One of my favorite online shops is Chigo. I adore pretty much everything on the site. On my latest visit, I fell smitten with their Kids Tableware Series and THIS set of painted plates. Another is ONE KILN ceramic lunch plate. Lastly is the Playthings Kitchen Set.
It's nice to see Kiersten, of Mod Mom Furniture, branching out into the vintage/ Anthropologie direction with her latest toy box, Riley Paige. Nice work momma!
Københavns Møbelsnedkeri took a small space and built a very smart loft bed and storage system for a mini. Bravo! You can check out more pics HERE.
BigShot is a camera that kids assemble from scratch, in several stages. Once the camera is put together, kids can experiment with framing, lighting and motion with a clear understanding of how the camera works. I'm totally not a PTA kind of mom but I want to get a photography program like this in my daughters school!
I secretly want to ask that Santa bring me the Fallingwater and Guggenheim Lego sets. I've been really good!
Oh yeah.... since we are on topic of my holiday wish list ...... will you consider the Barky Turntable as well!
I'm researching bed canopies for a child's bed and I came across these interesting sources of inspiration from one of my favorite sites, Trouvais.
I really like all the elements of the 165 David Bunk.
Ioline Changing Trunk from Kalon Studios is sweet! It's basically a changing table on the floor that turns into seating for your tot as well. It's made from 100% natural, non-toxic and sustainable materials.
The Belkiz Feedaway high chair is an interesting one. It's an easy to assemble cardboard highchair for when you are away from home ..... and it's 100% recyclable.
The minimal and colorful Musical Tree is both festive and fun.
Onion Pinch was a cork installation in the Cais do Sodré subway station in Lisbon, Portugal. The idea was to place an urban toy in which children could stop, engage and play.
The next piece is the Napping Pods. Not much info on these as it looks this idea is but a pup.
I like the idea of having a flashlight lamp hanging over a reading nook for a kid. You could even hang one inside an indoor tee-pee or play tent.
Océchou has a mission, and that mission is to create ethical and poetic objects for children. I am a fan of the Alphabet Poster and the Animal Cards.
Is it too early to start a holiday wish list? Cause I really think this Fuji Instax Instant Camera is simply swell.
Habitat was a beautiful kids' 4 poster bed called Mini Hana I would suggest getting the Wendy Curtain to convert this bed into magic!
Carton Chic has a few new products that are pretty great. One is My Bio Little Market. It's made of compact cardboard and is 100% recycled. The next are disposable table mats with PEFC labelled paper. Each set comes with 18 mats. One set has Osez le dire + Bon Appetit + Voulez vous. The other set has Merci + You're Welcome + Say Hello.
Andrea, the air purifier that uses indoor plants, designed by Mathieu Lehanneur & David Edwards will soon be on sale. Since its outline design two years ago Andrea has gone thru stringent tests to ensure perfect efficiency, enabling the system to step into the real world. It's the first award-winning designed air filter capable of absorbing toxic gases, such as formaldehyde, from home and office environments through the natural absorptive and metabolic properties of living plants. Ahhhhhh, I like you very much Andrea. (via)
If you are in NYC, then go grab a copy of TimeOutNY and check out the Designer Challenge on page 28 (Issue #735). I, along with some very talented designers, was asked to take an ordinary household object and turn it into some great. I had the trash can challenge. I took 7 Ikea trash cans and turned them into a wall-mounted shoe rack. However, this same approach can be turned into a toy cubby as well! I call this The Oscar Rack (for my friend in the trash can down on Sesame Street) Photography by Diana Sonis.
You can check out the challenge HERE.
Community Playthings has a very sweet and simple storage solution called The Browser Box .... and I like it!
Andreas Golinksi was one of many designers that took part in Unduetrestella, an installation art show geared towards the belief that contemporary art introduced to children can be seen a game, light, sound, noise, music, designs on a wall ... if we just open their eyes to it.
Here is an example of Andreas' idea for design on walls, in his piece called House of My Dreams. (via)
This Moose Head Light makes me giggle.
Pininfarina's Giulia Big - Giulia Small Children's Rocking Horse is a just beautiful !
The object derives from a single piece of cedarwood sculpted so as to obtain graceful forms, enriched by a leather-covered handle. A little rocking horse made completely of solid wood, with neither finishes nor glues, often so dangerous for our health. Only natural wood and the simplicity of an object that has brought pleasure to countless generations of children. An original design thought up by the Pininfarina Research Centre and applied to an object of play in all its simplicity.
A friend of mine pointed me to DWR's latest kid offerings. I was impressed. It's refreshing to see them coming back around on the kids front. Here are a few of pieces worth checking out :
Plus and Minus : Designed as a children’s game in 1970, Bruno Munari’s Plus or Minus is an engrossing exercise for any age. The set consist of 72 cards, each with a different image. Forty-eight cards have transparent backgrounds, allowing them to be layered over each other to create evolving and compelling scenes. Trees, clouds, bicycles, animals and more are represented. Deal the cards out and let each player add a layer, creating increasing complex stories. Suitable for ages three and up.
