Blogs for June 2011

Come on kids—let’s all participate!

By Sophie Drouin - 29 June 2011 - No comments on this post

How many times have I heard women complain that their partners and children don’t pick up after themselves? I am guilty of being one of them, but those days are over. You’d do better to save your breath and take action while the kids are still young.

Around the age of 3 or 4, kids want to help out and do things like grown-ups do. This is a chance of a lifetime! It’s the perfect time to instill good habits, teaching your kids to put things away properly. If the plan works, they’ll gradually learn about organization and may even develop a sense of responsibility (I know, it’s music to the ears!).

I’m not talking about a boot camp for tidying up, just simple little things your kids can do. I have two girls that I adore, but I have no desire to constantly pick up after them (though it’s a great way to get a cheap workout!). That’s why the drawers in their bathroom have plastic baskets: one for toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss; another for hair elastics and barrettes; and another for combs and hairbrushes. It has become a reflex for them to put everything back in the right basket (they began using the baskets before they could even talk).

Organizing a Tiny Closet: What a Nightmare!

By Annie Lavigne - 21 June 2011 - No comments on this post

Everyone grumbles about the size of their closet. Yours is too small to fit your wardrobe. Your son’s room is too small for his toys. You’d have to triple the size of your front-entrance closet to store all your outdoor clothing. While there’s no magic wand you can wave to instantly make your closet larger, I have a few tips that’ll let help you maximize your closet space!

Make the most of vertical space

Have you thought about adding levels to your closet to get the most out of the height? Most closets only have one shelf above the pole, but all too often the space underneath remains unused. To add another level to your closet and maximize your closet space, you have a few options to choose from:

Try adding a second pole at the lower level of your closet—you’ll be able to hang even more clothing. That way, you can organize shirts and jackets on the top pole and pants on the bottom pole. This setup is even more effective with children’s clothing, which is generally shorter in length.

Not sure where to store that old, unused chest of drawers? You can make new use of it by placing it at the back of your closet.

Furniture and health : standards that make a difference

By Michel Bureau - 8 June 2011 - No comments on this post

We understand that when you buy a bed for your child, their health and safety is your primary concern. Not only do you think about the strength of its design and construction, you also need to look at the materials used due to the possibility of emissions or the presence of heavy metals.
At South Shore Furniture, safety is our number one priority. To ensure the safety of our products, we adhere to rules and standards that are widely recognized in our field.

The infamous formaldehyde…

We often get asked if the smell of new furniture comes from the chemical formaldehyde. Not at all! You’ll sleep better in the knowledge that the American CARB standards are very strict on this subject, and all our suppliers must comply with them. Manufactured particle board products are tested by an accredited laboratory set up specifically for this purpose. In addition to external testing, we regularly check components and assembled furniture to ensure that formaldehyde emissions do not exceed these standards. Did you know that formaldehyde levels cannot be reduced to zero because the substance is naturally present in wood?
So what’s behind the smell? It comes from the dozens of wood species used to manufacture the boards.

How to get rid of monsters under the bed

By Caroline White - 8 June 2011 - No comments on this post

The other day on the airplane, some of my good karma finally paid off: in the seat pocket were three beautiful magazines left behind by the last occupant. JOY!

“O” The Oprah Winfrey magazine, a magazine full of wonderful ideas for your home, kitchen, body and soul.
Health Magazine: maybe a sign that I took it a little too easy on my vacation?
Redbook, which I hadn’t heard of, but the tagline Love Your Life piqued my interest.

In Redbook, there was an article about how families manage their sleep routines. If you’re a parent, you probably know what the most challenging time of day is: getting the kids to sleep is more art than science. But what are some ways to promote rest and relaxation?

As a designer, my first instinct is to ask if your room or your children’s rooms are optimized for sleeping. If they’re full of toys, books and clothes littered all over the floor, maybe you need a new storage solution.

One option is the mate’s bed (or captain’s bed), which offers plenty of integrated lower storage. This bed also solves a major problem: it makes it impossible for monsters to find a good hiding spot.