Need help finding a cool table/chair set

[jojo2324]

Nana has said that she would like to get Gannon a table/chair set for Christmas. I think this is a wonderful idea. She wants me to pick it out...Where do I start? I just saw one in a catalog called Constructive Playthings; here is a picture:

http://www.constplay.com/constplay.com/family/product_images/KRP-46L.jpg

I like it, but it's not *quite* what I would like. Unfortunately, I have no idea what that is. I like bright colors, a little funky and different. Any ideas where I could look? Thanks! :)

[jd11365]

I was in IKEA last month when visiting NJ, and they had some cute stuff....

Jamie
Mommy to Kayla
5-1-03

[Sandy]

Here are some websites for you:

http://www.allkidsstuff.com/products.php?srch=categoryID&param=39

http://www.nurserydepot.com/furniture/subcategory.asp?id=3-10003628-10001867-115461-4-2&id2=577-0-0-0-0&page_num=1&sort_id=0

http://www.ross-simon.com/perl/rssh0001.cgi?EDIT_UID=2003110723495932&EDIT_FNM=00&EDIT_CLASS=V__H|V__U|V__W|V__C|H_K|L_J&EDIT_SHOW_FAMILIES=Y&EDIT_OVERRIDE_ITEM_LIMIT=yes

http://www.fao.com/global/search/keywordsearch.cfm?TID=63533058235144800307118617&Site=Toys&rs_section=keywordsearch

I couldn't decide what to get for Alexander so I picked up a unfinished kid's table and chairs for Alexander and I am now in the process of painting it. Alex loves all things cars, trains and planes so I am painting his grandfathers A-4 fighter jet that he flew in Vietnam on the table top.

Good luck on finding one for Gannon.
HTH,
Sandy mom to Alexander Thor 3/16/02

[lmintzer]

Hmm. Not sure if this is funky/bright enough, but Pottery Barn Kids has a cute table called the Carolina in a honey finish. We bought this for Jack with some nice, primary color chairs (a red, a blue, and a green). Then, we put a little rug underneath to pull it all together. It looks really nice, and Jack enjoys playing Play-Doh and doing little art projects at the table. We got the larger of the two sizes offered (which can seat up to 6 kids) because we thought we could use it longer. I've heard people use these tables up to age 7, unlike a lot of toddler tables that are scaled down even smaller.

Another idea--order a solid colored table and some animal chairs. I've seen cute chairs on the internet that are shaped/decorated like jungle animals. That certainly brightens things up a bit!

Lisa
& Jack, 4/20/01 (who just woke up screaming with a nose bleed)
& Little brother-to-be, e.d.d., 12/15/03 ("What IS that racket?")

[hwin708]

I totally agree with the IKEA idea. I was just looking at their kids furniture the other day. They have this great line MAMMUT with a tables, chairs, and stools that I LOVE. It just looks so Dr. Seuss to me.
http://www.ikea-usa.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10101&storeId=12&categoryId=10196&langId=-1&parentCats=10106*10196&chapterId=10204&cattype=sub

[nohomama]

Yet another vote for Ikea. They have funky, colorful options as well as a plain unfinished set (read: blank slate which you can make funky and colorful if you so desire), which is what we got. All of the kid things I've bought there have been very good quality and have held up to toddler play. The best part about Ikea stuff though is that it's inexpensive. I know you said Nana's footing the bill for this but if you can help her stretch her dollar, mabye she'll buy more than a table and chair set.

[MamaKath]

What about getting something that has a wood finish and having an artist paint on it with a theme that would go with stuff in your house?

I'll tell you my reasoning for this. We got a school quality table and chairs by KidKraft (800-933-0771). It came with 2 chairs and we ordered 2 more. It was not cheap, but an adult can easily sit on one of the chairs to play a game or color at the table with the kids. I don't ever worry when one of my kids or a child over playing stands on the table, etc (edited to say-although they *KNOW* they are not supposed to do this). They are solid! For us the natural wood has worked well too as we have moved every 18 months-2 years for dh's job. It has lived in the kitcen, family room, living room, play room, dd's room, etc and has worked in each, lol. After 3 years of daily use/abuse it is just as sturdy as the day we got it! Even our kitchen chairs have not held up that well. ;-)

Otherwise I would check Ikea, Lillian Vernon Catalog, Magic Cabin Catalog, etc. We do lots of catalogs as we live in a pretty isolated area. The table and chairs we have was purchased at BuyBuyBaby in Paramus. They were lovely, and ordered exactly what we wanted!

HTH~

[brubeck]

I vote for Ikea too. We got the Gulliver table and 2 chairs for less than $50. They are solid wook and look really nice.

A warning though, my friend got an orange colored Ikea table and chairs for her twins. The kids apparently scraped the furniture along her white walls and she had orange marks she had to paint over to get rid of. I suspect this problem might exist with lots of brightly colored painted furniture.

[kransden]

Have you checked Target? They had some cute girl ones that weren't expensive. Maybe the boy ones are cute too.
Karin and Katie 10/24/02

[brigmaman]

Joanne, I am sure you have seen this set already. It is really cute. But when can the little crumb-snatchers use chalk?