At Roundhouse Design Collaborative it's function first, design foremost. We are designers who create inventive products that are unsurpassed in quality and style, driven by our belief that parenting is an extension of our lifestyle, not a change in our personal style. So we create stylish, modern gear that is better designed, environmentally responsible and made in the U.S.A. using fair trade manufacturing methods.

Roundhouse was born when founder Caryn Paradis had her first child and was given a bulky, traditional ring sling to use to carry her child. While she loved keeping her baby close and appreciated the ease of use of the sling, Caryn preferred gear that was less bulky and more secure. After scouring the internet, boutiques and chain stores, she realized that there wasn't a single product in the market place that met her needs. So she and her best friend, Meala Duckworth (who happened to be a textile designer) developed a sleeker, sassier, more versatile version of the traditional sling, and the Roundhouse baby carrier was born.

So what's up with the name? Caryn had her start in design when her parents bought a plot of land in the woods of northern Pennsylvania and built a geodesic dome (in other words, a round house). At an early age, Caryn came to understand that great, thoughtful design doesn't need to follow convention. Based on this creative foundation, Roundhouse seemed like the perfect name.

We understand that in your busy lives, you rely on products that are simple to use, impeccably constructed for safety and durability, and easy to care for. If you are anything like the designers, families and friends of Roundhouse, then you would rather spend less time figuring them out, and more time playing with your kids.

Our goal is to create products to make the busy lives of families easier, more meaningful and more fun.

MEET OUR TEAM

CARYN PARADIS, FOUNDER

Caryn's creative background was founded in architecture and design, with undergraduate degrees in fine art and design and a graduate degree in management. During her 20 years in the industry, Caryn has done everything from producing fashion shows to designing corporate headquarters for Fortune 500 companies. Two years ago, Caryn and her family decided to calm things down, leaving behind their hectic lives in Philadelphia to begin a quieter life in rural Connecticut. At any given moment, Caryn can be found hanging with her husband, two kids and a cat, working in the yard or walking in circles (hey, the legs move, the brain thinks). She finds design inspiration in everyday life and translates them into great, simple, useable products.

JEN PITMAN

Jen joined Roundhouse as co-developer of the Oh Plah! Bracelet after a dozen years as an educator specializing in Early Childhood Development. She's had formal training in fine arts and design and is on track to get a degree in fine arts by 2014, one class at a time. And as a mother of two, she's inspired to create helpful products that offer fun and unique solutions to the everyday challenges of caring for little ones.