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.
Our last post was highlighting a vintage Arne Jacobsen Series 7 Chair that our shop reupholstered. Today, I came across this video on the Huffington Post about the making of the classic 1955 chair. The video is a beautifully choreographed black and white film depicting all the steps (human and mechanical) involved in the making of the Series 7. Recorded along side a tranquil acoustic guitar soundtrack, it’s an engaging view for both it’s content and cinematography. Check it out here:
View and purchase the Series 7 chair on our website, here.
Visit Fritz Hansen’s website, here.
View the article on the Huffington Post, here.
Herman Miller’s new office chair, SAYL by Yves Behar, has finally arrived at Gabriel Ross. We receivied our stock last week and the chair exceeded our expectations in comfort and appearance. Although we have only received stock of the Basic black version for now, there is more stock on the way soon in the Fully Loaded and Executive models.
Click here to read our original post on the SAYL chair. The Basic model that we now have in stock retails for only $448.00 – a significant triumph for Herman Miller and Behar’s hopes to create a well designed and fully functioning office chair that is accessible to a wider audience. Click here to purchase yours now.
SAYL’s webbed back is part of the “unframed” design – providing full flexibility and movement for the user. “Less is more” seems to be the mantra for this chair – it’s extremely comfortable AND feels supportive at the same time.
You know how sometimes the most mundane objects can bring you some awesome everyday joy? It’s all in the details. I love when great design is applied to everyday tools and stuff that would otherwise remain used but unappreciated.
Gents Tape Measure by Stotz-design for Blomus
Stainless Steel accessory design house, Blomus, produces a great deal of everyday items in a thoughtful and beautiful way. Above is their “Gents” tape measure by Stotz-design. We have been using these in the showroom recently, and as a result, I am no longer embarrassed to hand over a 5 pound plastic and rubber Home Depot door stop to a client when they request a measurement. Simply lovely.
Would your opinions of laundry day change if this was your go-to for dirty clothes?:
Slice Laundry Bin by Stotz-design for Blomus
Imagine picking up your mail every day from this beautiful, modern, stainless steel mailbox:
Signo Letter Box and Newspaper Holder by Stotz Design for Blomus
You won’t be hiding that unruly pile of magazines behind the sofa any longer with this magazine rack:
Wactor Magazine Rack by Floz Design for Blomus
Scooping your bar of soap out of this modern, clean dish each day when you wash your hands:
Nexio Soap Dish for Blomus
Visualize your closet with clothes half falling off of mismatched plastic, wire, and wood hangers transforming to a cohesive, clean row of stainless steel hangers with rubber tips to ensure your clothes stay put and straight:
Toios Tubular Coat Hanger by Stotz Design for Blomus
All of these well designed everyday objects and many many more can be found on our Blomus products page at gabrielross.com. Treat yourself by upgrading one of your utilitarian tools to something that is not only useful, but also beautiful.
Purchase these and other amazing Blomus products at gabrielross.com, here.
Visit Blomus’ website, here.
Visit Stotz-Design’s website, here.
Visit Floz Design’s website, here.
The Oklahamo Museum of Art with Vitra Design Museum is featuring “George Nelson: Architect, Writer, Designer, Teacher” February 3rd – May 8th. The first complete retrospective of Nelson’s work will include over 120 objects including chairs, clocks, lamps, benches, etc., and also over 50 documents that include drawings, photos, and films.
photo: www.modernica.net
Nelson was one of the most prominent American designers of the 20th century in various areas spanning architecture, industrial design, and photography. He was also an influential lecturer, curator, writer and publicist. For over two decades Nelson was the design director for Herman Miller, allowing him the opportunity to work closely with other canons of mid century modern design such as Charles and Ray Eames, Alexander Girard, and Isamu Noguchi.
Nelson Bench by George Nelson for Herman Miller
Marshmallow Sofa by George Nelson for Herman Miller
Swag Leg Desk by George Nelson for Herman Miller
Coconut Chair and Ottoman by George Nelson - photo: Photo: Vitra Design Museum Archive
Herman Miller just recently re-introduced the Nelson Basic Cabinetry series – an excellent collection of cabinet coordinates that can be put together to create a built-in look or used individually as nightstands or side tables. The introduction included Nelson’s bench with a new metal base option. View these products on our website, here.
Nelson Bench with Bookcase Cabinet for Herman Miller
As if you need another excuse to visit Oklahoma… but in case you did, this retrospective show is it. There may be opportunities to see George Nelson’s original product designs in retail stores (although, even these are few and far between), but this is a rare chance to get a glimpse of the artist’s personal world and thoughts through his drawings and writings and connect it all together in one space.
Read more on this exhibition on the Oklahoma City Museum of Art’s website, here.
View and purchase George Nelson products on our website, here.
320 thread count in 100% cotton percale, DwellStudio’s Chinoiserie bed linens feel as good as they look. All the white space on this duvet cover accents the graphic, minimalist quality of the branches and birds. The design has an old world/traditional feel, but is delivered in a really clean, modern way.
DwellStudio Chinoiserie Duvet Cover and Shams with Linen Edge Sheet Set
A perfect combination of old and new – this duvet set will work in any bedroom. Best of all, you can mix and match the Chinoiserie pieces with other lines in the DwellStudio collection. Use the Linen Edge bed sheets with the duvet cover (as pictured above), or just use some Chinoiserie accent pillows on a different duvet. The accent cushions also work well in other rooms of the house!
DwellStudio Long Chinoiserie Cushion
Treat yourself to a soft, luxurious sleep with a design well suited to a lovely Spring season on the way. The queen duvet set with two shams is only $280.00, the king set: $320.00 at gabrielross.com, here. Also check out the rest of the DwellStudio collection including sheet sets, coverlets, table linens, wall art and more – here.
Modernica's Triple Fixture, design: George Nelson - photo: modernica.net
Modernica’s Triple Fixture bubble lamp is featured in Canada’s House and Home Magazine, January 2011 issue. You can find in the in the “Focus” section as part as the “Light it Up” feature article on statement multiheaded light fixtures.
Canadian House and Home Magazine - photo: houseandhome.com
The article describes the fixture as “a play on puppetry”, and where does House and Home recommend you would find such a wonderful example of mid century modern lighting design? why, Gabriel Ross of course.
Modernica's Triple Fixture, design: George Nelson - photo: modernica.net
The Triple Fixture can be ordered with different style bubble lamps. You could hang three saucers, three cigars, three balls, lanterns, pears … or combine different lights and hang a mixture!
View the Triple Fixture and the whole selection of George Nelson Bubble Lamps at gabrielross.com, here.
Visit House and Home Magazine, here.
