minor details

green play

For Earth Day, I'd like to give a shout out to Sprig Toys, a kid powered, battery free and eco-friendly toy company. You should get up all in that! 

magnetic building

I am totally smitten with this colorful magnetic wooden blocks by Tegu. They are eco-friendly, colorful and provide limitless possiblities. You can purchase yours HERE!

green.safe.practical part deux

Kalon Studios just introduced the ying to the yang of their Carvan Crib ..... the Caravan Dresser!

stacked up

How sweet is THIS stacking rainbow arches set?

pins

I'm really liking THIS organic wooden bowling set.

built it

THESE Build-it Kits are dope

 

holiday shopping

Check out the Minor Details Design Stop over on Amazon. You can click HERE or over on the right hand side of the blog....just up there ... under "Wanna see more?"

house call

I'm digging THIS natural wooden doctor's play kit from Soopsori

safe.green.practical

Loving the colors of Kalon Studio's new Caravan crib.

i need some privacy

Yes, Ma Cacabane is a cardboard house for your mini to, uhem, take some privacy.(via)

 

 

  

 
 
 

gymnasium

Recycled from gym floorboards and made from sustainable / eco-friendly materials, i'd say that Soren Rose designed some pretty stellar pieces! These could play very well in the modern child's bedroom, playspace or family room!

 
 
 

the modern outdoors

San Francisco based designers Gitane Royce and Nisreen Witt are the genius minds behind Modern Playhouse. They set out to design and produce a simple and modern outdoor playhouse that is not too insanely priced. They currently have two models available and also offer furniture and accessories to outfit your playhouse. You had me at sophisticated, sustainable and safe!

When Tina sent me this link, I literally stopped everything I was doing. 

 

    

 
 
 

 
 
  
 

playing with fire

This a is phrase that is usually followed by a stern look of caution ... and luckily, I've yet to muster this to my own child. Yet the list of "phrases my mom used to say" are certainly starting to surface. So, when I stumbled upon this product designed by student Emanuel Cohen, I was impressed to see a candle and crayon making nice. The design is stellar and execution on point. The only question is - how long is the wick? It would be great if the crayon could way out live the candle.  

 
 
 

reform

On a recent trip out to Los Angeles, I found myself in the dope Silverlake shop  known as ReForm School. I managed to pick up a few Shadow Puppets, Soopsori Rattles and a Felt Bird Purse kit. But what I really wanted to check in at the airport was an Amish Made Scooter.

   

  
 
 

rainy day fun

I am digging this homemade marble run from Made By Joel

 

 
 

greenman

Cordless, waterproof, mini solar paneled and saves energy ..... the Greenman Mood Lamp is perfect for any kids room.

 

colorique

I am totally smitten with the idea of THIS embroidered festoon over a kids bed.

 

one to four

The One to Four Table by Leon Fitzpatrick was designed as low lounge table with seating. Not only is it beautiful, comes flatpacked and well designed .... it would make for one dope children's table. It would be great if that hole in the middle was a lid to a little bin underneath. 

 

 
 

shake it

The Timbur Rattle is made from sustainable materials and non-toxic finishes ... I'm totally smitten.

 

something out of nothing

Krystian Kowalski of Kompott Design created The Something Out Of Nothing Project. It's purpose is to create and build toys with materials readily available to make the statement of individuality and longevity. 

 
 
 

heads up

How beautiful are these Story Busts from Anthropologie. They are made from recycled cement bags and then covered with vintage french book pages. Oh la la .....

  

  
 
 

design responsibility

The eDesk is a designers approach to helping the developing world attain education. eDesk is low-waste and is manufactured from renewable material.  Humanitarian aid organizations can use the design as open source for free.  The eDesk can be produced cheaply but is durable and can provide children in impoverished or natural disaster ridden areas a devoted space for learning.

Ships and transports in a flat panel.  Assembles without fasteners.  Can be fabricated locally or shipped inexpensively. 3 sizes available. Functions as a desk and inspirational tool for any student regardless of geographic location. If you are involved with a Humanitarian organization involved in education please contact HERE for information on utilizing the eDesk.  The desktop has an educational laser etched graphic by Simone Rebaudengo, as well as assembly instructions on the desk side.

