Modernseed

go GREEN in 2013!

Now that we've all had a few days to adjust to Pantone having declared Emerald the official Color of the Year, we're ready to go for it! And though emerald may be the desired shade, we think clover, lime, and pretty much any version of the festive hue will do just fine :-)

 

Looking for a beanbag with style? And built to last? We love Fatboy prodoucts, and the Junior in lime is key to every mini's heart! (Lime a bit bright for ya? Try the olive option!)

Get going or stop for a nap on the cozy, colorful Giddy-Up from Little Nest. A la the "horse of a different color" idea, here's a pretty pony in green!

More lime, but this time called "Dark Lime" and from the folks at Vitra no less! The classic Verner Panton chair... made for minis.

Start them on green at a young age with help from Bloom! This Alma Crib is beautifully modern and - as you can see - available in what they call "Gala Green."

Light up any space with help from our friends at Offi! Their Bongo Lamp Stool (shown here in Misty Green) will brighten any corner.

Coming Soon...

The Offi 20% off sale! Starting Sunday, 11/11 Offi is offering 20% off 17 of their best-selling products... for one week only! Which beloved items will be part of this awesome sale? We're keeping you and mini on your toes til Sunday... so stay tuned! 

Home PAGE Advantage

Now that the Knoll Kids Sale is over, we've got a whole new team of awesome products gracing our homepage! 

The Offi Play-a-Round Activity Table (shown here with Mini Drawer Chairs) was designed by Roberto Gil, the king of contemporary kids' furniture! We love the versatility of this product. It's sturdy, easy to assemble, and built to last!

 

A staff favorite! The Stilt Table Lamp (also available in a Floor Lamp model) from Blu Dot is cleverly designed to blanace on three adjustable legs. A simple white shade is made more fun with the bright red cord. Perfect for any bedroom... or office!

 

Why get a boring toy chest when you could get a Toy STORE... from Oeuf. Three solid shelves that will hold mini's most prized possessions!

Our CURRENT Faves :-)

Good design is meant to last; there's no denying it. But that doesn't mean our FAVORITE products don't change! Here's what we're currently digging...

The George Nelson Sunmburst Clocks from Vitra are gorgeous! True modern classics that embrace the joie de vivre of the 1950s :-)

 

We are LOVING the ergoErgo. In fact, Modernseed Manager Sarah uses it as her desk chair! Available in black and orange... though she prefers orange. :-)

 

The Mix Boxes by Eric Pfeiffer for The Utility Collective... what an incredible idea. Versatile, beautiful, and made to the highest environmental standards this awesome storage option looks great on our showroom floor. Just imagine how it will look at home!

Knoll Kids SALE Starts Friday!

The annual Knoll Kids SALE starts Friday, September 21st and goes til the end of the month! It's YOUR chance to save 15% on great designs that mini will love for a lifetime! 

The Classics... according to whom?

The New York Times has an article in the Home & Garden Section about what the true Classics will be in the year 2050. Julie Lasky discusses pieces that designers or manufacturers have deemed "icons" based on number of sales, or fakes made. Whether a design is "an oak or a seed" is a colorful comparison made by another and it makes sense. There is also discussion that lasting designs must appeal to a person's emotions whilst being imaginative and resourceful. We like that. And we like the fact that in Laskys last sentence, she references that: "Anything that manages to run that gantlet will be a gift to our descendants."

Obviously - being primarily a children's retailer - we are drawn to the idea of designs being gifts to our descendants. Isn't that why we save any other family heirloom? To pass it on to the next generation, as unwilling as they may be to accept it? My parents' basement is filled with furniture that's been in the family for years. My sister and I don't fight over who gets the milkglass lamps because they look cool, but because they belonged to our great-great-aunt. AND because they look cool!

Designs like the Eames Lounge or Panton Chair really are classics. If they have run rampant for the last 50 years or so, who's to say they won't go for another 50? The truth is we can't accurately predict any of this stuff. Styles change, technology changes, the economy changes, the environment changes... though our needs as humans will always be simple and constant, what is drilled into us as a DESIRE is different every generation.

If the reason you love your Nelson Platform Bench is because it looks great in your foyer, your children probably won't grow up seeing it as a desirable piece despite it's classic appeal. But if that bench belonged to your parents and you associate it with waiting for the bus to come on rainy days, it seems you've turned that hunk of wood into an heirloom. You've given it value and meaning. And that didn't happen because it's sold however many pieces since 1946, or because it's spawned hundreds of knock-offs.

At Modernseed we endeavor to offer and encourage the best in design: quality pieces we hope you'll order and then love for years to come. Design should enhance your life, and encourage creativity and resourcefulness. And to some of us, that is a necessity.

