I've been collecting vintage children's furniture for a while now. With a creative background in the film, television and print industry, I understand the need to find that special prop that will "make" the shoot. So, in addition to all our other services, we are now renting out our children's prop collection to stylist and photographers in the New York area. And yes, the collection will continue to grow!
I LOVE searching through Etsy...so when they asked me to be a Featured Buyer and take part in the Handmade Kids series, I was honored. I gave some of my picks for the family friendly home. If you have never tried an Etsy stroll, I highly recommend it! Check out my piece here. Also, be sure to check the new Handmade Kids features regularly!
Minor Details have just moved into a new studio space. Perhaps you have heard from here or here. In case you haven't, you can see pics here. I am very excited after week one of pure bliss. A powerhouse indeed. With the likes of Swissmiss, Joanna Goddard, Anke Stohlmann , and Jason Kernevich...... this studio will bring nothing but goodness. As three out of five have children, (and mine came to visit today) I decided to bring in this ChildChildChair by Studio Maartje Steenkamp. After all, one good studio deserves another.....
more info here. (thanks goodyblog)
Hardly anyone knows that a secret tunnel runs deep beneath the Atlantic Ocean. In May 2008, more than a century after it was begun, the tunnel has finally been completed. An extraordinary optical device called a Telectroscope has been installed at both ends which miraculously allows people to see right through the Earth from London to New York and vice versa. Ok, so that's not actually the truth. But the story sounds pretty amazing. Paul St George has brought two cities together...in real time...24-7 via his Telectroscope. So, take the kids and head down to the Fulton Ferry Landing in Brooklyn before its exit June 15th.
Jenny Lacey, mastermind behind the on-line kids magazine LMNOP has come out with issue number three. The drive behind this issue is to celebrate animals. Packed with amazing photography by Ian Macpherson and styling by Lacey, number three does not disappoint. I am very happy to be a part of this (an introduction colulmn on page 12 and in the editor's welcome) and future issues with contributing stories. I am currently working on my story for the next issue and I'm thrilled to be on board! So head over to the site and get the latest issue of LMNOP. You download it here.
Last night, I was asked to participate in a brainstorm/salon to think of creative ways for a shoe company to enter the kids shoe market and increase awareness for the brand. Before I go any further, I am posting about them on my own accord. I believe and support their cause. I am posting to create awareness and introduce you to a brand that is doing something good for others. TOMS Shoes business plan is simple - for every shoe you purchase, they send a pair of shoes to a child in need. Since 2006, they have given 10,000 pairs to children in Argentina and 50,000 pairs in South Africa. This year alone, they plan on giving 200,000 pairs of shoes to children in need around the world. Here is a clip of an acutal shoe drop in Argentina back in 2006.
I was introduced to the Tiny TOMS line last night. I love the designs just as much as I love the cause.
Get involved!
Akemi Tanaka showed these three new pieces at ICFF this year. I really love the consideration of small space in all the designs this studio outputs. I think the cat rest could easily make for a great wall mounted changing table and the the dresser and cabinet could turn into changing tables as well.
LTD Studio has come out with a sweet coat rack / height chart called the rack AUGU. It can also measure inches and feet, is made of plywood and additional colors are available upon request. Spotted at ICFF
Bloom just introduced the Luxo Sleep cot bed this weekend. It's got compact-fold construction for easy storage, no tool assembly, drop side panel on both sides, 4 lockable castors, converts from cot to toddler bed and actually looks really great in person.
The San Francisco based Link Studios has come out with The Link furniture system. Link, designed by Charlie Sheldon, is a mass customizable contemporary slot- together furniture line. Its construction uses no glue, no fasteners and requires no tools. The choice of scale - width, height etc - laminate, (including all common high pressure laminates such as Formica Brand and Abet, natural veneers and others), as well as the Icon or graphic engraved are all available. The substrate is also up to your choosing. Some examples here show white Formica Brand Laminate with FSC certified North American PureBond Plywood, Plyboo, and Medite II, all highly renewable or recycled materials.
Though this is not a new concept in design, I saw the green table and bench in person this weekend and I was impressed.
