Just one decade and 24 million US dollars … that’s all it took to build to build Dr. James Stewart’s residence in Rosedale, Toronto.

The owner is a former violinist and math professor, having made his millions writing calculus textbooks. Although the home would have certainly demanded some complicated mathematical formulas to build, it has many artistic angles and houses a private concert hall.

Full of curves, wood, floor to ceiling windows, concrete, and an amazing custom staircase – this house appears warm and cool, modern and vintage, clean and decorative … all at once.

Brigitte Shim and Howard Sutcliffe of Shim Sutcliffe are the architects behind the project and apparently they had an unlimited budget and time frame – an architect or designer’s dream, I’m sure.

“I think it’s one of the most important private houses built in North America in a long time” – Glenn D. Lowry, director of New York’s Museum of Modern Art in a Wall Street Journal article. Now all we have to do is get invited to one of Dr. Stewart’s private concerts or costume balls to see this beauty in person…

Photographs by Jim Dow, Ed Burtynsky & Bob Gundu, via coolhunter.net

Visit Shim-Sutcliffe’s website here.

DwellStudio Chinoiserie Bed Linens

320 thread count in 100% cotton percale, DwellStudio’s Chinoiserie bed linens feel as good as they look. All the white space on this duvet cover accents the graphic, minimalist quality of the branches and birds. The design has an old world/traditional feel, but is delivered in a really clean, modern way.

DwellStudio Chinoiserie Duvet Cover and Shams with Linen Edge Sheet Set

A perfect combination of old and new – this duvet set will work in any bedroom. Best of all, you can mix and match the Chinoiserie pieces with other lines in the DwellStudio collection. Use the Linen Edge bed sheets with the duvet cover (as pictured above), or just use some Chinoiserie accent pillows on a different duvet. The accent cushions also work well in other rooms of the house!

DwellStudio Long Chinoiserie Cushion

Treat yourself to a soft, luxurious sleep with a design well suited to a lovely Spring season on the way. The queen duvet set with two shams is only $280.00, the king set: $320.00 at gabrielross.com, here. Also check out the rest of the DwellStudio collection including sheet sets, coverlets, table linens, wall art and more – here.

Modernica's Triple Fixture, design: George Nelson - photo: modernica.net

Modernica’s Triple Fixture bubble lamp is featured in Canada’s House and Home Magazine, January 2011 issue. You can find in the in the “Focus” section as part as the “Light it Up” feature article on statement multiheaded light fixtures.

Canadian House and Home Magazine - photo: houseandhome.com

The article describes the fixture as “a play on puppetry”, and where does House and Home recommend you would find such a wonderful example of mid century modern lighting design? why, Gabriel Ross of course.

Modernica's Triple Fixture, design: George Nelson - photo: modernica.net

The Triple Fixture can be ordered with different style bubble lamps. You could hang three saucers, three cigars, three balls, lanterns, pears … or combine different lights and hang a mixture!

View the Triple Fixture and the whole selection of George Nelson Bubble Lamps at gabrielross.com, here.
Visit House and Home Magazine, here.

Binic by Ionna Vautrin for Foscarini - photo: ionnavautrin.com

The most awesome thing happened today. I reached into my filing cabinet and stumbled upon a small, single, delicious truffle in a ziplock bag leftover from my Christmas treat stash. How this little wonder escaped my awareness for nearly three weeks, I have no idea – but am I ever glad that it did! Also great today, is my discovery of Ionna Vautrin’s website. She is the young up and coming designer behind Binic: a brand new sweet and petite lamp for Foscarini that truly makes you go Awww.

photo: ionnavautrin.com

Binic would make a great light for a hall table, bookshelf, nightstand, or anywhere you could use a little pocket of cuteness. Metropolis magazine noted the lamp’s likeness with Kenny from South Park (which made me laugh out loud), but for me … it’s also akin with the disproportionate headed robot, Marvin, from the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. I just want to give them both warm, encouraging hugs. Vautrin’s actual inspiration came from the wind socks and lighthouses of North Eastern France.

Kenny from South Park

Marvin from Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Binic by Ionna Vautrin for Foscarini - photo: ionnavautrin.com

I love Binic. He has loads of personality, comes in lots of great colours, and is really reasonably priced at only $262.00! Purchase it on our website, here.

Binic by Ionna Vautrin for Foscarini - photo: ionnavautrin.com

Binic by Ionna Vautrin for Foscarini

photo: ionnavautrin.com

Ionna Vautrin’s website offers many other successful and interesting product designs. Check it out, here.
Visit Binic at gabrielross.com, here.

Losanges rug by the Bouroullec brothers for Nanimarquina - photo: designboom.com

I can’t get enough of these guys! Ronan and Erwan have paired up with Spanish area rug company, Nanimarquina to create “Losanges” – an awesome area rug that salutes traditional persian style with a modern interpretation.

Losanges area rug by the Bouroullec brothers for Nanimarquina - photo: designboom.com

This rug is handmade through and through. The 13 colours of afghan wool is hand spun and the rug is hand woven by crafts people in North Pakistan. I love the geometric, rhombus design with a delivery that makes each rug unique.

