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’sĀ great about this time of year?Ā 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 pushĀ boundariesĀ 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,Ā 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.Ā 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.

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.

Herman Miller Selectā„¢ 2010 EamesĀ® Hangā€“Itā€“AllĀ®

As of August 15, 2010, Herman Millerā€™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 Eamesesā€™ love for playful furniture and childrenā€™s toys. Introduced in 1953, it was designed to hold an assortment of childrenā€™s belongingsā€”mittens, scarves, jackets, dolls, slingshots, skates, and knapsacks, according to Eames Design.

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

Herman Millerā€™s Gregg Vander Kooi chose to feature the Hang-It-All as this yearā€™s Select item because of its whimsical appeal.

ā€œPlus,ā€ he adds, ā€œwalnut is a fairly neutral wood that fits with almost any dĆ©cor.ā€

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

ļ»æ

Herman Miller Selectā„¢ 2010 EamesĀ® Hangā€“Itā€“AllĀ®

A neighbour in my apartment building has two fake stuffed crows in his window that curiously peer out at me while I fill up my watering can.Ā  At first glance, they were a bit scary ā€¦ but after meeting their gaze a few times, Iā€™ve grown to like them ā€¦ a lot.Ā  Crows get a bit of a bad wrap in our culture ā€“ like when you refer to a group of several crows, itā€™s called MURDER.Ā 

Thatā€™s harsh.Ā 

MURDER

Also, they eat garbage and thatā€™s no good for their rep.Ā  The other day outside of Zellers I noticed a MURDER of crows trying to bust into an entire bag of bagels with a series of teeny tiny punctures inflicted by their pointy beaks.Ā  It seemed as though they had been working tirelessly at this for hours, so naturally I sympathized.Ā  I bravely approached the MURDER to rip open the bag and free the yummy circles of doughy goodness and all traces of bagel disappeared within seconds.Ā 

It was amazing.

Ā 

Anyhooā€¦ Apparently Charles and Ray Eames also had an affinity for the black bird (maybe not crow specific).Ā  On one of their many travels they picked up an American folk art object ā€¦ a black wooden bird and brought it home to live in the centre of their living room.Ā 

Vitra has re-produced the Eamesā€™ beloved pet as a beautiful smooth black bird with the very same skinny stick legs and round eye balls.Ā  Itā€™s elegant and endearing and makes a nice alternative to a feathered friend of the live variety.Ā  Against a back-drop it becomes a graphic image and on the carpet in the middle of room itā€™s just sweet and loveable.

Ā 

Eames house bird

MURDER of house birds

Everyone needs a coat hanger right? Why not 4….. in a row? The Eames Hang It All by Herman Miller

It may not be the most durable coat hanger on the market, but it’s definitely the most colourul! An eye catching piece that your guests will be sure to comment on.

4 Hang It Alls in a row

How cute is this!

Eames Elephant, Charles and Ray Eames 1945 by Vitra

Originally designed by Charles and Ray Eames in molded plywood, this adorable child’s stool/table/toy/best friend is now produced by Vitra in several different colours of plastic.Ā Ā  See more about Vitra Elephant by Charles and Ray Eames.

OMG Christmas is coming! Gift shopping is easy at www.gabrielross.com ā€“ awesome, collectible, designer gifts with free shipping. Hereā€™s my gift picks!

George Nelson clocks by Vitra such as the Ball Clock, Block Clock, Sunburst and Asterisk to name just a few. The Alessi Anna G. Corkscrew and the Alessandro Mendini Corkscrew both designed by Alessandro Mendini are so much fun with a choice of colours/patterns. Also, the Alessi toaster is like a piece of art on your countertop ā€“ designed by Giovannoni Stefano, itā€™s a beautiful, sleek, shiny stainless steel appliance with bun warmer! Letā€™s not forget the coffee fanatics with an Alessi 9090 Espresso Maker designed by Richard Sapper in 1979 . . . choose from different sizes, made of stainless steel, makes wonderful espressos on your stove top in minutes, the Italian way! Another great gift would be the Eames Hang-It-All by Herman Miller designed by Charles and Ray Eames in 1947 is so much fun with itā€™s different colored balls and versatility. Letā€™s also add the Alvar Aalto Vases by Iittala made in Finland, ā€˜wavyā€™ mouth blown glass is modern and stylish for any home! And one more . . . the Viking Steak Knife sets! A gift box of four stainless steel steak knives, each knife weighted with such an amazing lightness ā€“ I love the beauty and feel of these knives! And if you really cannot decide what to get someone, send them a Gift Certificate and let them have fun choosing!!!

Dear Santa . . .