That would be our 2011 Customer Photo Contest winner!… or rather, one of the furry models in the winning photo. Our customer photo contest 2011 was a roaring success this year with a tonne of great submissions, lots of public voting and comments, and just good fun. We at Gabriel Ross love seeing our products in our customers’ homes – it’s so nice to see all our efforts come to fruition in cool modern spaces.

We received a LOT of images with cute kids and cute pets that were really popular with voters. In attempt to try and make a little extra space, we decided to offer an extra “Cuteness-Factor” prize of a $250 store credit part way through the contest.

Here is our “Cuteness-Factor” winner:

By: David, Alana, & Cato "Although our son Cato isn't quite ready to tell time, he can appreciate great design with our mid century George Nelson Spindle Clock!"

3rd place went to this elegant black and white profile of Vitra’s Panton chair and model, Olivia:

By Leasa: "This is my daughter Olivia sitting on her Verner Panton chair from Gabriel Ross. I figured the best way to capture her beauty and also the flowing curves of this iconic chair was to place them in front of a simple black backdrop void of any distinguishable environment."

Our second place winner is this adorable shot of a picture-perfect spring time baby sitting on a Herman Miller Eames
molded plastic arm chair with dowel base.

By Andrew and Dara "This Eames chair was our very first piece of modern furniture, after years of looking and dreaming and wishing. I can't even begin to say how excited we were when it came - we love it so much. Unexpected side benefit - it's unbelievably popular with little guests."

And last but certainly not least, our first place winner: the Tizio table lamp by Richard Sapper for Artemide, although
I think the cats stole the show here – particularly the one that made a home for him/herself in the decorative bowl.

By: Jackie "We love our Artemide Tizio desk lamp because it’s so architectural looking and versatile – a design classic! I love how I can adjust its shape to get a whole new look every time I’m feeling like changing my space around. Thanks GR for making such iconic pieces like this, available to people in Victoria!”

Thanks so much to everyone who participated and voted. Looking forward to next year’s contest!!!

View the winners on our Facebook Fan Page, here.
See all the entries for the photo contest, here.

Introducing from our Flensted Mobiles collection some new hanging marvels, Moomin Mobile, Flying Chairs, and Olephant Mobile – a perfect range of ceiling and hanging mobiles.

“In 1951 Isamu Noguchi visited the Japanese town of Gifu, known for its manufacture of lanterns and umbrellas from the mulberry bark paper and bamboo. Inspired by the lanterns illuminating night fishing on the Nagara River, Noguchi designed the first of his lamps that would be produced by the traditional Gifu methods of construction. He called these works Akari, a term meaning light as illumination, but also implying the idea of weightlessness. Extending the concept of illuminated sculpture that he developed during the 1940s in New York, Noguchi employed abstract shapes to unite the simplicity of Japanese aesthetics with the principles of contemporary art and design. More that home furnishing, Akari are light sculptures.

“With the warm glow of light cast through hand-made paper on a bamboo frame, Isamu Noguchi utilized traditional Japanese materials to bring modern design to the home. Like the beauty of falling leaves and the cherry blossom, Noguchi wrote, Akari are ‘poetic, ephemeral, and tentative.’ And he was fond of saying, ‘All that you require to start a home are a room, a tatami, and Akari.’ ”

View all Noguchi Lamps

Flensted Mobiles are beautiful, humorous and reflect a more modern approach to accessories.

Originally Flensted Mobiles were sold in bookshops and craft centres. Today, they are sold predominantly through museum and gallery gift outlets, contemporary furniture and design stores and children’s shops, and enjoy an international success.

All Flensted Mobiles are hand-made in Denmark, and offer high quality at a moderate price. Elements are assembled and packed by about 50 skilled home-workers and their families. Many of the original Flensted Mobiles are still in production, but the contemporary designs are now the bestsellers. Ole Flensted is the chief designer, but for introducing new ideas often works in conjunction with artists.

Flensted Mobiles are modern yet timeless, often abstract, brightly coloured and unaffected by fashion, qualities which enable them to hang and give inspiration for many years.