Reading a story or two to your kids before bedtime is the perfect end to a day. It is a special treat for them and maybe even more for you. It’s a great way to spend time together, and it’s a surefire trick to get the kiddies to drift off into peaceful slumber without too much effort. And let’s not forget that our older kid’s love to read too. We found ourselves a children’s librarian to help sort the good from the bad, the sad from the happy, and the scary from the funny.

Sideways Stories from Wayside School Louis Sachar.

Louis Sachar is probably best known for his book Holes which nabbed both a National Book Award and a Newbery Medal, but if you’re one who relishes in shameless silliness (like me), the Wayside School books are not to be missed. What makes this book great bedtime reading for older kids is that it is a series of short tales so it’s easy to read a couple of these funny stories in a sitting. My favorite story is “Sammy” which is about the smelly new kid with a bad attitude and a lot of raincoats. One by one his raincoats are removed and by the time the final layer comes off, we discover that Sammy is no more than a dead rat buried under a bunch of coats. It sounds dumb here, but read it. Trust me. You won’t regret it. Ages 6-10.

How Do Dinosaurs Go to School? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague.

I know I discussed a Jane Yolen book a few weeks ago, but her name bears repeating. For little ones just starting school, this is a pretty good intro to the academic world, and as far as finding good role models for young kids, well-behaved dinosaurs can’t be beat. As you might imagine, in this installment we are asked: “How do dinosaurs go to school? Do they interrupt others with their own show and tell? Does a dinosaur yell? Does he talk out of turn?” Again, the answer is no. They are kind and respectful to their teachers, the school’s belongings and their peers. There are a lot of fun new and very colorful dinosaurs in this book and even the most well-versed in dino species are likely to learn a thing or two. Ages 2-6.

Tags: beds, book reviews, Books, Children, family

We’ve been focusing a lot lately on the look of a bedroom. That is, of course, a very important element of designing and maintaining a comfortable home, but we mustn’t forget those intangible ones that elevate a living space from exceptional to luxurious. Few things can spice up a bedroom more than a light, delicious scent.  Keeping your bedroom smelling fantastic is a very important aspect of your daily life, and it helps to make your time there a soothing healing experience.

There are many ways to introduce pleasing aromas to your living space. Some people like to use scented candles. Scented candles come in a wealth of different flavors and are quite easy to find. Potpourri is also widely available. Potpourri works best in small doses, and warm water is especially helpful in releasing the aroma into the air. Lastly, scented oils are also a great way to work aromatherapy into your daily life. With oils, as the saying goes, a dab’ll do. The scents can be highly concentrated and may cause irritation if applied too heavily. You’ll either want to use only a few drops here and there, or dilute the oil in water, making a solution to spritz around the room or even on yourself if you choose.

Try experimenting with different scents and flavors. Some perennial favorites include lavender, pumpkin, lilac, rose, jasmine, etc. You can use them alone, or you can mix and match. Find out what you like and run with it.

Tags: aromatherapy, bedroom, home, Interior Design

We’re excited to announce that on September 26th, Charles P. Rogers will be teaming up with Writopia Lab to host “Ready. Set. Write.”, a one day creative writing seminar for young writers that will take place in Charles P. Rogers’ Manhattan showroom. Writopia Lab is a not for profit organization whose task is cultivating writing talent in kids from age eight to eighteen. They regularly run workshops in major cities all over the country. “Ready. Set. Write.” will select 42 students from schools all over Manhattan’s Flatiron District for a three-hour workshop dedicated to drafting short stories that will be submitted to the prestigious Scholastic Writing Awards, an annual event honoring young adults’ outstanding achievements in the arts. The students will be split up into smaller groups which will be guided by published writers working as Writopia team leaders. We’re looking forward to this one, and we’re definitely hoping “Ready. Set. Write.” will be the first of many collaborations between us and our friends at Writopia.

Tags: Books, Children, family, Writopia Lab

Reading a story or two to your kids before bedtime is the perfect end to a day. It is a special treat for them and maybe even more for you. It’s a great way to spend time together, and it’s a surefire trick to get the kiddies to drift off into peaceful slumber without too much effort. And let’s not forget that our older kid’s love to read too. We found ourselves a children’s librarian to help sort the good from the bad, the sad from the happy, and the scary from the funny.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

This week I am changing gears and reviewing a young adult novel for the older readers.

If you haven’t heard of this book, you’ve probably been living under a rock for the last couple years. Suzanne Collins just finished the third and final installment of this fantastic and brutal trilogy. If you know her from the beloved YA series Gregor the Overlander, then you are in for quite a shock. This story is a classic dystopian tale, in which the Capitol of the districts rules over its citizens with an iron fist. Their greatest display of their ultimate power is the annual Hunger Games in which two youths, one boy and one girl, from each of the twelve districts is chosen to compete in a bloody televised spectacle. They are placed in a giant arena and only one can survive as the victor.

Our hero is Katniss Everdeen, daughter of an herbal healer. Her father, who was a coal miner, died many years ago in an accident. Having taken on the role of the caretaker of her mother and little sister at a young age, Katniss is headstrong, mercurial and no fan of her government. For years she has snuck into the forbidden woods behind District 12 to hunt for food for her family. So begins the story of The Hunger Games. It is difficult to put down this imaginative, fast-paced novel. Readers will enjoy the frank, first-person narrative and the twists and turns that keep you guessing until the final chapter. One word of warning: this book will definitely follow you into your dreams. I had plenty of dreams in which I was a participant in the cruel and fascinating Hunger Games. Ages 12 and up.

Tags: beds, bedtime stories, book reviews, Books, family

Take a look at this piece from Blueprint magazine. Our Cottage bed was featured in the antique white finish. The article showcases the Cottage’s versatility in various settings. Depending on the way the bed is dressed and the room is furnished, the Cottage can have a stately, mature look, a vibrant feminine appeal, or a more masculine feel. The possibilities are endless. It’s all in the way you frame it.

Tags: bed, Cottage, home, Interior Design, magazine