Let’s walk into the forest…..

In some parts of Europe there is already a big layer of snow, but in the Netherlands we still enjoy Autumn atmosphere. We feel so lucky to have sunny days and to see the nature changing slowly…. Few weeks ago we brought into our Rafa-kids studio a ‘nature’ vibe and created a children’s room with NEW Rafa-kids B bench. The set was part of a project called Carte Blanche which we were asked to create by our long partner/stockist in France Les Enfants du Design. I was feeling like a little girl in a candy store, since I could select product from their collection to create this room. Yeeey!!! …it is one of our favourite children’s stores carrying plenty of the best modern products for children which are on the market at the moment. 

What is the story behind the room…

 I wanted to bring into child’s room a charm of natural colours and textures. We set two corners - one with our bench next to the bed and the second is a little “ tea corner” where kids can play. Our Rafa-kids bench is such a simple and elegant furniture which can be used in many different ways. We always want to make our furniture - Playful. I hope you like the tones of mint with the contrasting dark brown textures of wood and wool. My favourites are the different kinds of baskets to hide the kids toys. They give a room a bit of a boho vibe contrasting with the modern simple furniture. I also imagine that the room, can be gender neutral and give calm and nice atmosphere to play. I hope you like it. 

To create this room we selected few of our favourite products from the Les Enfants du Design store: 

Nobodinoz - Pouf and jumping rope, Muuto - Dots , Snowpuppe lamp , Ferm Living - House shelf, Dot Mint little basket, pillow , Donna Willson - Wooly Wood plaid, Bloomingville - baskets, Blabla kids - Cloud Pillow and Mint Doudou soft doll , Chair - Oeuf NYC and white table from Flexa Play. 

Rafa-kids at Dutch Design Week at Crioll

Do you have already plans for the up-coming weekend ? 

What about visiting Eindhoven DDW, 

which become a heart of modern Dutch design from 22 till 30th of October?  

Rafa-kids is presented at the Crioll Designshop. We are so glad to see this lovely set with R toddler bed and L shelf created especially for the event. Cute and sophisticated at the same time. Our furniture is with a great company of our favourite Danish brands : like FermLiving, LuckyBoySunday or Muuto.  As you know I’m not a big fun of pink , but this is just such a playful and modern, toddler’s corner. Thank you Crioll Designshop! You did such a wonderful work. If you are interested in any more of their products, there is a special - 10% OFF on all orders during Dutch Design Week at Crioll. 

Should we say more? 

Dutch Design Week at Crioll Designshop 

from 22 - 30th October

where ?

Bergstraat 43

5611JC Eindhoven

" Eindhoven is the design capital of the world this week,

 presenting the work and ideas of more than 2500 designers."

it is time to go…..

Only one week left and Rafa-kids will fly to Japan. 

Did your read my post about it ?  we-are-going-to-japan

As you can imagine, we need to do a lot of preparations and this is a reason that there will silent on the blog…..but don’t worry. You can still find Rafa-kids on Instagram where I will be more present, also during our exciting trip. I hope to share with you all the beauty of Japan and interesting stories which are in front of us…..

Let’s stay in touch. 

photo credit 1/2

Smallable store in Paris

How many stores you know, that you would like to come back to from time to time and check what’s new in and get inspired ? Stores that look different from the rest and  offer an unique, in own style selection of products ? Well, not that many right ? 

I think, that next time I will be in Paris, I need to discover the brick and mortal freshly opened Smallable store. Looking at the picture made at the end of the last year, still with a bit festive, Christmas vibe, I think the atmosphere is very welcoming and cosy. A big step for a store which for 10 years was  ‘virtual only’ and now dare to create a new experience for their customers. We wish you a great success Smallable ! oh yes, we need to mention that Rafa-kids collection is also presented in the store! Well done. 

Thank you for inspiration! pictures from Instagram - smallable_store

We go to Japan!

I can’t keep this secret any more from you. 

We booked tickets to Japan!  It’s going to be Rafa-kids business trip to visit our partner there - Actus store, but we will also have few days to explore Tokyo and Kyoto. We are so exited! As you can imagine! We are going in Spring time, just beginning of April, so we have a little hope too see the Sacura blossom….I know I know….

It’s a very long time that we both Arek and me, love the Japanese culture. It is not only from our studies time at the university of Architecture, but for me since an early art school actually. It was always a dream to go to this unique place and touch it and feel it in real. When two years ago, we were contacted by the prestigious Actus store from Japan, with an interest in Rafa-kids design, we could not be more happy. I wrote a post about Actus kids collection here.  Rafa-kids beds are in their stores since half a year and we are so ready to learn more about our partner and their culture. 

If you have any tips for us, what we really need to see in Tokyo or Kyoto, please let me know. We are making plans as I speak. I think I will share a lot on our Rafa-kids Instagram in exactly 2 months time, when we will be there. I still can’t believe! 

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. 

the Good Design kids products - Actus store - Japan

This was probably one of the longest break in blogging for me, 3 weeks. I’m afraid that it will be here a little quiet time in the coming weeks, since all our energy is going into Rafa-kids at Maison&Object preparations….but I miss blogging a lot! and I hope I can bring you  more inspiration and great content very soon.

Today I would like to show you one of the most beautiful kids' furniture catalogs I have seen since ages. I found it in my post box few days ago. It was sent to us by our Rafa-kids' Japanese stockist Actus store. This little book has a lot of content that I price itself  : simplicity, playfulness and high quality producst for children: a good design. On each page, 2 images next to each other complete the story of the furniture.  Our Rafa-kids' F&R set of beds is shown next to cute, sleeping baby…should I say more? We are very proud to be presented in this unique catalogue in the other part of the world. 

We are glad to announce that RaFa kids has a stockist in Japan. 

Our beds are available at prestigious ACTUS stores in Tokyo. Rafa-kids is thrilled to have this representative partner on the other site of the world.

Les enfants du design magazine - Summer 2015

Rafa-kids is glad to have a long relation with Les Enfants du Design store in France.  We received a first letter from Sophie Edeine (owner of the store) almost 3 years ago, when Rafa-kids was just a few months old brand. We are thankful to receive support from such a beautiful store. During these years there were up and downs -  believe me, but that’s a part of growing together. 

Yesterday I received a link to their new

  “ Les Enfants du Design “ magazine - Summer 2015

and skim through pages with excitement. The “ Les Enfants du Design “  is such a unique place to get inspiration and to shop design objects for our kids.  In the 1st issue of the magazine ( which is now only in French - but in 10 days will be also in English  ) we can meet the lovely family of Sophie and Thomas Edeine and their 3 kids. The room of little April is just so absolutely adorable. I just wished to see their whole house! Interviews , well selected design and contemporary products for kids…with a personal and well curated hand of Sophie. Well done! 

Rafa-kids at ACTUS - Tokyo

It took me a long time to write this post, since I didn’t know where to start. 

I have a weakness for Japanese culture since my study time. I never had a chance to visit this amazing country, but I always knew it would come one day….Two years ago we had a special visit from Japan in our Rafa-kids’ studio.  ACTUS is a well known representative interior store in Japan, with 40 locations.  They were one of the first stores which imported Scandinavian furniture to Japan and collaborated with many European furniture brands. Their plan was to expand their collection of children's products and Rafa-kids was invited to take part…. We were very exited! 

The new store with design for children opened it’s doors last month. We could not be more proud to see our Rafa-kids’ beds standing in this fresh ACTUS store. There is no way, that we are not going to see it in real, maybe still this year….we will let you know!