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Dreamt by kids, built by parents, this furniture is the perfect mix of imagination and craftsmanship

Max & Lily's family approach to furniture is revolutionizing kids’ spaces

Max and Lily

In every home, the laughter and dreams of children echo the loudest, filling spaces with joy and imagination. In this spirit, Max & Lily, a vibrant family-run company, was founded. For over two decades, this husband and wife team has been crafting kids' furniture that is not only sturdy and safe but also brimming with fun and creativity. It's not just a business; it's a journey of crafting love and safety into every piece of furniture, making bedtime an adventurous story rather than a routine.

Imagine a household where the children are the creators, sketching dreams with their vibrant imaginations, and parents are the skilled craftsmen, bringing those vivid dreams to life with an artisan's touch. This is the everyday reality at Max & Lily. With input from their children, this dynamic duo has brought forth furniture designs that are both incredibly fun and functional, crafting a loving balance where every piece of furniture celebrates the magical outcomes of dreaming and creating together as a family.

At the heart of Max & Lily lies a splendid mixture of craft and imagination, where intricate designs meet playful elements. Think of bunk beds with easy slides for a joyous morning descent or ones with built-in staircases that double as storage cubbies, adding an element of surprise and functionality. This delightful mix of whimsy and expert craftsmanship goes beyond your everyday furniture, blossoming into a wonderland where kids can embark on daily adventures and parents can bask in the warm glow of safety and quality that Max & Lily promises with each creation.

Featured Products

Beds by Max & Lily invite joy, comfort, and style into your child’s room. They transform an ordinary bedroom into a dreamland crafted by the perfect blend of imagination and craftsmanship, a venture where family values meet excellence. And here are just a few of the pieces the company has to offer.

Twin Over Twin-Size Low Bunk Bed


25% OFF
Max & Lily
Kid's Twin Over Twin-Size Low Bunk Bed
$449 at Max & Lily


Imagine walking into a room where a twin-over-twin low bunk bed sits, crafted with the most splendid knot-free, solid wood. A space saver and a safe haven for young kiddos, it nestles perfectly under low ceilings, giving it a cozy and welcoming aura. When it comes to styling, think soft rugs and twinkling fairy lights to make this the cozy nook every child dreams of.

Twin Over Twin-Size Low Bunk Bed With Staircase


21% OFF
Max & Lily
Kid's Twin Over Twin-Size Low Bunk Bed with Staircase
$699 at Max & Lily


Next up, we have this wonder with a built-in staircase, a design that brings the ease of climb combined with savvy storage solutions. This low bunk bed is not just a place to crash; it's an adventure waiting to happen with steps leading up to sweet dreams. Those little cubbies? Perfect for your kiddos to arrange their favorite books and toys, encouraging them to keep their space neat and tidy, fostering a sense of responsibility and organization from a tender age.

Twin Over Twin-Size Low Bunk Bed With Easy Slide


24% OFF
Max & Lily
Twin over Twin Low Bunk Bed with Easy Slide
$529 at Max & Lily


Now let's ramp up the fun a notch! Slide into delightful mornings with the twin-over-twin low bunk bed equipped with an easy slide. This fabulous piece is more than a sleeping area—it's a playground right in the comfort of their room. And don't you worry a tad about safety because the gentle curve ensures a soft landing, encouraging safe play while nurturing their imaginative minds.

Mid-Century Modern Twin Over Twin Low Bunk Bed


23% OFF
Max & Lily
Mid-Century Modern Twin over Twin Low Bunk Bed
$579 at Max & Lily


Stepping into a room graced with the mid-century modern twin-over-twin low bunk bed is like taking a delightful journey back in time, with a fresh twist. This piece, dressed in retro-chic pecan and walnut finishes, adds a vintage sparkle to modern spaces. Picture this bed paired with funky geometric prints or classic neutral tones, creating a sanctuary of style and comfort that stands the test of time.

Scandinavian Twin Over Twin Low Bunk Bed


21% OFF
Max & Lily
Scandinavian Twin over Twin Low Bunk Bed
$499 at Max & Lily


Lastly, for the lovers of clean lines and understated elegance, the Scandinavian twin-over-twin low bunk bed is your go-to. It embodies the essence of minimalism, offering a serene and clutter-free environment that helps foster concentration and tranquility in young minds. When styling this beauty, think airy spaces adorned with simple, nature-inspired elements that bring a touch of calm and sophistication to your little one’s sanctuary.

