From safe and sturdy playthings for the nursery to sleek and stylish furniture for the living room, there’s a whole world of beautiful American hardwood products—made right here in the United States—that will check all the boxes on your holiday gift list. Here are six items I’ve got my eye on.
Hand crafted of maple and birch, this classic baby rattle is painted with environmentally friendly, nontoxic milk paint before being sealed with organic virgin coconut oil, so it’s safe for teething babies. And a four-step sanding process means it’s smoother than junior’s bottom.
Homi Baby Wood Rattle, www.homibaby.com
For youngsters aged five and up, these carefully designed and engineered maple planks can be stacked into a limitless variety of buildings, monuments, and other structural forms. It’s the ideal activity to help kids gain an understanding of balance and proportion, as well as an interest in construction, architecture, and design.
KEVA Maple Planks, www.kevaplanks.com
With more of us working from home these days, who doesn’t need attractive and effective task lighting? Introduced 10 years ago but already a modern classic, this desk lamp combines oak and steel in a spare and elegant design that’s both functional and great looking.
Excel Desk Lamp by Roll & Hill, www.rollandhill.com
Made of solid white oak and dipped in oxide to darken their bottom rungs, these ladders are not meant for climbing, even though their design is based on the type found in apple orchards. But they’re perfect for displaying and storing fine blankets, decorative textiles, or towels.
Bloak Ladders from Lostine, lostine.com
For those in need of additional kitchen prep space, this contemporary butcher block table offers a stylish solution. Available in maple, oak, or walnut, the thick and sturdy top will take generations of use while the circular shape allows for easy mobility around it.
Butcher Block Table by De JONG & Co., www.dejongandco.com
This armchair has a versatile, laid-back aesthetic that would be appropriate in a variety of spaces. The frame, constructed of beech or smoky walnut, is hand polished with wax to bring out the natural wood grain. And the leather sling is available in blue or black matte finish as well as white hair-on-hide.
The Hayes Chair by Maiden Home, maidenhome.com
