Just saw this clever idea on Ohdeedoh. A spin on the old book-cover idea, Courtney of Two Straight Lines, covered her magazine holders in cute wrapping paper. See where she got her materials (hint: some of it is from IKEA) and how she did it here.

Forget those boring genealogy charts. Nowadays, smart do-it-yourselfers are creating modern takes on family trees. Here's a round-up of our favorites...

"I treasure old photographs of my family. Most were kept in a box, and I really wanted to showcase them and was inspired by the inspiration boards that I saw on Design for Mankind, Poppytalk, and other design blogs. I created this display over my bedroom dresser and it was so sweet to see these happy family memories everyday." -- Emilia Jane from San Diego.

"My inspiration was a family tree that my mom had filled out when I was little. I thought art would be better appreciated than something in a book that nobody ever sees." -- Coren from Texas (who sells customizable family trees with up to seven names).

"This family tree is from The Small Object. The instruction sheet says, "Fill it with her biggest fans," so we fill in the blanks with her grandparents and great-grandparents." -- Elly from Boulder, Colorado.

"Inspired by a fellow flickr member, this project was fun and frustrating all at once. I love working with fabric and paper, but wood is a whole other animal. You should have seen me out there routing and drilling. After making the tree with pine, a jigsaw, a router, small dowels, wooden beads, and acrylic paint, I gave it to my parents as a gift." -- Amanda from Lancaster, Texas.

Not up for a big project? British shop Famille Summerbelle will create a hand-cut family tree print with your loved ones' photographs.

If you think keeping a modern home is hard with a kid, pets certainly don't make it any easier. It's hard to hide the ratty cushion they sleep on. This is why we love Hepper pet beds. They're comfy for them (made of molded foam and lined with sherpa fleece or micro-suede), and they're definitely easy on the eyes. The designs hold cats and dogs up to 50 pounds. You'd assume these beauts were Scandinavian-made, but the company is based in Burlington, Vermont!

Wave bed, $85

Pod bed, $155

Nest bed, $95

You probably already know that one of the easiest ways to transform a dresser is by changing the hardware. This fantastic company, F is for Frank, has a completely adorable selection of handmade drawer pulls and doorknobs. We're partial to Bella, Albert, Lucy, and Sherman (above), but they have scores to choose from.

Dresser photograph by Steve Visneau

These self-adhesive tiles from the German design company Pulpo are a stroke of brilliance. Not only do they give you a convenient (temporary) way to store or hang your bathroom odds and ends (maybe putting a towel hook or toothbrush at kid reach), they also brighten up an otherwise blah tile bathroom wall. (Also sold through ex49.)

Here at Cookie, we're huge fans of Apartment 48, the lovely, whimsical home shop in Manhattan. While stopping by last week, we spotted this amazing lamp by California-based Roost. Although it's not cheap ($348 to be exact), the glass bottom can be filled with whatever you want. Pictured here are an assortment of branches and stones, but we can imagine it filled with balloons for a birthday party, family polaroids for a bedroom, inflatable globes for a nursery, inspiration clippings for a home office...the ideas are endless!

(To order, call Apartment 48 at 212-807-1391.)

Laptop lovers rejoice! Bluelounge has come up with a truly chic way to hide all those nasty iPod, mouse, and camera cables while cooling your computer at the same time. It comes in white or black and is the ultimate desktop accessory.

And, while we're on the topic of storage, come check out Ohdeedoh's "Now You See It, Now You Don't" contest winners. Vote for your favorite, and you could win a $900 gift card from DwellStudio.

San-Francisco-based Cookie reader Jordan Ferney is something of a party-planning genius. For her church fete, she made everyone party hats, and for her husband's birthday party, she asked each guest to give a three-minute speech on the topic of their choice. (Topics ranged from "Commonly Held Myths about Boobcakes" to "How to Draw a Human.")

But the award for the Cutest Party Ever goes to the open house Jordan held for her son Moses. She made labels of Moses's face and stuck them to water bottles and signs. "We put out lots of little sandwiches and set up a panini grill so people could grill their own," she says. "It turned out cute." Yes, indeed.

To read more about Jordan's style, visit her blog, and, if you're feeling inspired, browse through our theme-party articles here.

Offi's Spaceframe Sculpture Kit lets your kids build a fort, a playhouse, or a grand sculptural monument right in your living room. No need to feel plastic-guilt with this toy, Spaceframe is made from recycled soda bottles and is safe for children of all ages.  Now all you need is a room large enough for some serious construction.

Looking for a great rocker or glider to fill that nursery? The new Pottery Barn Kids Nursery Seating Designed by You Collection lets you choose from three seating styles and more than 50 fresh, modern fabrics--including seven by the fabulous Hable Construction. (Above, Lullaby Swivel glider and ottoman in Hable's Basil Big Bead Fabric.)

Click here for more chairs we love.

