Fix Healthcare, located in the Atrium building at 805 Johnson St., Victoria BC, offers an impressive range of services and is also a feast for the eyes. Featuring the new SAYL Chair by Yves Behar for Herman Miller, Fix’s reception room is bright, modern, comfortable, and ergonomic to boot.

Other Gabriel Ross pieces in the space include an Alvar Aalto side table with black lacquer surfaces and Aalto’s signature bent wood frame. This is the perfect compliment to Fix’s wood striped accent wall and reception area.

George Nelson’s bench for Herman Miller with black legs and slotted wood top also makes an appearance, and of course, ties in perfectly.

SAYL, Herman Miller’s latest ergonomic office furniture marvel, is offered as a side chair (as shown above) and also an office/task chair. Read our previous blog  about SAYL and Yves Behar’s collaboration with Herman Miller, here. As a side chair, SAYL is unique and intriguing upon first glance, and an incredibly comfortable and supportive sitting experience.

This chair makes perfect sense when paired with a contemporary healthcare facility offering such a wide array of services and classes including acupuncture, chiropractic, physiotherapy, massage therapy, pilates and yoga.

Our thanks to Fix for supporting authentic design and providing such a valuable service to Victoria’s downtown core. We wish them the best of luck!

visit Fix’s website, here.
see the SAYL chair at gabrielross.com, here.
see the Nelson bench at gabrielross.com, here.
see other Alvar Aalto designs at gabrielross.com, here.

Oculus Chair by Hans Wegner for Carl Hansen & Son image: core77.com

One of Hans Wegner’s 1960 designs has been re-born 50 years later. The “Oculus” CH468 Chair, re-released by Carl Hansen & Son is like the curvaceous counterpart to the CH445 Wing Chair of the same birth year.

Oculus Chair and Ottoman by Hans Wegner for Carl Hansen & Son. image: core77.com

Wing Chair by Hans Wegner for Carl Hansen & Son

Oculus Chair by Hans Wegner for Carl Hansen & Son. image: core77.com

While the Wing Chair has been in production for years, only two prototypes of the Oculus were ever manufactured until now. One of the chairs was lost and the other chair, of which Wegner’s family had possession, was the only map remaining to re-creating this beauty. While Carl Hansen & Son admits to buying up auction pieces and cutting them in half to re-launch a product, they couldn’t do this with the one and only survivor of this treasured design. What did they do instead? They had the chair scanned in 3-D so that they could see the inside, and all angles necessary to re-create the Oculus. Thank goodness for modern technology.

View the Oculus on Carl Hansen & Son’s website, here.
Want one for yourself? Contact us, 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.

It seems the hard edged square dinner plate and ultra asymmetrical bowl phenomenon has mellowed out a little, and sweet simplicity in dinnerware has reigned supreme. Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec’s “Ovale” collection embodies clean lines, beautiful and elegant shapes, and unbeatable functionality in a variety of sizes and multitude of accent pieces.

Ovale Collection by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Alessi. image: core77.com

Ovale does not deliver a single serving impression. These pieces require a second glance, some figuring out – a platter of intrigue for the curious and discerning eye. They aren’t actually oval shaped, but almost. And that missing fraction is delightfully captivating. Carefully considered details… that’s where awesomeness lives.

Ovale by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Alessi. image: core77.com

Beyond the standard dinnerware – plates, side plates, bowls, cups, etc., Ovale has a wonderful selection of additional pieces including covered stoneware, serving dishes and trays, an ice bucket, and a little sauce plate (shown above).

Ovale Collection by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Alessi. image: core77.com

The “Ovale” collection strives to be original, but it also wants to be rustic and traditional. We set out in pursuit of delicate expression. This composition speaks about every day life, about breakfast, lunch, about everyone getting together for dinner. There is a desire for simplicity.

-Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec
source: alessi.com

Ovale Collection by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Alessi. image: core77.com

View the entire Ovale collection on our website, here.
Visit Alessi’s website, here.
Visit Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec Design, here.

