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Sense of Place

Sense of Place

Exclusively from Kaplan

The Sense of Place collection builds upon the belief in the importance of young children’s environments. Beautifully designed to inspire children’s wonder and to nurture their growth and development, Sense of Place not only celebrates the spirit of place but rejoices in the magic of childhood. Woven throughout this collection are four essential beliefs that serve as a foundation for this inviting collection: a classroom should be nature-aligned, heart-centered, sensory-based, and authentically-inspired.

Hover over or tap on the items in the following images to see more information about each piece in the collection.

Tan Vinyl Couch
Tan Vinyl Couch
$329.95
Fireplace
Fireplace
$720.95
Tan Vinyl Chair
Tan Vinyl Chair
$275.95
Blue Leaf Carpet
Blue Leaf Carpet
$309.95

Nature is our greatest teacher.

Edna Walling

When designing the Sense of Place furniture collection, we looked to nature for inspiration. Unlike straight edges which serve as boundaries, the furniture’s design includes many rounded elements which invite children into the classroom space for authentic connections and playful learning.

Circle Woven Mirror Trays
Circle Woven Mirror Trays
$142.95

Natural forms, designs, and textures are infused into each element of the collection, bringing comfort and beauty to the classroom – the keystones of heart-centered environments. Calm and balanced, the collection provides children with a place to form meaningful connections and engage in profound communications with others.

Used throughout the collection, multi-layer textures and authentic materials invite children to touch, interact, and explore. A wealth of sensory-based opportunities await young learners through the collection’s natural elements and woven fabrics, providing both visual and kinesthetic textures for sensory experiences.

Children playing with clay at table

The classroom is powerful. Its space has the capacity to regulate children's behaviors either positively or negatively… The types of materials in the classroom, including the furniture, and the way they are arranged influence how children act, react, learn and grow.

Sandra Duncan, EdD, Jody Martin and Sally Haughey, Through a Child’s Eyes
Range and Sink
Range and Sink
$625.95
Refrigerator
Refrigerator
$449.95
Circle Acrylic Mirror
Circle Acrylic Mirror
$184.95
Armoire
Armoire
$610.95
Kitchen Island Stools
Kitchen Island Stools
$259.95
Rectangular Storage Baskets
Rectangular Storage Baskets
$152.95
Kitchen Island
Kitchen Island
$679.95
Nature's Stripe Green Carpet
Nature's Stripe Green Carpet
$309.95

All our knowledge begins with the senses, proceeds then to the understanding, and ends with reason.

Immanuel Kant
24" Compartment Storage
24" Compartment Storage
$435.95

Throughout the collection's design process, it was important for furnishings to be authentic. Examples of this intentional design can be seen in the details of the kitchen's farmhouse sink and contemporary metal faucet. Inspired by the home, solid wood accents, handcrafted furniture, and materials such as woven seagrass baskets invite children to experience natural authenticity through comfort and engaging connections.

Child playing with kitchen
Children playing at oval table

Children experience, learn, and test ideas in spaces that reflect everyday encounters.

Jessica Deviney, Sandra Duncan, EdD, Sara Harris, Mary Ann Rody, and Lois Rosenberry

Testimonials

If you are looking for beautiful, statement classroom furniture to elevate your classroom place to an incredible and inviting space that engages, inspires, and promotes the growth and development of young children in an inviting and homelike environment, look no further than Sandra Duncan's Sense of Place collection with Kaplan. The design, the craftsmanship, the materials, the colors—all are thoughtfully selected to ensure that the children, the educators, the family, and community are engaged, learning, connecting, and growing together. From the stunning woven baskets to the incredible fireplace and farmhouse table, these pieces are designed to live in classrooms and are thoughtfully engineered to inspire young children.

I have to say WOW! What a breath of fresh air to see such a realistic, modern-day, and child-friendly kitchen play set made with today's children and families in mind. From the oven with the pull out metal rack, to the real metal faucet on the farm sink, to the kitchen island and stools, the collection is truly amazing and authentic.

[The Sense of Place collection] immediately feels like the classroom is an extension of the home, where everyone would feel comfortable and welcome. The seating options encourage children to gather so naturally—standing around the island, scooched together on a bench—kiddos can get close to one another, sharing space the way friends and loved ones do. Round corners, round stool seats, round baskets, round wall hangings: something about this feels organic and warm in a way that is extra-special.

