Fad*ish- fashion and design

Can peace and tranquility for your baby be found at the bottom of Laron Algren’s rocker? I would like to think so. One look at his Maloof inspired nanny rocker and any city dweller would be fantasizing about a life where they could raise a child in the city, with all the comforts of country living -- like sharing a sunset or a sweet southern breeze with a fashionable infant nestled in a George et Rosalie ‘Gigoteuse’. This fantasy is hardly likely living in a metropolis where breezes tend not to carry the smells of anything sweet, and sunsets are reserved for those with the hi-rises to afford them.

Laron Algren was introduced to wood working as a child by his father, and after years experience -- which includes: remodeling, construction, renovating and receiving a B.S. in industrial engineering from Wright State University -- he started crafting home furnishings, specifically rockers and cradles. His nanny rocker, made from curly quatersawn white oak, is one of his more interesting pieces, simply because it is a ‘throw-back’ design not often seen in contemporary urban furnishings. Worth every bit of it $5,000 price tag, because like most of Algren’s designs, it is handcrafted. A close second -- and definitely buzz worthy piece -- is his black walnut swing cradle, which retails for about $4,000. Both items can be available in a variety of woods, and are purchasable by contacting Algren himself through his website.

I am pairing the sleek design of Laron Algren with the quirky and imaginative bedding of George et Rosalie . Their full range of blankets and nursery accessories would be a colorful and playful accent to Algren’s clean lines. Though George et Rosalie are located a world apart from Algren -- Paris, France to be exact -- I believe that their styles marry well together. One could, for example, swaddle their newborn in one of George et Rosalie’s ‘Gigoteuse Cirque' (French for circus inspired footed pajama), while reclining in the Nanny Rocker, or decorate their crib with a 'Couverture Guitare' (guitar blanket). George et Rosalie offers eclectic options for outfitting your nursery, and their products are moderately priced between € 65-75 (even less if you happen to catch a sale).

In a world where internet ordering offers you the opportunity to buy a cradle in Ohio and blanket in Paris, there just might be the possibility to create a serene oasis for your infant in the city. Optimism like this may not cure the world’s current economic crisis, but at least it could provide a glimmer of hope for the future.

*ms.b

Places to buy:

*Laron Algren’s Nanny Rocker and Crib

*George et Rosalie Gigoteuse ‘Cirque’

*George et Rosalie Couverture ‘Hibou’

Labels: Decor