When Gitane Royce decided to buy a playhouse for her daughter, she was less than thrilled with what the stores had to offer reports SeattlePI.
Having an educational background in environmental science and research, Royce wanted something sturdy and eco-friendly. Her frustration with the products on the market led her to start her own San Francisco company, Modern Playhouse, that offers sustainable, modular and modern play structures for toddlers and school-age children. She teamed with fellow mom and business partner Nisreen Witt to create products that would be good for the environment and spark creativity in their kids.
The new company offers two playhouse styles designed for a child’s bedroom or playroom. They’re made from wood products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council as having been treated with nontoxic, naturally pigmented finishes, and lead-free fasteners and hardware. The Wedge House ($1,250) has simple openings and an indoor/outdoor connection that invites family participation. The Circle House ($1,450) was inspired by the design of Scandinavian fishing cottages from the modernist era, with the steep lines of a gable-roofed house.
“What’s nice about this house is that one panel of the roof can be removed so parents can participate and the house can grow with the child,” says Royce, who adds that the playhouses have been “kid tested” by their own families. The structures arrive in pre-assembled panels with hardware and an assembly tool and should take two people about 30 minutes to put together.
Photo by Modern Playhouse