Losanges area rug by the Bouroullec Brothers for Nanimarquina - photo: designboom.com

Losanges will make its debut at Paris’ Maison et Objet Jan. 21st to 25th, 2011 as part of Nanimarquina’s booth.

See Nanimarquina’s products on our website gabrielross.com, here.
Visit Nanimarquina’s website, here.
Visit the Bouroullec Brothers’ website, here.
Visit Maison et Objet’s website, here.

300 Coloured Vases, Hella Jongerius - photo: gerrit schreurs fotografie - courtesy: designboom.com

Hella Jongerius featured this installation of 300 vases at her a recent show: ”Misfit”  in the museum Boijmans van Beuningen, 2010.

Misfit, Hella Jongerius - photo: lotte stekelenburg - courtesy: designboom.com

 The vases are documentation of the designer’s experiment in colour and glaze application. She used industrial paint in standard colours for the first 82 vases and then collaborated with the experts at royal tichelaar makkum to combine historical mineral recipies with contemporary formulas in a layering effect that resulted in new, unique and dynamic colours and patinas.

photo: gerrit schreurs fotografie - courtesy: designboom.com

photo: gerrit schreurs fotografie - courtesy: designboom.com

photo: gerrit schreurs fotografie - courtesy: designboom.com

photo: gerrit schreurs fotografie - courtesy: designboom.com

photo: gerrit schreurs fotografie - courtesy: designboom.com

The rest of the show appears to have followed suit – arranged by colour across the walls of the gallery.

"Misfit" by Hella Jongerius - photo: lotte stekelenburg - courtesy: designboom.com

"Misfit" by Hella Jongerius - photo: lotte stekelenburg - courtesy: designboom.com

We offer some of Jongerius’ noteworthy designs right here at gabrielross.com! Click on these links to find her Polder Sofa and Bovist Cushions.

Polder Sofa by Hella Jongerius, for Vitra

Bovist Cushions by Hella Jongerius, for Vitra

To view these products and more at gabrielross.com, click here.

Butterfly Stool by Sori Yanagi for Vitra, 1954 - photo: vitra.com

A butterfly, a bird, a whale’s tail … there have been several comparisons drawn from this stool for several animals, insects, and various forms of organic design. This beautiful sculptural seat is made of two pieces of molded plywood joined together. Stunning from every angle, the Butterfly creates a gentle, thin silhouette as a result of the negative space in the body (or lack there of) of the stool.

The Butterfly is available in two sizes and in three different wood finishes: Maple, Palisander, and Cherry veneer. There is also a matching red cushion available, although I can’t imagine wanting to cover up the perfect symmetrical seam on top of this piece.

Butterfly Stool - photo: kullotamago.jugem.jp

See the Butterfly Stool on our website, here.
Visit Vitra’s website, here.

Emeco's 111 Navy Chair - photo: emecowithcoke.com

Emeco’s 111 Navy Chair, made from 111 plastic Coke bottles, had an exciting year. It was a big hit during its debut at Milan’s Furniture Fair in April and made waves (er… icebergs?) in London while frozen in a one-ton block of ice.

Emeco's 111 Navy Chair - photo: emecowithcoke.com

Emeco's 111 Navy Chair - photo: emecowithcoke.com

The 111 chair eventually made its way into the hands/spaces of the Serpentine Gallery in London, Whole Foods in Austin TX, McDonalds in Tulsa OK, Various universities and college’s across the US, the Conran Shop in London and Tokyo, and many others.

Serpentine Gallery, London - photo: Emeco's AlumiNews Edition Jan. 2011

Whole Foods, Austin TX and McDonalds, Tulsa OK - photo: Emeco's AlumiNews Edition Jan. 2011

The chair also received distinguished design awards such as The Good Design Award, and the IF Design Award. Emeco also claimed a Distinction award at the Rebrand Competition and the 111 was honoured by the Interior Design Magazine BoY Awards.

Emeco's 111 Navy Chair - photo: emecowithcoke.com

Find the 111 Navy Chair on our website, here.
See emecowithcoke.com, here.
Visit Emeco’s website, here.
Sign up to recieve Emeco’s AlumiNews, here.

Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec - photo credit: ola rindal

Maison et Object have selected Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec as one of their “Creators of the Year” as result of the large impact that they have made on the French design scene. Interior architects Gilles and Boissier and architect Edouard François join the Bouroullec brothers in the honour, having also been named “2011 Designers – On the Cutting Edge of Creation”.

Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec are the designers of many favorites here at Gabriel Ross including the modular plastic screen Algue, Slow Chair, and the Vegetal Chair for Vitra, and the Panier Basket for Kartell.

Algue, by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Vitra

Slow Chair, by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Vitra

Vegetal Chair, by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Vitra

Panier Basket, by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Kartell

See these products and more at gabrielross.com, here.
Visit Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec’s website, here.
Visit Maison et Objet’s website, here.