Today is installation day for The Gallery of Greater Victoria’s “Art In Bloom – Celebrating the art of gardening”. One part of this dynamic community event is the “floral interpretations” where artists, designers, and florists create botanical interpretations of various works in the gallery’s diverse art collection.
Detail of our Floral Interpretation
Check out our floral interpretation in the mansion section of the gallery March 28th – April 2nd. We were given Canadian artist, Sophie Pemberton’s “Spring” of 1902 to interpret – a very large traditional landscape portrait. We decided to honour this beautiful piece by creating a traditional loose arrangement in a golden urn to emulate to the gold frame around the painting. Curly willow branches reference the trees in the landscape and a collection of blue, pink and yellow flowers including dancing lady orchids pay tribute to the florals depicted.
Our Floral Interpretation with "Spring" by Sophie Pemberton
There are many other great things going on during this event including a lecture series, workshops, silent auction, a red carpet gala and much more. With proceeds going towards exhibitions and programming at the gallery, this is a great opportunity support your local art community while celebrating the welcomed arrival of spring! Get all of the details on AGGV’s website, here.
Have you seen the latest Telus Optik TV commercial? It turns out that our half-Vulcan half-human friend Spock of Star Trek is a fellow Modernist. The commercial depicts Leonard Nimoy in a swanky mid century modern home receiving Telus Optik TV installation. Watching the commercial, I was supposed to have been swayed into purchasing a new cable service … but I was more interested in the Eames Storage Unit, Nelson Ball Clock and Triple Fixture Cigar Bubble lamp in the background.
Cigar Triple Fixture Bubble Lamp by George Nelson, for Modernica
Eames Storage Unit by Charles and Ray Eames, for Herman Miller
Ball Clock by George Nelson, for Vitra
Find these and all kinds of other mid century modern products that I’m sure Spock would enjoy on our website, here.
Earth friendly design lovers will be happy to hear this. You no longer have to suffer the guilt of adding another piece of unwanted furniture to the landfill thanks to french designer Elise Gabriel. Her “Zelfo Embrace” collection of furniture and lighting is adorable, functional, and biodegradable.
Liga Collection by Elise Gabriel - photo: designboom.com
The main ingredient, Zelfo, is made of cellulose fibres deriving from plant materials that are soaked, pressed and dried to mold the shapes they are pressed onto. Gabriel seems to have spent a great deal of energy researching and experimenting with this material and process in order to produce an aesthetically pleasing line of tables, chairs and lighting.
photo: designboom.com
photo: designboom.com
photo: designboom.com
photo: designboom.com
I love the way that the final products pay tribute to their source: vegetation and plants. The surface of the furniture is very textured and fragile looking and the way the different parts join together are reminiscent of stem and branch joints. The lamp shades are thin enough that light diffuses through them as the sun might shine through flower petals.
photo: designboom.com
photo: designboom.com
photo: designboom.com
photo: designboom.com
Elise Gabriel is an award winning designer and her work is currently being displayed at Galerie Gosserez in Paris until April 4th, 2011.
source: designboom.com
We received an exciting delivery a couple of weeks ago from our upholstery shop containing a new Tommy sofa bed for the showroom. Upholstered in a bright spring green and accented by cute square cushions, this piece has been getting lots of attention since it’s arrival.
Tommy Sofa Bed by Gabriel Ross
The mattress inside this sofa is 100% natural latex, so there are no creaky metal springs. The mechanism is Italian made and operates unlike any other pull out sofa. There is a handle hidden between the two back cushions and when you pull it towards you, the entire back swings out in one easy motion. The back cushions are permanently attached and safely store themselves underneath the bed, up off the floor.
