Little Field of Flowers by Studio Tord Boontje for Nanimarquina - photo: nanimarquina.com

Nanimarquina, the exquisite area rug design company based in Spain, is 20% off until November 21st. This is a purchase that you will be happy with for reasons beyond great design and aesthetics. This company goes to great lengths to ensure that their products are ethically manufactured, working closely with Care and Fair’s initiative against child labour in carpet production.

Roses by Nani Marquina - photo: nanimarquina.com

Topissimo by Nani Marquina - photo: nanimarquina.com

Zoom Cojin by Nani Marquina - photo: nanimarquina.com

Nanimarquina carries a wide variety of unique rugs in a rainbow of colours and neutrals. There is design for every space in this line. The Victoria and Losanges designs are reminiscent of the delicate palette and patterns of Persian carpets while the Aros rugs are modern and minimal.

Victoria by Sybilla for Nani Marquina - photo: nanimarquina.com

Losanges by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Nanimarquina - photo: nanimarquina.com

Aros by Nani Marquina - photo: nanimarquina.com

Aros by Nani Marquina - photo: nanimarquina.com

nanimarquina – making of v.2 – 2011 from nanimarquina on Vimeo.

Check out these and other Nanimarquina rugs on our website, here.
Visit Nanimarquina’s website, here.
Learn more about Care and Fair, here.
Read our earlier blog post on Losanges by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, here.

Sometimes I’m surprised by the things that pop up with the search bar at gabrielross.com. Some of the products that we carry have names that are either difficult to pronounce or just totally adorable like “Magic Bunny.” There are actually two products that appear if you search “bunny” on our online store… the Magic Bunny Toothpick Holder and the Bunny and Carrot Paper Towel Holder by Stefano Giovannoni for Alessi.

Bunny and Carrot Paper Towel Holder by Stefano Giovannoni for Alessi

Magic Bunny Toothpick Holder by Stefano Giovannoni for Alessi

The toothpick holder is available in all the colours shown above: blue, pink, green and yellow. The paper towel holder is available in blue and green. I love the way that the carrot peeks out just above the top of the paper towel roll – as though it is ready to pull out of the ground. The toothpick holder bunny has a “jack in the box” appeal – he is nestled neatly inside the container and as you pull on his ears, he emerges along with the toothpicks stored inside.

Magic Bunny Toothpick Holder by Stefano Giovannoni for Alessi - photo: alessi.com

Bunny and Carrot Kitchen Roll Holder by Stefano Giovannoni for Alessi - photo: alessi.com

View these, and other adorable products by Alessi, here.
Visit Alessi’s website, here.
Learn more about designer Stefano Giovannoni, here.

Last name: Wästberg. First name is of little concern according to the manifesto: “Lamps for Neanderthal Man”. Yes, this is a lighting line that comes with a manifesto. The manifesto is brilliant and hilarious. The designs are mega functional and super cool.

Wästberg Claesson Koivisto Rune Table Lamp - w101 - photo: wasteberg.com

“Man appeared.
Man felt comfortable and safe around light sources he could control.
Man felt comfortable and safe for 300,000 years.

Man began to over-illuminate rooms and halls.
General lighting was calibrated for the areas that needed the most light.
Far too many areas received far too much light.
Man felt dazzled and irradiated.
Man no longer felt comfortable or safe.

One of the people affected (a Swede) started reasoning to himself.
What would happen if you softened general lighting, and used direct
lighting where needed instead? A more functional, more economic,
more energy efficient, more flexible and more aesthetic lighting solution
would ensue.
But entirely new demands were made of the new direct lighting.

Man started to experiment.
Man got scent.
Wästberg appeared.“

source: wastberg.com/philosophy

This is a new line for Gabriel Ross and we are thrilled to have it. These lights combine beautiful, simple, modern design with adjustable everything. These lights twist, turn and tilt in every direction – head and stem.

Wästberg lighting display in our showroom

Wästberg Irvine Table Lamp - w082

Wästberg Claesson Koivisto Rune Table Lamp

Wästberg Studioilse Table Lamp - w084

Wästberg Studioilse Table Lamp - w084 - detail

Wästberg Studioilse Table Lamp - w084 - base detail

View these, and the rest of the amazing Wästberg collection on our website, here.
Read the “Lamps for Neanderthal Man” manifesto on Wästberg’s website, here.

This time of year can be difficult to welcome with open arms. Shorter (and wetter) days, longer nights, more dark, less light. However, one perk of Fall – aside from colourful leaves and cozy scarves – is that our showroom becomes magic after 5pm.

While our lighting lines: Flos, Foscarini, Modernica, Akari, Vibia, among others, are amazing during the day … during the dark they become truly awesome. And it’s not just the lighting itself, it’s everything that falls under their glow. All of perfectly designed, constructed, upholstered, and polished pieces in our showroom shine a little more fabulous after 5pm on a crisp Fall evening.

I can’t wait to see these George Nelson Bubble Lamps shine through the checkered warehouse windows of our future showroom across the street. Get ready to glow Harjim.

Italian designer Matteo Bianchi’s “Muffin Pouffe” looks good enough to eat. Or is it just that I am caught up in this crazy wonderful cupcake trend?

Muffin Pouffe by Matteo Bianchi - source: designboom.com

Presented at Tent London 2011 – one of the trade shows during London’s September Design Festival, this handcrafted piece can be customized vanilla, strawberry … with your choice of sprinkles! Muffin Pouffe is actually very functional despite its decorative exterior. Offering storage, seating, rest for aching feet … this muffin would be a welcomed addition to any space needing a little sweetening up.

I get that this ottoman might be a little too sweet for some spaces, and a little too wacky for others. There are some more savory occasional storage pieces and ottoman options out there. A personal favorite is the Bovist Floor Cushion by the ever amazing Hella Jongerius:

Bovist Floor Cushion by Hella Jongerius for Vitra

Box Storage Unit by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec (yes, I found a way to fit R&E into this post!) for Vitra:

Box Storage Unit by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Vitra

Box Storage Unit by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Vitra

The Capelli Stool by Carol Catalano for Herman Miller:

Capelli Stool by Carol Catalano for Herman Miller

Capelli Stool by Carol Catalano for Herman Miller

Or Philippe Starck’s adorable Gnomes Table/Stool which circle us right back to sweet as soon as you gaze into those sparkly gnome eyes and rosy cheeks.

Gnome Tables/Stools by Philippe Starck for Kartell

Gnome Tables/Stools by Philippe Starck for Kartell, gold finish

These little characters also serve a double, well triple, function: he is a table surface, a stool (foot or sitting), and chock a block full of personality. Gnome or cupcake, a bit of frivolity in a room just can’t be all wrong.

Read Designboom’s aricle on Matteo Bianchi’s Muffin Pouffe, here.
Visit gabrielross.com to view the Bovist cusion, Box Storage Unit, Capelli Stool, and/or Gnome Table/Stools, here.