Panton Junior, Amoebe, Hang It All, Elihu the Elephant, Vitra; Children’s Table round, Wall Shelf 112, Artek

H-Horse, Kartell

Words from the book author Agata Toromanoff :

“ … As many parents know, decorating and furnishing a child’s room can be both a pleasure and a problem: you have somehow to find a balance between practicality, playfulness, comfort, safety, originality, and making the most of the space available. 

Some of the world’s best-known designers and design companies have risen to the challenge of creating furniture and accessories specifically for children. Rather than being merely scaled-down adult designs, the best designs for children should respond to their express needs: as well as being durable, safe, and easy to clean, they should nurture a child’s development and encourage creativity and the use of imagination….” 

(…) Whether you are a style-conscious parent seeking ideas for a functional yet fun nursery, bedroom, playroom or study, a design professional or simply a fan of contemporary design, this is an enchanting survey of excellent, clever, child-friendly design.” 

Rafa-kids believes in a timeless Good Design for children. 

After becoming parents, we started to discover the world of Children’s Design, and I have to confess, it was not a very positive journey! Most of the furniture for children on the market was below my aesthetic standards and expectations. This was one reason I started writing a Rafa-kids blog in 2011, to show well-designed products for kids.  If you are interested, there are plenty of articles focusing on Design For Children, which I believe never gets old 😉 Rafa-kids’ old Blog is here. 

I’m very excited to hold a publication dedicated to Design for Children in my hands. The selection of products is made by Agata Toromanoff, it’s a mix of old design classics and modern additions created recently by a few brands on the market. 

Modern Design Kids Furniture

You might know Vitra’s classic design objects, like Hang It All pop coat rack by Charles and Ray Eames or the playful Elephant. Artek has the iconic Alvar Aalto’s Children’s Table and chair, a simple, timeless design classic. The soft lines of Panton Junior Chairs are something we recognize straight away too. 

There is a slight movement in the Design for the Children’s sector, which you can read in this exciting Salone del Mobile Milano article.

Large Brands like Alessi and Kartell asked designers to create unique kids’ edition products. Kartell teamed up with Nendo, which designed H-Horse, a rocking horse inspired by structural materials used in urban architecture. On the other hand, Allessi teamed up with a Dutch architect UNStudio and created Dorff. A playful and iconic toy and chair in one, in funny Dog & Giraffe shape. They were made of recycled thermoplastic resin. I believe it’s only a drop in the ocean, and hopefully, we will see more exciting designs on the market for the little ones. 

Table and Chair CH410, Hans J.Wagner, 1944, Carl Hansen & Son

I hope you have noticed that Rafa-kids R toddler bed is on the cover of the Designs for Children book.

It’s my favourite piece of furniture in our collection. Why? Rafa-kids created a bed which is cute and playful and at the same time elegant. It’s a win-win for parents and children. It’s iconic because the wheel and the size are perfect for toddlers. It’s a bed your child will remember, even when it gets older. Trust us! 

What else got a spot in this Book? Rafa-kids XL shelf. It’s another design piece which will transform any boring wall and get all the eyes on it. It can be used not only in children’s rooms, of course! You can easily hang it in the parent’s bedroom, the hallway, or the living room. And that’s what we like! 

Book Designs for Children: Furniture, Accessories & Toys

Publisher:  MERRELL