Furniture for little ones..

We know it can be difficult for a specifier to find suitable, exciting and contract worthy furniture for children. Here we have tried to collate some of the better options on the market, although this overview is by no means exhaustive. Please contact us for any requirement you have. Play+Soft PLAY+SOFT is a unique collaborative project, drawing on the experience of experts in education, textile development, product design and manufacturing. Each product has been designed by one of 28 international designers invited to participate in the project, with art direction by ZPZ Partners and with the support and guidance of Reggio Children. There are over 250 individual pieces in the PLAY+SOFT portfolio. Each piece is made with patented ecosoftx® fabric, an eco-friendly material that contains no PVC or rubber latex. As well as being soft to the touch it is also fireproof, wipe-clean and extremely durable. PLAY+SOFT has already been exhibited to widespread acclaim at museums and design events throughout the world, including the Triennale Design Museum in Milan, Shidomeitalia in Tokyo and with the V&A museum in London. World renowned for their research projects and innovation in early years education, Reggio Children are teaching consultants for the PLAY+ project. They bring more than 40 years experience of working with young children. They pay particular attention to the importance of environments for learning, children's creativity and the belief that children are competent and active participants in the modern world. Each year, many hundreds of educators from all over the world visit Reggio Emilia, in northern Italy, to attend lectures, conferences, and visit the pre-schools and infant toddler centres. International collaborations include Project Zero with Harvard University. They have acted as consultants for companies such as Sony, Alessi and Lego." The full Play+ catalogue can be downloaded here

Me Too by Magis Me Too is a collection of objects and furniture for children between two and six years old. The design team at Magis have moved beyond the established practices in design for young children by establishing a dialogue between experts in child development and design professionals. Within the Me Too designs we see themes that are relevant to providing learning opportunities and stimulating development in children's thinking: There are designs that provide opportunities to enhance the child's sense of control of the environment as well as stimulating the child's fantasy and imagination. The Me Too range offers affordable design that gives the child the opportunity to experience control of their environment. It also enables the child to use apparatus that fits in with the concept of "fantasy play" which in it self will contribute to the child's learning and sense of self. The full Me Too collection can be viewed online here.

Agatha by Amat3 Agatha is a range of adult and children size chairs and tables in fun shapes and colourful finishes. The full agatha range can be viewed online here Rondo by Danerka Rondo is a range of durable adult and children size chairs in colourful finishes. Details of the full rondo range can be downloaded here

News from Milan 2008

News from Milan 2008...

MDF Building on the success of Random MDF launched Melody, which has a slightly more open configuration, but still intriguing, and good in long runs. I am pleased to say they have also launched a comfortable sofa called Mate - not that they don't make other comfortable sofas, but this one looks comfortable with very loose looking large slabs for seat back and arms.

Artifort Their new Lotus chair was intriguing, an elegant low chair with an attached platform for note taking, a laptop or drinks? Not quite functional, but at the same time invitingly elegant, one more elongated than the other, both breaking new ground.

Gallotti & Radice Launched the Air executive desk range, where you want to create an impression for a client, but would you ever want to leave any papers on it, or burden its form with a computer? It is available with a number of different cabinets in the same style, so at least you can hide away all your files and the decanters.

Fiam Several new product launches utilised coloured glass in the designs for the first time, but most impressive were the range of dining and coffee tables Accordo by Ilaria Marelli with the bases forming opposing splayed rectangles of glass - imagine a child building the simplest table from three pieces, but then add all the precision of a master designer and craftsman to give a perfect proportion.

SCP For the first time ever, I was in the vicinity of the SCP stand while their opening day tea party took place: It could only be the English who take a Burco to Milan, and a load of mismatching porcelain and custard creams. I will make a point of it next year - so refreshing tea at 3, and made with boiled water too! The much previewed Soft Rocker was excellent, as was the Foxtrot coffee table by Kay + Stemmer.

Arper Milan would not be Milan if there were no new variations of the Catifa chair - this time, a new width 60 - with three heights suitable for Boardrooms, meeting rooms and conferences. The Palm chair has an entirely new shell - made from polypropylene, it is lighter both visually and literally only sacrificing a small amount of comfort from the previous polyurethane version. They also launched a new range of well priced small tables called Fred in a new material for furniture - a white plastic more commonly found in toilet seats! Their unique news was that the Catifa 46 and 53 have achieved an Environmental Product Declaration, a new universal standard to assess the full impact of a product over its lifecycle. No doubt we will be hearing about these a lot more in the coming years on top of ISO 9001 and 14001 certification. The EPD tells us the carbon footprint of a particular chair, giving figures of overall energy consumption, and percentages of recycled and recyclable materials in the product. For the Catifa 46, with 4 legs, the footprint is only 19 kg of CO2 equivalent and is 99% recyclable.

Plank Always reliable in coming up with something useful and unique - the Myto chair by Grcic did not disappoint - made entirely of BASF ultradur plastic, in eight colours, it is the first plastic cantilever chair, with a mesh effect on the seat and back, making it highly suitable for indoor and out. Not pretty, but striking.