Shop the Collection

Sense of Place Curio Storage
Sense of Place Curio Storage
Item 31673
$637.95
Sense of Place Range and Sink
Sense of Place Range and Sink
Item 31698
$625.95
Sense of Place Refrigerator
Sense of Place Refrigerator
Item 31703
$449.95
Sense of Place Kitchen Island
Sense of Place Kitchen Island
Item 31704
$679.95
Sense of Place 42" Oval Table
Sense of Place 42" Oval Table
Item 31757
$365.95
Sense of Place Armoire
Sense of Place Armoire
Item 31692
$610.95
Sense of Place Tan Vinyl Couch
Sense of Place Tan Vinyl Couch
Item 33139
$329.95
Sense of Place Tan Vinyl Chair
Sense of Place Tan Vinyl Chair
Item 33140
$275.95
Sense of Place Farmhouse Table and Two Benches
Sense of Place Farmhouse Table and Two Benches
Item 33066
$1,139.95
Sense of Place Fireplace
Sense of Place Fireplace
Item 31680
$720.95
Sense of Place Kitchen Island Stools - Set of 2
Sense of Place Kitchen Island Stools - Set of 2
Item 32844
$259.95
Sense of Place 30" Compartment Storage
Sense of Place 30" Compartment Storage
Item 31672
$479.95
Sense of Place 24" Compartment Storage
Sense of Place 24" Compartment Storage
Item 32845
$435.95
Sense of Place 2-Shelf Mini Open Storage 30"
Sense of Place 2-Shelf Mini Open Storage 30"
Item 37764
$349.95
Sense of Place 3-Shelf Open Storage 36"
Sense of Place 3-Shelf Open Storage 36"
Item 37766
$489.95
Sense of Place 2-Shelf Large Open Storage 30"
Sense of Place 2-Shelf Large Open Storage 30"
Item 37765
$415.95
Sense of Place Multipurpose Storage
Sense of Place Multipurpose Storage
Item 37767
$559.95
Sense of Place Rectangular Storage Baskets - Set of 3
Sense of Place Rectangular Storage Baskets - Set of 3
Item 31875
$152.95
Sense of Place Circle Acrylic Mirror
Sense of Place Circle Acrylic Mirror
Item 31868
$184.95
Sense of Place Circle Woven Mirror Trays - Set of 3
Sense of Place Circle Woven Mirror Trays - Set of 3
Item 31882
$142.95
Sense of Place Woven Baskets - Set of 3
Sense of Place Woven Baskets - Set of 3
Item 31708
$124.95
Sense of Place Hex Carpet - Blue - 6' x 9' Rectangle
Sense of Place Hex Carpet - Blue - 6' x 9' Rectangle
Item 37854
$309.95
Sense of Place Hex Carpet - Neutral - 6' x 9' Rectangle
Sense of Place Hex Carpet - Neutral - 6' x 9' Rectangle
Item 37856
$309.95
Sense of Place Geometric Carpet - Blue - 6' x 9' Rectangle
Sense of Place Geometric Carpet - Blue - 6' x 9' Rectangle
Item 37855
$309.95
Sense of Place Nature's Stripes Carpet - Blue - 6' x 9' Rectangle
Sense of Place Nature's Stripes Carpet - Blue - 6' x 9' Rectangle
Item 33167
$309.95
Sense of Place Nature's Stripes Carpet - Green - 6' x 9' Rectangle
Sense of Place Nature's Stripes Carpet - Green - 6' x 9' Rectangle
Item 33171
$309.95
Sense of Place Leaf Carpet - Blue - 6' x 9' Rectangle
Sense of Place Leaf Carpet - Blue - 6' x 9' Rectangle
Item 33168
$309.95
Sense of Place Leaf Carpet - Green - 6' x 9' Rectangle
Sense of Place Leaf Carpet - Green - 6' x 9' Rectangle
Item 33172
$309.95
Sense of Place Highland Stripe Carpet - Blue - 6' x 9' Oval
Sense of Place Highland Stripe Carpet - Blue - 6' x 9' Oval
Item 33170
$309.95
Sense of Place Lowland Stripe Carpet - Green - 6' x 9' Oval
Sense of Place Lowland Stripe Carpet - Green - 6' x 9' Oval
Item 33176
$309.95
Sense of Place Carpet Runner - Blue - 8' x 2' Rectangle
Sense of Place Carpet Runner - Blue - 8' x 2' Rectangle
Item 33169
$104.95
Sense of Place Carpet Runner - Green - 2' x 8' Rectangle
Sense of Place Carpet Runner - Green - 2' x 8' Rectangle
Item 33173
$104.95
Through a Child's Eyes: How Classroom Design Inspires Learning and Wonder
Through a Child's Eyes: How Classroom Design Inspires Learning and Wonder
Item 92826
$34.95
Inspiring Spaces for Young Children
Inspiring Spaces for Young Children
Item 18893
$34.95
Rethinking the Classroom Landscape
Rethinking the Classroom Landscape
Item 81334
$34.95

About Sandra Duncan

Dr. Sandra Duncan

With over 45 years of experience and a doctorate in education, Dr. Sandra Duncan has a wide and varied background in early care and education. She has extensive experience in working with young children and parents, teaching at the university level, designing professional development programs for practitioners, and authoring several teacher resource books. Now, Dr. Duncan is bringing her years of theory and best practices to the early childhood classroom in the form of the Sense of Place furniture collection - an exclusive to the Kaplan portfolio of furniture offerings. With its modern aesthetics, many authentic and true-to-real-life details, and considerations for what the youngest of children need to thrive best in their first learning environments, the Sense of Place collection provides ECE educators a beautiful backdrop to creating the most meaningful and lasting of learning experiences for years to come.