Thereʼs something about furniture designed specifically for children that always catches my eye in a passing shop window or a furniture show. It is the Lilliputian proportions, the grown-up world rendered small in good childrenʼs furniture design which always elicits an “aaahhh” from even the most cynical of observers.
Unfortunately, so much childrenʼs furniture is of such poor quality. It is as though it is not expected to be needed for more than a couple of years so why bother making it well? And as for design, well functionality wins over design every time. The nearest most childrenʼs furniture comes to being more than just four legs and a top or four legs, a headboard and slats is when some Disney character is painted on to it. Great marketing but poor and predictable design.
Which is why it is so nice to see Japanese design team Leif.designpark turning their attentions to childrenʼs chairs and tables. The Tone Kids Chair is based on an adult chair – the Tone Chair is produced in natural wood with a solid leg frame in either American black walnut or American white oak with a plywood seat and backrest in a choice of veneers.
The Tone Kids Chair is available in natural wood as the adult version or in painted MDF in blue, white, yellow or grey. Fear not, the painted options are not the usual bright, nursery school-reminiscent colours but instead would sit comfortably in any room alongside the adult furniture.
To complement the Tone Kids Chairs, Leif.designpark have come up with a tiny triangular table, perfectly in proportion with the chairs and perfect for those little ones to sit at and draw nicely! Though, as you will have spent good money on a well-made and designed table, you might want to stick to games and toys that donʼt risk crayon marks on the furniture!
The Tone Kids Chair and Table are available through De La Espada.
