Friday, 26 December 2014

Rafa-kids - year 2014 - thank you

K desk + x stool Rafa-kids


The year 2014 is going to end soon.  
Do you want to look back with us and see some of  Rafa-kids favourite moments?

The new year always gives us a boost of energy and we started the 2014 with testing, brain storming for our new design. In May we got the first prototype K desk and X stool and with new pictures  made in our studio, were proud to launch it.  It looks so simple but there is many months of hard work and design, behind this beautiful piece.  

K desk + x stool Rafa-kids





In summer 2013 our house was photographed, but it took a year before we finally could see the publication. We rebuilt and redesigned many elements of the house, also the first Rafa-kids’ bed was made for it few years ago. Since the boys outgrew the bunk bed this summer, and we had to change it, this magazine’s photos of the boy’s room are even more special for us. 

house of the Rafa-kids owners
house of the Rafa-kids owners - boys room with the bunk bed
pictures  | Souraya Hassan



We have had the honour of receiving the Junior Design Awards 2014
 for Best Furniture Collection, SHORTLISTED.

good design kids product acts milk japan

RaFa kids was selected for a very unique project in Japan! 

Blueprint is a new collaboration between a lifestyle brand ACTUS and Kids' magazine MilK Japon
They have started this new project to present a selection of children's furniture under a theme "Good Design Kids Products" As a first step 12 Japanese and International designers were selected for their personality, abilities, concept and outstanding designs. Their products were presented at the first design event taking place in Tokyo in September in Futako Tamagawa Rise/Galleria.

good design kids product acts milk japan excision in tokyo
good design kids product acts milk japan excision in tokyo

Which is an fascinating new social media and wonderful community. It gives us a chance to see our furniture in different parts of the world, starting from England, France, The Netherlands…and fly above the ocean to Australia or America. We are learning how to share with you our every day work and inspiration. 

rafakids on instagram
rafakids on instagram

We are so touched to see our beds in real children’s rooms , with their own personal toys and style. 
We always like to hear our customers’ feedback and stories. We started Rafa-kids customer reviews on our website, to share so many nice words about our products with others. 

R toddler bed rafa-kids in child room in malmo
picture  | pauletpaula
R toddler bed rafa-kids in child room in Australia
picture  | catherineandgrace
A teen bed rafa-kids in child room in Australia
picture  | thelittledesigncorner

We like to work in our studio a lot. 
Doesn’t matter so much if we need to make a new product photo of a basket or bedding, or to style the whole child’s room with our Rafa-kids furniture

K desk black and F bunk bed whitewash rafa-kids
rafa-kids studio in Rotterdam

Our K desk was welcomed so well in the press in 2014 : 
but we also get in our hands two new books with our design. How special is that! 
“Kids’ design”  is coming from braun-publishing in Switzerland featuring many wonderful kids’ design products of our time. I was writing about it here: braun-publishing - kids-design

kids' design book
kids' design book


In the summer we had a special visit of a photographer Kiyomi Yui with her husband. They worked for a visual book about Dutch kids’ room and the spaces for children.  21 rooms were selected for the publication, and our boy’s room was one of them! My older son is so proud of it that he shows this book to all his colleagues. 
The book is available at amazon here: amazon.co.jp
and it is absolutely unique to see the selection of Dutch kids’ rooms. You will find colourful, playful, full of creative DIY ideas for kids’ rooms out there. 

dutch children's rooms book
at home of Rafa-kids owners
book about children's rooms in The Netherlands

The Autumn came to Rafa-kids with a new linen, baskets and blanket collection
We would like to keep cosy and warm with style this winter. 

linen collection at Rafa-kids
beds for kids sharing one room - Rafa-kids F&A set whitewash

We look back and see a good year but we are ready to fight for more! 
We had many up and down moments too,  struggling this year mainly with productions issues, not enough stock, but we are happy to tackle the issues and start freshly the new year. 

We would like to thank this year especially:  

Our Rafa-kids’ blog visitors, who reach almost 22.000 every month, and we hope to keep you inspired in 2015. The blog community has supported us a lot this year, featuring our designs, which we appreciate a lot.  
Just to mention few:  

Last but not the least we would like to thank all our clients 
for their trust and support of our family brand. 

We hope to grow and bring even more beautiful and well designed products for our kids!
thank you note
If you are interested: