Last weekend I visited Rainbow Hill, a stunning new modern townhouse development in Victoria. The show suite, open Saturdays/Sundays 1pm-4pm, is furnished by Gabriel Ross.

Front Entry

The entry opens up to an open concept kitchen/dining/living space through to beautiful huge windows overlooking Victoria with glimpses of the ocean.

Living Room

The fireplace in the living space is simply amazing. It’s completely inserted and flush with the wall. Its low level flame flickers across its horizontal width adding the perfect amount of warmth to this modern space.

Nanimarquina

Dining Area

Gabriel Ross’ finest is found in this space – our Ennezero side cabinet featuring the comic design, Valentina, Moooi’s Random light fixture, a Nani Marquina area rug, Christina Hilborne’s Urban Chic coffee table, and our very own Project upholstery collection.

Front Deck Featuring Royal Botania

This home offers a huge outdoor living space – we furnished it with our Royal Botania Ninix collection.

Bedroom

Bedroom

Our Niloc bed and custom cabinet adorn the bedroom space, complimented by the Paper Mirror by Moooi, Tizio Classic bedside lamps by Artemide, and Nelson Cabinet side tables by Herman Miller. And taking this bedroom from fabulous to divine is Fritz Hansen’s Egg Chair by Arne Jacobsen.

Bedroom

My journey through this show suite was filled with surprises – from radiant heat flooring to an entire lower level living area, den, and tonnes of additional space open to customization. Space, space, and more beautiful big windows.

Lower Level Living

The lower living area is furnished with Cassina‘s Marralunga sofa and chair in black leather, the Noguchi Table from Herman Miller, Panton’s Amoebe Chair, 2 Le Corbusier’s LC1 chairs flanking a Nelson Platform Bench. On the wall is a Sunflower Clock by George Nelson for Vitra, and on the opposite wall – a Calligaris low entertainment unit.

Lower Level

Learn more about this incredible development, here.
Questions about the furnishings and accessories featured in this post? Contact us, here.

Amoebe Chair, 1970 by Verner Panton for Vitra

I can say with confidence that this chair receives the most attention in the showroom from those looking for something off-beat, fun, and from those under the age of 15. Kids love this chair! (adults do too… they’re just, for the most part, more reserved about expressing unabashed glee for big purple chairs. Or yellow ones for that matter.

Amoebe Chair, 1970 by Verner Panton for Vitra

This chair also comes in an even cheekier version – the high back Amoebe. This design offers all the comfort of a lounge chair with a place to rest your head. It also has a little wrap over ceiling, you know, in case it starts to rain The curved top edge further emphasizes that whimsy that Verner Panton is known and loved for.

High Back Amoebe Chair by Verner Panton for Vitra

This chair is certainly not short of character – it’s human like form is very expressive – see below… Amoebe: “Let me out to play!”

High Back Amoebe Chair looking longingly outside by Verner Panton for Vitra

Available in an array of lovable colours, both Amoebes are orderable on our website and/or through our showroom – 250-384-2554. We also have a purple version in stock on SALE – check it out on our clearance page, here.

Ahhh… it’s that time of year…

Crisp autumn air? Scarves and mittens? Holiday decor hits storefront windows? Hot tea and crackling fires? yah, yah, it’s all good, but what’s great about this time of year? Herman Miller is on SALE!

Today until December 12th, Herman Miller products are 15% off. Now that’s something to drink tea to.

Herman Miller is a canon of authentic mid century modern design – reproducing the greats: Charles and Ray Eames, George Nelson and Isamu Noguchi. The design house also commissions and manufactures contemporary designs from an array of talent including Yves Behar, the designer behind Herman Miller’s most recent office chair SAYL. They are also, of course, the name behind the infamous Aeron chair. They sign their name to the groundbreaking Embody chair and continue to push boundaries in the area of contemporary ergonomic office design each and every day.

