apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

some cute things, but I would not recommend moderntots to a friend because none of my friends are jillionaires.

Rats.... and here I went and forgot to have children. Now I see why my living space looks so bland.

to add insult to injury, there's also the fact that much of this furniture has a built-in expiration date--as in, kids are going to outgrow it pretty quickly--so you can't even try to justify it as low-carb, high-protein furniture (i think that was the term). i understand about having to pay more for quality, but i'm sorry, i think this is ridiculous.

How come all the really groovy modern kids furniture (ModernTots, BluDot, notNeutral) is so damn expensive? Get thee to IKEA, young parents. Much kinder to the pocketbook.

I didn't look close at the dimensions. I get that toddler and "youth" beds are tot-sized, but are most children's storage type furniture - mod style - also small scale or could they work as regular adult-sized furnishings?

Disposable & trendy furniture shouldn't cost 4 figures.

Whoaa Dan.. tell husbands to make more money? I bring home the bacon and fry it up in a pan, and I also think paying a couple Gs for kid furniture is a little wacky. I don't think anyone said not to buy it. I personally went the Bludot Modulicious route and love it. It is not cheap but I think it can be used for many years, and the doors are metal so they can use magnets on it. Thank god my big strong husband was around to put it together for me, or else I might have been found in the fetal position crying over my hex key wrench set.

I think you miss the point...Lest thee forget, Ikea is crap and irresponsibly disposable pressboard. We went the cheap route for a couple of items with our kids and they're gone because they broke or wore out. The good stuff has lasted through both kids-some inherited from my younger brother is now 20 years old and as beautiful and functional as the day it was purchased.

I find it really funny that people are recommending to others what to purchase based upon their own budget. If you can't afford it, you can't afford it. Should no one go out and buy a mercedes because you can't afford it. Tell your husbands to make more money.

I am soon to be a new parent and have been salivating over sites such as "moderntots", and furniture from Nurseryworks, Oeuf and Netto but when a crib costs as much, if not more than my bed I know I'm in the wrong place. I understand Stacey and Dan's points but really, does painted mdf have to cost so much? It's beautifullay designed but at the end of the day, it's painted mdf. Where is the well designed and not outrageously expensive modern kids furniture? I'm not asking for Ikea prices, even Crate and Barrel/Potterybarn prices would be okay provided teh furniture had some style. Our kid is getting a friend's crib and some Ikea storage, jazzed up with funky accessories. He'll no doubt chew through everything anyway!

Reef

Reef, Congratulations! Try sparkability, babygeared, and modernseed - great kid furniture websites. I ended up buying my stuff through designpublic because it was cheaper and had free delivery. also you may appreciate the blog daddytypes, that guy is hysterical.

GL, Raquel

i was wondering what people would say about this...it got everyone's feathers ruffled over on d*s, so i wasn't surprised to see the upset over pricing over here.

while i wouldn't tell anyone to bring home some more bacon, i'd merely like to add that i can't actually afford this furniture either, even though i posted it, too. however, just because i can't afford it, or because other people can't, i don't think there's harm in mentioning that it's a resource out there. there are plenty of affordable resources as well (at sites like modernseed.com, sparkability.net, rompbklyn.com and target), this just happens to be a resource that is out of some people's price ranges.

that said, i do believe some of the pieces are overpriced by the manufacturers, which inspired me (after a mini riot via reader emails) to start posting on affordable versions of design. i think apartment therapy and myself alike post affordable and non-affordable version of design, so perhaps it's possible to just to write this one off as "not for everyone?" i mean, i love to look at mini coopers even though my budget is in the used fiat range...because it's just looking, ya know?



just my two cents.

d*s

ps: i don't actually see most of the furniture on this site as "disposable and trendy".

i don't think pendant lamps, storage of a normal size with a simple design and things like sturdy wooden benches are throw away or trendy.

certainly i see the issue with pricey beds for infants that they were certainly grow out of, but i think a lot of the products are appropriate for many, many years of use and hardly worth of being called "disposable"

d*s

Sites like "ModernTots" and the even more over-the-top, "PoshTots" are fun to look at, but I could never in good conscience spend so much on a baby knowing there are other children in the world who don't even have access to basic necessities like clean water or health care much less a $3500 crib.

Sorry to inject a down note, but this is something that is close to my heart . . .

Thanks Raquel,

I'm a regular peruser of the sites you mentioned as well as the Daddytypes blog. I was also considering buying the modulicious. It's good to hear you like it!

Reef

Beautiful furniture, great website I just bought my son a cute dresser and an great lamp
They were a pleasure to deal w/, very friendly w/ GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE.
That’s the difference between Modern Tots & Ikea………..A+ keep up the good work

I loved the furniture and the extra large photo's when I want cheap junk I go to Ikea

I like seeing the high-end stuff. I meant what I said quite literally. My friends would think I was insane if I suggested they spend $3000 or whatever it was for a hot pink and purple rug for the children's room, however excellent the quality. Of course, they are mostly artists, musicians, designers and so on. Not smug sexist money-grubbers like...um...oh, hi, Dan!

OK - then apparently I am destined for junk because on my finances these days even IKEA has become a splurge. Yes, I'd love to purchase quality, well designed, long lasting furniture but I've become so used to eating and having shelter I just don't want to give it up. Sorry to whine, but I want to be able to appreciate "the good stuff" but not feel like a lesser human visiting here with my tacky IKEA furniture. Guess it's good I didn't have kids since my furniture clearly won't be able to pass down to any other gens.

Wow! Did I start all this over at design*sponge? Gosh, I'm sorry ModernTots! No offense. I, too, greatly appreciate fine things, great design, and furniture that I can pass on to future generations. (Especially in this disposable society.)

