Rugs for children's room - Lorena Canals

I’m not a fan of rugs, but when it comes to a children’s rooms - they are simply a ‘must have’. Children love to play on the floor and as parents, we would like to keep their feet and knees soft and cosy, right ? If I could choose, I will always go for good quality, plain colour rug, and that’s all, but as we know,  the plain rugs, are the ones which needs the most care to keep them fresh and clean. It is definitely more practical to get a rug for children’s room with a bit of a pattern on it. 

I discovered very recently the Lorena Canals rugs, and really like them. Not only the simple design, but also the great idea, that you can just drop them into your washing machine, how great is that ? Lorena Canals , create this nice boho vibe around their rugs, with nice baskets and blankets with pom-pons - so fun and playful for kids rooms. I think they can be spread around the house too, for the cosy and relaxed vibe. 

Fashion for boys | part 3 | Green Summer

Fashion brands are launching their new collections for Spring/Summer one after another. I try to see some light in the tunnel and find my favourite ones and also collect the common trends. Botanical trend is not a new one, it is also very popular in the interior deco at the moment. We see a lot of greenery and plants getting into our homes and that’s definitely good for our well being.  GREEN colour is chosen by Panton as the colour trend for 2017. Well, I need to admit, that I do like plants around me but painting a wall or getting a green sofa, it’s something else but who knows ?  Today I’m showing you the new Scotch-Soda  collection for boys. Do you like it ? I selected few of my favourite items, which I would love to get for my older, 10 years old son. It feels like holidays, right ? Let’s keep dreaming about them….

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Trip to Copenhagen and Høst

I’m just back from a little trip to Copenhagen where Rafa-kids furniture were presented at CIFFkids fair on the Fabelab stand. Any excuse is good to visit this beautiful city. It was such a fresh and cold weather and I managed to look around the center and step by some stores and coffee bars. One of my ‘must see’ visits this time was famous Høst Restaurant designed by Norm Architects. 

It is already 4 years old, and won many international design awards…but well, I wanted to see it myself. What I like the most is the combination of the imperfect materials like recycled wood, aged concrete, steel, next to some warm wool of the blankets, greenery and delicate modern light. The old wooden ceiling and the not perfect walls, give such a relaxed and cosy atmosphere. The neighbourhood is also nice with a big park, food markets and plenty of space to breath. Probably even more beautiful during warm days, when you can sit outside. I will be back! 

Photos from Norm Architects website / Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen

Out and About

Remember my first post about Friday’s ‘Out and About’ ? Each Friday we would like to go and discover some new places and recharge our batteries and get inspired. Today I would like to show you our last outing.  We went to Amsterdam, to see the fourth edition of pop up event called : The Loft. This event is created by interior design agency, with passion for design in the field of furniture, arts, accessories and curiosa. Everything in the space is curated with an eye for the smallest details. 

Directly from a busy street in the heart of Amsterdam we climbed the 3floor of the building to Enter The Loft. I wasn’t sure where to look! From the beautiful windows with views I could stare for hours - big garden behind the Amsterdam’s canal houses and on the other  site historical brickwork of Bijnekorf , the most prestigious warehouse of the city….then there was the loft. It belongs to  ‘Miss Bare’ as each pop up interior is dedicated to  an imaginary person. This time it was a divorced women, her kids lived already independent ( this we had chance to know during our visit). We really like the serene atmosphere and reach textures of all the minimalistic objects. My favourite was the contras between the dark, sleek kitchen with marble top, put next to the ‘imperfect’ and relax table set with chairs. The pictures above the kitchen made it very monumental, but the rustic and romantic table - softened the whole.  Living in one open floor plan with kids is not an option I think, but maybe one day we could move in such a relaxed and free space. I really would not mind. 

Pictures for the post from The-loft-pop-up and Rafa-kids. 

Easton's Nursery with Rafa-kids L shelf

Don’t you just adore this beautiful Easton's nursery room ? Minimalistic, modern and cosy at the same time. This wallpaper is so adorable! Belinda from Topknotmum, did such a wonderful work for her son. It’s good to see, that if it comes to a first baby space, we don’t need too many elements, to create serene nursery room. I know, it is so tempting to spend too much money, when we expect a child and would like all the best possible, but accully we really don’t need that much. And believe me, each year, many toys and accessories will pop in into this room,  even if we don’t want to…. Let’s start it as simple as possible, what do you think ?

I’m also so glad to show you for the first time, that Rafa-kids furniture can be used for a nursery room, and grow with the child. The L shelf can be used above commode for more practical reason, or like in Easton's nursery, to give a special place for all the favourite and special first belongings of a baby. When Easton will grow, his mom can just simply change all the elements and give the L shelf totally different look…and Easton will be probably soon hanging his own clothes there to.

Danish Design - Luckyboysunday

Remember my post about “ Marsala colour trend in children’s rooms “ ? 