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.

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.

Whether you are leaving a note for your roommate, displaying your neice’s kindergarten artwork or making a grocery list, this product does it all. “Chat-Board” is the newest line to Gabriel Ross and we are really excited to have it. Founded in 2003, Chat Boards are a modern Danish re-design of the traditional wipe board. Combining decoration and function, these magnetic glass panels also serve as a bulletin board. Chat Boards are made to suit corporate offices and private homes alike, boasting a wide variety of colours and sizes.

image source: chat-board.dk

Chat-Board, Lavender - image source: chat-board.dk NOTE: Actual Marker and magnets differ from what's shown in this image.

We just installed three boards in our showroom in different sizes in red, white and rose. The chrome magnets are super strong and able to hold some serious note paper. Also, the markers wipe off easily with either the eraser brush or just a cloth rag. Because these boards are made of glass, you can clean them just as you would glass – with window cleaner. These certainly won’t stain and show ghost images of previous board meetings in a few months like the standard wipe board.

Chat-Boards in our Showroom

For more details, or to order your own Chat-Board, visit our website, www.gabrielross.com
Check out Chat-Boards website, here.

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.

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.

There is only two days left to submit a picture of your space for a chance to win a gift certificate! Just send us an image of a product that you purchased from Gabriel Ross in your living room, kitchen, office, etc., and get your friends and family to vote for your entry on our facebook fan page. Voting will remain open until June 9th to narrow down the finalists. The final winners will be chosen by a committee of savvy design gurus at Gabriel Ross.

Here’s the latest entries over the last week.

By: Paul "We are loving our Cassina, Philippe Starck "212 Lazy Working Sofa" out here in Banff. Really roughing it in the woods. To everybody chez Gabriel Ross, "Merci""

By: Ben "This is a photo of my bedroom, I bought my Aeron chair from you guys a few years back and I love it beyond belief."

By Sebastien "A corner of our dinning room, with a Joe Colombo chair, Castelli container and Iittala Aalto votive. A really nice, all white room with loads of sun light!"

By: Lisa "With amazing support from staff at GR on ideas and options, my mid century modern Hans Olsen couch and chair were redone with environmentally friendly, comfortable, and durable laytex and white leather. Matched with my awesome bubble lamp, my modest home is sure a nice place to lounge. Thanks GR for ideas, quality, and commitment to customer satisfaction."

By: William "Our Platner table and Wegner chair prove that things you love will always look good together. The chair is amazingly comfortable. Sitting to read is pure joy. Your hand touches the smooth wood, then drifts over to find the glass of beer at the perfect height. The light coming over your shoulder hits the book at just the right angle. La dolce vita."

By: Nana "This room doubles as both our dining room and kids area, so both utilitarian and playful."

By: Nicole "This is my basement after renos and now it is a sunny and very welcoming place for relax. I was reaching for a side table with a place to put magazines and this Kartell Componibili is perfect for this corner. I also bought a miniature from Herman Miller Eames rocking chair to dream about have one to sit on!"

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!”

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."

By: Josh "1955 Arne Jacobsen office chair beautifully reupholstered in grey felt by GR. George Nelson Bubble Lamp also from GR. We can’t wait for our Eames storage unit to arrive! Other items pictured: Hans Wegner dining set, Zenith rope-edge RAR, Carl Malmsten coffee table, Norwegian armchair, and Grete Jalk sofa."

By: Chelan "Although I am maniacal about modern design, it's not everyone's cup of tea. The Bubble Lamps, however, are loved by all. Be they our Tuscan kitchen loving parents, or our rustic farmhouse friends, all adore the inviting glow. My definition of a timeless masterpiece? Something beautiful AND universally marvelled at."

Thanks to all the participants so far – We love seeing our products in happy homes!

Check out all the contest details here.
Enter your own picture by emailing photocontest@gabrielross.com.