Category: Featured In

Discover the wooden playthings that will teach your kids the hipster ABCs and so much more.

They say everything old is new again – that’s particularly true of the imaginative goods made by Tree Hopper Toys. Crafted by hand in the Midwest from sustainable hardwood – yep, the old-fashioned way – the playthings could have sprung from your grandfather’s toy chest. Yet, founder Eric Siegel has found a way to make them infinitely modern.

Imagine ABC blocks redone hipster style, with “M” for moustache and “U” for unicorn. And wooden teethers shaped like pizza slices. And matching games featuring bold graphics of iconic worldwide landmarks. The list goes on.

We’re so glad to now be selling the toys and sharing their magic with families for the holidays. Find out more what makes them special in this Q&A with Eric, who talks about how his business came to be and what inspires it.

Unison: You are bringing back the joy in traditional games and toys. Why was it important to you to start a company like Treehopper Toys?

Eric: It’s a fun, exciting, non-stop education. Every day we learn more about making things and working as a small team to make toys for thousands of families to enjoy. It’s SO fun to see kids (and especially my own) having fun with something we created!

Unison: How long have you been doing this and what did you do prior?

Eric: I’ve been doing Tree Hopper for almost six years, and prior to that I studied art and design and worked as a picture framer in Chicago as well as doing graphic design on the side.

Unison: Tell us about your craftsmanship — everything from the choice of wood to process.

Eric: Everything we make has some handmade element, and we use a variety of materials, based on what is best suited for a particular product.  Many of our parts are made for us, and then we do all of the printing, assembly and finishing in house.

Unison: What is your studio like and how does it serve to inspire you?

Eric: We just moved into a shiny new shop/office/warehouse/studio this summer. It’s basically just big open spaces, sectioned off for printing, woodworking, etc. Our previous space was half the size of our new one, so having room to spread out has been really nice!

Unison: Your toys have gotten a lot of buzz. What are some fan favorites?

Eric: We have a variety depending on the market, but in general the Match Stacks, Whoa-Bots, and Hipster ABCs are our top sellers.

Unison: The Hipster ABC Blocks have a cult following. How did you come up with the idea?

Eric: There are SO many educational ABC blocks and matching sets, books, etc., but they all have the same vocabulary. I just wanted to do a random fun assortment of things I like, and when I looked at the whole collection and tried to figure out the common theme, it mostly seemed to be hipster stuff, so I just went with it!

Unison: How do you come up with new toy and game ideas?

Eric: Really just by playing and messing around in the shop. We don’t try to reinvent the wheel — we just put our own personal spin on educational and play concepts that have been around for ages.

Unison: Any kids in your life that test-drive your creations and ideas? Do you have any little helpers?

Eric: Yes. I have a 4 year old and 5 1/2 year old, both boys, with another boy due any day now! I also have a TON of nieces and nephews that help test things out.

Unison: Do you also create products for adults? If so, what?

Eric: I actually just launched a side project called Product Public (www.productpublic.com), which is a catch all for all of the non-kid related objects I want to make.  We just launched a series of wall clocks, and will soon be adding a variety of durable goods and gifts for the home.

Unison: What do you think is the future of toys and games for kids? How would you like to play a role in it?

Eric: Obviously iPads and video games are becoming more and more popular, but I think there will always be a place for traditional tactile toys and games. As a parent of young kids, I definitely try to strike a balance between tech and tradition, because both have their benefits and limitations.

Thanks, Eric!

 

 

We love dinnerware that suits any mood and every whim. Fancy dinner party? Spontaneous Sunday brunch with friends? Crashing on the couch with leftovers? For all of these moments, we turn to Corelle.

Sophisticated but unfussy, timeless yet modern looking, Corelle was created in the 1970s by Pyrex. It’s made in the Midwest in Rosemont, Illinois, and is known for its supreme durability. Chalk it up to the revolutionary material from which its made — a special three-layer glass laminate called Vitrelle glass, which was originally fabricated for first-generation TV screens in the 1940s. No surprise, this glass is virtually break and chip resistant.