Re-Vamp Your Home Office, Step 5: ACCESSORIES

Now your home office needs a little something extra! Maybe a modern clock? Or a cool tape dispenser? Or perhaps a comfy chair for your clients... the possibilities are endless!

We love mobiles, and no one makes them better than Flensted! This Bauhaus Mobile is the definition of modern and interesting, in primary colors and basic geometric shapes. Simple but FAR from boring... and what a conversation starter! ;-)

 

Another fun and functional idea: the Mobile Numbers Clock from Present Time. Black. Silver. Sleek as can be. This clock seems to float away from the wall all on its' own!

 

You know what else you need? A side table of course! We love the Large Pi from Blu Dot. With a black and walnut top on a solid walnut base, it's great for home or office... which makes it just perfect when you've combined the two.

 

Keep that important paperwork from blowing away with the breeze - or mini's wandering little hands - with the heavy weight tape dispenser from black + blum. Contemporary and multi-functional: what more can you ask for from a desktop accessory?

 

Last but CERTAINLY not least is the Coconut Lounge Chair by George Nelson for Herman Miller. Comfy but sleek. No, seriously, it is definitely comfy! Leave that home office door open and you'll find it to be mini's new favorite napping spot! Spoil your clients - and family - with this beautiful chair!

 

 

Re-Vamp Your Home Office, Step 4: Extra STORAGE

So you're all set up, but the one thing you might be needing - now that you've chosen a minimal, modern desk - is some storage space! Check out three of our fave ideas below.

 

 

The Eames Storage Unit is PERFECT, whether you've got the matching desk unit or not ;-) A wide shelf, sliding doors, and drawers... what more do you need?

 

From Blu Dot comes the Chicago 8 Box. Available in the four colors shown, this fantastic piece is not just modern, but the epitomy of useful!

 

For those of you with a much smaller space, we LOVE the Uten Silo from Vitra! Available in two sizes - and three colors - this piece offers palces to store all your supplies in easy-to-reach pockets. 

Re-Vamp Your Home Office, Step 3: The LIGHTING

Time to shed a little light on your in-home work area! We adore these designs :-)

 

Meet the Steelcase Pisa! Just like its' namesake, it leans ever so slightly to allow for minor but important adjustments. Available in arctic white, silver, or black we guarantee your ideas will seem even brighter with this little guy around!

 

Another member of the Steelcase family is the Dash! A little sleeker than the Pisa, and a little more flexible... for the really picky exec!

 

But to create a really warm work environment at home, we suggest something completely different... the Blu Dot Stilt Table Lamp. Cozy enough for a bedside table but interesting enough for your desk. The bright red cord is a great touch, don't you think?

Re-Vamp Your Home Office, Step 2: The CHAIR

So now that you've chosen your new desk, you need something to sit in at the silly thing! We've selected three very different - but all fantabulous - chairs that would work in many a home office, for various members of the family!

Ahh, a true modern classic: the Eames Molded Plastic Sidechair from Herman Miller. Available in several colors with various base options as well, this comfy seat is truly timeless! Adult-sized but low and sturdy enough for minis to climb up. We enjoy the stackability of this particular base option! (PS - this would be great at the dining room table, too!)

 

We LOVE this chair! From Steelcase, it's the sleek and simple Uno. But don't let its' appearance fool you! Designed with comfort in mind, it will support your seat for hours whilst not causing any (more) back issues. Available in loads of fun colors!

 

Now, if you're looking for awesome luxury for your home office, we suggest another Steelcase option: the Think in leather. Buttery soft and available in more "grown-up" colors like black (shown) and various shades of brown, the Think chair is THE executive choice!

Re-Vamp Your Home Office, Step 1: The DESK

Whether it's a home-office for mom or a place for your new high schooler to study, we can help you decorate it here at Modernseed!

Let's start with the desk. Here are a few of our top choices:

The Half Pipe Desk from Offi has been receiving fantastic reviews in the year or so since its' launch. Mentioned time and again in blogs (and The NY Times!) as an especially great desk for a teen, this elegant desk, designed by Eric Pfeiffer, is also noted as an excellent option when you don't have a lot of space to spare. Available in birch, oak, or walnut (pictured).

 

If you want a little more room for storage without taking up anymore space, try the Eames Desk Unit from Herman Miller. Playful but still professional, this is a classic that will be great for anyone in the family! (Pair it with an equally space-saving Eames Molded Plastic Chair and you've got a match made in heaven.)

 

If it's a desk for mini you seek, look no further! We offer several desks for minis, but this P'kolino Klick is by far one of our most loved! Available in the three colors pictured here, it actually clicks together to make a square... and save space! (Have you noticed today's theme of space-saving work units?)