The best part? This sofa bed is comfortable to sleep on. Yes, I’m serious. It’s actually comfortable. For Real. Come see for yourself! We encourage our clients to bring a book and spend some time on this mattress in the showroom. We’ll even dim the lights if you nod off …
Sofa Compact by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller - photo: hermanmiller.com
Designed in1954, the Sofa Compact was an adaptation from a built in sofa that Charles and Ray Eames designed for their own home in the 1940′s. The freestanding version has been in production since 1954 without interruption. Although the original intent for this piece was probably to have it work for smaller constricted spaces, this sofa is beautiful in any modern interior with an aim for spaciousness and clean lines.
photo: hermanmiller.com
photo: hermanmiller.com
Herman Miller offers a large array of upholstery options for the Sofa Compact that vary from tight/smooth commercial weaves to lush felted wools such as Kvadrat’s Divina Melange. Depending on your fabric choice, this sofa works well in various spaces including commercial settings and office waiting rooms, to cozy apartment living rooms. Parking lots too …
photo: hermanmiller.com
photo: hermanmiller.com
View the Sofa Compact on our website, here.
Read more about the design story on Herman Miller’s website, here.
The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design has honored 5 Alessi products with their prestigious “2010 GOOD DESIGN” award: a 60 year old pretigious program of acknowledging design excellence all over the world. The 5 products that received the award include: “Tonale” Table Set by David Chipperfield (2009), “Try it Trivet” by Dror Benshetrit (2009), “Essentiel de Pâtisserie” Cake Plate by matali crasset (2010), “La Via Lattea” Cheese Knives by Anna and Gian Franco Gasparini (2009), and “La Stanza dello Scirocco” basket by Mario Trimarchi (2009)
Tonale Tableware by David Chipperfield for Alessi
Tonale, by David Chipperfield was inspired by Asian ceramics and a desire to refine utilitarian household products. The colour way in these pieces is exquisite… largely neutral and muted in over all appearance but each colour is unique and beautiful. They also have a wonderful matte finish which allows the surfaces to absorb light in a soft and gentle way.
Try it Trivet by Dror Benshetrit for Alessi
Try it Trivet by Dror Benshetrit is a clever and fun series of circular trivets that can be joined together to create on snakelike support for warm objects on the table. This is a versatile kitchen tool that is bound to incite conversation at the dinner table.
Cake Plate by Matali Crasset for Alessi
Matali Crasset’s cake plate is another design that works with multiple units. It consists of two rings that fit inside of the each other and one small circle that nests in the centre of the inner ring. It can be used in multiple ways for desserts large and small but whatever size your sweets are, they will most certainly end up looking intriguing and delicious on this pedestal.
La Via Lattea Cheese Knife by Anna and Gian Franco Gasparini for Alessi
The blades of the La Via Lattea cheese knives were specially engineered for specific density cheeses. The organic shapes and wooden handles make them beautiful as objects in addition to their functionality.
La Stanza dello Scirocco basket by Mario Trimarchi for Alessi
La Stanza dello Scirocco basket by Mario Trimarchi is inspired by the Sicilian wind blowing objects across the countryside. I like to look at these pieces like a graphic image in 3D. The way the light reflects on each little rectangular cut out is mesmerizing as each one seems to be on a different angle in space.
Congrats to Alessi! We look forward to hearing more about these products and much more from them in the future.
Find Alessi on our website, here.
Visit Alessi’s webiste, here.
Read more about the GOOD DESIGN awards by The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design, here.
Our annual Knoll Classics Sale is underway, and we are off to a roaring start. Turns out people really like Knoll products … and they like them even more so when they’re 15% off. All the classics are on sale February 28th to March 6th including the work by designers: Eero Saarinen, Harry Bertoia, Marcel Breuer, Florence Knoll, Warren Platner, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and Jens Risom.
Womb Chair by Eero Saarinen for Knoll
Bird Chair by Harry Bertoia for Knoll
Wassily chair by Marcel Breuer for Knoll
Settee by Florence Knoll for Knoll
Lounge chair by Warren Platner for Knoll
Barcelona Chair by Mies Van Der Rohe for Knoll
Armless Lounge Chair by Jens Risom for Knoll
Happy SALE shopping!
Visit our website here to see all the Knoll products that are on sale.