Corelle is a true workhorse in the kitchen, being stackable and ideal for buffet-style setups. So its thinness and lightness often comes as a surprise.

Style and designs are ever-changing — there have been more than 2,000 patterns since the 1970s — and all of them are great everyday basics. At Unison, we carry small and large plates, curved just so, as well as bowls that are great for salads or pastas. You can’t beat the price point — these pieces are just $5 or $6 each. Stock up and we know Corelle will become your mealtime go-to as quickly as it became ours.

 

Thanks Goop for featuring our Alphablock Blue Canvas Pouf in your roundup “Gifts for the Littles”!

 

 

Alphablocks Canvas Poufs, Gingham Cranberry Pouf, Float Pink Pouf, Shapes Dark Grey + Primary Pouf, Sailor Charcoal Pouf

When you attend a Filigree Suppers event, you enter into an experience that is not only enjoyable, but also thoughtful in its detail, beautiful in its design, and creative to its core.

We experienced this firsthand at our recent in-store event, when we had the pleasure of welcoming Filigree Suppers co-founder Elise Metzger to up the gorgeous ante on our shindig.

Elise used items from our current Holiday collection to design all the tabletops. And the variety of tablescapes – including a kids’ setting – helped visitors learn how to set a table for any occasion, any design aesthetic, or any lifestyle.

Elise and Baker Miller brought in the food, and Elise and our knowledgable staff greeted guests at the door with refreshments, including the treat of effervescent bottled water from Perrier, one of our sponsors.

Filigree’s blend of elegance and whimsy (we would never have thought to incorporate Areaware’s Balancing and Blockitecture Blocks!) set a wonderful example for thinking outside the box on entertaining design.

And with Elise on hand to show menu examples and play around with different settings, visitors enjoyed hands-on learning. So we all left feeling a bit more confident in our ability to take these great ideas into our own dining rooms.

Which details won the most-likely-to-get-copied awards? Customized menu tags, name tags, and sample menus, to name a few. Another favorite: the postcards outlining helpful tips for selecting and creating holiday bouquets, which got all of us into the spirit of the season.

All in all, it was a day full of ideas, beauty, and fun. Delicious.

We were thrilled to see our products in Bright Bazaar “Decorating with Marvellous Monichrome” blog Post. Thank you, Will!

Autumn seems to scream responsibility, doesn’t it? No matter how old you are, the back-to-school season brings a sense of stricter schedules, busy days, and focused evenings.

Sounds like a bit of relaxation might be in order.

But who has time to hit the spa this time of year? Since you’re as busy as you are in need of a massage, we’ve designed the perfect solution: make your own washroom into an oasis of indulgence. Close the door tight, crank up some mellow tunes, and follow these tips for pure zen action in your very own home:

Set the Spa Scene

Candlelight and good smells are the hallmarks of any spa, and your mellow-at-home zone shouldn’t be any different. So dim the lights and set some Haus Scented Candles aflame. With fragrances derived from goodies like rose, bergamot, cassis, oak moss, and tonka bean, you’ll change the mood instantly.

Next, fill your Object Boxes with some delicious bath salts. Whether you’re pouring in simple epsom salts or Peruvian pink salt blended with water from the polar ice caps, these containers will add a tone of stylish sophistication to your bath scene.

Pamper Your Gorgeous Head…

Now let’s get down to the business of your facial. Pack the following into your Nest Caddy:

1. Binchotan Charcoal Facial Soap
Crafted of Binchotan charcoal powder and natural extracts, this facial soap exfoliates, moisturizes, and absorbs impurities to restore the tone and texture of your skin.

2. Binchotan Charcoal Washcloth
With ultra-fine powder of Binchotan charcoal blended into its fibers, this cloth absorbs odors and removes toxins and excess oil from your skin.

