minor details

mom trends nyc

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.

but i want more cookie

Yesterday the news ran like wild fire through my circle of friends and colleges. The news that Cookie Magazine was shutting their doors came as a complete shock. My thoughts and best wishes for everyone involved. You will be truly missed. Thanks for all your inspiring issues and outlooks. I am honored to have been a part of your family! 

come on down

If you're in the NYC area on Saturday, then stop by Madison Rose Maternity where I will be offering free design consultations for your next nursery, kids room or playspace. I will also have a few pieces of vintage and modern pieces up for purchase such as an original Ooba Nest Bassinet, the ChildChild Chair by Maartje Steenkamp, several vintage Casalino Chairs from the 70's, vintage Bertoia Child chairs and much more.

If you are interested in a consultation, then email madisonrosematernity@gmail.com to see what time slots are still available.

Sat , Sept 12th

12pm - 4pm

313 Court Street

Brooklyn, NY 11231

anthropodino

I think the best way to describe Ernesto Neto's interest was found in the program for his latest installation at the Park Avenue Armory in New York City - "architecture as a kind of second skin with which we surround ourselves." 

My daughter had a school holiday yesterday so we met up with lovely Lynn of Appaman and her cute little mini then headed uptown. I was blown away with the size and structure. Although it seemed more like an indoor playspace than an art exhibit, I was impressed with his use of color, texture, materials and the inviting hands-on appeal. It's up through June 15th and I would highly recommend this one! Click HERE for more information on this current show, Anthropodino. (first two photos are by James Ewing) 

 

in the press

That's right kids, our room was featured in the current issue (June) of Cookie Magazine. Such a pleasant way to end the week!

ICFF 09 : ps......ikea?

One surprise at ICFF this year was the booth for IKEA's PS line. The BRUSE coffee table could double as a great toddler table. I mean c'mon, check out those mini saw horse legs. The KARLJOHAN stool is just the right height for the mini as well. Two other favorite were the low and soft SELMA chair and the SVARVA lamps. Everything will be up for purchase in the US starting August 1st.

ICFF 09 : pieced together

Sebastien Wierinck's Panels 02 & 03 chair and desk were selected to be a part of the Design in Brussels for this years ICFF. I really like the playful design behind these pieces.  

ICFF 09 : hold steady

I'm loving the totally impractical Stool #2 by Bob Turek. I think if you paired this next to Maartje Steenkamp's Child Highchair, you would have a match made in heaven....or at least a solution to feeding your baby.

ICFF 09 : a seamless study

Talitha James was showcased this year in the ICFF Studio. A Bronx based designer who made this beautiful desk/chair called Sola.  

ICFF 09 : modern design for healthy lifestyle

That is the motto behind Canadian based furniture designer TULIP. With the use of formaldehyde-free glue, MDF, paint and varnish as well as all bamboo components , this eco-friendly line is actually very nice to look at!! These same people will be bringing Leander to the US sometime in 2009 as well.

  

spring cleaning

***Thanks to everyone who turned out for the sale this weekend. It was nice to meet some of my readers! For everyone else who was unable to make it, I will be listing everything that was not sold thoughout the week over at my Etsy shop. Click HERE to head over.

Here are some shots of the sale today so you can see some of the goodies still left for purchase!

come on down!

HOPE TO SEE YOU THIS WEEKEND! I am gearing up for the sale tomorrow. Here is a shot of my dining room table to give you a peek. So many of you have asked for photos and pricing and due to our major delay in returning from our vacation, I have yet to get back to everyone. But, stop buy tomorrow or sunday for a chat or to take home some of the highlights:

child child chair (1)

casalino chairs (8)

cosco chairs (4)

bertoia chairs (4) 

vintage scooters (2)

vintage desks (2)

vintage prams (2)

vintage doll highchair

and tons more.......... did i mention old cameras as well?

That's right ... I'm doing a little spring cleaning. I've decided to put my private vintage and modern children's furniture and gear collection up for purchase. This two day event will take place at my studio on Sat, April 25th and Sun, April 26th from 12-5. The studio is located in Dumbo , Brooklyn at 10 Jay St. Studio 612A. It's just off the York Street station on the F line. There will be tons more up for purchase so stop by, you'll never know what you might find! Just double click on the image below for more details.

