Co, Kee-Ka, Kiddysac, Krooom, Lark, Lil’ Lana, Little Chipipi, Look At The Wall, Milestone Press, Mill & Mia, Moltex Nappies, Monday’s Child Pyjamas, OshKosh, Oobi Baby + Kids, Pebbles, Penny Scallan, Pure Baby, Red Wagon, Rileah Designs, Serena & Lily, ShopHouse, The Little Experience, Wotnot, Yunginz.

Wherever you live in Australia, ShopHouse delivers for the flat rate of $4.95. International orders are delivered for $20.  See the ShopHouse Delivery Page for full terms and conditions.

I once aspired to minimalism. My life was condensed to a backpack…and a fair bit of carry-on luggage, admittedly! Those days are long gone since our little Miss came along.

I’m 99.99% sure that once little people enter your life, you have to embrace and accept clutter.

Kids require so much stuff, alot of it neccessary, alot of it not so much. They fill your home with love and laughter, but occassionally you probably get a bit sick of tripping over Tonka trucks and finding crayons in the toilet.

Luckily, there is a whole world of nifty storage solutions at your fingertips, and not all of it plastic. These little beauties look so good you’ll thoroughly enjoy tidying up!

One of my fave storage solutions is the Fiona Kate range.

In a classic colour palette, her “box seats” are all at once a box, table and seat, and can be personalised to suit. Not only for kids, they’re fabulous for the office, kitchen, or garage as well!

They tick all the right boxes: recyclable, made in Australia, low cost, washable, light yet strong and they pack flat.

A starter pack sets you up with two storage boxes and a sturdy tabletop to fit together or use separately, and once you’ve got the hang of it the possibilities are really endless!

There are 4 box sizes, ranging from Mini (18cm x 36cm x 14cm) to Major (36cm x 52cm x 28cm), packs of removeable letters and chalkboard stickers to decorate, and flatpacked table tops in all colours. Go nuts!

Medium Starter Pack $99.95
Mini Storage box $12.95
Major Storage Box $39.95
Removeable Letters $12.95 per pack
Chalkboard Stickers 8 sheets, $10.95
Table Tops $29.95 ea

The Missi Missi Collapsible Storage boxes, stocked at Bubba Funk, are also pretty nifty – storage and a seat, all in one!

They come in pink or navy and Bubba Funk also stock a matching range of beanbags so you can kit out a whole room in style. Then, if you move or simply want to redecorate, it folds down ito itself to make it easy to, well, store your storage away!

Missi Missi storage boxes and beanbags are $99.95 ea.

Tiny People stock these beautiful Toy Storage Cubes by Dwell Studio, which are completely gorgeous in nurseries or kid’s rooms.

I adore the whimsical prints, plus you can get matching bibs, blankets, towels and linen! Made from a heavy duty canvas bin with uncoated cotton canvas lining, they add a dash of bright colour and oodles of personality to a room!

Dwell Studio Toy Storage Cubes $136 ea

The delightful Kroom Furniture is stocked at ShopHouse, including this incredibly cute Storage Bench which would brighten up any nursery or playroom, and it’s made from at least 70% recycled materials while being 100% recyclable!

Krooom do a great range of versatile storage solutions. The Maggie Storage Shelf would look so elegant in a little girl’s room, but also so pretty in an office space or even your bedroom!

Same goes for the Juliette organiser ($45.95) – man, does my desk need one of these! (Eds. note – I have one, and it is fab-u-lous!) Made from recycled corrugated cardboard, it’s perfect for storing files, magazines or organising homework and schoolbooks for older kids.

Kroom Storage bench $49.95
Kroom Maggie Storage Shelf $75.95

If you’re not so into the blue/pink combo, try Kikki-K for storage boxes in colourways like red and black, which again are perfect for older kids or storage that can be used in any room in the house.

These cd boxes are pretty darn cool, while the A4 Cloth Storage Boxes are great for storing memories, drawings, and tidbits as they grow.

Kikki K Cd Storage $14.95
Kikki K A4 Cloth Storage boxes $34.95 ea

Check out these super cute ideas from the wondrous 
Urban Baby by Monsieur and Madame.

These toy storage bags have such a delightful print and can be used not only for toys, but for shopping, laundry, the beach…

Urban Baby also stock gorgeous storage boxes by Tiger Tribe. They have felt lining and fold away neatly when not in use, though they’re so cute I’m not sure why you’d want to hide them away!