3. Homemade Face Mist
Spritz on some refreshing face mist, like this rose water variety from those clever gals at A Beautiful Mess

…Down to Your Freshly Smoothed Toes

After you’ve soaked to your heart’s content, it’s time to get down to the business of your little tootsies.

Derived from volcanic rock, pumice’s natural exfoliant properties are perfect for smoothing the roughest spots on your feet. Slather a Binchotan Pumice Stone with decadent Swedish Dream Soaps for the ultimate in pedi pampering.

Now dry off with a Logan Towel, slip those smooth feet into some soft Linen Slippers, and tuck in for a cozy evening.

You deserve it.

What’s something big that most of us have in common? Couches. We all have them. We all use them. We all love them – albeit for different reasons.

And many of us also share the silly habit of letting our couches fade into the neutral background of our homes after a while. But there’s no excuse for this, thanks to one of the most simple, versatile, and striking home accessories known to man: the throw pillow.

We at Unison happen to be obsessed with these sofa-top essentials. And this time of year, we’re particularly apt to break out a new set of pillows to dress up a room, celebrate a holiday, or freshen familiar spaces for the cold months ahead.

Take a look at how our 3 new interchangeable pillow collections – classic black & white, natural tones & linens, and holiday – bring new personality to a neutral gray couch:

A great collection of throw pillows can do more than make a couch inviting. It can liven up an entire home.

We recommend that you start your browsing here:

Aerial Black, Dots Black, Aerial White

Dots White Linen, Color Block Burgundy, Sailor Black Linen

Tiles Gray , Grid Red Knit, Gingham Royal

 

In these dog days of summer, a bit of refreshment is more imperative—and more appealing—than ever. But if the heat’s sapping your creative juices, don’t sweat it. We’ve got some cool ideas for chilling out with friends, family, or yours truly. Think bright tablescapes, summery recipes, and warm temperatures.

Looks like there is a cure for the summertime blues after all.

Cure #1: Bright Lights, Big Tiles

Go bold, cheerful, and bright for your table. One of our favorite choices? The Big Tiles Tablecloth in lime. It’ll get your mouth watering for dinner – and keep the mood cheerful no matter how the weather decides to blow in. Added bonus: it’s currently on sale!

Cure #2: Fruity Minty Deliciousness

If you feel like spreading your culinary wings a bit, try the Watermelon with Menthol Candies from The Family Meal cookbook. Made with a simple combination of lemon juice, sugar, watermelon, and hard menthol candies, it’s a bright and fresh treat for your tabletop. And with detailed ingredient quantities mapped out for parties of 2, 6, 20, or 75, this recipe can help you cool as many mouths as you feel like inviting to the conversation.

Cure #3: The Clean Plate Club

Clean-lined dinnerware keeps the table looking sharp, inviting food and fun to take center stage. Check out the Biobu collection for an array of shapes and colors that are as fun to mix-and-match as they are to collect over time.

Cure #4: Ceviche Surprise

Remember the delicious (and easy!) ceviche recipe we tested out for this year’s Cinco de Mayo celebration? Nothing could be more in keeping with this fresh and bright dinner scene. Pick up a copy of Mexico: The Cookbook and try it for yourself.

Cure #5: Serve Up Style

One secret for adding elegance to your outdoor tabletop: serve choice treats from striking trays. But don’t think you have to get fancy. Try thick slices of colorful watermelon or some fizzy cocktails perched beside a mound of juicy lemons and limes. Our Grid, Plateau, or Tracy trays set the perfect stage.

Cure #6: Bake a Bass

While you have The Family Meal cookbook open from your candy-making craze, look up the Baked Sea Bass. The dish features fresh thyme and rosemary, along with one of August’s main attractions: juicy, ripe tomatoes. It’s the perfect way to end your summer entertaining season with a bang.

The darling San Francisco-based blog, Say Yes, recently included our Soft Zebra baby toy in their roundup of Favorite Baby Products Made In The USA!

We love when our pals over at Apartment Therapy share the love. A big thank you to them for featuring our Larch Bedding in their “Weekend Shopping Alert”.