minor details

comfy

BeeBee is a German based children's clothing line that made this great little number called Schlupfdecke. Which I think means "slip blanket"? It's a super soft blanket for your newborn that comes with legs and a wrap around effect.

a stunning bunk

Somewhere in Manhattan is home that doubles as an art gallery and a family home. It's uncertain which of the two this bunk bed is situated in. I can only imagine by the looks of the kid's room below, that the bunk bed is just on display. Do any of my readers know which gallery this is? (photographer : Verne / OWI)

UPDATE : The incredible Andy pointed me to the gallery in question - Salon 94. He also has some close-up pics of the Carlo Mollino Alpine Bunk Bed here.

a minor play space

This was a Play Space that I designed back in July/August of this year. The goal was to accommodate a wide age-range of children and their caregivers who lived in a 130-unit co-op building in Brooklyn.

a playful selection

Mairo has a wonderful children's line of textiles and accessories. Some of my picks are this Elephant Bumper, Cheeky Kid's Blanket, Robot Rug and the Fartdarar Apron.

brush it

This is a fun little tooth brush holder for a kid's bathroom.

a felt mobile

This felt mobile from Chris Romand and Geoff Buddie is very sweet.

colorful options

The thing I like most about the Via Toy Box Play Kitchen is that you can choose from a dozen colors to suit your mini's space.

re-invented

Over at Ohdeedoh, they are having a kid's color contest. One of the entries, from reader Kristin, is actually pretty dope! They took her old doll house and turned it into a bookshelf / changing table. Bravo!

a chair for sitting and reading

I think the D:2 chair from Desirée Sundberg could make for a great reading chair for your a child. Throw a nice little seat cushion on it and voilà! I wonder if you turned it on it's side, would it make for a good little table?

pull up a seat

There is something very simple and sweet about the Kiti Moto children's bench and table from Bethan Rayner and Naeem Biviji.
 

do it yourself lighting

The DIY Night light and Lamp from Spoon Sisters are perfect places for your kid's artwork.

 

 

its a table ... its a chair ... its a fort

It's Da-Bloom from Industrial Designer Jin-Young Lee. Made from plywood and plastic, the table can be customized to your liking with just a few simple twists and turns. Use it as a chair and table or for the children to create an imaginary hide-out. Da-Bloom can also be custom made in various colors - you choose your bloom.

 

for the budding nancy drew

How fun is this Secret Book Camera?

1.2.3.

Karin Mannerstål designs a ton for Ikea. However, she designs some other great things as well. Like this 123 cradenza. I think this would be very fun in a kid's room.

 

say click ..... take a pic

So this morning my daughter had her first ever school pictures done. Up until the last minute this morning, she wanted to be dressed in a princess gown with a crown. A request that I felt was just fine. I mean why not? Then I started thinking about the other kids and would they be upset that they did not get to play dress up for their pics? So we came to a compromise where for her individual picture, a princess she could be...but for the group shot (shown here) , she would have to dress in her normal clothes. Like I said, at the last minute, she changed her mind. However, I think she had a great idea! Why not dress up in a costume for your class pictures? It sure would make them more fun to look at in 20 years!

Thanks Tina for posting about this cool way to make your photos into an instant polaroid and for listening to my funny dilemma last night on the phone and encouraging class picture dress up as well!

eco tunes

Let your kids create their own speakers with these DIY Eco Speakers.

make a playful environment

Iwashin is a South Korean based design house that also just launched Tessell at 100% Design in London. With a variety of options, from play mats, to ride-on, to a complete change of environment, children are encouraged to make whatever they see fit out of these pieces.
  

urban family biking

Taga is a new style of bike, which just scored a Eurobike 2008 Award and the Kind and Jugend Innovation Award. Taga combines the benefits of a premium stroller and a carrier bicycle to create a new transportation modality. You can even get a double! (via monogocoro)

 

 

a playful light

Paul Blease designed this powder coated aluminum Bedside Lamp. Not only are is the palette fantastic,  but children can build and destruct designs by combining different shapes and colors. (via designmilk)

a leaf swing

ENEA studio just showed their Leaf Swing at 100% Design in London. Although they claim that this is just for adults, I think a kid could have some fun on it too.

