When you’re expecting, you swear your house won’t become overrun with plastic toys and gadgets. You tell yourself you will only buy those gorgeous brightly colored and natural wooden toys and things à la Alexis Stewart. But before you know it, you’re tripping over that heinous plastic stool you purchased that one (was it only one?!) blurry day at Target. Replace with one from below and recycle that other thing stat. Clockwise from top left: 1. custom wood modern stool (personalization available) with handles from littlesaplingtoys. $64. 2. Mello step stool in red from DWR. (Also available in black.) $70. 3. Blue hitch stool from cb2. $169. 4. Modern Step Stool from EllaMenoPeaDesign. $80. 5. Step stool from Loll in Leaf. $138. 6. Handy stool from Loll in Sunset $189.

(PS I dedicate this post to one of my most favorite clients, in just this pickle. ; )