The Max & Lily Story

Once upon a time, in a delightful family home, two young minds, Max (at the wise age of 8) and Lily (a bright 6-year-old), embarked on a marvelous journey with their parents to revolutionize kids' furniture. Through countless brainstorming sessions and animated discussions around the dining table, the energetic siblings sprinkled their youthful ideas generously. This combination of child-like wonder and safety-first features created a furniture line that checked all the boxes for kids and their parents.

Nestled in the traditions of German precision and Danish aesthetic elegance, Max & Lily holds onto a rich legacy of fine craftsmanship. From their beginnings in Germany and Denmark, they've made their home in sunny Charleston, SC, embodying hard work, integrity, and a keen eye for detail. Every piece of furniture crafted here tells a story of sustainability, a pledge to the future. With the use of knot-free, solid pine wood, they've embraced an eco-friendly approach, ensuring their creations are a beacon of hope for generations to come.

The Max & Lily Difference

Max & Lily crafts furniture with solid wood that stands sturdy and looks timeless, promising years of memories and laughter. It's the kind of quality that lets you sit back, relax, and know that you've brought nothing but the best into your home.

Max & Lily puts safety first, ensuring their furniture flaunts low VOC, non-toxic finishes, creating a healthier environment for your family. It's the peace of mind every parent cherishes, knowing their child is safe, even when they are lost in the world of dreams.

But the dedication doesn't stop there. Max & Lily steps is constantly testing their products to not only meet but exceed the safety standards set by the US and EU. They go the extra mile to ensure each piece passes stringent tests, offering an added layer of assurance to families.

Each piece of furniture carries with it a 1-year warranty, a bold statement of its durability and the trust Max & Lily has in their products. It's not just furniture; it's a promise of longevity and quality, a testament to a brand that values your peace of mind above all.

And the Max & Lily shopping experience is just as delightful as the products themselves. No more nail-biting waits or puzzling setups. They've smoothed out the wrinkles in furniture shopping, offering easy-peasy deliveries in compact boxes and straightforward setups. So, when a Max & Lily package arrives at your doorstep, know that joyous comfort is just a few moments away, without any fuss or hassle. It's not just a delivery; it's the beginning of countless happy dreams and joyful mornings.

Order Yours Today

Remember those magical childhood dreams filled with adventures and fairy tales? Max & Lily are making those dreams tangible with every piece of furniture they craft. It's a beautiful journey from a spark of imagination to a masterpiece of craftsmanship, with a sprinkle of childlike wonder and parental love in each design.

Are you ready to step into this dreamland? The world of Max & Lily is wide open for you to explore. Dive in, discover the joy, the safety, and the imagination that waits in every corner. It's more than just furniture; it's an invitation to build dreams, create joy, and witness little smiles that light up rooms. So click here to embark on this magical journey with Max & Lily, and discover a world where furniture that's built to last and designed to enchant.

Science

Researchers dumped tons of coffee waste into a forest. This is what it looks like now.

30 dump truck loads and two years later, the forest looks totally different.

assets.rebelmouse.io

One of the biggest problems with coffee production is that it generates an incredible amount of waste. Once coffee beans are separated from cherries, about 45% of the entire biomass is discarded.

So for every pound of roasted coffee we enjoy, an equivalent amount of coffee pulp is discarded into massive landfills across the globe. That means that approximately 10 million tons of coffee pulp is discarded into the environment every year.


When disposed of improperly, the waste can cause serious damage soil and water sources.

However, a new study published in the British Ecological Society journal Ecological Solutions and Evidence has found that coffee pulp isn't just a nuisance to be discarded. It can have an incredibly positive impact on regrowing deforested areas of the planet.

via British Ecological Society

In 2018, researchers from ETH-Zurich and the University of Hawaii spread 30 dump trucks worth of coffee pulp over a roughly 100' x 130' area of degraded land in Costa Rica. The experiment took place on a former coffee farm that underwent rapid deforestation in the 1950s.

The coffee pulp was spread three-feet thick over the entire area.