Finally, keep the bathroom neat with the Boon Frog Pod which attaches to the wall with semi-permanent adhesive strips, and is a hygienic and funky way to store bath toys and products. (Plus he’s sooo funky!)

Monsieur and Madame toy storage bags $24.50 ea
Tiger Tribe storage boxes from $29.95 ea
Boon Frog Pod $54.95

Please check individual sites for shipping cost and delivery details.

Those Christmas bells are ringing louder every day now. Before we know it, the big day will be upon us, and the little ones will be racing out to see what’s under the tree, and delightedly exploring the contents of stockings and sacks.

ShopHouse – www.shophouse.com.au – has a delicious range of goodies in especially for the big event, notably the Cocoon Couture Christmas Sacks.

These delightful sacks are designed in Australia, and made of the most gorgeous retro-styled fabric and cute-as appliques. Available in a range of 7 sweet designs for good little boys and girls, Santa will be charmed, I’m sure!

To get your Cocoon Couture sack off to a good start in the presents department, Bronwyn at ShopHouse is gifting KSF readers a Cocoon Couture Wooden Charm (RRP $12.95) with every sack purchased. This offer is valid while stocks last – and that won’t be long (last year ShopHouse sold out of these sacks in just one week), so hurry, hurry!

The Cocoon Couture charms are truly lovely to behold. These 24cm long treasures feature the bird and leaf motifs from Cocoon Couture’s award-winning  Enchanted Tree.They are the perfect stocking filler, and look beatiful hung in windows, on doorknobs, handles, and even on the Xmas tree!

Bronwyn also has another great offer, exclusive to KSF readers.

Buy two pieces of clothing from the Pure Baby range, and Bron will gift you with a ‘I Love My Babycinos’ boardbook (valued at $9.95), while stocks last.

Pure Baby produce the softest, and gentlest organic clothing pieces (in both a material and design sense) for babies from birth to 2 years, and with this giggle-worthy book (dribble tested, no less! Never fear, that won’t be your copy ), this would make a completely wonderful pressie: friends and family of the under 2 set, take note!

My Pure Baby picks? The PJs with their oh-so-cute wraparound dog print top, and go anywhere-stripey pants. These ‘Js are definitely too cool just to be worn for bedtime.

Mention ‘KSF Pure Baby offer’ in comments field at checkout, when you purchase 2+ pieces of Pure Baby clothing, to score your free book.

Off on a tangent now, but so exciting, so simply must tell you!

ShopHouse are now stocking the new Krooom furniture and accessories, and they are GOR-GEOUS (and quirky: get a load of the log stool: looks real, huh? It’s cardboard!).

Krooom products are made of environmentally friendly recycled cardboard, and they’re very affordable. Double walled for strength and durability, I am wildly in love with the new pieces, and their nature-themes designs. Jazz up a little one’s room (or a home-office maybe?) with ease with these.

Last, but not least, another tip-off for you: you can get FREE postage at ShopHouse until 30 November with the ShopHouse Shop 4 Kids magazine code. Visit this page to collect the code and score postage absolutely FREE! Woo!

1. Krooom Follia Beehive Bookcase $89.95
2. Krooom Black and White Maggie Storage Shelf $72.95
3. Krooom Follia Austin Storage Shelf $72.95
4. ‘I Love My Babycinos’ board book $9.95
5. Pure Baby PJs – Mint with Dog print $34.95
6. Pure Baby Organic Red Stripe Knitted Growsuit $44.95
7. Cocoon Couture Sanata Sack (available in 7 designs) $54.95 each
8. Cocoon Couture Wooden Charm FREE with every Cocoon Couture Santa Sack purchased!*
9. Krooom Log Stubbe Stool $21.95

Brands stocked at ShopHouse include Annabel Trends, Baobab, IDTee, Kee-Ka, Lil’ Lana, mill & mia, Mondays Child Pyjamas, Oobi Baby, Bod,  Eco.Kid, Alimrose Designs, Moltex nappies, Organic Bubs baby food, Cocoon Couture, Krooom, Little Chipipi, Look at the Wall, Mon Tresor, Little Kitchen, The Little Experience, Penny Scallan, PouchMISS, Rileah Design, and ‘and the little dog laughed’.

