bratt decor casablanca crib (pewter)

Today, allow me the pleasure in introducing one of Babybox.com‘s fabulous designers – Bratt Decor. Bratt Decor offers a quality product bar none, and their care and safety standards are beyond compare. We are proud to carry a wide range of their wonderful baby furniture, including wrought iron cribs, wooden cribs, four-poster cribs, dressers, armoires, change tables and more. While you can see the beauty of their furniture from pictures, we thought we would share a little more about the company behind these luxurious designs today.

bratt decor chelsea double dresser (antique silver)

Bratt Decor was founded in 1995 by Stephen and Mary Bauer. At the time, Mary was pregnant and just beginning the nesting phase with her first child. She searched high and low for the perfect crib that she could then design her first-born child’s room around, but kept on coming up empty. Finally, husband Stephen stepped up to the plate and designed the crib himself. With that first design, not only was Mary smitten with the crib, but an idea was born.

bratt decor chelsea bookcase (espresso)

And that idea was to start Bratt Decor so that other Mothers would have access to quality baby furniture that was beautiful and as individual as they were. Obviously they were right, as 17 years later the company has grown, changed and managed to attract a loyal following of happy customers that can’t help but love everything that Bratt Decor is.

bratt decor monogrammed armoire (white)

What Bratt Decor is, is nothing short of brilliant. With Stephen at the design helm, they create stunning

cribs to suit any taste, be it modern or more traditional. In addition to their signature cribs, they have also branched into other delightful children’s furniture, such as cradles, night stands, shelving and of course older children’s beds

. Mary is also an integral part of the business, in charge of marketing, sales and a continued vision that keeps the company as vibrant as they are. In fact, this family-run business proudly notes that even the two Bauer children are a big part of the testing and design of the products that bear the Bratt Decor mark.

From the moment that Bratt Decor came to be, the Bauers have put their heart and soul into the company. For them, children have always been first and foremost the most important part of their business. This is reflected in the comfort, design, and most importantly the safety of everything that they create. You will find no crib recalls from this upstanding company; a fact that gives more than peace of mind in the sometimes questionable crib retail business.

Babybox.com understands the value of that and this is why we are proud to offer our customers only the best for your children. We are mothers too. And we care.

swirl drawer pull

I have been so focused on starting my Christmas shopping that I almost forgot about Thanksgiving! Goodness, but that certainly comes first. Time to switch gears, I guess. I need to think about turkey and the trimmings, rearranging the room to fit in all the guests and putting fresh linens on the spare bed for overnight guests. Plus maybe allow myself a moment or two to reflect on being thankful for all that I have. That might have to come next week though, as right now I need to get busy organizing!

First step, let’s think about who will be here. Between us and various aunts, uncles and cousins, I think we will need more seating. We just won’t all fit around the dining table this year, I fear. That means extra seating and I have just the thing – my art for kids antoinette bench!

The Antoinette Bench with Patina finish by Art for Kids is an elegant accent to any room. The bench features beautiful handcrafted woodwork and an upholstered seat. It is shown here with custom fabric. This piece is custom done in patina upfinish. The style is also available in many different finishes. And at Width: 46″ x Depth: 17″ x Height: 16 1/2″, it will be sure to fit a couple of people on Thanksgiving!

In fact, now that I think about it, we could put the kids at their very own table! That will make them happy and the rest of the adults will be able to eat in peace for a few minutes too. In theory anyway!

Both you and your children can enjoy this decorative and practical Vintage Table and Chairs set by Art For Kids. The table and chairs are crafted from birch and alder woods. It is available in many motifs and finishes. A great place to play and a great way to accent your child’s room. You can even encourage the kids to set their table themselves with their own special centerpieces and fancy settings.  They will think they are so grown up and sophisticated. Perfect!

Oh, and I have just the thing for table settings! How about our personalized melamine tableware! Cute and functional, all in one. Our preppy cards melamine plates and bowls tableware are the perfect choice for design and ease at mealtime. Forget paper and china! Opt for colorful and reusable melamine tableware instead. Better for the environment than their disposable counterparts, breaking. Concerned parents can take comfort in knowing that these are made from BPA-free plastic [no Bisphenol-A], so they are safe for kids and grown-ups alike. Plus, they can be personalized, have optional backgrounds and patterns, as well as being available with any of our icons. Another thing checked off the list.

And what else did I have to do? Oh yes, freshen up the spare bedroom. Time for some new bedding! And they deserve only the best with our king size gordonsbury bedding – beetles and bees.

This Beetles and Bees (King) bedding set by Gordonsbury features the company’s legendary attention to quality and detail. Each piece of bedding is skillfully hand embroidered on pure cotton or linen. Harmonious vibrant thread colors are used to interpret and give life to the adorable beetles and bees motif and theme. The set will add a classic and elegant flair to any room!

Now, I can finish off the room with a pretty bouquet of flowers on the bedside table to make our guests feel pampered. Lovely. No time to linger though, as now I have to get cracking in the kitchen. I think I hear a turkey gobbling my name. Have a great weekend!

peace around the world wall art canvas reproduction by sharon furner

Today is International Youth Day. This year’s Youth Day celebrations are special, as they culminate the end of the International Year of Youth, as declared by the United Nations. From August 11, 2010 to today, the world has focused on youth and tried to make “Dialogue and Mutual Understanding” integral to all of its initiatives. This year has also been symbolic, as it marks the 25th anniversary of the first International Year of Youth in 1985. The objective, as stated in the UN’s website, has been that “Everyone is invited to promote the ideals of peace, freedom, progress and solidarity towards the promotion of youth development and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals“. How can one not applaud that?

