As Seen On: Mod Mom
Keeping the toys picked up is one thing, but what you put them away in is something completely different. That's why we love Mod Mom Furniture. Kiersten, an L.A. mother of two, started building furniture after she quit her job as a TV executive to stay home with her kids. She uses Baltic birch and birch ply to create her modern designs that you aren't embarrassed to keep in any room. The Mod Combo above has an optional organic-style veneer applique. The center compartment is perfect for stashing and the shelves are great for books.
The Building Block Play Table is an all-in-one play piece: a seat, canisters for the stray legos, a hidden cabinet, and wheelies to slide it away after play is over. Kiersten also does a design like this with a kitchen set.
unfortunately, she has also heavily borrowed [i.e. stole] most of her designs from other designers currently selling their products on the limited modern baby furnishings market [and then slightly undercutting their pricing]. greg took her to task here:
http://daddytypes.com/2007/07/11/mod_mom_furniture_applies_lessons_of_digital_video_revolution_to_kids_furniture.php
Speaking from my experience as an intellectual property lawyer, she's fucking crazy, and, as greg pointed out, if you're going to steal other people's ideas, there are plenty of wonderful old modern designs no longer being manufactured that would be welcomed right now.
She'll probably show up here with the whole, "I'm just a mom with a band saw in my garage" song and dance, but don't buy it. And don't buy her stuff either.
Thanks for posting a great article about Mod Mom Furniture. As you will see from my storefront, things change quite a bit as I gain more confidence in the design aspect of the job. Contrary to what Sweet Juniper says, I'm not in this to take over or ruin other large design firms. I am learning along the way, coming up with new designs that are inspired by the mid-century movement and hoping to sell a box or two a month. Check out www.modmomfurniture.etsy.com for my latest offerings -- I just posted a new computer desk!
Kiersten
Really now, F**king? On a children/family focused blog? Let's be adults here for peet's sake. Have you actually seen this stuff in person Juniper? I have actually purchased a few (original) items from Modmom and they're stellar. We need more people actually doing great work and less people complaining about it. As for the "hipster" dads on daddytypes; I invite them to see the goods for themselves. Then again, they're probably too busy being cool in some dumpy echo park coffee house listening to whatever Nick Hartcourt is selling these days...
I never said modmom was trying to take over or ruin existing design houses---she needs to reread my comment and take a step back, call off her dogs---I mean friends---and really consider the criticisms that have been leveled against her.
if modmom had actually come up with her own designs, no one would be criticizing her---everyone would be praising her and encouraging people to buy her stuff. Modmom made a very cowardly and pathetic choice to ape, copy, steal, rip-off (however you want to put it) the designs of others. again, greg laid it out---I'm just making sure that the people here at cookie understand that when they promote modmom they are promoting a woman who steals designs of others and undercuts their pricing.
Please take some of that energy you and your cronies use to defend yourself, Modmom, and design some products yourself. if you have the talent.
Maybe that's the real problem, eh?
I'd like people to know that I AM designing original pieces -- the mid-century toy box, the building blocks table, the kitchen, the table top with lazy susan, the computer desk. None of which I know to be anywhere else on the market.
While some of the first pieces I created did look similar to pieces on the market, they were just that. First pieces. If you are a "designer," you develop new ideas as you become more experienced with the mechanics of building and designing as time goes on. And that's what I'm doing.
I'm a mom without a design degree who comes up with moderately priced modern kids' furniture based on what my kids need and what I hear from other moms and dads. Sure I'm influenced by modern/mid-century design, but then again....isn't that what this whole mod/mid-century furniture business is about?
I am VERY MUCH AWARE of the laws of modern furniture NOW and am striving to make everything I build different from what I see on the market.
My hope is that, if you read these comments, you will make a decision based on what you see on my online store.
There is no malicious intent here. I simply enjoy building handmade furniture and am lucky enough to be able to sell it at more moderate prices and still make a profit. I price them based on what I know I could afford to spend and what my friends are spending.
Stolen design? It is a box with hinges and casters for all practical purposes. The one thing that mod mom has done is really nice inlay, have you done any inlay work? It takes talent, patience and creative design. I'm just happy to see an American producing something besides debt, keep up the good work.