Precious Picks: Up-to-the-Moment Style in a Precious Playroom

When it comes to decorating my kids playroom last fall, I wasn’t looking to do much. A former teacher, I recognized that, beyond a few basics (reading corner, work station, shelves and baskets) what they needed most was space. So with a minimalist approach, and a few hundred thousands toys, I searched for items the kids would use and could abuse. Items that weren’t overbearing, but would inspire creativity.

But even the table and shelves can be cumbersome, so it becomes important to search for quality products. Products that will withstand the test of friends climbing on them, leaning across Candyland — with a whole body on the table to get to King Candy, and Grandparent weight. And, of course, it may be a playroom, but you want it to look as good as the rest of your house.

A table was a definite necessity. And, in this case, I wanted something that wouldn’t wobble, the legs wouldn’t unscrew, and it would look clean and crisp. Something that could be used for decades, because it didn’t scream toddler all over it. Jennifer deLonge’s Grace Table has completely answered my table and chair pursuit.

Jennifer deLonge, up-scale children’s furniture designer, and designer to the stars, creates distinctive pieces for an up-to-the-moment style. A favorite of Gwyneth Paltrow, Courteney Cox-Arquette and Mira Sorvina, deLonge is the wife of Blink 182’s Tom deLonge, and designer extraordinaire in her own right. Her children’s furniture evokes a sleek, mod style, one so “normal” that it could easily be subbed in as adult furniture. The Grace Table is firm and secure–so much more so than those I considered from popular children’s furniture retailers. The stools, mini-replicas of the table, are in fact so strong they held my father-in-law during his extended visit to Wesley’s Diner.

Next, we searched for shelving. My husband had no problem clearing his throat when I started looking at deLonge-ish designers. These are simply shelves, he reminded me. He took the liberty of running to IKEA to purchase 4 sets of Agerum Bookcases. The high legs are perfect for grabbing lost toys, and for storing over-sized items. And their GLES storage box, at only $1.29 a box, fits perfectly to contain all of our characters, trains, cars and Lincoln Logs. (Of course, the shelves are firmly attached to the wall — no chance of tipping those over, which is essential since one of the boys received the award “Best Climber” at summer camp.)

Boys being boys, we already had a train table by Imaginarium, and during the holidays last year, we added a very boyish kitchen set from Target. A fight with the Grandparents on both sides, I can’t get over the fact that every grandparent visit finds them sitting at Wesley’s Diner, (at the Jennifer deLonge Grace Table) ordering cookies, a burger and an onion–or whatever Wesley’s Diner is featuring that day.

For the computers, yes, they have computers, Daddy and Pop-Pop ventured over to Home Depot to purchase shelving. Which they very cleverly built in at about 2 feet off the ground, perfect height for the Pottery Barn Kids Carolina Chairs that pull up to their “desk.”

Finally, it was time for me to accessorize. Again, simplicity was imperative. No Tigger and Pooh murals in this house. Instead, I found these wall letters by eeboo, which I use as a border around the room. The soft-touch of the art is a subtle reminder that this is, in fact, a kids room. At Daddy’s request, we added two maps: one US and one world, so that when we travel, we can mark off our vacation spots, as well as Daddy’s business trip stays. And our hidden secret… at teepee that, in seconds, stores in the back closet, serves as a hiding spot, a reading corner, even an impromptu nap-spot.

The kids have been, officially, using the room for a few months now. Simple to put things away, simple to use. Simple to play. And, of course, simple to find that it needs to be cleaned. Because no matter how few furnishing items I have in a playroom, the toys still spill out the door.

Imaginarium Train Table is on sale at Toys R Us and you’ll get free shipping; Agerum Bookcases (IKEA) are not available online; eeboo maps are available at My Little Ducks: use code SAVE15 for 15% off; Chef Costume by Growing Cooks; Animal Bag (under Grace Table) by Boon Inc.; TeePee available at Precious Personalities: use code MWS10 for 10% off.