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.
I love a good book on design. I especially love when the designers just so happen to be married.... with 7 children! I'm referring to Robert and Cortney Novogratz of the firm SIXX Design. I first got introduced to them via pages of the late Cookie Magazine and was instantly smitten and intrigued by their body of work ... both personal and work wise!
So, over the past couple of days, I've been working my way through their new book called Downtown Chic. I can't remember the last time that I flipped through every single page of a design book before. I would say, hands down, they are the most talented duo, who also balance a huge family, that I've ever seen. The book is filled with amazing transformations, pictures and quotes that seamlessly work so well within it's bound cover. One quote that I loved was that of Charles Eames, " The details are not the details. They make the design." (Perhaps that hits a heart string over here at Minor Details)
They have a very bold and vibrantly visual understanding of space. I suppose I'm smitten because they apply the art of family into that approach. Here are a few of the spaces that reflect just that.....
Here are a few pages from the book that I wanted to share as well. (yes that is a trampoline recessed into the ground)
As you all know, I'm a short post writer. I feel that less is more and I like the visual to aid to your own interpretations. But, I must say, the way this book chronicles the life of this duo and their approach and process, certainly makes it worth sharing...cause I wanna steal pretty much all of their ideas. More over, Robert and Cortney, are you looking to adopt a gown up? If so, call me..... I'm all yours!
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!
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 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.
Tschutschu is a piece of furniture that can be used as a playtable, bench, train table, stage or secret hideout. Designed by Dominik Lutz and for purchase at Magazin.
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.
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)
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.
THIS little nod to the 'ol school pull on toy is actually a leather pouf! Pull Along Polly is designed b Joni Neelen and would make for super fun piece in a kid's space!
It's only fitting that my 1,000th post be about Isamu Noguchi's Playscapes. I had the amazing opportunity to play on the grounds all day on saturday with my daughter, niece and nephew. It was topped off with a jazz quartet playing in the background and fresh apples from the farmers market just a stones throw from the playground. The park I'm referring to is Piedmont Park in Atlanta, Georgia .... which houses Noguchi's only playground to be completed in his lifetime. Such a peaceful and wonderful space for both big kid and small!
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.
"El Ramón is a toy-object created by the Argentinean Art Director, Javier López Pereyra. El Ramón was, inspired at the 50´s and 60´s concept of spaceships and robots, such as the movie "War of the Worlds " dated of 1953, the tv series "Lost at Space" dated of 1965 and the cartoon "The Jetsons" dated of 1962, among others. Ramón is a limited edition, hand crafted with Argentinean wood, flexible iron and recycled gray paper with silk-screen print."
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.
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.
Studio Superniche constructed this nice big blue structure, as a part of the Blue Fence Project, to aid in bird watching. I think this could make for a great outdoor play structure template. I'd add a rail up on the top level and an arm out to the side for a swing.
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.
Just Another Toy is a design collaboration between Sara Ribbenstedt and Matilda Dominique. This three-dimensional toy consists of foam rubber cubes dressed in fabrics with various patterns and allows kids to try and find specific object shapes according to what use they want it to have.
They managed to get Offecct to make the prototype but I READ that they are still looking for distribution. I love the concept, color and scale of these pieces and hope they make there way to the US soon! (photos by Henrik Bengtsson)
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.
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......
Moroso just completed their Sushi collection by adding the Joy Sphere-Pillow. I think one of those would do just fine in a kid's room.
Nooooooooooooo. My go-to gift store for everything baby and child is closing. If you are in the New York area through August 23rd then hope on over and take advantage of the closing sales of the year.
When it comes to the work of Russian Designer Maria Yasko, one thing comes to mind - fantasy. I really admire her Icelandic Tree shelf from the Vjunok/Bindweed series. It could play very well in a kid's space. She also did another space based on the Moomin books, by Finnish illustrator Tove Jansson, called Moomin Valley. Below is an example of the children's playspace. Quite a fantasy!
There is something very playful about Normann Copenhagen's Collect Bookshelf. It would be fun to turn it into a dollhouse of sorts.
I hope that everyone is enjoying July and getting some sunshine. I have missed my little blog but I've got lots of things to share very soon. One thing is a project that I started last month and just completed on friday. Here is a little sneak peak ...... more to come soon. Cheers -jenn
There is something very intriguing about the Treepee. I would imagine lots of storytelling and adventures could happen in there.
Resene, a New Zealand professional paint company, chose to showcase their latest range of Karen Walker color paints for the home, by using mini- modernist Bauhaus inspired architectural models of homes crafted by Auckland sculptor Gidon Bing and styled by Katie Lock. (via)
My daughter's 5th birthday is approaching ... is it wrong that I want to get her THIS instead of that Barbie Princess House she asked for?
Andrew Zuckerman makes amazing animal portraitures. His book, Creatures, was huge. He has just released the Creatures 16 piece Floor Puzzle (2 double sided) and is set to release a 120 page Creatures ABC book in July. Way to take a theme and roll with it ... I totally don't mind at all!
H2O Architects had a problem to solve for a client. Their family was expanding but their home could not. With a new baby on the way, they recreated space within space and HERE is what they came up with. Bravo!
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)
French designer Matali Crasset just completed La Maison des Petits for the arts centre 104 Centquatre in Paris, France. It's venues like this that completely inspire me.