Another plot of land near the coffee pulp dump was left alone to act as a control for the experiment.

"The results were dramatic." Dr. Rebecca Cole, lead author of the study, said. "The area treated with a thick layer of coffee pulp turned into a small forest in only two years while the control plot remained dominated by non-native pasture grasses."

In just two years, the area treated with coffee pulp had an 80% canopy cover, compared to just 20% of the control area. So, the coffee-pulp-treated area grew four times more rapidly. Like a jolt of caffeine, it reinvigorated biological activity in the area.

The canopy was also four times taller than that of the control.

Before and after images of the forest

The forest experienced a radical, positive change

via British Ecological Society

The coffee-treated area also eliminated an invasive species of grass that took over the land and prevented forest succession. Its elimination allowed for other native species to take over and recolonize the area.

"This case study suggests that agricultural by-products can be used to speed up forest recovery on degraded tropical lands. In situations where processing these by-products incurs a cost to agricultural industries, using them for restoration to meet global reforestation objectives can represent a 'win-win' scenario," Dr. Cole said.

If the results are repeatable it's a win-win for coffee drinkers and the environment.

Researchers believe that coffee treatments can be a cost-effective way to reforest degraded land. They may also work to reverse the effects of climate change by supporting the growth of forests across the globe.

The 2016 Paris Agreement made reforestation an important part of the fight against climate change. The agreement incentivizes developing countries to reduce deforestation and forest degradation, promote forest conservation and sustainable management, and enhance forest carbon stocks in developing countries.

"We hope our study is a jumping off point for other researchers and industries to take a look at how they might make their production more efficient by creating links to the global restoration movement," Dr. Cole said.


This article originally appeared on 03.29.21

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climate change
Health

Ear rumbling is a special 'superpower' that not everyone has

Can you do this?

via Eltpics / Twitter

Mapping out the structure of the inner ear.

There are no two human beings who are exactly alike. One of the funny quirks of evolution is that some of us can do things with our bodies we think are routine, but are impossible for others.

Some people can wiggle their ears, others can't. Some can wiggle their nose like Samantha from "Bewitched" while others just look really silly when making an attempt.

Not everyone can lick their elbow but most wouldn't attempt to do so in public.

A Twitter user named Massimo dropped some knowledge about a skill that not everyone has and even fewer discuss: ear rumbling.

Those of us who can do it know exactly what it is, while it's a mystery to those who cannot.

People who can ear rumble have the ability to control the tensor tympani, a muscle within the ear. Contracting the muscle creates a rushing, rumbling sound that, if flexed enough, can drown out a significant amount of noise.

This can be useful when someone is saying something that you don't want to hear but don't want to be rude and cover your ears. It can come in real handy if someone is about to spoil your favorite TV show or if you live with someone who can't stop nagging.

Some people cannot voluntarily create the rumbling sound but hear it when they let out a large yawn.

There's a Reddit sub-forum just for ear rumblers with over 60,000 people. Here's how some of them get rumblin'.

"I just squeeze the muscle in my ears I guess," — melvinthefish

"When I flex and hold whatever I'm manipulating to do that, I get my rumble," — ttywzl

"I get a mild rumble just doing the usual flex, but i can make it a bit louder by bringing my top lip up to my nose," — Willmono7

"The best way I can describe it is I 'squint my ears,'" —SteeleIT

The muscle exists to mask-low frequency sounds so we can focus on those at a higher frequency. It also works to mute sounds we create ourselves such as eating potato chips or coughing. It's a way that helps us from becoming annoyed with our own bodies.

Unfortunately, the muscle has a rather slow reaction time so it cannot prevent us from hearing loud sudden noises like a gunshot or a book slamming on the ground.

Massimo's tweet caused quite a stir on the platform.

Although scientists have known about ear rumbling since at least the 1800s, there doesn't appear to have been too much research on the topic. We know that some can rumble and others cannot, but it's unclear how it breaks down percentage-wise or if it's more prevalent in certain groups.

The good news is that the word is starting to get out and people who've been rumbling all their lives suddenly don't feel so alone.


This article originally appeared on 03.05.20

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science
Family

Naming twins is an art. Here are some twin names people say are the best they've ever heard.

With twins, all the regular pressures of having a baby are doubled, including choosing a name.

