Introducing the HiLo chair. A colourful, dual height chair that will keep toddlers well seated from 6 months to 6 years. Unlike any other, with one easy manoeuvre, the chair conveniently swivels from high-chair to an under-table chair. A one-piece molded plastic seat is held together by wild cherry wood folding legs. There’s a raised tray lip to stop bowls and cups flying. And the crotch bar helps baby stay put. It’s an attractive more functional version of the humble high-chair which comes in six refreshing colours of Asparagus, Carrot, Portobello, Rasberry, Chocolate and Blueberry.

HiLo Chair, Age Design, from C$300. Age Design

Lisa created Kiki & Polly after she was inspired by her own desire to capture the dreamy days of her children’s adventures and document them in a manner fit for a gallery. The very name speaks of a child’s fantastic perspective that can fade with age; Kiki is the nickname bestowed to a local bird by her daughter that appears in their family yard, and Polly is her imaginary best friend.

Lisa’s unique portraits transform the transient childhood delights of birthday parties, garden flowers and paper planes into endearing pieces of art, preserving the joy of a moment for a lifetime.

As well as line art, Lisa offers a more “classic” portrait incorporating your child’s face on an acrylic painting with your choice of setting. Your littlie can star as a sailor on the high seas or jumping puddles in bright gum boots; siblings can share the stage on a tandem bicycle.

To see more of this stunning range, visit Kiki & Polly then send in your child’s picture and wait for the magical art world of Kiki & Polly to come to life.

We all remember our childhood furniture. But you don’t have to go scrambling through the attic to recover those lost gems – French company Laurette offers a unique vintage-inspired collection that recall the colours and atmosphere of those earlier years. The geometric bed shown here is inspired by the work of early 20th century Spanish artist Juan Gris. True to Laurette’s philosophy of timeless and functional furniture, it can also be customised to fit two storage drawers underneath.We all remember our childhood furniture. But you don’t have to go scrambling through the attic to recover those lost
gems – French company Laurette offers a unique vintage-inspired collection that recall the colours and atmosphere of those earlier years. The geometric bed shown here is inspired by the work of early 20th century Spanish artist Juan Gris. True to Laurette’s philosophy of timeless and functional furniture, it can also be customised to fit two storage drawers underneath.

See Laurette’s complete range at laurette-deco.com

Featuring designs from Ercol, Casalino, Thonet, Rietveld and Bertoia, Molly-Meg’s range includes colourful school chairs, folding deckchairs, classic Bentwoods, hand-crafted rocking horses, stripy rattans and sculptured plastic – all perfectly child-size. If you’re lucky you can pick up a whole set or a matching pair, but most are single collector’s items only. And, as usual with vintage fare, it’s first in best-dressed. If you see something you like, snap it up while you can.

Founder Molly-Meg Price originally worked as a children’s clothes designer, but it’s clear that her real love is for vintage design objects. Specialising in children’s furniture from the 1950s to the present, Molly-Meg aims to show that good design is not just for adults and that it’s never too early to instill a sense of style in your child. (Not that you need an excuse to buy an iconic designer piece!).

The Molly-Meg range also includes artwork, stationery and toys, but it is the stunning children’s chairs that are the real stars of the show. Take a look. You’ll find them truly hard to resist.

Molly-Meg’s range of vintage designer children’s chairs can be found at Molly Meg.

Has your art changed since you’ve returned to Japan?
I don’t see obvious changes in subjects that I draw but one thing I’ve got better at is drawing the postures of the characters, how they stand, how they sit and move. I learned it from my baby.

Have you seen a giant panda bear from the back? They are such a character. It’s a very similar silhouette to babies – cute, but also funny looking. And I love that now I can draw them easily.

What are the differences between working in New York and Tokyo?
I haven’t painted in a client’s home in Japan yet. The projects I have done are all for business, nursery schools, trade shows, a paint shop etc. I am still looking for the crowd that lets me paint for their personal homes. That’s what I love the most.

Though, homes here are usually so small and not yet as sophisticated as NYC homes. So I am hoping I could be one of the inspirations for them! A good thing about Japan is that I work with my first language. Which makes communications and promotions easy and smooth. I am amazed that I am pretty good at it in Japanese.