Boys like blue; girls like pink. This we knew. But did you ever really think about how much stuff they accumulate--through birthdays, holidays, grandmothers? At New York gallery Jenkins Johnson, JeongMee Yoon is exhibiting her Pink & Blue Project, featuring photographs of real children with their real toys. (Amazingly, nothing was propped.) Yoon was inspired to take these photographs when she realized how many pink things her daughter had (pictured below). We love the photos but must admit, they're a little scary.

Easter is creeping up on us, and we love this little Martha Stewart Crafts Egg Dress-Up Kit, part of her line at Michaels. Perfect if you want to skip the dyeing route.

Speaking of Michaels, the craft superstore has just introduced The Knack. The program will consist of in-store events and online project ideas geared toward families. And if you're thinking of things to do this weekend, the Knack's inaugural event (sponsored by Crayola) is this Saturday in Michaels stores.

As much fun as clicking through hundreds of websites is, wouldn't it be great if you could find all of the best furniture styles from boatloads of companies with just one click? Shop Style, ever the resource for browsing through clothes, shoes, and accessories, just made life easier for the home-obsessed by launching Shop Style Living.

Enter your search words, and scroll through the options--everything from sofas to measuring cups--super fast. Select the ones you like best, and you can either e-mail it to a friend, save it to your stylebook, have the site e-mail you when the price changes, and/or be redirected to the website of the retailer (Macy's, Room & Board, CB2, etc.) to buy it immediately. After just a day of playing around on it, we're beginning to wonder how we got by without it.

Leave it to the Danes to design something as incredible--and useful--as the Trio Bike. Delivered straight from Copenhagen, this three-in-one machine transforms from a carrier bike to a regular bike to a stroller. Whether you're dropping kids off at school, getting groceries or just taking a ride around town, this bike morphs (without tools) to fit your needs. Oh, Scandinavia, why are you so awesome? (See a video of the bike in action here.)

Your little one will sure feel important as she doodles with this modern desk, which we discovered on MinorDetails. It's not only beautiful, but also practical; it also folds flat for easy storage. Available from Car Mobel, Germany.

Freddy&Ma understands that it's hard to find a throw pillow in the right pattern and size for your needs. This is why you can go on their site and choose from hundreds of prints and three different shapes and sizes and construct your dream pillow. Bonus: the filling is eco-friendly, and the covers are removable and machine washable (gentle cycle).

Having difficulties with limited space in your kids bedroom? FLEXA, a Danish kids furniture brand offers a variety of versatile bed system that convert regular beds into low loft beds, L-shaped bunk beds, parallel bunk beds or even triple bunk beds by adding simple additions.

Take the FLEXA Low Loft Bed for example. It is fantastic for those wanting to gain extra floor space. Add easy storage under your bed or to the side, add a desk to create a great study. Mix and match with colorful textiles to create a cool, modern kids room.

All their furniture is made from Solid Nordic Pine which is grown north of the 60th parallel in Flexa's own forests. All basic wood components are available in 2 finishes: clear and white-wash.

If you are looking for something a little bit more playful, check out the Castle Bed, a low loft bed with a slide which includes the blue/red tower and curtains. Or for little princesses, Flexa offers the Princess Inspiration Bed.

And for more great bunk beds, check out our slideshow.

Yet another contender for the "Why didn't anyone think of this sooner?" award: the Amana Jot refrigerator. The finish on the door panel allows you to write on it with dry erase markers (it comes with two from Crayola), but it is also still magnetic to hang more permanent reminders and works of art. Smart and just $549.

Check out our other ideas for making your kitchen kid-friendly.

FLOR throws its hat (or stone) into kids' games with the Hopscotch rug . These numbered rug tiles will turn any hallway into an instant fun zone, for big and small. Go with the classic layout or arrange them anyway you like. What a great idea!

And, if you simply can't wait to play hopscotch indoors, try this idea from our March issue: colorful electrical tape from your local hardware store.

UBI is by far the most innovative baby changing table that we have come across--stylish and amazingly convenient. We simply love the retro-modern prints. The UBI tables are made of bent wood and upholstered with an hypoallergenic, easy to clean surface. Fasteners on the top hold the diaper in place while you're changing Baby. The deluxe model also has a built-in diaper dispenser, which stores a small stack of diapers and automatically feeds a diaper to the top surface after baby is changed. Click here to see how it works.

The stroller is the ultimate impediment to tidiness, what with the unruly size, the wheels, the need for easy access. What a great idea, then, to hang it up and out of the way. The StrollAway is an over-the-door hanger on steroids. Adjustable to nine positions, it will securely grab most strollers--even double ones! When you don't need it, fold it flush to the door. Genius!

Photography by Andrea Chu

Big Buddy is a playful new way to store toys. Created by a small German studio called Kerpers, Big Buddies are solid, roomy, and likely to be a hit with your kids. The only problem is which one to choose: Polar Bear, Frog, Monkey, Brown Bear, Cat or Pig?

