Being a part of the fun is easy! Simply repin our original pin any time in April and follow us on Pinterest. You will be entered for a chance to win our toy chest in your choice of finish.

Our Toy Chest is a marvelous piece for any bedroom or nursery. Measuring 34″ x 18″ x 18″h, this spacious storage unit features a safety lid to prevent injuring fingers. Like all our furniture, our Toy Chest is benchmade from solid hardwood with quality, safety and sustainability in mind.

This Toy Chest is shown in Bahama Blue, with Deep Blue lid and White trim.

Contest ends April 30, 2012.

Good luck!

Bookcases: It probably goes without saying that a bookcase is essential in a child’s room.  We have bookcases in all shapes, sizes and styles to help you organize all the books, stuffed animals and other tiny treasures.  Quality bookshelves last a lifetime and can be moved to any room in the house.  If you are like me and never say no to a new book your child wants, you just can’t have enough bookshelf space.

Toy Boxes: I do like small bins for small toys, easily stored on a bookshelf, but I also like a good toy box.  A toy box is great storage for larger toys like cars and trucks or baby dolls.  When your child outgrows the toy stage, it becomes good blanket storage or an extra seat.

Dressers: Many newer houses have great closet space, even in the smaller bedrooms, which may supersede your need for a dresser.  If your closet space is limited, a dresser is an essential.  Double dressers–long, horizontal dressers, are a great choice for any room.  They can go from being used as a baby changer to storage for a teenage girl’s ever-revolving wardrobe.  Tall chests work well in smaller bedrooms and still give a bit of surface space for a lamp, photo frames or trophies.  Like a good bookcase, a high-quality dresser made of solid hardwoods like ours last forever.

Armoires: In the absence of closet space, add an armoire.  Armoires with drawers and hanging space like our Taylor 5 Drawer Armoire or our Celine Armoire can function as a closet and a dresser in a smaller bedroom.

Celine Armoire

Taylor 5 Drawer Armoire

Tips for Controlling the Clutter

Kids outgrow clothes before they wear them out in many cases.  Go through your child’s clothing seasonally.  Donate or save clothing in good condition.  For toys, divide them into storage drawers in bins by type:  crayons and markers together, Legos in their own bin, toy cars or dolls in their own bin.  Organizing also helps with clean up.  When your child gets new toys for birthdays or holidays, consider donating old toys.  When your child is older, get them involved.  For each new toy received, donate an old toy.

1.  Newport Cottages Cape Cod Conversion Crib in Vanilla Bean  2.  The Rug Market Shaggy Raggy Rug in Cafe au Lait  3.  Newport Cottages Taylor 6 Drawer Dresser in Vanilla Bean with Lavender knobs  4.  Maura Daniel Lily Gold Double Sconces  5.  Dish and Spoon Floribunda Collection stretched art in Buttercream  6.  New Arrivals Lavender Fields Crib Bedding  ~available at Newport Cottages Fashion Island

What inspired you to open a children’s store? I didn’t, really. I went into a partnership with some friends to open it, because we were all heading into that stage of our lives.  Once I got into it, I really loved the design aspect of it, and the experience of being here with the moms their first time around, doing all that really fun stuff! For me, it’s always been about that experience, and the aspect of making a wonderful space for new parents.

Why children’s furnishings? Well, we carry a lot of things related to the concept of Baby.  It’s just a really fun business. People are so happy having their children, or their grandchildren, they come in and they want gifts for a new baby, or they’re having a baby and they want to design their nursery, and no matter what it’s just a beautiful thing to go through with them.

What is your design philosophy?  What inspires you? It should look like the rest of your house. It shouldn’t be so antiquated – it should just look like the rest of your home. Your kids are going to be exposed to your aesthetic and get your sense of design from the beginning, so your baby and children’s design should be something not just for the kids but that the parents can enjoy too. Design has gone beyond Winnie the Pooh and cartoon airplanes – we’re realizing children can enjoy good pieces and good design, and implementing that in our clients’ homes.

What sets your store apart from other similar retailers? We have really personal service. We’re here with you every step of the way, from just starting to think about if you want modern or traditional in your nursery, up to picking the colors of your sheets, and even helping you set up a registry for all that newborn gear!

What is your favorite aspect about owning your own business? I love being able to come up with an idea and be able to implement it. Just to be able to have an idea about what would be fun, or what people might like, and be able to do it! It’s so fun to be able to please customers and see them come back with their babies – the best part is when someone who designed a nursery with us comes back to design their big kid’s room.

What is your favorite Newport Cottages piece or collection and why? I think my favorite has to be the Panel Crib – it’s transitional. It can go into a modern space or a very traditional space; when you two-tone it, it just comes to life. I also love the Taylor Changer Dresser – it’s just that perfect size. Not too big, not too small, and it’s so good to organize; it goes from baby to bigger kid’s room perfectly. I also love the beading on the lower part of the Alexis and Celine collections – it’s small and elegant and great.

What is your favorite color palette? Blue.  That baby blue. I just love it for a girl, and for a boy, too. For a girl you can dress it up with pink, or just leave that sweet pastel with girly touches.

What magazines or blogs do you read on a regular basis? I enjoy skimming design magazines when I have time – I read the baby and kids industry magazines.  I’m just starting to get into blogs. It’s such a fun concept, and there’s so much out there!

Who is your dream client and why? My perfect client? Someone who cares. Someone who really gets into design; who enjoys doing custom bedding and really gets into picking the piping on their pillows. Someone who wants to do the entire room, the complete space. Even when they don’t do that whole space from me, I love when they’re tying every aspect of that baby space together.  I love when clients have an aesthetic and they’re not afraid to make a fun choice, to be daring with their design.