Cheers -Jenn.

spring break

That's right kids, it's spring break. I'm packing up the family and taking a road trip! See you April 20th! in a few days...had a travel hiccup!!

 

(top image by nick and chloe)

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)

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.

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.

lmnop 6

The latest issue of LMNOP has come out and again, I continue to be impressed with Jenny Lacey's curation and eye for design. In this issue, there is section of well-considered toys, coloring books, meal time goods, reading books, chalky tees, Hanne Larsen's amazing NYC loft with her four children, homegrown threads and a show and tell section by Janet and Stu from Three Potato Four. 

If you find your way over to page 20, you'll find my contribution. I wanted to challenge myself and take a highly designed and playfully sophisticated child's room and cheat my way to achieving this designer look for a lot less. I hope you enjoy it.

Also check out LMNOP blog.... for when you just can't wait for the next issue to come out! They dish a hearty dose of great design for children and babies.

You can download the current issue here. 

   

 

kids.modern 2009 second time around

This year's show was certainly different from last year. I was sad to see some vendors and artist not present but was very pleased with the new round of vendors and artists coming to play. Thankfully, there were some familiar faces that I was certainly happy to catch up with this year.

The lovely husband and wife designers behind Famille Summerbelle, Julie and Simon, are such a wonderful duo. I could go on and on about how much I love their energy but I'll let the work speak for itself. They had some new pieces to share. It just gets better and better with these two! Here was last year's post from the show.

 

Nine to Nine had new chairs for the mouse table and this three linked log seat. Check out their debut from last year here and here

 

PUNCH N CUDDLE have got a new website and should be available for purchase soon! I'm including the video again from last year because it's fantastic. 

Mini Moderns have got some great new colors for their already great wallpaper! (sorry to have missed you Keith!)

      

Okido is such a fun magazine for kids. Check out my past post on Okido here

Arash and Kelly were there in the flesh as last year they were represented by Thorsten van Elten. It was nice to finally meet both of them. They had their original Genius Box and debuted the latest in a chalkboard finish with face decals. They also had some fun arrow hooks as well. 

kids.modern 2009 textiles and prints

At the show this year, there seemed to be less clothing, print and textile presence than last year. However, there were some new stand-outs....

Bold & Noble is a design collective that creates and silk screens prints. They have a very good eye and execution of design. I could see these prints playing very well in a kid's room or nursery.

 

 

Anorak wants you know that "wildlife just got a whole lot easier to spot." With a stellar line of sleeping bags, bedding, blankets, oil cloth, pillows and bags, Anorak certainly caught me eye this year. The bold prints and colors are spot on.

   

Twisted Tee had a fun booth to look at. It was full of cloth nappies adoring bold faces on their bums. Some political, some portrait, some retro, some plastic. Also showing was the fantastic Sleepy Head Pillow.

   

   

 

Roddy & Ginger have a sweet line of prints, bags, pillows and clothing. Here are some prints that made their way into another vendors booth:

   

Check out tomorrow's post on some familiar faces from last years show and what they've been up to.

kids.modern 2009 goes vintage

One of my favorite things to do is to go thrift-ing for vintage children's furniture. There were three collectors at the show this year that were very well curated and made me smile. 

First up is Molly-Meg. She has taken her child chair collection and put them all up for purchase.

 

Next is Winter's Moon. I scored this sweet child's desk/stool combo and ironing board from the 50's. Not an easy feet for British Airways to handle! 

 

Lastly is Treace. Mostly know for their cupcakes, they also had a mighty collection of vintage children's chairs and rockers.

 

whats new kid o

I continued to be impressed by the freshness and well-considered design behind Kid O's line of toys. Here is a peak at what's new for 2009. It's nice to see the full balance of offerings within a range of toys. Lisa Mahar is really onto something. Below is the new bath line, wooden books and games....enjoy!

