The assignment? To outfit a nursery for Paul Bunyon’s baby. My moose-heavy selection is meant as no offense to Babe the Blue Ox, but when I think woodsy - I think moose.
The word “moose” means “twig eater” in Algonquin, a seemingly small name for such a large animal. They grow a majestic rack of antlers every year, an impressive trait countered only by the unfortunate honking noise they make.
Day two in my ode to the alphabet brings us home, in search of lovely lettered furnishings. These are some of my favorites.
Styled after vintage movie theater signage, all 26 letters (and some punctuation) are available in Urban Outfitter’s Marquee Alphabet Lights. Love them.
For more than twenty five years Fishs Eddy has been a NYC institution. A treasure trove of diner inspired cafe ware that, as it happens, includes a line of Alphabet dishes - a type lover’s dream. Right now it’s all on sale (mugs are just $5.48 each!)
Inspired by wooden alphabet blocks, Helen Rawlinson designed and handprints the fabric for these cushions in her East London studio (a converted chocolate factory!). She also offers framed panels of the ABC fabric or the fabric alone for your own projects.
Part signage, part wardrobe, these giant rolling letters by Set 26 open to reveal clever storage.
If you’re at all inclined to tackle ‘do it yourself’ projects, take a look at this simple chair makeover. Alphabet stickers and a fresh coat of paint create the look of embossing - subtle and charming. You’ll find the tutorial here (scroll half way down the post).
Finally, as a fun aside, I wanted to share this image of a furniture typeface created by the ad agency The Butler Bros. (via Josh Spear)
With warmer weather comes thoughts of puttering around outside, considering the task of raking last fall’s leaves (perfectly preserved by the now melted snow), hauling patio furniture up from the basement and bringing the garden gnome out of hibernation. And I can’t help but think that the designer of Pomme’s nightlights had lawn ornaments on the brain when he or she sat down to draft the following luminous beauties. While you’re deciding between the rabbit and the goose, take some time to browse the other offerings of this lovely little shop.
Alright, so if I ever found myself in one of those impossible ‘adult in a kid’s body’ movies (like Freaky Friday or Big) as a six year old with a credit card, I might start filling my room with the following pieces.
DucDuc Alex Bed: available in twin or full with optional toddler rails
There really is something captivating about products created in miniature and children’s furniture is no exception. Hank’s Chairs handcraft exceptional little seats out of a beautiful selection of woods.
Hank says of his craft, “I love working with wood and have become especially fond of making children’s chairs. I enjoy combining different varieties of woods, mixing colors and grains. I also take great pride in using old fashioned techniques that take a while but will ensure that, no matter how much abuse the chairs take, their joins will remain as secure as they day your chair arrives.”
Remember those large chest style toy boxes with the hinged safety lids that sometimes held open and sometimes smashed your little fingers? Ahhh, yet another relic from the old school nursery that probably wouldn’t pass muster today. All the more reason I’m crazy about the Via Toy Box line, a modular system with allot of potential. Created from baltic birch plywood with non-toxic finishes, the boxes are flat packed for shipping and require simple assembly with wood dowels and an allen wrench which is included. The boxes have pre-drilled holes in the sides allowing for easy connect-ability and numerous configurations complemented by a great selection of bases, tops, openings and doors. Choose elements a la carte or pre-configured sets, a selection of which you can see below.
But wait, there’s more! (he says in his best Ron Popeil infomercial voice) There are conversion sets to configure the boxes into a bed, clothing poles for wardrobe set ups and shelves for books between box towers. Select from Via’s standard colors or take advantage of their color matching capabilities to perfectly coordinate with your decor. And my personal favorites are the sets for pretend play which include low play tables and the fantastic looking play ovens (above).
Before you even see Aaron Stewart, Scooter, his trusty companion, will undoubtedly run up and greet you with a bark and a sniff. The latest addition to Aaron’s family, Scooter has become the inspiration for many projects ranging from animations to his charming line of pet shaped pillows.
Aaron also draws inspiration from cartoons and his collection of toys. He is especially fond of really old Japanese toys, but just about any toy will do. He’s collected so many of them in fact that his wife has banned him from buying any more.
Hailing from Wichita, Kansas, Aaron came to New York to attend Parsons School of Design where he graduated with honors in illustration and animation. You can find Aaron, his wife, Kaori, and Scooter at any number of dog runs in downtown Manhattan or in his Brooklyn studio where all of his pillows are handmade. Some of my favorite online stores carry Aaron’s work and can be found here.
And as long as we’re on the subject of cute pets I thinks it’s a good time for a funny puppies video. If your browser doesn’t support YouTube videos you can also view it here.
How beautiful is the Studio Crib by Nurseryworks? Zebra Mozambique wood frame, strong architectural lines, adjustable height mattress, under crib drawer, changing table hideaway cabinet and the whole thing converts to a toddler bed with built-in desk. Of course the whole setup has me humming like a fiddler, “oh, if I were a rich man…” With a price tag of close to $2,000. it’s not necessarily design for the masses but it sure is pretty.
Well, I have to confess I got a little out of control with this post. What started as a small survey of non-traditional color nursery bedding quickly expanded when I kept stumbling into great orange colored products over at Modern Nursery. Orange? I know. The new black? Mmmm…doubtful, but I am happy to see another member of the ROY G BIV family take center stage. This sunny color, properly applied, makes for kid quarters that are absolutely cheerful. A full dose of vitamin C.
Forgive for not linking to every single product below, but considering they’re all from the same shop I’ve linked you to the corresponding category so they shouldn’t be hard to find.
I’m a big fan of Public Design, a California based small company with a successful knack for compiling furniture and home goods that are sleek, modern and completely livable at the same time. Rocking chairs have long been a nursery staple and PD has curated a nice selection for little and big kids.
The first four rockers listed below are kiddo sized, the OFFI Rockabye having the added advantage of bonus storage. The Nurseryworks Storytime is a full on two seater and its younger sibling the Sleepytime is wide enough for a nursing mother or parent and toddler - and look at the wooden rockers on this one, a beautiful Danish modern flair. And then the Blu Dot Buttercup is clearly an adult scale rocker, not as cushy as the others, but oh so pretty. The kid rockers range in price from $89. to $190., and they all qualify for free shipping.
Clearly not a member of the rocking chair family, I couldn’t help but share the Thomas Wold Mushroom Forest Coffee Table. Technically a coffee table, but if you can swing the steep price tag ($985.) how cool would this look in a kid’s room! Thanks to our pals at notcot.org for turning us on to this find.