Tonelli Two new coffee tables by Karim Rashid, made of three pieces of asymmetrical glass in different colours set at right angles, giving the impression of the base coming through the top - hence the name Kut. Also a series of sideboards Psiche, with mirrored doors and tops set at angles, which although not useful for display of objects, guarantees that the piece of furniture is the object in the room.

Johanson Well known for their classic designs, Johanson really pushed the boat out in 2008 with four new ranges: two stools one by Simon Pengelly breaking new ground in its visual reference called Level. A very boxy modular seating system called U-sit, contrasting with some soft, low seats called Flow by Anders Hjelm.

Innermost A re-engineered version of the Sticklight by Michael Young was impressive, and I am pleased to say they have taken on the production of the Origami tables by Anthony Dickens, given that we selected Anthony for an award at his New Designers exhibition many years ago! These tables will be Innermost's first foray into furniture, and promise to be well priced. The Ribbon candleholder by Shin Azumi is devastatingly simple and seductive.

Bonaldo Interesting range of lightweight painted steel tables called Tectonic - useful in reception areas, but not (yet) for outdoors. A collection of these could be used to create a moving palette of pebbles in a sea of space. Also new chairs and a shapeless sofa called Peanut B - the Italians do Shabby Chic.

Softline Allkit Many new introductions, especially the stool version of Tess, Paco Sol and Ella chairs, but the star of the show was Musa - an extremely light and sensuous stacking chair in many different colours and well priced into the bargain.

Modus Lots of new products - particularly the orbital chair by Christophe Pillet. While some of the making is done overseas, and international designers are used, the motive force and intellectual property remains in the UK.

Rexite Very straightforward stacking chair in several colours called Eveline, using flat surfaces to emphasise the line of the legs flowing into the seat and back in an original way. Designed by Raul Barbieri.

La Palma A new chair Jo, by Haberli, having the unique and extremely rare distinction of a third dimensional bend in stainless steel on this simple cantilevered chair was launched, together with a rather utilitarian low seating range called Metis by Hannes Wettstein. The star of their display however, was M'ovo by Andreas Storiko, which is an egg shaped meeting table which can be lifted upright. The act of lifting the top, releases the wheels hidden in the base thus allowing the user to move the table easily in any direction. Thus tables can be set out very quickly in a conference area, and if kept in the room form an attractive backdrop of sculptural objects around the perimeter.

Heller Following the Bellini - affordable, light stylish stacking chair was the Ultra Bellini (gloss finish) now comes the Bellini Touch - a matt black, soft finish - very smooth!

B&B Italia

Once again in their showroom, there was none of the flamboyance of last year, unless you consider the Terminal 1 chaise by Massaud to be so - it was very elegant. Their new sofa range - Frank - was simple and inviting with big squashy cushions as only the Italians can do big squashy cushions fixed to a metal frame. Seven is an asymmetric table which seats seven (!) for those dinner parties when you invite an odd number, while Papilio is a quirky upholstered dining chair which is very comfortable. There were another couple of new tables and additions to the Maxalto collection but most versatile is the compact Tulip chair called sixty, which could by used as a bedroom chair or for a small reception area, or anywhere you want a comfortable, but rather formal swivel chair.

Moooi

Some strange accessories - but the small porcelain (?) table and dressing mirror were nice, as well as a glass table (Alice in Wonderland reference), and the Ludo Table and Vica chairs which had bent tube legs covered in a woven patterned cloth like old electricity cables used to be.

The Lolita light was charming with its angled hat!

Proform Italia Re-launched, or introduced - they were not quite sure - a chair by Hans Coray in aluminium. Stackable, in indoor and outdoor versions - the chair is pleasingly symmetrical, with evenly spaced holes in seat and back in the aluminium version. Lightweight and recyclable.

Magis Enter the world of "Yo Furniture", where their new products were presented on a moving carousel so that you could stand in one place and have each new product explained as it slowly came towards you! Of note were the Soho Chairs by Fukasawa, ideal for a home office desk. There were four new colours for the Chair First, which look so much better than the predictable white, black, and red all over.

Jesse Together with the plethora of new finishes and gizmos on their wardrobes, there were a number of interesting and well priced loose furniture products, such as the Stix coffee table, and Tully chair.

Tom Dixon He has been very busy this year, with among other introductions, cast glass light fittings, a traditionally upholstered wing back chair of outlandish proportions, small conical shaped tables, and a dining table made with slate and a copper base. His large stand at Superstudio gave the impression of having arrived as a quintessentially British manufacturer taking on the world. I wonder how long it will be before he exhibits in the main Fair?

Danerka
While not showing any new product themselves, Danerka will gradually introduce Bernhardt Design to the European market having secured manufacturing and distribution rights from the US.

Putting some options on the table...

We can offer many different types of tables for your project: reception/coffee tables, dining tables, meeting tables, cafe/bistro tables, tables for inside use, tables for outside use, tables that collapse, tables that extend...

...we can supply tables for any situation.