   

 

kids.modern 2009 recap part one

After making my trek out to West Dulwich on Sunday, I was very happy to see some familiar faces and make some new connections with a few designers and collectors. I plan on doing a few posts over the week to spread out all the love. So in this first recap, I'll introduce some new players to the show :

1. The forward thinking designer Eiry Rock and her amazing furniture. The Pivoting Chair and the Box Storage Chair are as amazing as they look. Though these chairs are not new to the design scene, it's her first time at Kids.Modern and it was a pleasure checking out the new storage feature to the Box Chair.

 

 

2. The Slam Threestyle Door by James Lucas. 

 

3. Bloq has a sturdy and playful range of wooden furniture and accessories for children.

 

4. The duo designers behind the ShapeMaker are just lovely and they have managed to create a new modern classic. (click here for my recent post on Miller Goodman)

5. Fiona Scully makes a mobile Boxatrix.

6. Faye Dearly Designs some delicate and sweet play furniture and textiles for kids.

 

7. Moozle makes a pretty playful tent.

 

I'll be posting all week on the show. Some highlights will be on the vintage presence, prints and textiles and some familiar faces from last year. Stay tuned...... 

 

 

cooper-hewitt national design museum

I hope to see you tonight! Posting has been slow this week and I'm headed to London tomorrow for the Kids.Modern Show. I'll be back next week with a ton to share. Cheers -Jenn.

I will be speaking along with Cookie Magazine's home editor Kiera Coffee, Jan Elani and KoKo Architecture on designing modern spaces for children at the Copper-Hewitt National Design Museum. The lecture will take place Thursday, Feb 12th at 6:30pm. You must register for the event and can do so here. I am thrilled and honored to share space with such great movers of well-considered design for children. I do hope you can make it. There is also an amazing exhibit running through April that is worth checking out as well. It's called Wall Stories : Children's wallpaper and books.

Designing the Modern Kids' Room with Cookie Magazine

Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum

2 East 91st Street
New York, NY 10128

Thurs, Feb 12th at 6:30pm

$10 for members

$15 for non-members

kids.modern 2009

Yes, it's that time again for the Kids.Modern show in London. If you are in the London area on Feb 15th, you should check it out. I will be there alongside side my very dear friend Tina. If you can't make the show, be sure to check out my recaps!

Sunday 15th February 2009
Dulwich College, SE21 7LD 
10am–4pm 
Entrance £6 
Children £2

r.i.p. modern tots

My studio is in a lovely industrial/artist community of Brooklyn called Dumbo. One of my favorite children's boutique, Pomme,  is right down the street and I stop in whenever possible. However, between Pomme and my studio sits the online maverick Modern Tots. In a huge retail space that is very well suited for their needs. However, with final confirmation today .... without warning .... not even a moving sale .... it's gone. Upon further exploration, their website is down as well. I guess the economy's dire straits have no intention of slowing down.

pistols and popcorn

A fellow parent and blogger has been nominated for a 2009 Bloggie under the The Best-Kept Secret Weblog category. Voting ends on Monday so go cast your vote!

Her blog Pistols and Popcorn is a funny and honest journal about life in brooklyn with a 5 year old. She tackles all the life questions, funny situations and observations that surround her family and those around her. Her posts are full of wit and charm which makes her nomination even more deserved. Good luck Jodi. 

elementary education for parents

With little time and mounting pressures, parents will find a short visit to The K-5 invaluable. Through the short videos, ask the specialist (Ask the K5) columns and on-going blogs (The K5 News) with tips from real-life teachers, specialists and parents, they will find sound advice and helpful tips on subjects as varied as reading, writing, math, discipline, homework, home-life, nutrition and more: information and  resources to make their children’s education a strong foundation for life.  

The amazingly spirited and passionate Otis Kriegel is the founder of The K5. He also happens to be be one of the best elementary teachers in Manhattan with 15 years experience in community education and the arts. I have been very hard pressed to find a resource like this that actually addresses important issues. Issues like homework, discipline, reading comprehension, tips on getting out of the house on time, food allergies....etc. Issues that every parent with an elementary aged child goes through, thinks, seeks or needs at little guidance with. The site is only but a pup but I expect great things ahead. It's off to a pretty impressive start!

