How to Strike a Compromise Between Expensive, Designer Pieces and Child Friendliness

Heh. As you may imagine, this problem is largely confined to the older parent set. Can't say I've had to worry much about maintaining the design integrity of a "glass-top Noguchi coffee table" or having to put an "18th-century mahogany dining table" in storage. (Via Instapundit.)

The article is mostly humorous, but one couple in particular might want to lighten up:

...she decided not to install wire railings on the open side of the floating walnut staircase Mr. Stratton designed to connect the first- and second-floor living spaces.

“We couldn’t bear it,” she said. “It was too ugly. So basically what we did was we trained the kids to hold onto the handrail, and it’s worked. No one’s ever fallen off.”

Glad no one has fallen... yet.