Basic Shapes Growth Chart : Australian designers Paul Fuog and Dan Honey used just circles, squares and triangles to render animal friends on their bright and bold Growth Chart (2008). Fun for kids and visually compelling for parents, the educational Basic Shapes Growth Chart includes memorable facts about animals like Ricco the Rhinoceros and Kendra the Koala while tracking a child’s height as they grow up.
Walking Elephant : From Hindu deities to Charles and Ray Eames, elephants have been a source of endless fascination. Let your child ride their very own – a rocking motion, side to side, moves this elephant forward. They’ll explore their own jungle, while learning motor skills and coordination. The eco-friendly Walking Elephant (2009) is crafted from rubber wood, which comes from trees that no longer produce latex and would otherwise be discarded. Suitable for ages three and up.
I Keep Changing : Originally published in 1971, I Keep Changing is a tribute to relativity from a child’s perspective. Written in the first person, a child compares himself to the world, figuring out whether he’s slow or fast, big or small, hairy or smooth. Written by renowned poet and writer Alastair Reid, its accompanying images were created by designer and illustrator Bob Gill. This version, published by Corraini Edizioni, is printed in both English and Italian.
The lovely Nicole Feliciano, of Momtrends, just recently launched Momtrendsnyc. It's got everything for the urban NYC parent!
She asked me some very in-depth questions not too long ago and just posted our interview! Check it out HERE.
Back in 2007, I stumbled upon IREMONYA. I was blown away by the children's line of furniture. When I decided to check back in to see what was new, I was disappointed to see that they no longer make these dope little numbers:
Never fear, they are making some pretty cute Storage Furniture in the mean time. (but it's just not the same .....)
Miller Goodman has struck again....introducing PlayShapes!
PlayShapes is a modular set of 74 geometric wooden shapes which can be endlessly arranged or stacked to produce hundreds of 3D creations. The smooth shapes, with flashes of colour are pleasingly crafted in rubberwood which can also be used as drawing templates. The intrinsic simplicity of the product and clarity of design, freely allows children and adults alike to fully engage in the wonderment and joy of the creative process.
There is something very simple and clean about this Kid's Cambus Bag from Chigo. I only wish it would stay simple and clean after a few full school days! Could you Scotch Guard something like this?
Another find from 100% Design London was John Green's Embrace shelf/table. It's pieces like this that make total sense. Having furniture that is adaptable is key. This could start off as a great table and bench for junior then a shelf/bench for the big kids down the road. (via)
Ben Wilson Design just created the fantastic SEEBIKESAW for Brooks England. It is currently on display at 100% Design in London until Sept 27th.
Earth-friendly dollhouse is a natural fit for the eco-conscious family. House features a play wind turbine, solar cell panel, a barrel for collecting rain and recycle bins. Shade canopy can be pulled down to prevent or allow wind and sunlight (or little brothers) from coming through.
Finally, a forward thinking and environmentally conscious dollhouse! More info HERE.
I had the great pleasure of enjoying dinner last night with my dear friend Marie of Little Fashion Gallery. We had a lot to catch up on! She is such an amazing force and taste maker for the fashion and design forward tot. I am in love with her collaboration with Agnes & Agnes. They created this amazing Toy Box.
Say hello to the Albie Puppy Light made of recycled and salvaged materials. Kind of playful, no?
This whimsical light created by designers JamesPlumb is only available in a limited edition of 25, and will be showing along with many of their other products at Tent London.
I love when modern and clean packaging meets a really great product. The Clementine Art Supplies are just that. All of the products offered are made of non-toxic, recycled packaging and all natural. Sign me up ... I'm a fan.
Hop Pop just launched it's new line of products and I am really intrigued. I like the baby bath, training toilet and 4 wheel trike the most.
Do you remember the sneak peak from a few months ago? Well, I am very excited to show you the complete pics of that play space, or more over, the indoor modern treehouse! I had a lot of fun working on this space.
Spot on Square has come out with two new collections Roh and Eicho. The Roh Collection is my favorite by far. I really like the use of 100% recyclable clear acrylic and walnut. It's going straight to the higher price bracket cribs out there but it's really a fresh and modern approach that's been lacking as of late. Available November 2009.
Last year, I rode the canals of Amsterdam with my daughter and we both fell in love with row houses along the water. Perhaps that's why I'm drawn to the Canal House Box set. Made of biodegradable and recycled carton, it's a perfect solution to a rainy day activity followed by organizing that pile of toys in desperate need of storage.
Philippe Malouin designed this child's chair turned single bed called Tent Sofa. It's a great solution for sleepovers and playtime.
I wanted to give you just a peak into the bedroom that I'm working on for one of the cutest little boys in Brooklyn. My clients wanted to give him a big boy room that he could enjoy for years to come and needed to have a modern yet playful vibe. He's into robots, cars and blue..... just the typical things that every boy loves. I can't wait to show you the other side of the room. I hope you like it. More to come......