Visit The K5

 

What Film Should I Watch With My Kid: An Interview With Film Producer Anne Carey from The K5 on Vimeo.

young love

A boy (Mika age 6) and a girl (Anna-Lena age 5) wanted to elope in the sunshine in Africa. So after a long New Years eve, the pair snuck out and headed for the train station. Although they had no passports or money, the love birds knew that they needed a witness to get hitched. The last addition to the operation was Anna-Lena's 7 year old sister. They got as far as the airport before the police got wise to the trio and offered them a free tour of the police station. The last two lines of this story are the best : Although any marriage plans have been put on hold for now, police did not altogether rule out the possibility of an African wedding. "They can still put their plan into action at a later date," AFP quoted the spokesman as saying. 

Classic, funny and cause for premature gray. You can read the entire story HERE.

come fly with me

Designer Karsten Willmann just won the Best of the Best 08 Red Dot Award for Sklyino...in hopes to make air travel with infants safer and calmer.

 

The idea for Skylino is based on modern flight seats with three-point belts, which offers the opportunity secure the child in front of its parent. Physical contact between parent and child has many advantages: the child is calmed by the contact with his/her parent, and other airline passengers will be disturbed less. If there is an emergency, the parent is able to leave the aircraft as quickly as the other passengers.

a black friday affair

If you are in NYC this friday , aka Black Friday , then head down to Kiosk from 7-10pm. A very special collection of goods for purchase from Andy Beach , aka Reference Library and Stork Bites Man , will be open to the public. He literally brings his blogs to life for 10 days. Kiosk is located at 95 Spring St in Soho.

LMNOP five gift guide

Issue five of LMNOP has just come out and it's just in time for the holidays. (I put together a little gift guide over on page 29.) This issue is also packed with an amazing gift guide and as well as great photography. Jenny and Ian have such a wonderful eye. It seems as though they have found their calling..... they even started a blog!

 

my past contributions to LMNOP can be found here and here

a piece of cookie

I designed this headboard for Cookie Magazine's "Cookie Living Show House". The event has come to a close and I have had a few offers...but no serious takers on it. Here are some details about it :

-covered in Graham& Brown Eco Highway Wallpaper
-recessed shelves w/the top to serve as a shelf as well
-two under mount lights with an on/off switch that can be plugged into any outlet.
-6' wide x 4' high x 1' deep
-it was made with my own two hands with tons of love
-with all the press it got...it's kinda famous...and one of a kind

Please email me at info@minordetailsnyc.com if you are interested in purchasing this headboard. Local pick up only (NYC area).

Cheers

-jenn

 

design*sponge

What a great way to start an afternoon. I am doing research for a client and one of my go-to websites for inspiration is Design Sponge. I was so honored to see my Sneak Peak front and center. Thanks so much Joanna and Anne. Welcome D*S readers....take your shoes off and stay awhile!

change

If you are in the US and can vote ... please go out and help make change. I am taking my daughter with me to vote this morning. I want her to know that her presence there is just as important as mine. (image via treasureup and Let's go to vote book by Agnes McCarthy)

a vintage collection

Head on over to Three Potato Four and check out their latest addition of vintage children's chairs. Well done guys!

do drop in ...

If you are in the NY area this weekend, stop by the Cookie Living Show House where I will be doing 2 free hours worth of Design Consultations this Saturday from 11:30-1:30pm. On Sunday from 1pm-2pm, I will be giving a free presentation and Q&A on “Designing Your Kid's Room and Child Proofing Tips." Bring the whole family as there are plenty of things to keep everyone's attention! Check out the press so far on NY1 and the NY Post.

