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

#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.

300 Coloured Vases, Hella Jongerius - photo: gerrit schreurs fotografie - courtesy: designboom.com

Hella Jongerius featured this installation of 300 vases at her a recent show: ”Misfit”  in the museum Boijmans van Beuningen, 2010.

Misfit, Hella Jongerius - photo: lotte stekelenburg - courtesy: designboom.com

 The vases are documentation of the designer’s experiment in colour and glaze application. She used industrial paint in standard colours for the first 82 vases and then collaborated with the experts at royal tichelaar makkum to combine historical mineral recipies with contemporary formulas in a layering effect that resulted in new, unique and dynamic colours and patinas.

photo: gerrit schreurs fotografie - courtesy: designboom.com

photo: gerrit schreurs fotografie - courtesy: designboom.com

photo: gerrit schreurs fotografie - courtesy: designboom.com

photo: gerrit schreurs fotografie - courtesy: designboom.com

photo: gerrit schreurs fotografie - courtesy: designboom.com

The rest of the show appears to have followed suit – arranged by colour across the walls of the gallery.

"Misfit" by Hella Jongerius - photo: lotte stekelenburg - courtesy: designboom.com

"Misfit" by Hella Jongerius - photo: lotte stekelenburg - courtesy: designboom.com

We offer some of Jongerius’ noteworthy designs right here at gabrielross.com! Click on these links to find her Polder Sofa and Bovist Cushions.

Polder Sofa by Hella Jongerius, for Vitra

Bovist Cushions by Hella Jongerius, for Vitra

To view these products and more at gabrielross.com, click here.

Herman Miller Select™ 2010 Eames® Hang–It–All®

As of August 15, 2010, Herman Miller’s Select program is presenting a new classy looking Eames Hang-It-All from the multicoloured version to a striking design which now includes a black steel frame and solid walnut hooks.

The Hang-It-All was inspired by the Eameses’ love for playful furniture and children’s toys. Introduced in 1953, it was designed to hold an assortment of children’s belongings—mittens, scarves, jackets, dolls, slingshots, skates, and knapsacks, according to Eames Design.

It was available from Tigrett Enterprises’ Playhouse Division until the company went out of business in 1961. Herman Miller reintroduced it in 1994.

Herman Miller’s Gregg Vander Kooi chose to feature the Hang-It-All as this year’s Select item because of its whimsical appeal.

“Plus,” he adds, “walnut is a fairly neutral wood that fits with almost any décor.”

If you want one you better hurry! It’s only being offered until February 15, 2011, or while supplies last.



Herman Miller Select™ 2010 Eames® Hang–It–All®

Vitra has just released 3 brand new wall clocks by George Nelson. Shown is the Polygon Clock, Wheel Clock, designed in 1961. And the impressive Flock of Butterflies Clock, designed in 1955!

A state-of-the-art technology mixed with excellent design. The designer Sandy Chilewich is passionate about research, experimenting with fibres and a fascination for textiles, and has oodles of experience.The development of woven Plynyl®, a newly introduced material, which is both water- and stain-resistant, is one of her best inventions. She uses Plynyl® in particular for table mats and for floor mats that are well-designed, sophisticated and above all, practical. With Chilewich, your household will be truly revolutionary!

“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

Alessi and the Seiko have jointly produced a new collection of Alessi watches.

Watches in the collection derive their designs from the inspirations of distinguished international architects and designers of commercial and industrial products, all well known to Alessi, and Seiko brings those inspirations to fruition in the form of exciting new watches.

The styles and methods of each designer, and the originality of Alessi are combinedly reflected in the distinctive character of each series.

Modern watch "Daytimer" by Alessi

The Modern Twist Silicone Placemats are an enjoyable departure from the norm! Who’s ever heard of coloring on your placemat while waiting for dinner? Washable markers wipe clean for reusable fun at each meal. Modern Twist’s elegant mats and coasters help us stay stylish even when we’re messy. The FDA-grade hand-silk-screened silicone is designed for optimal functionality with an easy-to-clean surface.

Modern Twist Placemats and Coasters

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.