4th July 2022 | IN PRODUCT NEWS | BY SBID ShareTweetPinterestLinkedIn There is a saying in China – ‘Children’s money is money earned most easily’. This is an interesting expression that has held true even through the recent upheaval of Covid, where we see that in many up-and-coming consumer territories, for example, in Asia, spending on children’s lifestyle and luxury products has gone through the roof. As one of the worlds’ premier manufacturers of children’s furniture, with a presence in 77 countries, Dragons of Walton Street serves as a barometer for international trends in children’s luxury. We believe that for today’s savvy interior designer, there is a unique opportunity act in partnership with HNW parents to create elevated spaces for their children. Here are the key trends which are motivating parents to invest in interior design for their children. Metamorphosis and Long Life The practice of creating hardwearing furniture for children and furniture which has a dual-use is well-established. Amazing carpentry feats of the Georgians and Victorians in this vein included cots that convert to sofas and tables and chairs that become highchairs. These pieces were so well made that years after their creation, exhibited pieces still look sturdy enough to go nine rounds with a bowl of Cheerios. These days, the demands placed on children’s design pieces to ensure they have longevity built into their DNA is usually as much down to space-saving needs as it is to ensure that the planet is used as gently as possible. Dragons of Walton Street has been at the forefront of the long-life children’s furniture movement long before it was on trend and in fact one of Dragons’ most popular key furniture pieces is the Dragons’ Cot Bed. Its major USP is that it is built with such an attention to detail that it will last through a cycle of at least 5 babies. Right on the metamorphosis trend, the Dragons Cot Bed transforms into a toddler bed, which will serve children up to four and a half years. The idea is that generations of children would benefit from the bed, which appeals event to a HNW clientele as they wish to ensure that furniture pieces may be passed down to others, rather than ending their lives in a landfill. Re-imagine and Re-use Companies which truly care about the environment now take ownership for the life cycle of their products well past the point of sale. This has re-invented the luxury game – for example, brands like Mulberry are vanguards of this ethos with their strategy of offering lifetime repairs for over 10,000 bags a year and maintenance of a materials and hardware archive which goes back 35 years. Similarly, Dragons of Walton Street recently launched its ‘Earth Matters’ campaign. This service guarantees that Dragons will repaint and resell any children’s furniture pieces bought from Dragons. This service has been particularly well received by interior designers, as families with young children have been particularly receptive to any inventive initiatives around sustainability and their children’s furniture choices. Murals – The Ideal Non-Polluting Wall Treatment Wallpaper is wonderful. However, in many cases they are not the most sustainable – or healthy – choice for childrens’ rooms. Children can spend endless hours in rooms with wallpapers, which designer may utilise for an opportunity to add drama one simply cannot achieve with paint alone. It is worth noting, though, that not all wallpapers are created equal and that a child’s skin is constantly absorbing various substances from the air into their respiratory system and skin, including from decorative finishes. In some cases, if the chemicals being given off from these finishes are nauseous allergies may develop as well as skin irritations, nausea, headaches and asthma attacks. Dragons’ world-famous mural service offers clients an opportunity to create spectacular wall effects for children with non-toxic paint. Also, only limit to what may be painted is the imaginations of designer and parent. From Monaco to Marrakesh, there is barely a major city where a Dragons’ mural has not been used to add serious wow factor. Furniture as Art As interior designers working with clients with high expectations, you’ll be aware that ‘uniqueness’ is a value which is often strived for amongst your clientele. This value also extends to children’s bedrooms and indeed accounts for why Dragons’ out of this world themed beds are a big hit with the parent and child who has everything. Two other extremely popular solutions for those seeking something extra special is bespoke hand painted furniture with one-of-a-kind motifs and having self-sourced furniture pieces painted by Dragons. Want to source a playset which would be at home in the Amazon? In this below example an interior designer briefed Dragons to take a fresh jungle approach, using a large-scale motif which makes a bold and dramatic impression. One of Dragon’s interior designers ran with the idea and undertook a collaborative process with Dragons’ in-house artists, who created detailed sketches before a delighted client signed off. About Dragons of Walton Street Dragons has been hand painting children’s furniture for over 40 years since our founder Rosie Fisher opened her doors on Walton Street in the heart of Knightsbridge, London in 1979. Now located at 150 Walton Street in the heart of Chelsea, London, our luxury children’s furniture continues to be predominantly built by British master carpenters and lovingly hand painted at our Studio in West Sussex. Visit Profile If you’d like to feature your product news here, get in touch to find out more. If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.