For the consultation, you can rsvp to: rsvp@cookiemag.com and in the subject line put : Oct 18, Ward. Directions to the Cookie Living Show House, in Battery Park City, can be found here.

fun prototypes

At DesignBlok 08, students from the Studio of Product Design at AAAD in Prague, showcased a series of ride/sit-on type toys. These two from Karel Matējka and Michaela Tomišková caught my eye. (via designboom)

introducing merle's room

Here are the first shots of the CookieLiving room that I have been working. A few pics are from my iPhone and some are from the lovely Tina. Today it opened to the public and I am very thankful for everyone who helped me along the way! A majority of the items are handmade or vintage with a few brand spanking new items.... like the OTT Hooks from byproduct and Boodalee's Throw Pillows. A special highlight for me was a lovely visit today from Oliver Jeffers. he was kind enough to leave a little chalk drawing on the desk. If you're in Battery Park City over the next three weekends, please stop by and take a look. You can view more pics and get info about the items in the room here. Make sure to go upstairs and check the amazing nursery that Koko Architecture designed....simply beautiful!

a huge thank you

I am so flattered that both Cookie Magazine and the lovely Joanna Goddard (aka A CUP OF JO) thought my daughter's room was nice enough to blog about. Awe shucks guys, I'm blushing!

cookie living + minor details

Head on over to Cookie Magazine's Cookie Living Show Home any fri-sun from October 10-October 26. There are going to be a ton of events and really great programs. I will be doing individual design consultations on Saturday , October 18th from 11:30am-1:30pm. Feel free to bring a picture of a room that you might need some advice or direction with....or if you have an inspiration pic for a space and don't know how to make it happen...I will be available to help your tackle those design woes. Make sure to RSVP to rsvp@cookiemag.com with the subject line "Oct 18, Ward". I will also be doing a baby/child proofing program on Sunday , October 19th from 1-2pm. Best of all....it's free.

Make sure to stop into the kid's room that i have been working on. Here is the concept behind it : One staple in Minor Details design philosophy is to spark a child's imagination. With Merle's room, inspiration came from the pages of a book*. Most of the furniture is handmade, re-invented or vintage. With this approach a greener message is achieved. The motivation behind the color palette was to provide a gender neutral path for any child who enters. By adding a ton of books, vintage marionette puppets, and milk-fueled highway wallpaper, it was our hope to create an environment where curiosity leads to creativity. Welcome, please make yourself at home.
*The Incredible Book Eating Boy by Oliver Jeffers

See you then!

a little project part deux

I'm very excited to share the latest piece of furniture that I built for the Cookie Magazine project that I've been working on. I took this wallpaper, made a few recessed cubbies, under mounted lights, man-handled a jigsaw and this is what the final headboard looks like! Up next is a bookcase turn eames-esc side bench with a secret hiding spot for your child's diary......

an affordable classic

I have been a HUGE fan of the Eames Plywood Elephant. Unfortunately the price tag held me back. As much as I adore vintage children pieces, I try to get the ones that my child can actually play with and not stored in the attic as a collectors piece. So, when I read that Vitra is making The Eames Elephant out of plastic (polypropylene actually), I was sooooooo happy. They will be available in five colors. (red, ice-grey, white, dark lime and bright pink). I found them for sale here but it's in the UK. (via kidsmodern)

slow posts but warm smiles

Hey everyone, just wanted to let you know that I have been super busy working on projects as of late. I've got tons of goodies for you all in my virtual queue and I can't wait to post all about them. What I can tell you is that I've been asked to take part in interior design project with Cookie Magazine. The room that I am designing involves inspirations from Oliver Jeffers The Incredible Book Eating Boy, custom furniture and accessories from Minor Details, Eco Highway wallpaper from Graham & Brown, crazy vintage finds for a kids room, bold colors and dope design! The space will be on view in NYC in the month of October. More information coming soon! In the mean time, go check out Tina and Joanna's blog .... they've got the best posts in town.

LMNOP four

I know I said that I would not be back until tomorrow but the latest issue of LMNOP has come out and I could not help myself. This issue is fantastic. It's filled with amazing finds, great features and dope photography. There is a great piece on Chicago with kids as well. Make sure to hit page 17...... it's my contributing piece on Paris!

 

its not that small

By far the largest Small Magazine for Aug 08, at 144 pages they don't disappoint. A bit long for an on-line zine but great spreads, beautiful images and well considered.

sit low ... sit high ... stand up

Oeuf has got a 3 in 1 piece coming out soon. It can be a low seat, flipped over for a high seat or turned over for a stool. It will come in two wood finishes. More info soon....