Well, it’s looking like we will see more of it in 2017.  I just got in my post-box news from Danish brand Luckyboysunday and ohhh yes! Their new Cuddles and pillows are touched by a splash of Marsala. Do you like it? I think the combination with pink is my favourite, it looks so sophisticated and modern. I adore work of LuckyBoysSunday for ages.  Their products have this weird look, a bit of edgy but fun. You just can’t pass by, becouse it is good to be different , right ? 

Need for a change

Welcome in New Year! I hope you’ve had a great start of 2017. 

I am still very much in the mood of planing, dreaming and taking some important decisions for this year. It is one of my favourite times of the year, when it feels like a new start and a 12 months seems like long, open time to fulfil….well , at least that’s what I hope for.

It is winter for many of us, and we are still waiting for some snowy days out here. At the same time we are all about summer vibes and new collections showing up here and there. Today I’m bringing you a bit of sun from Nepal and beautiful products made by Muskhane. We are so glad to cary at Rafa-kids some of their soft colourfu pillows and the Grizzly carpet is our customers favourite at the moment. We will bring you even more beauty and inspiration this year. I promise. This is just a start! 

Rafa-kids - 2016 - Thank you

The year 2016 is going to end soon.  It was a wonderful year for our brand and we are so exited,

to come back and see again some of  Rafa-kids’ favourite moments. 

We started a new year in WHITE, clean and stylish way. 

After a great success of  R toddler bed in limited WHITE edition in 2015, it was time to introduce this finish to the rest of the collection. The new white collection is absolutely stunning. We don’t quite understand why we waited so long to do it! 

In April, Rafa-kids packed not only suitcases but our hearts and flew to Japan. 

We finally had chance to see stores of our Japanese partner Actus and spent a wonderful time in this magic country. It was a dream trip and you can read about it HERE, HERE and HERE. 

Just before Summer break Rafa-kids was glad to present NEW family members

  B bench and BB bench. 

We created this bench as an addition to our Rafa-kids F bunk bed. Fitting exactly between the ladder legs as a new siting/reading possibility for children. But of course this little bench can also be explored and used free standing in so many ways around the house. 

The minimalistic and elegant Benches received such a wonderful welcome and were almost straight away sent for few very exited photo shoots. One of them was Zara Mini Winter-Campainge and a publication in Australia’s Inside Out Magazine. This amazing Ballet girl’s room was created by Jessica Hanson and Sam Mcadam-Coopper. Could we asked for more ? 

We welcomed our second Lookbook - RAFA-kids SHELF collection 2016

designed by Asia Gwis - Kawka. 

Rafa-kids loves to collaborate with other creatives and see our furniture in well curated spaces and campaigns. The K desk was used for a photoshoot campaign of Makii brand offering Playful wall stickers for children. It’s also a brand from Rotterdam, so it is so nice to support our local collagues. 

Styling was created by Cynthia Schrijver. 

And what do you think about our K desk in black with Brabantia minimalistic bin ? 

  We are so proud to be selected for this pictures as we adore the work of  Studioaandacht. 

In September Rafa-kids studio opened doors for public for the first time. It was great to welcome and talk with people who normally pass by every day and never have a chance to meet us.  Normally our studio is only open on appointment, as we use it mostly as a creative space, where we make photo sessions and dream up new designs. It was a nice experience, which we need to do more often in 2017.   

One of the biggest steps Rafa-kids made in 2016 was the decision to enlarge our stock and move it to a professional warehouse helping us since than to ship the orders. After the Summer we could finally say that we have ALL OUR FURNITURE directly available and delivered worldwide within a week time.

Our customers kept asking us about a bigger size of our classic A teen bed. We had doubts if this elegant, simple design will look good in a wider version, but we are so glad we did it at the end. Now we have 3 sizes of A teen bed - narrow A teen bed fitting under F bunk bed, a standard 90cm and wide 120cm bed. Now our customers can always find something suited to their specific needs. 

and we are ending the year in White mood as we started it….

Please welcome White Benches and Shelves. The white furniture is such a good base for modern interiors. We like so much to imagine children’s rooms with different sets to inspire our customers and to show how playful our collection is. 

We would like to Thank you for all your support and being with us. 

Rafa-kids is growing each year and this journey is such an amazing experience. 

In 2017 we will celebrate 5th anniversary and we will do it in a special way - we promise.

We have many exiting plans and we are ready to bring you new adventures and new dreams! 

If you didn’t have chance to see us before - it’s us - Agata and Arek and our boys Frank and Robert. 

We are captured here at our home by photographer Nicoline Rodenburg. She makes reportages for Blijwonen Blog which features creative people living in Rotterdam.  We took part in an little interview by Priscilla de Putter, which you can read HERE.  The girls are working also on a book, which maybe will be realised next year. Fingers crossed. 

If you would like to see other Rafa-kids years here they are :

 2015 - 2014 - 2013 

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