It’s hard to find nice kid furniture in Manila.
When DD turned 2, we started shopping for a toddler’s bed because she was getting too big for her crib. We also wanted to get her a nice table and set of chairs so she can do her activities in her own area.
We only saw a few options, most of which were those Disney-branded furniture, which were actually pretty flimsy-looking (if DD jumped on them — which had a high probability — those things would collapse). What’s worse was they were soooo expensive. A toddler’s bed (which she would outgrow at 6 yrs. old) was almost Php20,000 (about $450), if I remember right. The table and chairs (priced at Php12,000 or $270) were so thin, they made Winnie the Pooh look like Timone.
We were about to give up until my good friend forwarded me an email about her cousins’ new business – TwoTots. TwoTots is run by two of the nicest and most O.C. moms I know – Liza Robinson and Bea Ilusorio. When DH and I went to their showroom (which is actually Liza’s house in Dasma — very entrepreneur-like to turn your home into your bodega), I wanted to buy every single item (it was the possibility of being jailed under the bouncing checks law that controlled me). I felt like I was in Pottery Barn Kids.
Furniture by Two Tots. Management by Two O.C. Moms.
We invested in a twin-sized bed for DD (which she will use until she’s 35 and still living with us, if DH can help it) and a nice table with different colored chairs for our living room/ her play area (maybe I’ll post photos someday. I’m still trying to perfect my photography skills. I have O.C. performance anxiety!!). The pieces are made of hard wood and will most likely outlast me and my DH. They are also made beautifully. If you check the corners and edges (which are rounded for safety), you’ll see that they are pulido and made with excellent quality control.
Woven Storage Crates for DD's Toys
They also have accessories, room decor and cute painted storage bins. Recently, we also bought some storage bins made of recycled materials, which is also a livelihood project for mothers. These are perfect for holding DD’s toys and teaching her to pack away. Each one is light enough not to hurt her if it falls on her.
Visit the TwoTots website to view all the other stuff I haven’t bought yet, but will someday. In case you have other furniture in mind (not necessarily for kids), they also accept custom orders.
©OCMominManila
That is true! There is much untapped opportunity for children’s / toddlers things (except for clothes. that’s saturated)…
There is also a dearth of nice wooden dollhouses!
Agree!
The brand Melissa and Doug is the closest I can think of here, I don’t know if they’re widely distributed there. Their toys are wooden, and they have this wooden kitchen set, with nice kitchen fruits and food that are stuck together with velcro (so it looks cute when you “cut” it with the wooden cooking utensils), but parang no doll house either. It would be nice to have a nice dollhouse (with matching not so scary dolls…)
I know those Melissa and Doug kitchens. They’re so cute! Cheaper than Pottery Barn
Wow, very nice! They should put up a store! Ready made furniture shopping is so frustrating here, everywhere you go, it’s all laminated furniture.
I don’t even know what laminated furniture exactly means =) They do nice stuff because Liza’s dad is into furniture export. You know they’re good if the corners and moldings look good e no. And sa kanila, pulido.
Their store is online or in Liza’s house in Dasma or in bazaars. Overhead can be a killer.
im not sure if that’s what they call it – laminated. It’s the natural wood or wengue type finishing but it’s like the Formica thing they glue on to the surface. It cracks and peels over time.
ah, right. Like furniture from Edia or some pieces from Our Home. Actually, like our kitchen cabinets that I feel will be peeling off soon. =)
Pingback: You are Invited to the Two Tots Store Warming « O.C. Mom in Manila
Pingback: OC Mom of Two Tots