Photo credit: Canva

Are you in favor of rhyming twin names? Or is it too cutesy?

Having twins means double the fun, and double the pressure. It’s a fairly known rule to name twins in a way that honors their unique bond, but that can lead to overly cutesy pairings that feel more appropriate for nursery rhyme characters than actual people. Plus, it’s equally important for the names to acknowledge each twin’s individuality. Again, these are people—not a matching set of dolls. Finding the twin baby name balance is easier said than done, for sure.

Luckily, there are several ways to do this. Names can be linked by style, sound or meaning, according to the baby name website Nameberry. For example, two names that share a classic style would be Elizabeth and Edward, whereas Ione and Lionel share a similar rhythm. And Frederica and Milo seem to share nothing in common, but both mean “peaceful.”

Over on the /NameNerds subreddit, one person asked folks to share their favorite twin name pairings, and the answers did not disappoint.

One person wrote “Honestly, for me it’s hard to beat the Rugrats combo of Phillip and Lillian (Phil and Lil) 💕”

A few parents who gave their twin’s names that didn’t inherently rhyme until nicknames got involved:

"It's the perfect way! Christmas cards can be signed cutely with matching names, but when they act out you can still use their full name without getting tripped up.😂"

"The parents of a good friend of mine did this: her name is Allison and her sister is Callie. Their names don’t match on the surface, but they were Alli and Callie at home."

“Alice and Celia, because they’re anagrams! Sound super different but have a not-so-obvious implicit connection.”

This incited an avalanche of other anagram ideas: Aidan and Nadia, Lucas and Claus, Liam and Mila, Noel and Leon, Ira and Ria, Amy and May, Ira and Ari, Cole and Cleo…even Alice, Celia, and Lacie for triplets.

Others remembered name pairs that managed to sound lovely together without going into cutesy territory.

twin names, twins, babies, baby namesThese matching bunny ears though. Photo credit: Canva

“I know twin toddler boys named Charlie and Archie and they go so well together,” one person commented.

Another wrote, “Tamia and Aziza. I love how they follow the same sound pattern with the syllable endings (-uh, -ee, -uh) without being obnoxiously matchy matchy.”

Still another said, “Lucy and Logan, fraternal girl/boy twins. I think the names sound so nice together, and definitely have the same 'vibe' and even though they have the same first letter they aren't too matchy-matchy.”

Other honorable mentions included: Colton and Calista, Caitlin and Carson, Amaya and Ameera, Alora and Luella, River and Rosie, and Eleanor and Elias.

One person cast a vote for shared style names, saying, “If I had twins, I would honestly just pick two different names that I like separately. I tend to like classic names, so I’d probably pick Daniel and Benjamin for boys. For girls my two favorites right now are Valerie and Tessa. I think Val and Tess would be cute together!”

Overall though, it seems that most folks were fans of names that focused on shared meaning over shared sound. Even better if there’s a literary or movie reference thrown in there.

twin names, twins, babies, baby namesMany adult twins regret that their names are so closely linked together. Photo credit: Canva

“My mom works in insurance, so I asked her. She’s seen a lot of unique ones, but the only twins she remembers are Gwenivere [sic] and Lancelot... bonus points... little brother was Merlin,” one person recalled.

Another shared, “If I had twin girls, I would name them Ada and Hedy for Ada Lovelace and Hedy Lamarr, both very early computer/tech pioneers. Not that I’m that into tech, I just thought it was a brilliant combination.”

Other great ones: Susan and Sharon (think the original “Parent Trap”), Clementine and Cara (types of oranges), Esme and Etienne (French descent), Luna and Stella (moon and stars), Dawn and Eve, plus various plant pairings like Lily and Fern, Heather and Holly, and Juniper and Laurel.

Perhaps the cleverest name pairing goes to “Aubrey and Zoe,” since…wait for it… “they’re A to Z.”

It’s easy to see how naming twins really is a cool opportunity for parents to get creative and intentional with their baby naming. It might be a challenge, sure, but the potential reward is having the most iconic set of twins ever. Totally worth it!

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Health

8 nontraditional empathy cards that are unlike any you've ever seen. They're perfect!

Because sincerity and real talk are important during times of medical crisis.

via Stock Vector

True compassion.