sweet beginnings hand painted armoire - old world explorer

Every year the UN has a theme for its Youth Day celebrations. This year is no different and with even more focus on the youth of the world, a theme needed to reflect the global nature of our world’s youth and their place in it, hence the theme “CHANGE OUR WORLD“. They have looked to the youth of the world to make it a better place for all, starting at local levels and having it ripple out beyond their own backyard. The UN is well aware that the youth of today are attuned to the breadth and scope of social media as well and even made up a Facebook page to attract more young people where they already are. They know that today’s youth are out there connecting with people all over the world every day. If we can empower them to reach out and make a change for the better, than they can change our world.

large peace sign blanket

At Babybox.com, we understand the value of children. Children are the reason we get up in the morning and they are often the ones that drive us to bed exhausted at night. We love our children though and would lay down our lives for them, whenever or wherever asked. By empowering the young people in the world to come together to make a difference, hopefully we can change our world for the better though. Reaching out and uniting youth into a global community of peace and harmony, where everyone can be free to grow and thrive will indeed make the world a better place. How do you inspire the youth in your world to make a difference? Perhaps its time you asked yourself what you can do to help.

Kids just want to play all day. Play they should, as through play children learn about the world around them. A favorite game for any little person is the classic game of dress-up. They will want scarves, silly hats, vests and whatever else they can get their hands on. This sweet Thumbolina hand painted toy box by Sweet Beginnings is the perfect place to store all of your dress-up needs. It is a charming addition to any room. The toy box is 3 feet long and features a beautifully illustrated Thumbolina tale theme. The toy box is designed to function as a spacious toy chest and bench seat. while you might designate it for dress-up clothes, the elegant and exquisitely detailed box can store all of your child’s toys as well as extra pillows, blankets or comforters in any room. It is available in many colors, so that you can truly customize the piece to match any child’s room or decor. We recommend using a light base shade to enhance the design. Finely crafted, there is a space between the base of the chest and the lid to prevent a child’s fingers from becoming caught. Babybox recognizes the essential need for play, so offers many more toy chests for you to peruse.

Perhaps you have some princess dresses, fire fighter coats or long capes that you want to display that will just get crumpled at the bottom of the trunk. In that case, this children’s clothes tree is just the trick. It  is a decorative way to tidy up pajamas, hats and jackets. The tree has a cottage design & ball feet giving it a playful vintage look. It is available in several colors including blue, green, soft chocolate and antique white. Pretty and practical, this piece is a great addition to both boys and girls rooms.

If rescue is the game of the day and your daring do-gooder dons the fire hat,  add a little more fun to their imagination with this pedal car deluxe fire truck. It has a flashing light and a ringing bell that will delight every would-be fire-fighter. Just like the originals, this pedal car is made of heavy gauge steel and is ready for hours of play. Inspired by the famous and highly collectible “SAD FACE” pedal Fire Truck of the 1940′s, it is true in all details. There is no tailgate, but a rear step just like the originals. The fire truck comes in a deep red highlighted with white graphics. Real high quality wooden ladders grace the rear resting on their own chrome plated, high hoop, grab bars. Speaking of chrome, this vehicle has lots of it, the windshield, steering wheel, ringing bell and the hubcaps are all chromed. Even the flashing light has a chrome base. They will be racing to the emergency with glee in this beauty.

Once the fire is out, reward your brave soul with a little treat on this cute plate. This personalized firetruck baby plate is what every beginning firefighter needs! Complete with official title of “Firefighter (Baby’s Name)”, it’s the perfect gift for any little one. This dish is 100% dishwasher and dinner safe and 100% cute! A handful of cookies is what any hungry fire fighter needs after a hard day of  imagination and play.

Tea Time

The weather has blossomed.  The sunshine begs for every waking moment to be enjoyed. That means that the outdoors has become a brand new play space. In celebration, perhaps we could take our tea outside today!  Gather up the tea pot. Handle the good china with care. See if Mom  or Dad has a little tidbit that can be enjoyed for a snack. Now let’s head outside. Where shall we sit though?

Why, at this beautiful little table of course!  This fine quality children’s table is a perfect example of classic Scandinavian garden-furniture design. It will hold all your tea party needs, from a plate of cookies to dainty little napkins and of course the pot of tea. A pitcher of lemonade will do in a pinch too, for those so inclined. Now to invite the guests. Call your friends or gather  your favorite stuffies. What next?

Don’t forget to invite Julia! The Julia Pal Knit Doll is the perfect way to enjoy a playdate. The adorable playmate is decorated with a hand knit dress accented by with fun bright colors. So soft and cuddly, this Sweeters Pals can be personalized and can be customized with your color choice. A great companion for any girl all year round. She would be crushed if she was not invited, so better find her for a spot of tea as well. She might have a friend or two she wants to bring, so check Babybox for any companions to join.

Now that we are all together is there anything else that we need? A place to sit, of course! This children’s bench with characteristic cross back has become an icon of Scandinavian garden-furniture design. The Bench is a beautiful piece of furniture in its own right. Paired with a set of classic furniture including bench and table, it is the perfect place for tea.

These pieces of furniture are made of solid hardwood, lacquered with a rich, semi-mat lacquer(polyurethane coating). All external fittings are made of brass, while the “feet” are made of rubber to protect the furniture legs from rising moisture that can cause the wood to split.

So paint faces with sunshine and smiles and pour out the tea. It is a great day to play outdoors today.

Jacqueline Table by Art for Kids

This Jacqueline Table by Art for Kids is a beautiful piece of furniture in Versailles Creme with gold wash finish that will look splendid in your child’s room.  This is tke kind of decor that will last a long time and your child can grow up with this night stand as a part of their room for years.

It is one of the most popular items of furniture by Art for Kids.  it is available in other finishes through BabyBox.com