KEENE, N.H. — Early Learning furniture brand Whitney Brothers has announced its Nature View Play Beach House received a 2025 Product Innovation Award from Interiors + Sources magazine, a nod to the product’s biophilia-inspired design that promotes well-being and inclusivity for young learners. 

Now in its 2nd year, the Interiors + Sources Product Innovation Award recognizes outstanding products from manufacturers and suppliers that demonstrably enhance the interior built environment. Submissions from North America and Europe in the 2025 program were juried by nine interiors professionals representing a mix of boutique to large global firms with deep experience across commercial and institutional interior vertical markets.  

“This year’s Product Innovation Awards showcase commercial interiors products that push material, manufacturing, and sustainability standards forward,” said Carrie Meadows, editor in chief of Interiors + Sources. “The 2025 submissions revealed some of the strongest innovation we’ve seen yet using breakthrough materials, sustainability, performance-driven design, safety, aesthetic storytelling and user well-being.” 

Brilliant scenes depicted on clear acrylic wall panels in the Nature View Play Beach House recreate the experience of a sunny day at an ocean beach that invites exploration. Children can find seagulls, hermit crabs, sea turtles, manta rays, dolphins, coconuts, sailboats and an iconic lighthouse. The walls are constructed in solid maple and clear, shatter-resistant acrylic panels that dampen noise yet provide important visibility for supervision of children inside, an important safety consideration. Wide door openings provide ADA accessibility and the open pergola-style roof ensures proper ventilation.  

The beach house also satisfies every state requirement for a designated quiet space in Early Learning environments and coordinates with the company’s biophilia inspired Nature View Collection, an industry first for Early Learning furniture. 

Scientific studies support that biophilic design helps to reduce stress, enhance creativity, focus clarity of thought and improve well-being, benefits that can foster a child's deep connection to their learning environment and set a positive trajectory for future learning outcomes. The 83-piece Nature View Collection has earned multiple design awards from Interior Design magazine, spaces4learning magazine, GOOD DESIGN, Design Journal / ADEX and Architizer A+. 

“We applaud the jury for confirming the importance of biophilic design to our youngest learners,” said Scott Kroeger, Whitney Brothers president. “The Nature View Play Beach House is another great example of how our fresh approach to design intentionally enriches the learning environment for our youngest learners.”