minor details

knock it off

Little Nest is an Australian based furniture maker that has taken adult sized modern classics and turned them child size. Below are just a few examples of their offerings. (via)

   

  

 

little girl giant

On the morning of Sunday 7th May the little girl giant woke up at Horseguards Parade in London, took a shower from the time-traveling elephant and wandered off to play in the park........

whatever makes you comfortable

Frank Willems created the "Goldilocks Collection" series inspired by the tale of Goldilocks and the three bears.  

The story is about making choices and ones personal preference.

The chairs don’t have a fixed seat, so you have to create the seat you like by tying a pile of cushions to it. The number, the colour or the softness of the cushions is up to you. The table looks massive, but can be disassembled. (photos : masha matijevic)

where the wild things are

I was so excited about the first pics, now here is the trailer for Where the Wild Things Are. Due out October 16th. (thanks Greg for the reminder)

beyond silver

Designed by Huet Ségolène, this Draw Me My Silver Objects tableware set was his entry into Designboom's contest called Beyond Silver.

Traditionally, silver objects represent a family heritage. We are handed down these noble objects from generations past for a particular event. I chose to redesign the gifts offered in the event of a birth. The pattern is clumsy just like a child's. Certain parts are covered with a matte elastomer, such as silicone, to soften the material and to ease contact between the child and the object.

 

victor and susie

Victor had broken his shell. So, armed with love and a steady supply of lettuce, Susie decided to nurse him back to health. —A story about caring, mending and letting-go drawn entirely with letters and punctuation marks. 

Designed and published by Brighten the Corners (Written & illustrated by Billy Kiosoglou, Typography by Frank Philippin)  

configure how you will

Oh man, I am so into the new Binjte crates from IKEA. I could see these making a great place to store children toys and books while making their room super fun. If only I lived in France......

Les rangements IKEA PS 2009 BINTJE
by Hopscotch_NM

in bloom

Periwinkle Bloom has a very soft and sweet collection for the mini.

   

   

lets sit outside

How fun and colorful is this Cocoon Tropicalia hanging chair by Patricia Urquiola for Moroso? (via)

store it

I'm looking for a shelving system for a client's nursery. I really like this number from Atlas Industries.

mind your manners part deux

Back in Feb of 2008, I was excited to share with you the Table Manner Kit for kids. Today, I found out that Fun Fam is manufacturing it and is now available for purchase. (in Japan) Fun Fam is a new style Japanese tableware brand for kids that mixes Japanese aesthetics with Western lifestyle trends. Designed with bamboo, it takes a unique approach to the concept of ‘fun in the family’. (via) 

 

for the budding gepetto

Studio Truhlar Marionety has a sweet D.I.Y. Marionette kit. I spotted this one at Acorn in Brooklyn.

 

icons

The Chop Shop have taken some kid friendly icons and placed them on toddler and kid sized shirts.  They also have been working with Roberto de Vicq de Cumptich, the author of Bembo's Zoo. (which happens to be one of my daughter's favorites!) Their Peacock print will be available in mid-April.

  

 

i missed the boat

I guess I missed the memo about the Unessa Bedding from Marimekko being discontinued in the US. It's still however, available in a Euro Twin.... it's a crazy but fun print no?

meeting with the teach

The extremely helpful folks over at The K5 have a video on how to prepare for your parent teacher conferences. The timing could not be better as I'm meeting with my daughter's teacher tomorrow for ours! Read more about The K5 here.

The Most Important Ten Minutes of the Year: Tips on How to Prepare for a Parent/Teacher Conference from The K5 on Vimeo.

make learning beautiful

In the past few days, I have come across some pretty amazing schools for children. It's so wonderful seeing educators and designers working together to create amazing environments that make children excited to learn. 

The first one is the Erika-Mann Elementary School II in Berlin. Designed by the amazing Baupiloten, who are a group of students at the architectural faculty of the TU Berlin who carry out building projects under the guidance and supervision of architect Susanne Hofmann. Notice the II behind the name of the school? Baupiloten designed the first one in Wedding , Germany. Read my post on it here.

They sought to lighten and cheer up the heavy and authoritarian air of their old school building from 1915. They developed a playful concept based on a fantastical world of the Silver Dragon. The farther into the building one moves, the stronger one feels the presence of the Silver Dragon whose spirit changes, moves, glows and shimmers. The different spaces are called Snuffle Garden, Snuffling Room, Chill Room and Dragon’s Breath, each starting with a clean white background and offering freedom of expression in the form of flexible furnishings. (via)

     

   

The second and third schools I found while browsing the latest issue of MILK. The Benetton Group, in partnership with the town of Ponzano in Italy, created the Ponzano Children nursery school. For 9 months - 6 year olds. 

In planning an educational facility aimed at excellence, and conscious of the ethic and social role of its corporate culture, Benetton Group placed great importance on social interaction, research and the wellbeing of the community and therefore appointed Reggio Children as the pedagogic consultant for the new school. The centre was designed by Alberto Campo Baeza, an internationally renowned Spanish architect, in co-operation with architect Massimo Benetton. Commenting on his work, Campo Baeza says, “Our aim was to create a nursery school that not only functions impeccably, but is also able to offer a series of diverse spaces; a living building where children can dream and be happy”.

 

I am very happy to see my favorite children's flexible environment maker, Feelgood Designs, made their way into the classrooms.  

Lastly is the Green School, which is located at the Kul-Kul Campus in Bali, Indonesia. 