ShopHouse post within Australia for an unbeatable $4.95 Express Post no matter the weight, and all orders over $80 are shipped for FREE!

Decorating your child’s bedroom can be a daunting thought (so many bunnies, so little time!), but Kids Gift List – Kids Gift List – www.kidsgiftlist.com.au – make it easy to transform your child’s room from drab to divine with their fine range of room and décor accessories.

Kids Gift List stock a great range of wall art from Look at the Wall, Coco Boheme and Little Chipipi.

A key decorating tip is grouping pieces together for impact.

Buy 2,4 or 6 Look at the Wall pieces for a fun and sophisticated effect. These timber-based pieces are perfect for a child’s room with their soothing organic feel.

The Little Chipipi wall stickers make creating a striking feature easy to do as they provide lots of fun and funky elements to arrange according to your room layout.

For minimalist chic choose Coco Boheme’s large silhouetted animals. You can use them as a blackboard too: double duty delight!

In the decor piece department, you cannot go past the very splendid shelf stands from Cocoon Couture. I think these look great in friendly groups of two or three (and although they come finished with clear lacquer, I think the temptation for me to paint the bird red would be too hard for me to resist!)

There are also a selection of very affordable bookends, height charts and coat hooks, and even room thermometers from the Kids Gift List house range that will have you decorating with a confident flourish.

To inspire you further, Monique at Kids Gift List is gifting KidStyleFile readers 20%* off all products from the Room and Décor section of the KGL site. Enter ‘KSFRD20‘ at checkout to qualify for the discount plus a special little treat! Offer ends Wednesday July 23.

Clockwise from top left. Prices quoted are after the 20% discount has been applied:

Tee P Custom-made Utility Wall Hanger (accessories not included) $159.95 $127.96
Coco Boheme XL Elephant blackboard $99.00 $79.20
Cocoon Couture Shelf stand – Cheeky Squirrel $44.95 $35.96
Cocoon Couture Shelf stand – Early Bird $44.95 $35.96
Little Chipipi Drive Time wall stickers, $79.95 $63.96
Krooom Storage Bench $49.95 $39.96
Kids Gift List Room Thermometers (available in green, blue and pink designs) $9.95 each $7.96
Cocoon Couture Woodland Height Chart (also available in Jungle Land) $44.95 $35.96
Look at the Wall ‘Bug’s Life’ Wall Art, $119.95 $95.96

Kids Gift List stock fine products from Alex Designs, Baufix, Cinti does Vintage, Cheeky Little Soles, Dobbin and Drum Toys, Edenstar, Heavenly Creatures, KGL Gifts, Knox and Floyd, Lark Designs, Isa Toys, Like A Bike, Little Blue Fish, Little Chipipi, The Little Experience, Little Kitchen, Little Red Pear, Maiike, Merrigold, Oobi, Raggidy Rag Dolls, Rockabye Baby, Rosie Flo, Rubys & Robots, Sooki Baby, Sparrowkids, Sudo, Taltrade, Tee P, Tiny Revolutionary, Tiny Tribe, Tonic Baby, Trunki, and Zacharia Bier.

Don’t forget to check out Kids Gift List $25.00 or less clothing sale for some superlative bargains. And if you’re looking for a gift for your little one is, or his or her friends, then check out KGL’s Gifts Under $10 section, for budget friendly wow factor.

Kids Gift List also offers a FREE gift list service. This means that you can let everyone know which cool gifts you and your child would like, and need never fear the ‘gift’ of inappropriate toys, or bad fashion again!!

Simply login to create your list, pick out what your child would like or needs from the beautiful selection available, print and judiciously distribute for universal benefit.

Lastly if you’re not looking for room or decor accessories, but would still like a discount at Kids Gift List, then pick up a copy My Child and browse to pg.56 for a code that gets you 15% off*. Not near a newsagent? Leave a comment on this post, or email me, and I’ll send it to you

Without further ado, head on over to Kids Gift List to get a taste of the KGL experience for yourself !

Kids Gift List charge an unbeatable $6.00 flat for delivery, Australia wide (excluding over sized items).

*These offers apply to Australian residents only, and cannot be used on sale items, or in conjunction with any other code.

I’m always on the look out for designed objects that are a bit different; thoughtfully practical, innovative, pleasing to the eye, and minimal-impact on the environment.