NurseryWorks debuted their new line by Lawson-Fenning this weekend. While the line is a serious nod to the classical and traditional design approach, I can't really get into it. I like certain things about it as well as the twist of modern and traditional......but there's just something a bit off to me about it. What do you think?
Kloss has got three nice seating objects for children. Meet the Ponny Chair, Tassen Stool, Bambi Chair and Bambi Stool.
After a one-year market hiatus, the Nest nursery collection designed by Scott Wilson including the award winning Nest Bassinet that converts to a Play Table and Toy Box, as well as the Nest Crib have moved from Ooba, LLC to a new home with Offi & Company. Look for it in mid to late '08.
Stephen Procter's highly anticipated highchair (DINA) and cot (ALMA) will be available in Aug 2008 from Bloom Baby. I was lucky enough to get a prototype tour of the entire line at ABC last year from Stephen and was even happier to see how far they had come along with the design at ICFF this year. I cant wait! (it even comes in rouge, black or white!)
Wow. I just knew it was a matter of time. Kartell has release a "Baby" version of the Lou Lou Ghost chair by Philippe Starck.
Say hello to the iStroll. Yes, the iStroll made for the iPod Nano. (Apple - are you really going there?)
Oh my. I'm speechless. It's gets really amazing around 1:50 in.
The fine people over at Milk Magazine just got a brand new website. Go check it out.
Say hello to A Series , Heirloom’s new furniture series for children designed by Swedish designers Matilda Lindblom and Sanna Lindström.
The A series, named after the A shaped back of the chairs, is crammed with both playful and practical features. A few examples:
• Stackable chairs with padded seats and backs.
• A bed with a high, rounded headboard, designed to work as a cosy reading corner for both children and their parents
• A sturdy table with hard-wearing table surface, including four drawers for papers and pencils
• Multifunctional storage box in two sizes with cute rabbit ears in leather on the lid. Works both as storage for toys and as extra seating place.
And that’s what the A series is: all about: a delightful combination of playful, practical features and high-end design. The A series is made of birch and MDF, includes 7 different pieces and is available in any colour.
One interesting point about the bed is that they are currently working on turning it into two chairs once your mini has grown out of it. The series just launched at the Stockholm Furniture Fair 2008.
Famille Summerbelle is a husband wife team that designs wallpaper, textiles, accessories, and all around goodness for children's spaces. "Our designs and accessories are created to achieve a delicate balance in decorating a child’s room: an inspiring and reassuring space for the child which retains the creative, elegant warmth that we try to achieve throughout our homes. A room for everyone." Debuting at Kids.Modern, this is not the last we will see of them!
Meet 7th grade rock band Care Bears on Fire. This Brooklyn-based punk rock band is playing at B.A.M. this Saturday. The noon show sold out so they have added a 2:30pm show. Below is their hit song "Everybody Else." On Sunday, catch Tiny Masters of Today. 11 and 13 year old siblings rock out garage rock anthems. Also based in Brooklyn, you check them out here. Below is their video for "Hologram World." This was directed by Karen O and Barney Clay aka Kids with Canes.
Yesterday I received a nice email from Ayako Nakanishi, director of Kyouei Design. They have just released some new products that I am very happy to tell you about. First is the MOBILE LIGHT. This emits light using LED's powered by the sun charge of solar panels. It emits light automatically when the environment darkens. Next is the BallonLamp in red. Which was a collaration with Kyouei and Designboom. I love this idea of a child having a bunch of ballons that last for a really long time. It's playful and fun.
I love it when I get an email telling me the latest issue of Small Magazine is now online. Here are some highlights.
(the past issue is posted about here.)
I received a lovely email from the good people at Nine to Nine today and there were a few press items that did not make it to the Kids.Modern show so I thought I would share. I really enjoy this collection. I look forward to what's next. Below is Piglet Cube bedside table and Mouse table. Visit them here.
I was very nice to see this child's chair and bedside table in person at the show. It is part of the beautiful Bridge collection by Lion Witch Wardrobe.
This Bird Box Light is quite cute. It comes in orange/white or white/white.