Just in case you aren't yet familiar with Stokke's Xplory, here are three reasons why we think it's fantastic:

1. It's the tallest stroller on the market--which not only saves you the pain of constantly bending over, it also means Baby's view isn't restricted to car bumpers and knees, and you can roll baby right up to the table in restaurants .

2. Now, the moveable parts are a different color, which helps take the guesswork out of folding, opening, and adjusting.

3. The three gorgeous new colors--orange, olive green, and creme--are helping to brighten up our winter.

This writer made three New Year's Resolutions: go for a walk every day, give the kitchen a much-needed makeover and stop ordering delivery from the Burritoville next door. (Embarrassing.) Thankfully, one of those goals will be met with these new Tile Tattoos. Resistant to moisture, the stickers come in four styles and won't leave residue when removed. Ok, now off for that daily walk...

Incredibly brilliant and highly appropriate during this entertaining season, the Xpand table will grow to accommodate extra dinner guests (a good 20 extra inches) simply by being pulled on one side. The secret is the middle section of thin strips of wood latticed together that becomes looser--yet still sturdy--as the table expands. Choose from seven different colors and three different sizes. Buy the table in the U.S. through Maximilian Fine Furniture.

Zwaggle is an online community that helps members swap no longer needed furniture, baby gear, and more. Instead of cash, you earn and spend "zoints."

Here's how it works: I no longer need our changing table. I sign up on the site and list the item. Zwaggle sets the value for me, and determines my table is worth 230 zoints. Now another needy zwaggler can "buy" the table and give me zoints that I can use to get something of equal value or simply save for a more valuable item in the future.

Ready, set, declutter!

Speaking of green, we are loving the new book When Santa Turned Green. In the story, the North Pole starts to melt because of global warming. Santa jumps into action to make his workshop eco-friendly, and asks kids to help him take care of the earth. Besides having a great message, the book has such cute illustrations that it will surely inspire lots of little Santa fans.

The couch: completely indispensable but not exactly changeable at the speed of fashion. This is why Moooi has teamed up with designer Marcel Wanders to create this concept: Start with a two- or three-seater "naked sofa," choose between four types of feet, then dress it with your choice of 15 cleanable cover designs. (We don't even need to tell you what this means for grape-juice spills.)

Holiday cards in the Novogratz household never involve a last-minute family snapshot to the park. Instead, Bob and Courtney Novogratz, owners of New York-based design firm Sixx Design, enthusiastically involve the kids in creating and executing the yearly family masterpiece.

As the family has grown over the past 10 years, the family's card has evolved from a cute portraits to deeper messages about the things they value: family, design, and the world in which we live. The following is a selection of cards from the past decade.

1997--Pictures from a local department store.

1999--A collage of family activities--baseball games, a Baptism ceremony, a campaign ribbon.

2000--Close-ups of the kids reveal their unique expressions and individual personalities.

"When my son got a little sister, it was time to let them sit, play and have a nice child-to-child conversation on there own level," says Maartje Steenkamp. So the Netherlands-based designer took matters into her own hands and created the childchildchair, a combo of two small chairs and a table. Clearly a fan of family dinners, Steenkamp also created the equally sweet Mother/Child dining set (good for dads, too).

We love the new Real Good Chair by Blu Dot. Available in gray, blue, black, or red with a satiny finish, it will folds up along laser-cut lines. So much sexier than old-school folding chairs for those extra holiday-dinner guests.

Tired of your high chair dominating your kitchen space? Check out the sleek modern Nano. Available with a pink, brown, blue, or white micro-leather seat, the chair can fold up to almost nothing for easy stowing. Now why didn't someone think of this sooner?

Check out more of our favorite high chairs here.

A baby hammock, resembling the maternal womb, is a fantastic way to get your newborn to sleep.  Babies between 0 to 18 months are cradled to a peaceful slumber with the help of the Yayita hammock. It comes with integrated safety belts, a removable padded blanket and has been tested for safety and security by the German TUV. 

Babies are a curious bunch. They crawl. They roll. They lick. Indiscriminately. So doesn't it make you pause when you imagine the chemical cleaners that have been sprayed and wiped over the tables and floors?

Enter California-based Robin Kay Levin. A former perfume maker, Robin grew sick of the chemical smell in her apartment, so she created incredible Eco-Me kits, which help you make 100% natural, non-toxic cleaning products. She provides simple recipes for a disinfectant, scrub and wood polish. Plus, each kit comes with essential oils, two spray bottles, a mixing jar, a scrub brush and a microfiber cloth.

Colorado-based Twist also offers biodegradable sponges and natural loofahs that are produced and packaged with great respect for the environment. And not only are the products eco-friendly, they're also pretty stylish, too.

We love these green concepts and can't wait for our homes to smell clean and natural.

Email your home photos and design questions here.