Click on each image below to view a selection of our products from our new Virtual Showroom, and please feel free to ask for more information on anything you see.

Dining Tables
Different shapes, sizes and finishes.
We do extending tables too!
(click the image)

Saarinen table (platinum edition) by Knoll

Outdoor Tables
For when the English weather is an issue!
(click the image)

Happyhour by Magis

Coffee Tables

Different shapes, sizes and finishes.
(click the image)

Rubino by Sovet Italia

Occasional Tables

Different shapes, sizes and finishes
for reception, waiting room or lounge!
(click the image)

Raj 2 by Gallotti & Radice


Conference Tables
Larger Tables for meeting rooms or offices.

Edge by Danerka

New 2008 Virtual Showroom: No registering, no fuss - just the furniture you need..

New Virtual Showroom launched! It is twelve months since we launched our digital catalogue on our web site www.purves-contracts.co.uk. Since then, I hope many of you will have found the experience beneficial - from its instant nature, to the flexibility it offers in terms of emailing to clients and or downloading images from the site. Now, we are launching the second generation! The main difference is in the number of products on the online catalogue - we no have thousands at your fingertips! Special features of the Virtual Showroom include: Favourites - As you browse our ranges you can select applicable products for your project and keep them in your favourites folder for later retrieval. Send to Friend - Send a product link or your page of Favourites to a colleague or client. Check price - Send an instant email to us to request a price or more information on the products you have chosen. News - We are able to create themed collections of products for you to view. We will use this to show off seasonal product or new releases. Keep your eyes peeled! Search - If you know the name, and want to go straight to the product, feel free. Images - Lots of them. Most products have a gallery of images at a resaonable quality and size. Quick View - Change the number of products displayed on the page if you need to browse quickly! www.purves-contracts.co.uk

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call. In the meantime, I hope you find this new incarnation of use in selecting products.

For help or assistance on any project please contact us on 020 7486 3200

Andrew Purves, Roman Thomas, Richard Vaughan

Roll up those sleeves; slip on those flip flops: Summer is nearly here!

Yes we know its still miserable outside, but now is a great time for you and your clients to plan for the warmer months. Purves & Purves Contracts can offer a large range of outdoor furniture for any exterior project. Just to whet the appetite we detail 3 of our suppliers and their respective ranges: Magis are an Italian manufacturer based near Treviso. As well as tables and chairs suitable for outside use, they also offer public seating ranges. Their products are well priced and usually available on short lead times. They work with many high profile designers like Jasper Morrison and Ron Arad. Easy & First Chairs www.magisdesign.com ------------------- Driade are an Italian manufacturer based near Piacenza. Their range is comprehensive and includes tables, chairs and reclined seating for outdoor use. Pip-e & Tokyo Pop www.driade.com ------------------- Gandia Blasco are based near Valencia and one of their specialties is furniture for outdoor spaces. As well as the typical table and chair options, they also have a good selection of recliners, integrated seating and soft upholstery pieces. Xemena & Merendero www.gandiablasco.com -------------------

The ranges shown are only a selection of the what we are able to source. For help or assistance on any project please contact us on 020 7486 3200

Chairs

Simple: you can't beat the Rondo for strength, colour choice, stackability and a retail price of £89 inc VAT.

Classic: Balou in soft leather, nobody ever got fired for specifying this one.

Sophisticated: Lago, at home anywhere - equally poised in the Boudoir and the Boardroom.

Versatile: Catifa - plastic - one colour or two, upholstered - fabric or leather, wood veneered, with or without arms, on four legs, sled or star base, with or without castors?

Soft: laid back, and fresh in white - the Eames Lounger.

Important: desk chairs for every occasion - task, everyday and executive.

Wardrobes - Christmas?!

No matter, I just thought you'd like to know the ABC of wardrobes:

A - Freestanding:

We do a lovely large model in solid wood with a variety of configurations - just imagine the type your grandmother might have had, and bring it up to date. Available in cherry, oak, walnut or maple from Italian company Riva 1920.

B - Built in:

Although they are actually freestanding, they are described as built in, as they can be used in alcoves with fill in panels, and made to specific sizes - height and width.

We carry three ranges, which you could describe as the BVR of wardrobes:

* TM line is the Budget collection
* Jesse is the Value range
* B&B have the Rolls Royce approach.

All three companies offer many types of door, folding, sliding or opening, and an infinite variation to the interiors.

C - Walk in:

If you have an ensuite room, or can cut down a large room, why not offer a dressing room with elegant floor to ceiling sliding doors made to measure, revealing an elegant range of shelves and hanging and drawers for the Marcos type of customer.

Obviously the B and C options will have to be measured and drawn up before ordering, and a fitting service is also an option if required. B is used here in respect of Built in. It may sound confusing, but please give us a call if this is what you need.

In the meantime, may I thank you for your orders in 2007, and wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

We will be open throughout the holiday period, although it will be a skeleton team on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.

Do come and see us if you are shopping in the West End - we will offer you a glass of wine, unless we finished it earlier!