Green School’s campus spans nearly ten hectares on either side of the Ayung River. One of our iconic structures is a stunning bamboo bridge that spans the river and is emblematic of what we aim to achieve at Green School: connecting learning with creativity; environmental responsibility with scientific knowledge; respect for self with respect for the many cultures represented in and around the School. Our students learn in elegant, curved structures constructed from 98% sustainable materials, and Green School counts among its power sources the extraction of biogas from human and animal waste, as well as a hydroelectric vortex generator that is under development which will be the largest of its kind in the world. Our students are not just learning about Green, they are living it.

I am blown away by the design, impact and beauty of these schools. 

a stunning collaboration

Jess Brown has teamed up with Wovenplay to create 3 limited edition dolls adorned in their signature gear. The small scaled designs are the butterfly, ballerina and circus. Get yours here.

ahhhh to be a little girl in these times

How is it possible that children's fashion is becoming more appealing to me than adult fashion these days? It seems that I've been seeing a ton of garments for children that I'd like for myself..... like this little number from Le Vestiare de Jeann.

 

illuminate for a good cause

The Acme World Zoo is Brooklyn based design team that designed the Kutelight. I was happy to meet them both at the Bubble Trade show this year. The lights are powder coated metal that is easy on energy and the eyes. Not only are the animal cut outs playful in design but 5% of all sales go to the Brooklyn based animal shelter BARC.

 

hack

I love the Uten Silo Wall Organizer but don't love the price tag. On a recent trip to IKEA, I stumbled upon this white magnetic board and these black magnetic boxes and hooks. Add a single coat of high-gloss white spray paint and voilà, an instant art corner organizer for the mini.

see you in few

Gotta take care of some clients. See you next week.

turn me on

John Caswell is looking for a manufacturer for his playful switch plate called, well, Mr Switch!

beautiful walls

Ami Suma makes walls talk. I especially like the mural work she did for Natsume.

 

 

tattoos, graffiti and a 10 year old .... oh my

That's right.....her name is Solveig and she is a bad ass living somewhere in England. Sure, the idea of vandalism is not something that a parent usually encourages a child to do. I could certainly place tattooing in the group as well. But at what point do you allow art, as a form of expression, to take over the creative juices obviously flowing through your child's veins? I'm intrigued, conflicted and strangely fascinated with Solveig. She is 10 years old and is already making her mark on the world....and peoples skin. I don't even have a category for this one. (via notcot)

elegant tomboy chic

Camp is a new line of clothing for girls to go and run in the forest or climb trees in style. With an old traditional approach in both color and technique , this is a sturdy and well-considered first collection. The entire line is made of certified organic cotton, hemp and hempcel. 

   

 

 

eco-friendly home-ware

While walking the Bubble Trade Show today, I was very pleased with the new faces in the crowd. One was Smiling Planet. Freddy Deane wrote and illustrated a book called Smiling Planet and formed a company by the same name . The book that has a very simple and clear message. A message to young and old that we must respect our earth. But he did not stop there. He took that message and illustrations and took them off the page. He then applied them to plates, placemats, posters and shirts all made of recycled, organic, and environmentally safe materials and processes. I really love this product. Not to mention being a huge fan of the plates because they resemble the simple and clean lines of the stacking Heller plates.

   

 

colorful

Magis just debuted the Dodo toy and Paradise Coat Tree, both designed by Oiva Toikka, at the Milan Design Week 09. These two are the latest addition to the Me Too Collection for Magis.

a house in five phases

Assembly, personalization, decoration, occupation and disassembly.

'villa julia' comes with a plan detailing the easy instructions for assembly;

children set it up themselves (assisted by an adult) and make it their own by

coloring the drawings found on the sides

Designed for the MeToo Collection for Magis by Javier Mariscal and debuted at Milan's Design Week 09.

i need light to read

I feel a bit in the dark, I had no idea the Bruno Munari designed lights as well. Designed in 1964, the Falkland lamp series is a true testament to the sheer beauty and genius of Munari. Lamps are available in 4 models w/an aluminum structure and fireproof elastic fabric shade.

Some of my favorite Bruno Munari books are Zoo and ABC.

 

playtime

Ikea has some sweet hanging nets for your backyard or that neglected corner in your mini's bedroom. 

an editor of playful, poetic and funny objects

A very suitable description for this wonderfully curated site geared towards objects and art for children and the designers who love them. Here are just a few of my favorites from Mon Petit Art:

 

Familia Tipo by Gonzalo Arbutti and Marcelo Federico.  A small scale family made of beech wood and steel. The perfect alliance of formal purity and universality.

Printed Aprons in Deer and Rabbit

 

Triangulo 3-D puzzle kits by Gonzalo Arbutti and Marcelo Federico, stained MDF

Mini Cubes by Gonzalo Arbutti and Marcelo Federico. A construction game made of stained beech wood. 

Habitadule by Marie Compagnon. A giant construction set that can be a hut, a screen, a headboard, a cube, a theatre...... 

 

curvy lines and sturdy legs

Hiccup creates magical environments. Absorbing subtle clues, maintaining the emotion and creating a comfortable, fun place for your child to spend playtime and dreamtime are the criteria from which we begin each new collection. Although Christopher Ross designed the Tall Grass crib a while ago, it's worth a mention even still. I am also a fan of the Bam Bam table and chair set as well as the dresser (that can turn into a changing table!)

choose build play

qb is an environmentally friendly outdoor play hut for your mini. Not only can you customize the color of your qb but you can also download your own digital print to go on it as well. An added bonus is that a portion of your purchase go directly to Right To Play. They are an international humanitarian organization that uses sport and play programs to improve health, develop life skills, and foster peace for children and communities in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the world.