new Rafa-kids lookbook - Shelf collection

I have a great treat for the weekend for you :

NEW Rafa-kids lookbook, where you can see our shelf collection. 

Please have a look : Rafa_lookbook_2016_shelf

The lookbook was created by the talented graphic designer Asia Gwis / kawkadesign. It was so great to give her a ‘free hand’ so she could design and show Rafa-kids shelves in her own way. What a nice surprise, to get this playful yet delicate look with our furniture. The use of colours is also new for us and we are absolutely delighted with the final effect. We hope you will like it as much as we do. 

If you missed our first Rafa-kids lookbook, here it is :  Design To Play.

We wish you a wonderful weekend! 

MINI Bloomingville from Denmark

It’s nice to see that the Danish design company Bloomingville, 

brought to the market a collection for younger users - called MINI Bloomingville. The company was born from Betina Stampe’s dream and passion in 2000.   Today the company has grown into an international cooperation employing more than 70 people and 65 sales representatives and distributors worldwide.  In 2014 Bloomingville became a part of US-based Regent Holding, which is co-owned by Betina and Simon Stampe. The company’s range is covering now not only accessories but also wide collection of furniture. I like to watch how such a brand is growing over the years and to get inspired by it. 

What MINI Bloomingville offer us ? Soft, delicate tones on textile, pillows, bedding, blankets and rugs. Ceramic and storage products from small to medium. Little bags, paper decorations -  posters and cards, well the list is very long…and then all decorated with a children friendly graphics of animals.  

We made inspiring collage, where we used also Softgallery image and Collegien slippers. 

The rest of products are coming from Mini Blomingvile collection. 

R toddler bed and L shelf with yellow metal is from Rafa-kids.

Monday inspiration - Blush Pink in children’s rooms

Today I’m going out of my comfort zone. Really! I do not like pastel colours much and pink in particular. Seeing interiors for children (grills mainly) with all this cheerful and sunny colour tones is not really my cap of tea.  When I was a little girl I never really liked it and I was more tom-boy as you will say now. On top of that, I have two sons now, so my more soft side had no real chance to develop…

but today I would like to talk Blush Pink. 

I have a feeling that the Blush Pink with the right combination of other stronger colours can look fresh and playful. My favourite combination will be with darker grey tones, but you would not see that much in children deco. I decided to show you a very nice Blush pink with splash of gold or yellow and also natural textures of wood or metal. All the rooms look very cosy to me with good dose of colour which doesn’t feel like ‘to much’ but it’s modern and elegant. 

Thank you for inspiration, picture credits : 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 -7 - 8 - 9  

Carl Hansen Wishbone chair

I have a new chair love! Carl Hansen, Wishbone chair. This Danish classic design piece is very easy to spot in many Danish houses, but I have actually never had chance to touch it and see it in real. Last week we visited the Scandinavian design heaven in Rotterdam:  Northseadesign, and there it was! The quality, each little detail that you see and touch,  just so perfect….We had opportunity to borrow the chair for a photo session in our Rafa-kids studio! That’s why you can see our NEW white K desk together with the dark wood Carl Hansen, Wishbone chair….Can you imagine, this beautiful chair was designed in 1950! Some furniture pieces never get old and I am now pretty sure I will welcome some in my home one day. 

I wish you a wonderful weekend! 

Pictures: K desk  from Rafa-kids (1 & 2 ) /3 & 4 /5 /6  

Olive Loves Alfie - London

We are very exited to receive a fresh press material from children’s store Olive Loves Alfie in London.  

9 years ago they opened their first store dedicated to kid’s world and last year they have launched a new store Olive Loves Alfie East in London's newest postcode E20. Perching on the edge of the Olympic park they have found an urban idyll. The store is run by interior design lover Ashlyn Gibson , creative director of two interior books. I presented you one of them here:  Creative childrens spaces. 

Don’t you think our Rafa-kids R toddler bed look so representative and beautiful ?   If you are in London, now is the chance to see and touch our furniture in this inspiring space. We could not be more proud. Please have a look for more details:  Olivelovesalfie. 

Monday inspiration - Dutch children’s rooms

It seems hardly probable that children’s rooms in a certain country would look very similar to each other. But it surly happens in Holland.There aren’t the same, but there are patterns which keep reappearing and  I like to spot them for you today. 

What’s so specific about the original Dutch children’s rooms ? 

First of all , if you would see a bed made out of raw wood, recycled material or ‘bedstee’ ( bed in a cupboard-old fashioned Dutch way of sleeping) you might be on the right way!  Many parents build beds for children  themselves. DIY ideas are a second nature in this country. If someone is not that handy - why do not  look for an old furniture with character? Searching for not expensive, second hand furniture is definitely a sport in itself for many Dutch. You will also notice that they appreciate earth colours, natural looking materials and accessories with a history.  Vintage finds, personal and relaxed atmosphere will emanate from their children’s rooms. Mix and match, that’s their another great strength. And well - colours - it looks like nobody is afraid of them , but maybe that’s a theme for a next post….

Thank you VTwonen magazine for all the pictures and inspiration! 

toys with a soul - Fanny&Alexander

I tell my boys that I remember the time when there was no mobile phones or iPads, that their grandparents didn’t even have a tv. They really have problem to believe me…and always ask me, what did you play with ? World without all the electronics for the little people, do you still remember it ?  Would you be happy to get back to it ? 

I’m glad to see such brands like Fanny&Alexander from Argentine, encouraging fantasy and imagination of children. Founder Delfina Aguilar dream was to create old fashioned, handcrafted toys and then create a world around them.

“ It’s about capturing that unique feeling of childhood from another time, today.”