Platform Bench by George Nelson for Herman Miller - photo: hermanmiller.com

Noguchi Table by Isamu Noguchi for Herman Miller - photo: hermanmiller.com

SAYL side chair by Yves Behar for Herman Miller - photo: hermanmiller.com

Aeron Chair by Bill Stumpf and Don Chadwick - photo: hermanmiller.com

Embody Chair by Bill Stumpf and Jeff Weber for Herman Miller - photo: hermanmiller.com

The newest addition to the Herman Miller line up is a partnership with Italian design company Magis.

This line carries products for indoor and outdoor and is committed to technology innovation, working with top designers from all over the world. Magis brings a breath of fresh air to an already impressive and dynamic selection of products in the Herman Miller portfolio. The best part? Magis products are also on SALE until December 12th!

Shop the sale for Magis by Herman Miller on our website, here.
Shop the sale for other great Herman Miller products on our website, here.

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.

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.

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.

That time is coming up again and we’re stocking the shelves in preparation of this June’s Herman Miller authorized 15% off sale. Herman Miller is the design house behind the infamous Aeron task chair and boasts the reproduction licenses to an impressive collection of mid century modern classics such as the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman, Noguchi coffee table, and George Nelson’s Marshmallow Sofa.

Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller

Noguchi Table by Isamu Noguchi for Herman Miller

Marshmallow Sofa by George Nelson for Herman Miller

The sale runs from June 3 – 13 and includes the classics, ergonomic office furniture, and accessories. Also included in the sale is the new “Envelop” desk: an ergo-desk that adjusts to its user’s sitting position (read our previous blog post on “Envelop”, including a neat-o video, here).

Envelop Desk by Bill Sumpf and Jeff Weber for Herman Miller - photo: hermanmiller.com

If you have been considering a Herman Miller purchase, now is the time to buy. Considering the current strength of our Canadian dollar (woot!), plus the 15% discount, you really can’t go wrong. Plus, an investment in Herman Miller is an investment in authentic design reproduction with integrity that lasts a lifetime (and then some!). For more information on design authenticity, check out Herman Miller’s website, here.

Check out our website for all of Herman Miller’s amazing product line, here.
Questions? Contact us, here, leave us a comment on our blog, follow us on Twitter @GabrielRossShop, or visit our Facebook Fan Page, here.

YAY Moooi!

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.

View Moooi products on our website, here.

Pig Table by Front 2006, for Moooi

We received an exciting delivery a couple of weeks ago from our upholstery shop containing a new Tommy sofa bed for the showroom. Upholstered in a bright spring green and accented by cute square cushions, this piece has been getting lots of attention since it’s arrival.

Tommy Sofa Bed by Gabriel Ross

The mattress inside this sofa is 100% natural latex, so there are no creaky metal springs. The mechanism is Italian made and operates unlike any other pull out sofa. There is a handle hidden between the two back cushions and when you pull it towards you, the entire back swings out in one easy motion. The back cushions are permanently attached and safely store themselves underneath the bed, up off the floor.

The best part? This sofa bed is comfortable to sleep on. Yes, I’m serious. It’s actually comfortable. For Real. Come see for yourself! We encourage our clients to bring a book and spend some time on this mattress in the showroom. We’ll even dim the lights if you nod off …

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.

Losanges rug by the Bouroullec brothers for Nanimarquina - photo: designboom.com

I can’t get enough of these guys! Ronan and Erwan have paired up with Spanish area rug company, Nanimarquina to create “Losanges” – an awesome area rug that salutes traditional persian style with a modern interpretation.

Losanges area rug by the Bouroullec brothers for Nanimarquina - photo: designboom.com

This rug is handmade through and through. The 13 colours of afghan wool is hand spun and the rug is hand woven by crafts people in North Pakistan. I love the geometric, rhombus design with a delivery that makes each rug unique.

Losanges area rug by the Bouroullec Brothers for Nanimarquina - photo: designboom.com

Losanges will make its debut at Paris’ Maison et Objet Jan. 21st to 25th, 2011 as part of Nanimarquina’s booth.

See Nanimarquina’s products on our website gabrielross.com, here.
Visit Nanimarquina’s website, here.
Visit the Bouroullec Brothers’ website, here.
Visit Maison et Objet’s website, here.