Esquire Magazine’s “The Big Black Book, Spring/Summer 2011″ issue” boasts itself as “The Style Manual for Successful Men”. Reading this, I was immediately reminded of the recent lighting and home design collaboration between Foscarini and Diesel fashion label, coined “Successful Living” (read our blog post on this collection, here). It seems that success is highly dependent on style – or so the fashion and design houses would suggest. In our business of some of the most iconic, stylish furniture and home accessories in the history of modern design… who are we to argue?

Esquire Magazine Cover - Spring/Summer 2011 Issue

The magazine issue’s index, after 9 pages of glossy dapper men sporting Gucci watches, Ascot Chang suits, and Hermes blousons lists “The Portfolios – How to put yourself together for wherever life takes you.” Under Portfolio No. 2: “The Anti-Suit”, is a one page article on selecting a stylish man chair. Titled “Take a Seat – Eight iconic chairs that help you sit with style”, this article is reminiscent of a gabrielross.com product page.Ā I was pleased as punch to see that we offer every single one of the 8 chairs that Esquire features.

Esquire Magazine Article, from "The Big Black Book 2011 Spring/Summer Issue

#1: LC3 Grand Modele Armchair:

LC3 Armchair by Le Corbusier for Cassina

#2: Barcelona Chair:

Barcelona Chair by Mies Van Der Rohe for Knoll

#3: Eames Soft Pad Lounge Chair:

Eames Soft Pad Lounge Chair by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller

#4: Swan Chair:

Swan Chair by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen

#5: 1006 Navy Armchair:

Navy Arm Chair for Emeco

#6: Wassily Chair:

Wassily Chair by Marcel Breuer for Knoll

#7: Aeron Chair:

Aeron Chair by Don Chadwick and Bill Stumpf for Herman Miller

#8: Womb Chair:

Womb Chair by Eero Saarinen for Knoll

Visit gabrielross.com to see these chairs and many many more, here.

It seems the hard edged square dinner plate and ultra asymmetrical bowl phenomenon has mellowed out a little, and sweet simplicity in dinnerware has reigned supreme. Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec’s “Ovale” collection embodies clean lines, beautiful and elegant shapes, and unbeatable functionality in a variety of sizes and multitude of accent pieces.

Ovale Collection by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Alessi. image: core77.com

Ovale does not deliver a single serving impression. These pieces require a second glance, some figuring out – a platter of intrigue for the curious and discerning eye. They aren’t actually oval shaped, but almost. And that missing fraction is delightfully captivating. Carefully considered details… that’s where awesomeness lives.

Ovale by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Alessi. image: core77.com

Beyond the standard dinnerware – plates, side plates, bowls, cups, etc., Ovale has a wonderful selection of additional pieces including covered stoneware, serving dishes and trays, an ice bucket, and a little sauce plate (shown above).

Ovale Collection by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Alessi. image: core77.com

The ā€œOvaleā€ collection strives to be original, but it also wants to be rustic and traditional. We set out in pursuit of delicate expression. This composition speaks about every day life, about breakfast, lunch, about everyone getting together for dinner. There is a desire for simplicity.

-Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec
source: alessi.com

Ovale Collection by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Alessi. image: core77.com

View the entire Ovale collection on our website, here.
Visit Alessi’s website, here.
Visit Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec Design, here.

Emeco has partnered up with designer Michael Young to produce a new collection that combines their iconic aluminum with a new material (new to Emeco, that is), wood. I adore the combination of the hard, industrial surface of aluminum combined with an organic, material that grew under sun.

Lancaster Collection - image: emeco.net

The collection includes stacking chairs, tables and barstools. All the pieces are available in light or dark stained ash wood and either polished aluminum or “nano” powder coat. The ash wood is sustainable, durable, and harvested from, you guessed it, Lancaster Pennsylvania. As wood isn’t Emeco’s specialty, the wood components are being hand crafted in a local Amish factory in Lancaster with a long time reputation for wood working.

Lancaster chairs - images: emeco.net

Lancaster chair shown stacked. image: emeco.net

Lancaster Table - images: emeco.net

Lancaster Barstool rear and front view - images: emeco.net

The way that Young designed the connection between the aluminum and wood components makes this chair really unique. He doesn’t hide the fact that there is a joint there, and celebrates the contrast between the materials by accentuating the join with visible bolts, and large tab like connectors. These details speak to the industrial side of the design, although the beauty in which all the elements are finished illustrates the craftmanship that Emeco is known for. The Lancaster collection is perfect composition of hybrid raw material, elegant design, and enduring quality.

Lancaster chair detail - image: emeco.net

Designer Michael Young at the Trussardi store in Milan, 2011. image: emeco.net

Michael Young is an accomplished industrial designer who has worked with many international furniture manufacturers. He has this to say about Lancaster’s design story:

“I feel passionate about working with natural materials that live forever.Ā  Wood and metal are really the materials that connect to the human so there was no question that the richness of their aging processes is a perfect combination.”
Michael Young, quote source: Emeco Newsletter, July 2011

We are currently working on getting the Lancster collection up on our online store. If you have questions about pricing, availability, etc., contact us, here.
Visit Emeco’s website for information and images, here.
Visit Michael Young’s website to see more amazing design projects, here.
Read Designboom‘s up close and personal interview with Michael Young, here.

Showroom Client: “Oh, I didn’t know you had sofas because you are always talking about lighting and accessories in your newsletters and such”
Myself: “No, no, we have LOTS of sofas. We carry LOTS of sofas”

Above = inspiration for this blog post.

Light Sofa by Joquer

Meet “Light”. This is the latest addition to our showroom from the Spanish modern upholstery design house, Joquer. See?! We have sofas. We have many others also (including a new incredible eco-friendly design built by our local workshop in Victoria – but that is news to come) … this post is dedicated to Light.

This sofa’s name is a good fit – it is small scale, clean lines, skinny arms, and an airy base that makes it appear to float a few inches off the ground. Even the back of this piece is “light” in structure and visual footprint

Light Sofa by Joquer

It is not often that the back of a sofa is nice looking, let alone interesting or unique in any way. This is the exception. I love the way the designer reveals the angle of the back support by carving out the frame around the base. This makes this piece perfect for open concept spaces where the sofa might define the living room from dining room. It would also be perfect for small spaces where the seating has to “float” somewhere away from the wall to allow a walkway behind or beside.

Joquer began in Gava, Spain in 1983 with a modest staff of only 6 people. The company has since grown significantly and now has a showroom in Barcelona and a large production facility in Gaudix, Grenada. Light is just one example of this manufacturer’s vast selection of upholstered furniture including several sofas, chairs and beds – all available in a variety of fabric and leather options.

Side view - Light sofa by Joquer

Light Sofa by Joquer

Although we do not have this vendor’s products on our website, we have the entire line available for sale through our showroom or via our online sales department. I encourage you to visit their website, here to see all products Joquer has to offer. You can also access it directly from our site, here.

Questions about this line, or other sofas we might have to offer? contact us here or drop us a line atĀ 1-866-207-1111.