smaller

small furniture- sweet dreams

Very sweet dreams in this whimsical crib of recycled wood by Creme Anglaise

You can find more of their lovely designs at their shop

small finds- vintage toys

If I was going to start another collection this is what I would choose. I love pretend play vintage toys.

toy telephone at Edmond (a great spot for all kinds of vintage treasures)

toy sewing machine

toy dishes and drainer

toy typewriter

toy cash register

toy iron

blue toy sewing machine

small furniture- chairs in green

Kemper and Co hand painted sustainably produced furniture

Stacking chair found on Minor Details

Vintage chair at Molly Meg

Resin rocker from the lovely and ethical Kalon Studios

small furniture- it's vintage!

Vintage furniture adds so much character to a room. We also love it because you know it is going to last and it is the most fun kind of recycling! above: vintage toy mangle and rocking seat from Molly-Meg and beloew: vintage childs chair and locker from Laurette .........both these shops also stock other decor and new items as well.

small finds- donna wilson

Donna Wilson has new products out and everything is lovely. You can admire it all here and find her shop here

small furniture- kalon studios

Kalon Studios are going from strength to strength. We featured them here a few issues ago and we love their ethical approach to designing furniture for kids. You can check out their new line here

small play - smartplayhouse

It's wonderful to come across an alternative the the traditional country cottage or plastic playhouses for kids. SmartPlayhouse designs ones that are definitely a little more pricey but the great architecture and best-quality materials are worth it. Plus after the kids are grown your left with a pretty cool garden shed.
 

 

 

small furniture - little vintage paris

 

Amazing assortment of vintage furniture at Little Vintage Paris!

small furniture- hut-hut stools

You might have read about the fun rocking Hut-Hut (means giddy-up for camels!) stool by the sustainable furniture makers, Kalon Designs in our last issue (click here for the full interview). We just heard that they are going to start making them out of resin (as well as the classic wood) in four new jewel colors.You can order through their website.

Kalon Designs also have a great line of sustainably produced kids furniture, as well as more adult pieces. Check out their shop here

Small Finds - Feeling Green

A few eco-friendly items that have been catching our eye!

Organic Striped Dress by Serendipity

Big Whale Placemat and Circle of Life Plate by Smiling Planet

Green Recycled Chair by Starfish

Bird Wall Stickers by Love Mae

Lightning Tee By Acme

Organic Monkey by Franck & Fischer

Small designers- BKLYN DESIGN

Brooklyn Design Market is going on this weekend at St Ann's Warehouse, 38 Water Street in Dumbo. We went last year and it was a lot of fun and very inspirational. This year there will be a plenty of live music and a kids lounge featuring fun, functional, and fabulous childrens’ furniture by BKLYN DESIGNers. There will be crafts and free 100% biodegradable balloons for the kids. Some of the designers included are Colleen and Eric, Argington, Casakids (there is an interview with Roberto Gil in the last issue of Small) all pictured above. Pictured below is a sample of the funky and very bright wall paper from Flavor Paper, amazing furniture from Hugh Hayden and Katie Vitale and narrative wall paper from Grow House Grow.  

Small decor- floor art

image above: a child's drawing and the rug it was made into.

One of our readers, Nayla Ventura, just wrote to us about her new project.  We thought it was such a great idea we wanted to share it with you.  Nayla told us how she has always been a big carpet lover. 'I find it so cozy warm to have my floors covered in “art” I or people I love made.' For her it is like walking through memories. As she sees it 'people see their floors all the time, so why not make them completely personal, just like we do with our walls?'

Nayla has arranged so anyone can order a rug in the size and shape they want and, most importantly, in the design they send in. Children's drawings make the most amazing carpets (and not only for a children bedroom)! They can also choose between having the rug pile all at one height or with several elements at a higher or lower pile, which gives it a relief or a hollow effect. Their rug will be handmade in the best New Zealand wool, only once and only for them. The wool will be dyed especially for that one carpet in the colors of the design and then handtufted following the drawing. About 10 weeks later, their completely customized carpet will arrive at their home. No child labor involved in any part of the production process and this is certified by the Rugmark Foundation.

Nayla is Spanish and now lives in Germany with her husband and baby girl, but Carpetzz ships worldwide (and is also very reasonably priced!). We will definitely be getting one!

Small finds: old school

School seems like a nicer place these days but I think the stuff used to be nicer back then!

lunchbox

satchel

ruler pencil box

black globe

wall map

stapler

Small furniture - vintage chairs for kids

In our Winter issue we interviewed Molly Meg about her collection of vintage childrens chairs. As well as running her on line store she was also working with the curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum of Childhood to source items for their upcoming exhibition on seating for children. For this exhibition she located iconic designs from the 1950's and 1960's. The exhibition 'Sit Down' is now open for the next six months so if you are in London be sure to check it out.

Spotty by Peter Murdoch 1964-5, Marko red Dutch school chair 1970, Cosco adjustable Booster 1970

Continuing with furniture...If you are interested in vintage children's furniture, Molly Meg told us about her favorite book on the subject- Mobilier Design Pour Enfants. 

'Someone equally fascinated by children’s chairs is Carol Daprey who has just published a book on design for children called Mobilier Design Pour Enfants focusing on children’s furniture design, a bible for any collector. Bringing together some of the best and most iconic designs by likes of Alvar Aalto, Arne Jacobsen, Charles and Ray Eames, and Jean Prouvé.  Her book places each piece in an historical context. It is only published in French, but is available in English early next year. Daprey also has a very inspirational blog which you can read here'.  

Mobilier Design Pour Enfants By Carole Daprey
Publisher: Editions l’as de Pique (please note- the text is in French)

small hands - crochet

Stools by Wood & Wool Stool  

Sweater by The Anecdotes

Brooch and Hairpin by Marltyn Tov

Scarf by Edmond

Small furniture - out of the woods

This amazing bean bag grizzly bear and gnawed log bolsters are knitted! The graphics are made from the pattern of the wool, not printed on after. Check out the other equally astonishing pillow and beanbag designs in their Etsy shop:
chicsindesigndotcom

Small Furniture - kitchen play

We love Forty Two Roads 'make it your self' cardboard kitchen. Download the pattern from her Etsy shop for only seven dollars!

This sleek Hase Weiss kitchen is designed to blend with the rest of their modular furniture designs from the same line.

Another cardboard kitchen ready for some home decorating from Pomme.

The Lilli Play kitchen from Momoll is easy to assemble (and disassemble when you need the space) and can transform into a puppet theatre or grocery store for more flexible play.

This sturdy stove is made by the Swedish company Micki.

Small Shops- 1 girl 1 boy                                                                                       

1 girl 1 boy has been a favorite of ours since we featured them in our third issue. Each shirt is a little piece of art but sturdy enough for every day play. Sadly they are discontinuing their amazing line of block printed, appliqued t shirts but you still pick up their remaining stock for big discounts.

1 Girl 1 Boy