2006-09-01

My Generation

ducduc embraces modernity - and mother nature

When children enter your life, "convertible" takes on a whole new meaning. Gone are visions of driving down the West Side Highway in a vintage ride, The Smiths blasting. Instead you'll be waxing rhapsodic about the vibrant PJ crib, which converts to a toddler bed. Or the sleek Dylan bonding bench: Use it now to rock your baby to sleep; later, it will transform itself into an ottoman or, sans upholstered pad, a coffee table for the grownups.
These ingenious designs are courtesy of Ducduc, the Soho-based collaborative that specializes in joyously modern goods for the wee ones. While the aesthetic is minimal and hip, the company's founders - two venture capitalists, an architect, and an interior designer - back it up with a responsible outlook. Since its launch in 2005, for example, Ducduc has steeped itself in a mission of sustainability, ushering morality into the dreamtime of the youngest minds. All of its furniture uses non-VOC finishes and is made of sustainably harvested hardwoods. Because hardwood stands the test of time better than, say, particleboard, parents will more likely find a new home for their Ducduc pieces than toss them to the curb. That the stuff is convertible also increases its lifespan. Ten percent of all company profits go to children's charities, too.
Who knew social commitment could be so stylish? Besides inspiring you to furnish a nursery-to-be, Ducduc could convert your point of view. www.ducducnyc.com