You are my star and 2 weeks break

Are you also so busy ? 

The days seem to short to me and there is so many things to plan and to do.  My “ To Do List” is growing every day instead of getting shorter. Do I do something wrong?  On Friday 18th I will take a 2 weeks real break to enjoy my family and friends.  ‘Off is a new luxury’ don’t you agree?   I need so badly to just be present in my life, to switch off and to recharge my batteries for the new start of the year. Following my obsession with blue at the moment, hereby few inspiring ideas created by Anke Helmich from Studio StyleCookie / photo's by Dana van Leeuwen.  

and the winner is…..

Thank you so much for your time to take a part in my giveaway and your feed back, I really like it! 

The happy winner is number 4.  Congratulation Karen! 

Could you please send me your address to info@rafa-kids.com so the warm blanket will be on time with you and your kids?  

The most interesting message for me was that many of you wish to see more from my creative process and what interests and motivates me. That’s a very nice surprise! I’ve also got privet messages with tips, which gave me a great boost. New year is around the corner and it feels like ‘the wind of change’ .

Thank you again for staying with me and sharing my journey. 

Monday inspiration: built-in beds in children’s rooms

I’m trying to get back to you regularly on Mondays with inspiration for children’s rooms. 

Today, I would like to convince you that the built-in furniture is interesting not only for small spaces. I will even suggest to try to build it in a big room, especially beds or cupboards, to make a cosy corner for a child.  What do you think about a little niche, like the one on the first picture? What we need to accept, is the fact, that it will be difficult to change it when the child will grow and there is no chance to move it around when we would like to try something new… A bigger size bed, like 200cm long can by used for many years and also more simple design would be easier to use longer. Of course it's a smart way to use space, but also a great challenge to all off you who like to do things by hand. 

Thank you for pictures and inspiration : 1 - 2 /3 /4 - 5 / 6 / 7 /8

Living in an old school

I have  a new dream. I would like to move to a new place….and not just ‘a place’ I would mostly like to adopt an old school for a new home for our family. High ceilings, big windows and character of old details, it is something that speaks to me a lot. I’m showing you today an example of amazing adaptation of free standing school in the countryside close to Amsterdam. I’m not surprised that Viviën en Robin fell for this space and put all their energy to create this amazing 300m2 new home for their family. Pictures are made by Jansje Klazinga , styling by Suzanne de Jong. 

Thank you for the pictures: ensuus -binnenkijken-vtwonen-dorpsschool

I do not want to move out of Rotterdam, so I’m looking for an old school in our reach. Happily there are few projects run by city of Rotterdam including adopting old buildings. The old schools which are not in use any more are a great option for creating a new apartment for people who are looking for something unique. We already visited two of the schools and are so exited! …. Of course it’s a long and a challenging way to get it, but we are very determined. Hereby few pictures from one of the schools, we really like. 

Owl Wool Blanket - Giveaway

The year 2015 is very close to an end and this make me always very sentimental.  I’m blogging since March 2011 and I noticed that the year 2015 was the most quiet one with the smallest number of posts. I think my busy working days are taking me away from here.  Since I work with a lot of intuition and spontaneously, I never have a strong planning when I should post or which subject should I select. I like to share what’s inspire me and what Rafa-kids is up to at the moment. 

I wish to change many things out here, not only the graphics look ( which is a bit out of date)  but also the content. That’s why I decided to give this beautiful NEW Owl on the Moon Wool Blanket to one of my readers. I know there is many of you, taking time to visit me here every week….so I would like to hear you. 

Please leave a comment, telling me what you like at my blog and what do you miss?

 Maybe there is something you can’t stand?  Would you like to see more behind the scene pictures of Rafa-kids ? A bit more of my own life ?  Do you like mostly children’s room inspirations. Do you look for any specific subject?  I’m open to hear what you like. Every comment is very important to me and I will take it into account. 

The Giveaway will be run from 1 till 8 December 2015. 

Please have a seat in this cosy corner and talk to me…

Creative children’s spaces

Few days ago I was so lucky to find in my post box this wonderful book ‘ Creative Children’s Spaces’ by Ashlyn Gibson. As you can imagine going through all the pages made me very exited!  

Most of the houses the stylist and author of the book Ashlyn Gibson selected and visited with photographer Ben Robertson are not know in the online word.  This makes the content of this book very fresh and unique.  You can also be sure, that the houses are not changed by the stylist, who is trying to show us specific image or product. They take us like a little spy, to watch the real homes and their families.  Dynamic, personal and creative environments which are beautifully captured by photographer Ben Robertson . I had hard time to select pictures to show you. 

Each page is just full of ideas and little details, which you would like to watch, and watch again.  The author Ashlyn discusses the key elements of successful and inspiring children’s spaces: colour, wall décor, storage, display, dens and hideaways, creative spaces plus homework zones, and cozy bedrooms. We are very touched to also see our Rafa-kids R toddler bed in one of the houses! 

Images from Creative Children’s Spaces by Ashlyn Gibson, 

photography by Ben Robertson, published by Ryland Peters & Small  

available at : rylandpeters.com/creative-childrens-spaces 

Les Enfants du Design - special Noël

It’s only one month left for the special Christmas time. 

Are you feeling exited ? I’m totally not in the spirit yet, but I notice the online children’s stores are in the mood already to help us to find the perfect gifts for our loved ones. One of my favourite stores: Les Enfants du Design,  just lunched their Christmas guide with stylish and beautiful products. Well curated and inspiring children toys and accessories for our home deco. The catalogue adds a bit of glitter and some french chic into our world…do you mind? 

Take a cup of tea, hide in a nice corner of your home and have a look: lesenfantsdudesign/docs/magazine-noel-2015

Monday inspiration - gold ochre in children’s room

I think you have already noticed that my blog is taken by the Autumn colours and atmosphere. 

Gold, mustard, gold ochre…

that’s the new tones suggested to be added to our wardrobe and home. Do you like this trend ? I’m still not sure if the golden ochre will become one of my favourite colours. From one side it is very calm and cosy colour but on the other side I think it always needs some company. It is going very well with different tones of pastels, like pink which gives it more life and with a touch of grey and blues becomes very sophisticated. I really like this children room created by Ensuus and the way she combined the gold ochre wall paint with kids accessories. Playful but at the same time not so childish any more, and a pleasure to look at. Would you be there to choose the mustard bedding for this winter season? Or just a warm wool blanket or sweeter would be sufficient ? 

Thank you for the inspiration /  pictures are from : 1  -  2 -  3 - (4  - 5)  - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9