In an age of computerized toys who all but play themselves, we're refreshed to find two that leave most everything to the imagination. Refined updates on the fridge-box forts of yore, the cardboard stove and washing machine by Italian design group Nume arrive flat and bare, inviting the personal touch of their new owners. Pretend cake never tasted so good. $42 each at Pomme.
Photograph by Andrea Chu
Speaking of green, we are loving the new book When Santa Turned Green. In the story, the North Pole starts to melt because of global warming. Santa jumps into action to make his workshop eco-friendly, and asks kids to help him take care of the earth. Besides having a great message, the book has such cute illustrations that it will surely inspire lots of little Santa fans.
The just-launched EVO is a site for all things green, including more than 5,000 guaranteed lead-free and nontoxic toys. The site prescreens all its products, which also includes clothing and beauty items, and each is given an EVO green rating. Why not do a little guilt-free holiday shopping?
With the holidays just around the corner, it's time to think about those family photo christmas cards again. Sure, there are lots of websites that allow you to get a custom card printed in no time. If you're looking for something a little more creative and unique, we might have the solution: Erin Loechner over on Curbly created a step by step guide on How to make your very own pop-up photograph. Things you'll need: Several photos or several copies of the same photo that can be cut apart, scissors and a glue stick. Let the fun begin!
The couch: completely indispensable but not exactly changeable at the speed of fashion. This is why Moooi has teamed up with designer Marcel Wanders to create this concept: Start with a two- or three-seater "naked sofa," choose between four types of feet, then dress it with your choice of 15 cleanable cover designs. (We don't even need to tell you what this means for grape-juice spills.)
With three boys under six, artist Jackie Amos resides over a house that's understandably chaotic: "It doesn't stop from 5am to 8pm," she laughs. But Jackie's nature-inspired decor creates a calming backdrop for her sons' lives. She finds vintage furnishings at "op shops" and "tip shops"--Australian slang for thrift stores--and adds color with her own artwork and crafts. Let's take a look...
Where do you live? Gold Coast, Australia. We're five minutes from the beach, and we have a big backyard with a vegetable garden. Kids are always running wild at our place.
What inspires you? Since our area doesn't have many art galleries or culture, I like filling my home with art, flowers and books. I love blogs and flickr; they make me feel part of the wider world.
Where does your family spend most time at home? Our deck in the backyard. It keeps the boys' mess outside!
Can you tell us about this dresser? I bought this Danish dresser from a shop, FOUND, that sells collectable furniture. You've never seen so much beautiful furniture; you have to buy on the spot because it will never be there when you go back. I keep my prints in the dresser's skinny drawers.
Did you take the tiny photos? I got them in Prague sixteen years ago when I backpacked around Europe. Sigh, I wonder if I will ever travel again!
Your home has mostly neutral walls. Why did you choose this approach? In my previous house, I painted the walls all different colors. I wanted this house to feel less busy, so I kept the walls white. My artwork provides plenty of color.
The orange trim is such a nice touch! The outside of the house is light grey and army green, and I think--hope--the orange goes well with it. I painted a few trims and doors inside to bring it through.
It's really pretty. What ambiance did you want to create in this foyer? The area is for my special finds. The painting is from Papunya Tula aboriginal art of the Western Desert and depicts women sitting around water holes.
Did your sons find these little items? Yes, on the beach and in junk shops. Joel collects everything from bottle tops to fox bones!
The dining area has such a calm feel. Where did you find the table and chairs? The table is from an antique shop. It's from a boarding school, so a lot of people can fit around it. The chairs are all finds from people throwing out junk. I'd like to get a set of all the same chairs someday.
Luke is lucky to have such a cool bedroom! How'd you bring together the wonderful pieces? The curtains, bed and shark toy are from Ikea. The bedspread is from Freckles. I found the chair at an op shop and the desk at a tip shop [Australian thrift shops]. The desk was covered in rude teenage graffiti so we sanded it and painted it in clear varnish.
How did you pick the bright colors? I didn't really decide; the colors just came when I put up the curtains. Since the walls are white, all you have to do is change the curtains and quilt and you have a totally new look.
What does Luke like best about his room? The open shelves so he can "display" his favorite toys.
Your flickr site describes how you made the bookshelves by buying pine planks, rounding off the corners and painting them white. Very impressive. Any other tips about making shelves? Use enamel paint so they're slightly glossy. Paint the planks first and leave them outside for at least a week so you're not overcome with fumes. Make sure you use strong brackets to support the planks and weight of the books. The brackets must be screwed into the beams. This is the ideal project to get your husband or sons involved in!
Was Luke involved in the process? He helped paint and sand. He's only four, but he knows how he wants his own space. He wants more dinosaurs, so I'm thinking about that at the moment.
I love your "I Heart Rain" print. What was the inspiration? We were in the middle of a drought and we desperately needed rain. I missed rainy days of staying inside and reading. I like to think my art makes children and adults smile. I make it very affordable so anyone who likes it can have it in their home.
What a cutie! Where did you find Joel's awesome pirate sheets? Big W, a cheap chain store in Australia. They're flannelette and he loves them.
Is Joel an avid reader? We sit on this stool and read to Joel every night. Our whole family loves books. Books are like affordable art to me.
What are your boys' other hobbies? Joel loves shells, feathers and junk--which is treasure to him. Luke likes dinosaurs and anything from the Ice Age movies. They also take swimming lessons.
Do you think your home reflects Australian culture or design in any way? It's very much what I think an Australian home should be. We don't need heating or air conditioning, and we try to live in environmentally friendly ways.
What advice would you give new decorators? Find an old piece of furniture and restore it. Get the kids involved; mine loved sanding and painting. I'm always plodding along on a sewing, furniture or art project. It's so rewarding to make something special for your family.
Now that Thanksgiving is over, our minds are turning toward the winter holidays...and our shopping lists. To find the perfect gift for the perfect little person, check out the new online shop Le Souk, which offers a mix of modern furnishings and handmade toys.
Bonus: The store, which opened this month, donates at least 5 percent of profits to Women for Women, an organization that helps women in war-torn regions rebuild their lives.
You know it's time for a tumbling mat when your little ones start practicing somersaults on the couch. The tumbling mat is made from heavy-duty, vinyl-coated nylon, that provides a soft landing. It wipes clean and folds easily for storage. Velcro strips allow several mats to be combined for longer tumbling runs. Oh, how tempting would it be to cover the entire hallway?
Tumbling Mat, $129.00, at Hearthsong
Holiday cards in the Novogratz household never involve a last-minute family snapshot to the park. Instead, Bob and Courtney Novogratz, owners of New York-based design firm Sixx Design, enthusiastically involve the kids in creating and executing the yearly family masterpiece.
As the family has grown over the past 10 years, the family's card has evolved from a cute portraits to deeper messages about the things they value: family, design, and the world in which we live. The following is a selection of cards from the past decade.
1997--Pictures from a local department store.
1999--A collage of family activities--baseball games, a Baptism ceremony, a campaign ribbon.
2000--Close-ups of the kids reveal their unique expressions and individual personalities.
Thanksgiving is just two days away. Instead of driving yourself batty trying to spray-paint gourds or fashion a cornucopia, grab these items:
1. a vase (can be as ugly as you want)
2. flowers (these should be pretty)
3. two hardcover books
4. ribbon
Put the flowers in the vase, put the vase on the table, open the two books to form a square around it, tie a bow, and you're done! Let's eat.