One thing that really caught my eye this past weekend was the PUNCH'N'CUDDLE. It comes in two sizes : big and small. It's a cross between a bean bag and punching bag. The look is really nice and the concept is even better. Watch the video below to get the full picture!
Another piece at the Kids.Modern show from John Denis O'Leary was the Joshua bookcase for the mini.
This and the bench from Allan McIntyre are part of the sustainable furniture solutions startup called bluegreen&co
This weekend was filled with great design. The Kids.Modern show was on sunday and I had all day on saturday to tool around London. I strolled the TATE Modern, felt at home in the Design Musuem, and took some well needed time for myself.....and yes, I was only there just over 48 hours.
In the TATE Modern store, I thumbed through several Hervé Tullet books, scored my daughter an Alice Melvin ABC tote, and bought the latest issues of Anorak and OKIDO. From there I took a walk through the Borough Market where my love for food grew three times larger. Just a few more blocks and I was entering the Design Museum. Here, I was honored to see the radical, functional and inspiring work of the French designer and engineer Jean Prouvé. Also showing was the Brit Insurance annual exploration of the most innovative, interesting and forward looking new work in design of all kinds. See one of the designs here.
So on to the show. Nestled in Dulwich College, it seemed more of a market than a trade show or fair. There were puppet shows, grilled goodies, and several hands-on-create-art kid areas. With only about 50 vendors present, it seemed a bit tight at times but overall, a very well selected group. Everyone there, vendors and consumer, all had an appreciation for children's design. I have a ton of great new finds that I will be posting throughout this week. So before the posting gets overwhelming, I thought I would recap the posts thus far. Enjoy.
Nine to Nine : cribs, changing table, shelf, and bench
The Bugge Table: modular imagination piece
Nadia Sparham : kid drawings made into dishes
Allan McIntyre :Children's Bench and Cabinet for Life
John Denis O'Leary : Animal Form series seesaw and bench
Also showing this weekend was John Denis O'Leary's Animal Form series. On display was this table and seesaw.
This is the name given by designer Allan McIntyre (whom I now love and am so happy to see in person this past weekend in London at the Kids.Modern show) for this cabinet. With tons of nooks, sleek design, and numerous different types of wood usage, this is sure to becme a modern day classic.
Allan McIntyre came up with a lovely coat rack/bench for kids.
The winner of the 2007 Red Dot Award for Life science and medicine / AID went to the Mex-x folding children's wheelchair designed by Realo Design. I was lucky enough to see this in person at the Design Museum in London this past weekend and was impressed with its sleek and useful design. Kids can choose from a huge selection of creative spoke guards for their Mex-x here. It's so nice to see great design making its way to very important children.
Just fresh out of school designers Katrine Vestal, Ingse Galtung Dosvig, and Caroline Harstad came out with the Bugge Table. This is a modular table for children. it's a structure that is build-able, stackable and gives way to ones imagination. The product becomes a boat, a rocking horse, a table, a chair, bunk beds, cottages and so on. So with that, I leave you with a fun establishment. Enjoy. (it's so new they have not a website as of yet)
Nine to Nine believes that the smallest members of the family should grow up surrounded by contemporary, original, and high quality design. I could not agree more after seeing it in person this weekend at the Kids.Modern show. All the pieces are very well considered and highly designed to suit the modern mini.
I'm off to the Kids.Modern show in London. Be sure to check back next week for all my juicy updates from the show. Cheers.
One of my favorite shops in Brooklyn is Romp. As i was walking to a "girls night dinner" last night, I purposely wanted to walk by and look in the window. To my surprise, they have closed up shop and are moving to the country. But never fear, the web-store will be continuing on. Apparently, they are making big changes and perhaps offering grown-up stuff as well. As a thank you to all the Brooklyn customers, Romp is offering free shipping and 15% off everything until Sept 30, 2008. All you need is a Brooklyn ship-to address and this code at checkout : BKLYN.
The four new items from Plan Toys that caught my eye at the Toy Fair were the Woodpecker walker, a real sized kids table and chair set, washing machine, and tree house.
