Are we there yet?
Yes, we are. And right on time I might add.
It has been almost exactly one year since I challenged the small but very talented team here at CedarWorks to create a completely new line of playsets for inside the home. And today, precisely as scheduled, we are excited to introduce Rhapsody, the first wooden play system designed for indoors.
The goal for the product line was rather straightforward: create an indoor playset with all the same winning characteristics of a CedarWorks outdoor playset. Thus, the new line would need to be strong, safe, fun, beautiful, modular, and environmentally sound. But, to achieve this, we quickly realized that we needed to start with all new materials, construction methods, manufacturing methods, and visual designs. We needed to start from scratch.
It took a few months before we began to hit our stride. By then, Heather Telo, our product design manager, had nailed the basic look and construction method for the line. Soon thereafter, Sean Carnell, our IT manager, confirmed that he could achieve the 2D and 3D custom playset design tools required for the line. And then Don Protheroe, our manufacturing manager, announced that he had identified the equipment and vendors necessary to deliver the product.
By late spring we had our first major test: a prototype was installed in the same basement playroom where the idea for an indoor line had dawned on me nearly 5 years earlier. And several hours later, while still huddled in a nook of the playset along with three of my kids and our very large dog, I knew we had it right.
The kids had run, jumped, slid and climbed. They had played knights and princesses, alien invasion, and stuff your little brother in the toy box. The playset had instantly become the nexus for all the kid energy and imagination they could muster. And the other basement furniture, for once, had a rest.
And that’s the story of Rhapsody. Please take a look at our new creation, and if you have a moment, let me know what you think.
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August 17th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
looks awesome, definitely want to check out the prices and see what could fit in our house.
August 19th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
I think they look brilliant! I’ve been searching for exactly this type of product (a beautiful, high-quality, indoor climber) for about 6 years, since my twins started climbing (at the wee age of 6 months!). Luckily, we’ve since had two more babies, so I’m hoping that we’ll still get a chance to fulfill my dream and have one of the Rhapsody climbers in our home, even though our twins are not so little anymore. I would love to know if you’ve put together any sort of space requirements for each design. I wish our ceilings were higher! Hopefully one of the shorter models will fit in our built-in-1900 farmhouse.
Thanks for thinking up this great idea!
August 31st, 2009 at 10:41 pm
We just got the catalogue. We had a CedarWorks set, but when we moved our new yard couldn’t accommodate much of a set. We may be able to get a Rhapsody in our playroom. When will the designer be up and running for Rhapsody?
September 1st, 2009 at 10:02 am
Hi Maisha, I’m working on getting our Rhapsody Design Tool online as soon as possible. Right now our Design Partners are using a beta version, and have been designing custom Rhapsody playsets for a couple of weeks already. I’m currently adding the extra features needed to make the tool ‘web-ready’ and hope to launch it the second week of September.
Cheers, Sean (CedarWorks software developer)
September 15th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
These are awesome! I was just coming to find out if they were customizable too, and I see they are. Great! Is there a bed option? You know a space that would fit either a toddler or twin mattress. Our house is small and the spaces are all bedrooms, not really a lot of extra bonus space.
Thanks!
September 15th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Thanks for the feedback! Based on the phone calls, emails, and other input we have received like yours, we have recently committed to extending the Rhapsody line to include beds by this coming January. So, please get our current catalogue, and we will keep you posted on our new product offerings.
Barrett (CedarWorks president)
October 13th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
I am so excited to have found these indoor play sets! I have 6 kids (ages 6 and under) and 2 sets of twins. There are days I’d love to put them in the playroom and let them burn off energy while still being indoors and safe. What I would like to see would be an option to add shelving either inside the playdeck or on the outside panels.
October 13th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Thanks for the comments and for future product development suggestions; shelves, drawers, bins, and other storage solutions are already on the wish list. Please keep the ideas coming!
October 28th, 2009 at 8:00 pm
This looks absolutely wonderful!! What is the price range for the Rhapsody line? I can’t wait for the magazine. Thanks.