BUT the fact remains.... most of the "good design" stuff out there for kids is way, WAY out of my price range. And, I'd like to say, even if it WERE in my price range, I still wouldn't spend $3000 on a crib.

Mary has the right perspective... there are children who don't have food, running water, or even someone to love them. What could that $3000 do for them? Yes, it's a "downer" but we shouldn't ignore it.

Has anyone seen "My Super Sweet Sixteen" on MTV? (I just had a look at it, so it's on my mind...) THOSE are the kids who had $3000 cribs when they were born. If you don't know what I'm talking about....think "little Paris Hilton clones."

Let's raise our children to be better people than that. (Greedy, materialistic, prideful.)

Again, sorry to be a downer. I hope that people who can afford to spend that kind of money also are doing great things with it. (As we all should be doing....with what we have.)

First, thanks for the shoutouts.

Second, consider the possibility that someone who's predisposed to spending $3k for a piece of kid furniture might be deciding which furniture to get, not whether they should send $2850 of it to Sally Struthers. (Ten Nicaraguan orphans can eat for a week for the cost of that tiramisu you ordered last night, but I doubt many of you weighed the option of donating the $6 and just loading up on free mints instead.)

In any case, isn't the world at least marginally better off if some banker's offspring gets a well-designed MoxBox instead of a $3k tole-painted schlockbox from some ruffly boutique in the Hamptons? It'd be a small victory, but at least it'd be something.

This isn't like window shopping at a Porsche dealer for the 911 you've always wanted but could never afford. This stuff is like a $80,000 Scion.

If you think that this and similar furniture is the "good" stuff compared to IKEA, they really are basically the same thing. Cheap materials. Trendy colors. Etcetera. At least the IKEA stuff has some history and they hire educated, thoughtful designers like Hella Jongerius. Plus, I imagine that the IKEA stuff gets tested and studied quite a bit before being put in the stores.

Just because MDF comes from Brooklyn, doesn't mean it's good.

If you want and can afford this stuff, go for it. Just don't accept this as the be-all, end-all of modern design for kids. Be critical and push these companies to do more.

I am confused why people like Libby are so angry about Modern Tots when she doesn’t have kids and will never buy any of their products.

It’s like being upset at Range Rover when you don’t have a driver’s license……get over it there are people who appreciate quality and style.

Additionally, why are so many people applauding Ikea, in my opinion they are the Walmart of the furniture industry.

Modern Tots sells a lot more than just furniture I registered for my baby shower on Modern Tots and they have many great items under $75.00

Libby go away, your posts are annoying.

-June

Attention Mary and Melissa..You know...It's totally Ok if you can't afford something. Or better yet if you don't hold value for these kinds of things, don't buy them. I know people who think it's totally OK to spend 2 or $3000.00 on something totally frivolous for their cars, better yet for their computer addictions. Better than that thier gross $1000.a month grocery bills-oh yeah, you know who you are. [Their not rich either.] Those things arn't necessary, but we reward ourselves in life with the things that make us feel good. For some, it's crazy expensive jewelry,purses,hats,italian leather boots, vacations,tools,camping equipment,boats to each his own I say! For others it's an investment in their children and one of the happiest times in their lives, A time we never get back. The crazier thing to imply is that you care about kids in 3rd world countries more than the people selling these products. Let me just tell you when you little wal-mart and Target junkies purchase a $10.00 childrens throw rug, that it has been marked up probably 400%. Which means they probably purchased it for $2.00. And the guy that sold it for $2.00 he made a profit too. Now who do you think made that rug for a probable measily $1.00, you guessed it all those 3rd world children. And by the way when was the last time you donated a measily $1.00 at the grocery store when asked by the clerk? That rug probably took at least a day to make. How much would you charge for your labor, specially your really good labor? I'm betting most of you complaining that most of these sites are too expensive also complain that you arn't getting paid what your worth, I frankly do not think paying someone $10.00 to $20.00 dollars an hour for someones labor and better yet unique talents,that you don't have, is too much. It's actually the right thing to do, paying someone what they are worth. So you go ahead and buy Ikea or what ever cheap brand of furniture you want. In the life span of your kid you will replace it an estimated 4 times = to what you would've paid for something of quality in the first place. And your still left with something cheap. Oh and another thing these companies making the big bucks are also sharing the big bucks. Why? Because they can afford too! Without the expense of children in third world countries being on their conscience.
HEY MELISSA- Children don't turn into disrespectful, immoral people like Paris Hilton because they slept in a $3000.00 crib. Children that have parents that are disrespectful and immoral people turn into disrespectful,immoral people.

So, now we know what to tell our kids about $3,000 cribs.
What should we tell them about seeing other peoples views and having respectful disagreements?

Careful about ordering online from these folks. Their customer service and delivery reliability leave a lot to be desired. They ran out of the product I bought and didn't so much as email me to tell me they'd delayed the order. Fortunately it was a small order, but everyone who's looking at more expensive purchases should think twice.

What a GREAT store, they moved to 53 pearl st, Brooklyn, and they have wonderful stuff, so beautiful!! I have been ordering from them for the last year, now I am Soooo excited about their new store, there is nothing like it in New York!!!!

PS. Toby is out of his mind I have never had a problem with them, I signed up for their bridal redistery and they were great to every one who has purchased from them.

My 3 year old son and I just visited the new Modern Tots dumbo store and we both loved it. He was ready to stay for the day. It is a very friendly environment for both parents and children. The toys are fabulous. Not only functional and well made they are beautiful and reasonably priced.
June