Do your Tokyo clients want different things from your American clients?
Not so far. I think clients here want the touch of American from me, since my approach, “painting murals for the kids room” is very American to them. Nobody paints the wall here.

How do you create your designs? Do you work with the client, or to a brief or do you get free rein?
I always start with interviewing clients for what they are thinking and wanting. Everybody has some ideas for how the space should be – some could be just an idea for the colour, and some could have a subject in mind. Either way, I am there to make their dream come true. I try my best to make whatever they want into a sweet design. I feel free too since clients ask me knowing my style now. It was different in the beginning. So I feel super thankful.

Where do your imaginative figures come from?
Intuition! I get the best ideas when my Uni Ball point pen moves freely without thinking.

amisuma.com

READ THE FULL STORY
See our complete interview with Ami Suma in LMNOP Magazine, Issue 16.
Download it now

When it comes to designing the perfect room for your child, inspiration is at hand. Susan Salk, New York designer and former projects editor of House & Garden has collected over 200 photographs showcasing some of the best kids’ rooms around the world. Room for Children: Stylish Spaces for Sleep and Play is awash with fabulous, magical creations for babies, toddlers and older children.

Salk selected interiors which were practical as well as beautiful. “The rooms had to feel as much about the children and the family as they did about the designer,” she says. “The designers’ work I pulled from were all those whom I admired immensely.”

The collection ranges widely across countries, ages and tastes. Salk also reminds us that a lot can be achieved with a small budget. “Find some jazzy paint colour, a great rug and some elegant curtains or fabric to create the special nooks they love to sleep, play and work in.”

Room for Children: Stylish Spaces for Sleep and Play by Susan Salk,
Rizzoli New York, US$29.70 Amazon

DOWNLOAD THE FULL STORY – ISSUE 12

Images courtesy of Rizzoli International Publications, Inc.

Sick of the gaolbird view of bub in bed? Local outfit Ubabub knows where you’re coming from. Their sleek and stylish range of cots and nursery furniture has lifted the bar when it comes to modern aesthetics. Like the cocoon-shaped Pod. Clever features include innovative clear acrylic sides that give you unimpeded viewing of its precious cargo and the ability to turn into a toddler bed when the time is right. Already a winner with design-conscious families in Australia, Ubabub is now wowing them Stateside. Stay tuned for more innovations in 2012.

ubabub.com

Elizabeth Soule’s “The Little Zoo” celebrates and cherishes our animal friends with a stackable photographic series of wooden box frames. This quirky, intimate collection of animal personalities, will leave you with a difficult decision – which pet do I take home?

Each portrait is created using a Polaroid SX-70 camera, then polaroids are scanned and matched to the original. Printed images are carefully mounted on wooden box frames, which have been stained dark walnut. UV protected and coated in a sealant, finished frames measure 5”x 5”x 2”, 6”x 6”x 2” and 8”x 8”x 2”. An enchanting series preserving some of life’s most precious creatures.

The Little Zoo collection by Elizabeth Soule, from US$25, E.Soule

Think chalkboards and you think black or green. Stop right there. Hudson Paints have brought out a multi-coloured range of Chalkboard Paints, so you can create bold, bright chalkboards, wherever you want. Easy to apply with a brush or roller, simply splash the paint onto a fridge door, wall or bedroom cupboard. With a colour range to fire up imaginations – Superboy Blue, Star Supernova and Genius Pink Genius – we suggest you splash out and grab the entire palette.

Chalkboard Paint, Hudson Paint, US$24.99/Quart. Hudson Paint

There’s no bigger news than the birth of your new baby. And there’s no bigger platform than the Web. Thanks to Nursery Notice, you can quickly and easily create your own designer website to tell everyone you know about the event that rocked your world.

Founder and designer Liz Haldeman has created a range of chic, modern design templates to get you started. Once you’ve chosen your ‘look’, you can personalise it with your baby’s first photos, vital statistics and more. The interactive guestbook feature lets your well-wishers post their congrats.

Even better, you can create a recipient list so the news is delivered direct to their inboxes mere moments after your baby is delivered to your arms.

Want more info? Visit nurserynotice.com