The Krooom recycled paper products hit those targets with ease. Comprised from 70% post-consumer paper, the Krooom products feature reinforced panels for strong, durable support, and quality print and high gloss waterproof lamination to keep them looking good. They come flat-packed and need no tools to assemble.

ShopHouse – www.shophouse.com.au – are stocking the Krooom ‘Don’ Table and 2 Chair Set for $89.95, the Krooom Storage Bench for $49.95, the ‘Krooom Delta’ Magazine Rack for $44.00, and the Krooom ‘Juliette’ Organiser, also $44.00. (If you’ve checked out the price on most kids tabel and chair and storage sets, you’ll appreciate just how affordable the Krooom products are too!)

ShopHouse also provide a ‘how to’ video for each of the products (available on each product page) so you can see how easy they are to build. For an example check the ‘Don’ vid.

ShopHouse are offering FREE shipping on Krooom products until March 31st*.

Sign up to the ShopHouse newsletter (see the ShopHouse homepage, half-way down the left-hand column) to go into the draw to win a $75.00 ShopHouse gift voucher (drawn 15th March).

Also, don’t forget that Easter is coming closer every day. It’s a good time to stock up on some nice Easter booty to avoid the last minute rush.

For me, Easter means chill weather outside and a warm kitchen filled with baking aromas and music inside. My kids love to cook, so I’m giving them a Little Kitchen set each so we can have a family baking sesh over Easter. They’re a gift that will ‘go on’, and hopefully lead to a nice family tradition.

ShopHouse currently has Little Kitchen sets 20% off. Oh, the joy! I’m really beginning to feel festive now!

The ShopHouse postage calculator provides shipping costs at checkout. Choose from Express or Regular Australia Post services. ShopHouse ships internationally. Read the Shipping and Freight page for full details.

*Free shipping applies to the Krooom component of orders only, but if you spend $99.00 or more postage is free for the whole order. What are you waiting for?

And now, for the moment you have all been waiting for: da-da-da-daaa – the Cheap Trunki Towgo!The fabulous KidsGiftList – www.kidsgiftlist.com.au – is pleased to offer KidStyleFile readers an exclusive discount of 15% off the magnificent Trunki Towgo. The Towgo is not different just in colour from the earlier Trunki models (the pink Trixie, and the blue ‘Terrance’). Its features included a carry handle, locking catches, a teddy bear strap, two tiny little hidden compartments, and a pouch and I wouldn’t be without them.

This offer starts Monday 25th Feb, and runs until Sunday 9th of March. Enter ‘KSF’ at the coupon code section at checkout to receive the discount. (Applies to Trunki Towgo only, no further offers or discounts apply.)

This amazing discount brings your Trunki Towgo down to just $59.07: that is an absolute STEAL for the Towgo! Head on over to snap one up before they’re all gone!

I bought my Trunki x 2 from Kids Gift List and, I can tell you, it was such a wonderful experience.

If you have ever felt nervous about shopping online, KidsGiftList is a great place to cut your teeth. Monique is a such a lovely lovely person, service is second to none, and a secure shopping environment is paramount at all time. You can really buy with confidence at Kids Gift List.

While you are purchasing your super-bargain Trunki at Kids Gift List, capitalise on their fantastically low postage costs ($6.00 flat Australia wide) and pick up some of the superb bargains in the Sale section. Cinti Does Vintage, Sooki Baby, Oobi, Sudo and Zacharia Bier are just a taste of what’s on offer there.

Also, I highly recommend the VW Combis, including the new ‘Peace’ Combi: groovy, man! at just $9.95, (check out my post from Dec ‘07 on Kids Gift List, the Trunki, and the V-Dubs: ya gotta gotta gotta get one of these; they’re incredible!!)

Kids Gift List also offers you a FREE gift list service. This means that you need never fear the ‘gift’ of ill-fitting undies, or bad fashion again; simply login to create your list, pick out what your child would like or needs from the beautiful selection available, print and judiciously distribute for universal benefit!

Read more about this great, innovative service here.

Kids Gift List charge an unbeatable $6.00 flat Australia wide, excluding oversized items. Just so you know; the Trunki aren’t oversized; $6.00 is all you’ll pay! Now you just need to book a trip so you can start traveling in true Trunki style!