Kids’ Rooms: Beyond Traditional Pink and Blue

FOR most pregnant women, dreamingof the perfect setting to rest your child’shead often helps during the growing painsof the nine months.And while entire superstores of childrenand baby furnishings cater to expectantmothers in other countries, in CostaRica many mothers have no idea how orwhere to begin their room-decorating crusade.Fortunately for new parents and children,more stores are offering a variety ofoptions to make the tots’ rooms the placeof their dreams.The Room Factory specializes in kids’rooms. Customers can find furniture, pillowsand blankets, rugs, murals and allkind of accessories.“We offer a whole concept of decorationfor children’s rooms,” said OwnerNaamá Lubelski, who also gives customerstips on how to decoratethe living space of theiroffspring.Lubelski steers thecustomer toward certainitems based upon theideas of the parents orkids.“SOME of themwould like to have theirroom look like a forest,or a plane or have theirfavorite character allaround,” she said.“Actually, once a kidwanted his room to looklike the ocean. It wasvery touching to see himhappily jumping on hisbed – which looked likea boat – and starting to play, using a paddleI made for him ‘to sail,’ when theroom was ready,” remembered Lubelskibetween laughs.Customers who seek Lubelski’s guidanceshould bring along basic blueprints ofthe room’s floor plan (and dimensions).They should also give her a rough idea ofwhat they are expecting and what elementsthey already have, so the attention is morepersonalized.Lubelski warranties all the items in thestore.The furniture is made with hard woodimported from Chile, over-dried, pillowsand blankets are anti-allergic 100% cotton,and they use non-toxic paints for furniture– the store follows the U.S. safety standards.The Room Factory also offers transportationand installation service aroundthe country, but it is not included in thecost of the product. The store is now offeringa 10% discount on furniture.Find The Room Factory at CentroComercial Galería San Rafael, SanRafael, Escazú. It’s open Monday-Friday,9 a.m.-noon and 1-6 p.m. and on Saturday10 a.m.-5 p.m. For more info, call 289-8398.ARTEMARMOL offers modular furnituremade for children, carefullydesigned and planned to the greatest detail.“Our furniture can be adapted accordingto the necessities of the child from twoyears old to teenagers; all corners arerounded for major security,” said AlejandraGolcher, owner of the store.Flexa Brand, found in Artemarmol’sDenmark-imported furniture, uses top qualityNorth woods pine, grown in lowtemperatures, said Lilly Jiménez, decoratorat the store.The store offers a five-year warrantyfor factory defects, two hours of free personalizeddecoration advisory to help theclient with the selection of the furniture,colors and accessories, and free installationof the furniture.Customers can also visit Artemarmol tobuy curtains or for assistance with decorativewall paintings.The store is located 300 meters west ofthe soccer field in San Rafael de Escazú.It’s open Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m.and Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. For more info,contact Golcher or Jiménez at 228-0443 or289-9595 or see the Web site at:www.artemarmol.co.crAT Altea Design, parents can visit thestore and find beds,lamps, dressers andshelves. Transportationand installation areincluded in the price ifthe delivery is inside themetropolitan area, saidowner FranciscoAlvarado.Find Altea 200meters east ofHipermás in SanSebastián. Contact AbelMaterson or DiegoMilanesi for more infoat 288-2014.At Euro Living,parents can buy furniturefor kids’ rooms forchildren over four yearsold.“We have different styles, combinationsthat can be sold to equip a wholeroom or as individual items,” said LauraFrittoli, manager of the store. “We don’thave the classic bunk beds, but we offerother combinations of two beds and wealso offer different curtains as well.”The furniture is imported from Italy.Transportation and installation are includedin the price if delivery is within theCentral Valley.A complete room, which includes acloset with four doors, a bookcase, a deskwith its chair, a dresser, a bed with itsmattress and a night table, costs about$1,900.Visit Euro Living 600 meters west and500 meters south of the U.S. Embassy inPavas. It’s open Monday-Friday from 9a.m.-6 p.m.. For more info, call 296-0100or e-mail lalla@eurocontract.co.crPARENTS who prefer to decoraterooms themselves can visit CEMACOstores to find wallpaper, border wallpaper,bedspreads and sponges for painting (in theform of planes, animals or dinosaurs),dressers, little tables, chests andwardrobes. You can find the store inCurridabat, west Sabana and Alajuela.The following are businesses that canpaint your child’s room in the décor of yourliking (don’t forget to make sure that thepaint they use is lead-free): American Paintat 234-9009; Lanco at 438-2257; Kativo at290-2222; Sur at 296-9017. For stuccos,contact Don Benito Pigments at 249-1707;Francolor at 282-1684 or 282-3496.