And a few just for fun:

Dream vacation? Take a big stack of magazines and lay down and do nothing but read and relax. I like to be in a really great environment, somewhere warm and beautiful, and just laying low. Or just going through all the really great museums of the world, seeing all the artwork… or just seeing my family. Ok, I just love vacation. I think of what I’m doing, really, not just a place – and who I’m with!

Favorite design tool? Fabric swatches. They’re fun and really show the client what they’re getting.

Can’t live without? My family and friends! (and my staff at Daisy Baby!)

What are you reading now? I am reading Steve Jobs’ biography. It’s pretty good!

If you are in the Bethesda, Maryland area, you can find Daisy Baby at 4912-A Del Ray Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814, 301.654.7477, www.shopdaisybaby.com

What inspired you to become an interior designer? I think it started with my father.  He is a residential architect who worked at home.  I was always curious about the inside of houses as a child and my parents let me decorate my bedroom at age 7.  In 1986, I made a cold call out of the phone book for a job with an interior designer.  I was so lucky!  She hired me with no experience, but a desire to learn.  Years later, I enrolled in design school to take it to the next level.

What is your design philosophy? I believe that a home should be designed to suit your lifestyle.  And it is my job to articulate a client’s vision into a reality and guide them through the myriad of choices to get there.

What inspires you? My clients inspire me!  I love that I get to express all kinds of design styles through each and every client.  I also love art, fabrics, color, travel, nature, and fashion as inspiration!

When designing spaces for children and families, where do you start? I start by interviewing the client about how they live and what their vision of the room is.  There needs to be a feeling connected with the room.

What is your favorite color palette? Oh I love all colors!  I guess on a personal level, I have been in a green phase.  And I like happy colors.

What is your favorite Newport Cottages piece or collection and why? There are so many!  Well, I just used the Cody Crib at the ASID Dream Home.  I love the clean lines of the piece.  But, I also love the Provence Collection.  So delicate, feminine and traditional.

What magazines or blogs do you read on a regular basis? I have a lot of magazines!  House Beautiful and Elle Decor are my favorites, followed by Architectural Digest, Veranda, and Traditional Home.  Also, the fashion and lifestyle magazines: Harper’s Bazaar, InStyle, Vogue, Town & Country, C, and Travel+ Leisure.  For blogs, I read Remodelista, Nursery Notations and Belle Maison.

Who is your dream client and why? My dream client would be someone with great taste, willing to take risks and a budget to support it.

And a few just for fun:

Dream vacation? Vastly different but, more extensive travels to Europe and then to Bali and Thailand.

Favorite design tool? My imagination!!  Equally important are my vendors, trades and resources.

Can’t live without? My iPhone.  Sadly true.  But it really is my connection to the world.

What are you reading now? Old World Encounters for my European history class at Arizona State University online program.

1.  Stray Dog Designs Willow Chandelier  2.  Oopsy Daisy Canvas Wall Art by Jennifer Mercede  3.  Newport Cottages Taylor 5 Drawer Armoire in White with Marigold accent  4.  Dash & Albert Mia Rug  5.  Newport Cottages Cottage Crib in Marigold with Irish linen crib bedding by Lulla Smith

Available at Newport Cottages Fashion Island

What inspired you to open your own children’s store?  My love for design and children combined together.  I knew it would be an environment that I could have flexibility to work and raise my kids.

Why children’s furnishings?  It’s the most whimsical place in your home.  You can break a lot of rules and use LOTS of color!  I love color!  Also, it is a special time in a client’s life that you can share with them.

What is your design philosophy?  What inspires you?  Design with your child in mind.  I like to design for my client’s style, not mine—it’s not about me.  I am inspired by my clients!

What sets your store apart from other similar retailers?  We are totally custom.  We can make or do anything.  We offer a one-stop shop for your whole room.

What is your favorite aspect about owning your own business?  My kids come to work with me three days a week.  It puts a lot of new clients at ease for them to see that I am just a mom, too.

What is your favorite Newport Cottages piece or collection and why?  The Celine Collection is my very favorite.  I used it for my little girl’s room.  I think it is a classic style that can be paired with a variety of looks.  It’s beautiful!

What is your favorite color palette?  I love greys, blues and yellows for boys right now.  For girls, I’m loving greys and pinks with a touch of yellow.

What magazines or blogs do you read on a regular basis?  Coastal Living, Dwell, InStyle.  Blogs I read are Nursery Notations and Project Nursery.

Who is your dream client and why?  I love to work with someone who is willing to step outside the box, someone who trusts me to do the whole room, including styling!

And a few,  just for fun:

Dream vacation?  Italy!  I would love to drink wine, eat Italian food and ride in a gondola.

Favorite design tool?  Tape measure.  LOL!

Can’t live without?  My iPhone.

What are you reading now?  The Help and Bittersweet Devotional

If you are in the San Diego area, visit Beach Bungalow Designs at 2670 Via de la Valle, Suite A130, Del Mar, California 92014 or call (858)793-7782 for more information.

1.  Newport Cottages Emily Bed in Raspberry  2.  Pine Cone Hill Mod Maisonette Bedding  3.  Dash and Albert Bed of Roses Wool Hooked Rug  4.  Blabla Pumpkin Girl doll  5.  Oopsy Daisy All a Twitter Pink Set  6.  Jubilee Collection Flower Garden Chandelier  ~available at Newport Cottages Fashion Island