 

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.

och-o yeah

Back in January, I posted about Grasshopper Design's multi-functional Och-O. I'm was so happy to finally see it for sale here! (unfortunately, it's in Australia)

mix it up

What a fun way to introduce your child to cooking in the kitchen. This Rab Mixer is from industrial designer Ming Tong.

in kuwait...got a kid?

Gensler Architect firm designed a children's retail concept store by the name of Baroue in Kuwait. Baroue means "role play" in Kuwaiti - seeks to create a lifestyle environment that caters to a child's desire for exploration, recreation and self- expression. Aside from toys, salons and food catered to kids, Baroue also feature radio frequency identification system (RFID) with viewing console units to allow parents to locate younger children anywhere in the store.

 

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)

a colorful tree

I'm a huge fan of this pencil tree over at Romp.

good morning

DOT has a very cute placemat that is made up of three polypropylene comic strip-shaped mats. The package includes also three handmade chocolate pastels which allows you to leave drawings and messages in the morning to your beloved. After being washed in sudsy water, the mats will be as good as new, ready to accept new messages the following morning.

a vintage pennant

Someone needs to grab this sweet vintage Los Angeles Zoo pennant over at Three Potato Four.

make a splash

How fun would this wallpaper from Walnut be in a kid's bathroom ?

sweet sheep

I really think Studio Printwork's Baa wallpaper is perfect for a gender neutral nursery wall.

a modern bunk

I like the look and functionality of this bunk bed system from Lagrama. (via decopeques)

my mini wishlist

Nope, you are not looking at my new fall wardrobe. These are actually looks put together by the wonderful people over at Little Fashion Gallery to show what's cutting edge in kid's wear. Can I get any of these in my size?

discovering a bear

In the US today, we are celebrating a national holiday for the man who discovered America known as Christopher Columbus. However, another important person to celebrate today is Paddington Bear.... who turns 50 !

the princess and the pea

Doshi Levien's Principessa Bed is a modern nod to the classic book by Hans Christian Andersen.

sweet sleep

Mohr Polster has a very sweet moses basket.

josse highchair

Raf Schoors designed a sweet flatpacked highchair.

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!

tea for two

e15 has a very beautiful HP01 Tafel solid wood and aluminium child's table for purchase. Designed by Hans de Pelsmacker in 2000, this amazing number is suitable for indoors or out and can be a perfect little perch for afternoon tea or doodles.(via daddytypes)

a specific print

Artist Dallas Shaw just launched her Modern Baby Block print. You have 12 prints to choose from that reflect your mini's birth month. Lovely. The print changes by month, so mom can purchase the print that her little one is born in. The design is sleek and modern,is different by month and won't distract from any nursery. For modern mommies only! Also, the wording in the corner is different as well: december baby, march darling, june bug.....The prints are 8.5 x 11, on non glare, matte paper and come in fitted plastic.

subway

I love this vintage clip from Sesame Street about the subway. It's currently the only daily mode of transportation that my daughter knows.

a rockin tea party

I actually like the LILLBERG Rocking Chair and DUKTIG Child's Coffee/Tea Set from IKEA.

creative keys

Ok, so perhaps I should add a new tab titled "inspiration." This one and this one would certainly make it in there. (photographer Hendrikx Diane / OWI)

come fly with me

I love this playspace! The owners decorated and designed their home with as little budget as possible. Everything is second-hand, inexpensive or homemade. (thanks for the tip tina!) (photographer: Hendrikx Diane / OWI)

animus

I was so happy to get introduced to this book a few days ago. Every page is filled with amazing beauty and the story embraced with how to stand up to your fears. Every child need Animus by Seonna Hong and Shenne Hahn.

it's sweet

Meet the Dulce Caramelo child's chair. Created by Mexican designer, Luis Luna, the Caramelo can be used both as a chair and a rocking chair with a simple change in position.

The designer has a really nice quote as well : “I am a 23 year old, Industrial design student, a full time dreamer, part time designer and occasional storyteller."

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......

meet pogo

Joel Escalona just came out with Pogo. The Mini Pogo is money saving pig and toy. The bigger Pogo is a stool, made in shiny plastic or cork.

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)