When someone you know gets seriously ill, it's not always easy to come up with the right words to say or to find the right card to give.

Emily McDowell — a former ad agency creative director and the woman behind the Los Angeles-based greeting card and textile company Emily McDowell Studio — knew all too well what it was like to be on the receiving end of uncomfortable sentiments.

At the age of 24, she was diagnosed with Stage 3 Hodgkin's lymphoma. She went into remission after nine months of chemo and has remained cancer-free since, but she received her fair share of misplaced, but well-meaning, wishes before that.

On her webpage introducing the awesome cards you're about to see, she shared,

"The most difficult part of my illness wasn't losing my hair, or being erroneously called 'sir' by Starbucks baristas, or sickness from chemo. It was the loneliness and isolation I felt when many of my close friends and family members disappeared because they didn't know what to say or said the absolute wrong thing without realizing it."

Her experience inspired Empathy Cards — not quite "get well soon" and not quite "sympathy," they were created so "the recipients of these cards [can] feel seen, understood, and loved."

Scroll down to read these sincere, from-the-heart, and incredibly realistic sentiments.

Emily McDowell Studio

Emily McDowell Studio

Emily McDowell Studio

Emily McDowell Studio

Emily McDowell Studio

Emily McDowell Studio

Emily McDowell Studio

Emily McDowell Studio

Pretty great, right? If you know someone who's in the less-than-ideal position of dealing with a serious illness, you can purchase any of these eight cards to share with them.

Visit Emily McDowell Studio's shop to select the card(s) you need. They're $5.00 each.

(We're not being paid to share these, nor were we asked to do so. We came across the cards and I loved them, so I reached out to Emily McDowell Studio and asked if I could share them with you. Unfortunately, a lot of us know someone who could use a card like one of these.)


This article originally appeared on 05.06.15







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empathy
Health

How 7 things that have nothing to do with rape perfectly illustrate the concept of consent.

Well this is all a very brilliant way to show what it's all about.

mage from Everyday Feminism, used with permission by creator Alli Kirkham.

There are many different scenarios where consent is necessary.



In 2013, Zerlina Maxwell ignited a firestorm of controversy when she strongly recommended we stop telling women how to not get raped.

Here are her words, from the transcript of her appearance on Sean Hannity's show:

"I don't think that we should be telling women anything. I think we should be telling men not to rape women and start the conversation there with prevention."

So essentially — instead of teaching women how to avoid rape, let's raise boys specifically not to rape.

There was a lot of ire raised from that idea. Maxwell was on the receiving end of a deluge of online harassment and scary threats because of her ideas, which is sadly common for outspoken women on the Internet.

People assumed it meant she was labeling all boys as potential rapists or that every man has a rape-monster he carries inside him unless we quell it from the beginning.

But the truth is most of the rapes women experience are perpetrated by people they know and trust. So fully educating boys during their formative years about what constitutes consent and why it's important to practice explicitly asking for consent could potentially eradicate a large swath of acquaintance rape. It's not a condemnation on their character or gender, but an extra set of tools to help young men approach sex without damaging themselves or anyone else.

news, campaigns, young men, cultural norms

Zerlina Maxwell is interviewed on "Hannity."

Image from “Hannity."

But what does teaching boys about consent really look like in action?

Well, there's the viral letter I wrote to my teen titled "Son, It's Okay If You Don't Get Laid Tonight" explaining his responsibility in the matter. I wanted to show by example that Maxwell's words weren't about shaming or blaming boys who'd done nothing wrong yet, but about giving them a road map to navigate their sexual encounters ahead.

There are also rape prevention campaigns on many college campuses, aiming to reach young men right at the heart of where acquaintance rape is so prevalent. Many men are welcoming these efforts.

And then there are creative endeavors to find the right metaphors and combination of words to get people to shake off their acceptance of cultural norms and see rape culture clearly.


This is brilliant:

consent, rape prevention, community, consent culture

A comic about different types of consent.

Image from Everyday Feminism, used with permission by creator Alli Kirkham.

There you have it. Seven comparisons that anyone can use to show how simple and logical the idea of consent really is. Consent culture is on its way because more and more people are sharing these ideas and getting people to think critically. How can we not share an idea whose time has come?

This article originally appeared on 06.27.15

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