Tiny Iron Fists

High/Low: Modern Toy Chest

When our friends walk through our front door, most of them say something akin to, "It looks like a daycare threw up in here!" And I can't argue with them, it kind of does. I'm not a fan of piles, but with the addition of Lulu came all the unexpected baby paraphernalia (thanks to our generous family and friends)! I definitely wasn't prepared for how much stuff we were going to have out in the open, in constant use and on rotation. And believe me, I am quick to recycle things she's outgrown. 

My temporary storage solution consists of using three large SXSW canvas bags to hold books, wood toys, and all other baby stuff. The bags are now overflowing and the in-your-face primary colors and odd shapes are driving me bonkers. Even after I do the "clean up" song with Lulu and most everything's put away, the bags still look and feel messy.

In my quest for the perfect, cool toy chest, I quickly discovered there wasn't a lot that matched our home's aesthetic (part urban, part mid-century modern, part high and low)! Following are my top three toy box finds listed from highest to lowest price. 

 

Argington Fuji Toy Box - $350*

Details: This green design includes slow-closing safety hinges that stop the lid from slamming on tiny fingers. It comes fully assembled and is sold with both runners and lockable casters. Made from solid birch ply, it's available in birch, ebony and white.

H 15.5" x W 15.5" x L 40"

Interior compartment measures H 14" x W 12" x L 27" 

Cubby measures H 14" x W 9" x L 9"

Aside from the intelligent design, we chose the Fuji Toy Box for Argington's sound environmental practices. We also love that the toy box doubles as a comfy bench with the addition of a pillow!

*For a limited time, receive a free cushion at Zac and Zoe with your Fuji Toy Box purchase!

 

Tolix Tortue Toy Box - $345

Details: Designed by Normal Studio (Cordoleani and Fontana), this painted toy box on wheels is available in an extremely generous color palette from the Tolix/RAL color chart.

H 400 × W 600 × D 400 mm

 

Ikea STUVA Storage Bench - $99 - $109

Details: Designed by Ebba Strandmark, the storage bench comes with casters and can be combined with other parts of the STUVA system. Available in birch, blue, pink, green, and white.

H 19 5/8" x W 35 3/8" x D 19 5/8"

High/Low: Dots and Lines

I'm a great big fan of DwellStudio products. I love the clean and simple graphic patterns they are known for and have been sleeping on their chocolate Thin Stripe bed sheets for years (actually, aside from one duvet cover, all of our bedding is by them). I've always wanted the Dots Chocolate Crib Set for Lulu so when my sister offered to hand-me-down her Dots Blue Crib Set, I happily inherited it. The baby bedding includes a bumper, fitted sheet, crib skirt, and play blanket and costs $326.

If you love this best selling pattern but can't afford it, don't fret, the very same awesome company, DwellStudio has exclusively designed a similar crib set for Target! The  Little Dots Crib Set costs $65 and includes a bumper, fitted sheet, and blanket. However, the crib skirt is not included and can be purchased separately for $17. 

The modern geometric motif-look can be replicated for less than one third the price of the high end option and I believe that's something worth mentioning! Since both products are made by DwellStudio, I believe no matter which set you choose, you win.

High/Low: The Fruits of Our Labor

   

Thanks to Cool Mom Picks, I stumbled upon a really sweet eco-friendly Scandinavian kids clothing company, Vyssan Lull. Save the frequent flyer miles, the sharp and colorful designs are available for purchase stateside. For anyone interested in ecological and high quality children's clothing, Vyssan Lull has many choices to pick from. The Pears & Apples Onsie (not a misspelling) by Duns is $32 and the Many Apples Tunic Rouge Dress by Sygryn is $45. My favorite line is the Many Clouds series by Green Cotton.

If the adorable Vyssan Lull clothes are out of your price range, Baby Gap offers a similar line of design for much less half the price. The Fruity Body Suit is $15 and the Pear Jumper Dress is $23. Although they are not green-friendly clothing, they are well designed. Whatever you choose, enjoy the fruits of your labor (pun intended)!

   

Hello!

Welcome to Tiny Iron Fists. My name is Souris. I love my family, food, art, travel, technology, and community. Prior to this little corner of the internet, I was Vice President of Interactive Media for an LA-based strategic consulting agency. I've been blogging about art and culture at Hustler of Culture since 2003. 

Tiny Iron Fists is a journal about life with our first benevolent dictator, Lulu. It's meant to be a resource for pregnant friends and (new) parents. I hope you'll enjoy the tips, interviews, anecdotes, and product reviews I write about. 

My posse nicknamed me "Tiny Iron Fists" because I once ruled our scene. Then I had a kid and now someone tinier than me, rules my world! How about that?! 

Thanks for dropping by, I can also be found on Twitter. Feel free to email me at tinyironfists [at] gmail.com. 

Lastly, I know you are probably wondering, who made my ridiculously cute banner? Why, my good, funny, and single friend, Slabco Steve did! You can find him online here, here, and here.