 
 
 

recession design

Recession Design is all about D.I.Y. design. It is a collection of objects created using everyday DIY products that are processed and assembled using common utensils and accessories. Such is the case with their Giocattolo Toy Truck and Divano Leto Sofa Bed. [*]

 

  
 

 
 

zeros and electric cars

press!

I am thrilled to see the Modern Indoor Treehouse that I designed last year grace page 244 of the current issue of ELLE magazine. (Taylor Swift is on the cover - US edition) You can read the whole article on my amazing client, Stacey Bendet-Eisner of Alice + Olivia right HERE.

 

 
 

for the fast and curious

JOYRIDE is a classic soapbox cart concept the unites parent and child threw creativity and excitement. It's made of 10 elements and self-locking pegs for easy construction. The kit is geared towards kids aged 3-9 and was created by Swedish designer Per Brolund. (via)

 

 
 

playful bespoke

Zoe Murphy is a young British designer who re-uses mid-century furniture and turns them into playful and colorful pieces. She also has an amazing eye for creating super colorful textiles. 

 

 
 

hello mr kaliski

Mr Kaliski worked in the fashion industry, studied sculpture at The Royal College of Art and now makes extraordinary designs in a London workshop. Two of which are the Cinch Seat boaster chair and the cardboard Billy Rocker.

  

a perfect community

This limited edition print was designed by the Japanese illustrator Satoshi Hashimoto for Monocle. It shows how to create a borough that's green, clean, and well-connected - as envisioned by the urbanist Alejandro Gutierrez. I really love this print!!!

 
 
 

Little Fashion Book vol 4

When my dear friend Marie, of Little Fashion Gallery, asked me to contribute for volume 4 of the Little Fashion Book, I felt so honored! The book is now live and you can click HERE to view the stunning spreads and content. Bravo Marie!!

  

 

 

 
 
 
  
 
  

 
 

nest your noodle

Over the summer, the not for profit art initiative known as X-initiative, turned their NYC rooftop into a giant seating area made entirely of pool noodles. Designed by Jeffery Inaba's LA based practice, INABA. Though the space was cleared at summer's end, it still remains a great source of inspiration for a kid's space!

  

 
 
 
 
 

make something

This wooden Syokunin tool set is awesome

 

kitchen fun

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.

  

 

 

  
 
 

a natural seat

Bleu Natural has a pretty sweet table and stool set for the kiddos.

 

a sustainable trunk

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. 

 

feed away

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. 

 

creative installation

Caterina Tiazzoldi / Nuova Ordentra is a design firm whose agenda is to develop design tools to face creatively the complexity of today’s cities. Here are two pieces of work that are geared towards children:

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.

happy design for kids

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.

 

compact cardboard and connecting numbers

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.

 

purified

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)

 

creative wit and talented hand

Peter Brown is a Children's book Author and Illustrator living in Brooklyn, NY. With four books under his belt, he is hedging his way into homes across the world with books that are making everyone take notice. One of the first things I noticed about Peter's work is his incredible ability to present perspective and scale. His painted illustrations, in both acrylic and gouache, tell a story wherein words aren't even necessary. But the words he chooses and the stories he tells, are filled with clever wit and potty humor that crack me up! In his latest book, The Curious Garden, he takes on the ideal that if we just take the time to think about our environment, we can make it a better place. Bravo Peter Brown and thank you for providing me with beautifully stunning and charming books to read to my child!

Flight of the Dodo , 2005

Chowder , 2006

The Fabulous Bouncing Chowder , 2007 

The Curious Garden , 2009

 

headlight

This Moose Head Light makes me giggle.

ride 'em cowboy

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.

this morning with dwr

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.

simply playful

"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."  

bubbles

Bulles de Nua were designed by Marie Macon and Anne-Laure Lesquoy for Red Editions. I think these could make for very aesthetically pleasing toy storage in the living room!  

ala natural

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.

come here boy

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.

clean fun

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. 

big blue

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. 

The Blue Fence Project’s first completed structure will be exhibited from September 25 at the International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam. The studio has designed a number of pavilions to be made from the blue construction fence that surrounds the 2012 Olympic Games site. The plywood fencing will be recycled to reinstate local activities lost during the Olympic development. The Blue Fence Project will be exhibited at the Parallel Cases exhibition of the International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam, from September 26 – December 13. (via)