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. 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
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. 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.
Light Sofa by Joquer
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 at 1-866-207-1111.
I was driving through Quadra Village the other night and popped into Cascadia Liquor for a cool white wine to enjoy on these deliciously warm summer nights we’ve been experiencing in Victoria recently. It was my first visit to this store and I was immediately in love … with the ceiling.
Large Saucer Bubble Lamps at Cascadia Liquor, Quadra Location
Large Saucer Bubble Lamps at Cascadia Liquor, Quadra Location
These George Nelson Large Saucer Bubble Lamps by Modernica look fantastic against the open rafters and ducting. They form a perfect bridge from the industrial ceiling to the polished selection of spirits and ales.
Find the Saucer Bubble Lamp on our website, here.
Visit Cascadia Liquor’s website, here.
Random Suspension light by Bertjan Pot, 2001, for Moooi
The title for this post is a bit misleading … you may have been expecting a mash of a bunch of different random lights. Instead, you are getting one light in particular named Random, plus a bit about one other fixture called (of course) Non Random.
Moooi is new to Gabriel Ross, but this fixture isn’t new to anyone interested in lighting design. Random was a hit from its birth and partnership with the Dutch design house. It is featured constantly in interior design magazines, online publications, and if I’ve seen them in commercial applications around Victoria, BC, then I’m sure that there is a Random to found in every city. If you’re local, check them out at Prima Strada Pizzeria in Cook Street Village along with Marcel Wanders’ (Moooi co-founder) Skygarden light fixture for Flos – but that’s another post all together.
photo: bertjanpot.nl
Random Chrome Lightpost
The Random light is named after the nature of its production process. A resin drained yarn is wrapped willy nilly around an inflated beach ball until it’s nearly covered, leaving enough gaps for light to shine through, maintaining an airy and light presence. Also left unwrapped is an asymmetrically located small hole large enough for the bulb and chromed steel pendant to fit through. The beach ball is then deflated and voila… Random!
Random LED Floor Lamp by Bertjan Pot for Moooi
On a side note… or more appropriately… a “random” thought… I love that the name for the design is an adjective. It’s like an excuse to play naughty with grammar, and that is just good fun… oh what the heck… it’s funner.
Non Random light fixutre by Bertjan Pot, 2007, for Moooi
Six years after Random’s inception, Bertjan Pot came up with the Jeckll to its Hyde. Non Random is like a neatly coiled ball of yarn (as aptly described by “old ladies” on Moooi’s website). Its yarn is criss-crossed systematically unlike Random’s random (ha!) yarn distribution.
Non Random yarn pattern detail
Moooi has many other super interesting light fixtures to offer, which may be the subjects of future posts, but the Random is most certainly their most successful from a distribution/exposure point of view.
Visit our website for these and other inspiring Moooi products, here.
Visit Moooi’s website direct, here.
See other products by Bertjan Pot, here.
images: moooi.com, bertjanpot.nl
Dutch for “beautiful”, Moooi fulfills its name and then some. Marcel Wanders – designer of the Skygarden suspension light fixture for Flos among various other successful designs, and Casper Vissers launched the company together 2001. Moooi has since become known for life size Horse floor lamps, Pig tables, Rabbit table lamps, Dandelion suspension lamps, and the ever popular Random fixtures.
Horse Lamp, Front 2006 for Moooi
Dandelion Suspension Light by Richard Hutten 2004, for Moooi
Rabbit Table Lamp by Front 2006, for Moooi
Random Suspension Light by Bertjan Pot 2001, for Moooi
Moooi is much more than just lights … They also boast an impressive collection of tables, chairs, stools, cabinets, and eclectic accessories including porcelain vases made from molds of latex condoms and hard boiled eggs.
Egg Vase by Marcel Wanders 1997, for Moooi
Chess Table by Front 2009, for Moooi
Element 002 by Jaime Hayon 2007 for Moooi
Paper Cupboard by Studio Job 2005, for Moooi
Drawing inspiration from decorative antiques and combining it with a modern and playful sensibility, Moooi represents designs that are endlessly interesting and innovative. Employing designers such as Jurgen Bey, Bertjan Pot, Maarten Baas, Ross Lovegrove, Neri & Hu, Studio Job and Nika Zupanc, this company operates on the edge of current, fresh, and curious modern design.
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
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.
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.
Terra Verde (Italian for “Green Earth”) is a new contemporary townhome devlopment in Fairfield area, Victoria BC. It’s a modern project with a west coast feel by local developer, Abstract Developments. The open concept design and clean finishes create a perfect space to house Gabriel Ross’ modern furnishings and accessories.
Terra Verde - exterior, 1020 Richardson Victoria BC
Many of our lines are represented in the show suite including Frighetto, Calligaris, Cattelan Italia, Herman Miller, Unique carpets, Joquer, Fritz Hansen, and several pieces by our own upholstery shop. The livingroom features Frighetto’s Hopi sofa and matching arm chairs, Herman Miller Noguchi table in black, Unique Carpet’s Aurora Borealis area rug, and Flos’ Tab lamp.
The barstools at the kitchen island are the “Hoppy” stool by Bonaldo in black leather. With a hydraulic lift, these stools are perfect for any space with varying counter/bar heights. They even make a comfortable extra seat around the dining table in a pinch.
Calligaris’ Modern table and Cattelan Italia’s Tess chairs adorn the diningroom, featuring Walter Gropius’ TAC 02 dinnerware and Reidel wine glasses ontop of Chilewich Ghost Stripe placemats.
A sitting area next to the kitchen is the perfect place to enjoy your morning cappucino in one of Gabriel Ross’ Metro chairs. Between the chairs is a Platner side table in bronze by Knoll.
The bed in the first bedroom is our very own Niloc design and Loft nightstands while the second bedroom features the “Mini’ version of the Niloc upholstered in Knoll’s graphic houndstooth textile: Century by Dorothy Cosonas.
The lower level features an underground parking garage, and a spacious media room. We furnished the media room with a Joquer Light sofa, Moka chair, and Fritz Hansen’s PK20Â easy chair in black leather. The floor lamp is the new Diesel “Fork” by Foscarini – for more info on this see our previous blog post, here.
The show suite is open Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday 1-4pm. For more information, contact Abstract Developments or Mark Lawless from Re/max, here.
Questions about the furniture or accessories? Contact our showroom at 250-384-2554.
For more information on Terra Verde, visit Abstract Development’s website, here.
