New Kid on the Block
Photograph by Laura Barisonzi
They say necessity is the mother of invention. And for Karina Meleger, that couldn’t have been more true.
When the Brookline resident was pregnant with her daughter, Nina, now three and a half, she couldn’t find modern, eco-friendly nursery furnishings to suit her discerning tastes. So she changed the name of her online décor shop from Bella Karina to Baby Koo and shifted the business’s focus to products aimed solely at infants and kids.
This June, Meleger added a brick-and-mortar outpost in Newton. With tangerine and chocolate walls, it’s a cheery space, a spot where parents-to-be seeking “sleek designs and simple lines” can touch and try items before buying.
A standout offering is Spot on Square’s walnut “Roh” crib, which has clear, recyclable acrylic sides. “It’s really for someone on the cutting edge,” says Meleger. “It becomes a centerpiece; it’s not just furniture.”
At up to $2,200, depending on the options you choose, the crib is an investment, to be sure, but it’s also convertible; it can be reassembled as a toddler bed. And a slick “Sleepytime” rocker from Nurseryworks can do double duty, too: It’d look perfectly at home in a Philippe Starck–decorated living room after Junior outgrows his nighttime feedings.
Meleger also stocks wooden toys, repurposed-leather KaBoogie booties, and strollers — plus a little something for Mom: cushy Barefoot Dreams robes.
“My favorite gift from my shower was that robe — it was a nice surprise,” she says.
What’s In Store:
Photograph by Laura Barisonzi
3 Sprouts organic cotton, felt, and polyester storage caddy, $24.
Photograph by Laura Barisonzi
Bamboo utensil set, $9.50, and Boon “Grass” plastic drying rack, $18.
Photograph by Laura Barisonzi
RoSK “WooBee” polyester and nylon stroller blanket, $69.
Photograph by Laura Barisonzi
KaBoogie leather booties, $38 per pair.
188 Needham St., Newton, 617-467-5860, baby-koo.com.