First made in 1994, the handmade Lit Bateau cot from Simon Horn was the first to transform into a child’s bed and then a daybed sofa. Elegant and durable, it’s since graced the homes of countless celebrities, including Rod Stewart. Available in a range of bespoke finishes, the Li...

Trends may come and go, but the children’s look inspired by generations of royals (think Queen Victoria dressing her children in kilts at Balmoral; or little Charles and Anne in their double-breasted, velvet-collared Harris tweed coats) has run and run. Parents still swoon over “...

When French designer Philippe Starck created his first Gnome stool table for Kartell back in 1999, the colours were so lurid that only the most committed Starck fans actually thought of owning one. Now that these stunning black versions of Attila (with arm’s up) and Napoleon (wit...

Designed in 1932 by east Londoner Harry Roberts, the Roberts Radio was used by the Queen during the Second World War and holds three Royal Warrants. The portable Roberts has even been produced in solid gold. Based on their iconic Fifties designs, the nostalgic RD60 model is bang ...

This super-shiny gold Chester Mini Couch by Present Time would make a dazzling addition to your child’s boudoir. It may be a tad more blinging than the original Chesterfield first commissioned by Philip Stanhope, the fourth Earl of Chesterfield, in the 18th century but it still r...

Commissioned by a Swedish bank in the Seventies, this Elephant Money Box was given to children when they opened an account and came with the message that an elephant never forgets to save. While they are rarely seen these days, you can buy one online at Family Tree for £5. It’s a...

This has got to be one of our favourite pieces of design ever! Others have followed in its wake, including Mouse, Cow, Tiger and Bumble Bee wheelies, but for us (and our children) the Ladybird wears the crown. Beautifully crafted from the best quality materials to cope with hours...

The Elephant Stool is one of the most famous postwar designs. Created by Japanese designer Sori Yanagi for Vitra in 1954, this stackable, three-legged product was originally designed to be made in fibreglass and came only in black or white. In 2004, at the age of 88, Yanagi redes...

The Polish designer Alexander Begge designed just one furniture line which included the Casalino chair and it had all but disappeared from view. But it is now back in production after the Dutch manufacturer Casala unearthed the original moulds in a depot in Greece and shipped the...

An iconic design since 1966, the jewel-like colours of the 48 play pieces catch the light and can be transformed into anything!PlayPlax from £16, by Portobello Games