SALE!!

It's time to clear out and make way for new arrivals! Come check out our clearance table, it's full of rarely on sale classic Normann Copenhagen accessories. As well we have a few floor models that need to go. We'll be here waiting for you, but sale items go fast!

Solid Wood Media Unit & Dining Table

The Gehry Chair

Possibly the most talked about chair in the store, certainly the most sat upon. Frank Gehry's Easy Chair sits outside our door and rarely does anyone, kids and adults alike, pass by without a comment.

The Easy Chair is a part of the Frank Gehry Furniture Collection produced by Heller in the United States. The collection was originally released in silver, which gave it the impression of being a part of the landscape, like a rock jutting out of the hillside. Now available in an array of bright colours, the Easy Chair or the Twist Cubes add a pop of colour to any space, indoors or out. Definitely a statement piece, its no wonder Frank Gehry's furniture collection can be found in modern art museums around the world. 

The Gehry Collection at the Smithsonian's Copper-Hewitt 

Frank Gehry designed MARTa in Herford, Germany

Frank Gehry Furniture Collection in
colour at MARTa

Gehry Cubes, Sofa and Bench at MARTa

New Normann Copenhagen Arrivals!

Love when new stuff comes through the door! My current obsession is the Herb Stand. I'm pretty sure I could get used to having fresh herbs growing in my kitchen, waiting to freshen up my dinner. Nothing says summer like a nice olive oil, tomatoes, bocconcini and some fresh basil...

Complete with saucer for even watering and 'leaf' scissors, the herb stand keeps your plants tidy while making it easy and fun to season your food.   

Your new favourite Coffee Maker

It is time to retire that ugly drip coffee machine taking up space on your counter. I'm going to introduce to you, the perfect replacement. Eva Solo has come out with an award winning design, that not only looks good, but functions in ways that no drip machine can compare to.

How does it work? 

1. Boil coffee in a kettle, and pour into the Eva Solo Cafe Solo glass carafe. 

2. Add ground coffee (make it a good one, here is your chance to taste the hidden flavours typically lost through the drip process).

3. Stir using the spoon provided

4. Place the filter onto the carafe. 

In four short minutes (or long minutes if it's a rough morning) you've got some of the smoothest tasting coffee you've ever tried. No barrista required. 

So what makes Cafe Solo so fabulous? 

First of all, the shape of the carafe, complete with ripples in the base provide a place for the coffee grinds to settle, preventing excess dredge from spoiling your morning brew. 

Secondly, coffee that is brewed with complete submersion (as apposed to running water through the grinds and a filter) allows the full flavour of the coffee to come out and prevents the paper filter flavour that contaminates drip coffee. I prefer to read the paper with my coffee, thank you very much. A french press also brews by submersion, but the act of pressing often brings out the acidity in coffee, while the Cafe Solo prevents it. 

Third, it looks great. Imagine ridding your kitchen of an unnecessary appliance! No more filters to buy and no wasted electricity spent keeping stale sub-par coffee warm.

Four: It doesn't drip. Thats right. The lid automatically opens when pouring, and closes back up when done. The coffee pours out beautifully without dripping. 

Five: Brew and serve. You make the coffee directly into the carafe and the neoprene cover that keeps it warm allows you to carry it directly to the table to serve. No hot plate required, no additional thermos or coffee pot. I make mine in the morning and carry it out onto the porch with my morning paper. It's just a pleasure to use. 

And lastly, it's a coffee maker that makes amazing coffee for under $100!!! 

Happy Canada Day!

Source: modernfurnitureottawa.net via shannon on Pinterest

Prada presents 'A Therapy' directed by Roman Polanski

If you haven't seen this video yet, what are you waiting for?

Sofa beds you'll actually like...

When you hear the words sofa bed (or sleeper sofa, pull-out couch, hideaway....) an image of florals and sofa skirts comes to mind. Open it up to a reveal a thin springy mattress and nowhere to stash away the sofa cushions. Or perhaps you see the click-clack micro fibre lumpy couch that makes a better trampoline than sitting. You know what I'm talking about.

Unless you hope to get your guests out the door quickly, we've got a few options...

The Denmark

The Denmark is perfect for small spaces looking for a clean uncluttered look. And nothing about it says sofa bed, so your guests won't know if you don't tell them. Keep reading, there's more...

Building the Norm 69

DIY Modern Lamp

In 1969 Simon Karkov designed his visionary, futuristic lamp, which consists of 69 parts, but for years it remained packed away, undiscovered. In 2001 an acquaintance of Simon Karkov saw the prospect of a fruitful collaboration between the team behind the start-up company Normann Copenhagen and Simon Karkov. Only then was this now classic design retrieved from the loft. The lamp was the first product released by Normann Copenhagen in 2002 and is now available in over 60 countries world-wide. 

Norm 69 was awarded the Formlandprisen 2002, Best Item at IMM Cologne 2003 and most recently the New-Classic Award 2009 by the Danish Interior Magazine BoBedre. 

Simon Karkov with his design

So how did our build go..?

Father's Day Sale!

Introducing Beater... a fun, space saving whisk by Normann Copenhagen

Just Arrived! This whisk is great, space-saving, sculptural and functional all in one neat little $18
package.

Made in Canada

I just came across this via my favourite 'what's happening in Ottawa' blog, Apt613. I love it, a really great promo video for Marc Adornato's upcoming solo exhibition taking place this weekend. It's also a nice bit of Ottawa history, wait till you see the canal back in the day! WATCH THE VIDEO and then head over to Marc's website for more information on his show which is happening...

THIS FRIDAY: JUNE8 Vernissage: 5-9pm @ Shanghai and The Daily Grind 
                                                           10pm @ Hintonburg Public House

Milan Design Week Rapidamente

What makes a great product great?

The amount of thought that goes into some great designs is most often not evident in the product itself, one of the things that make it so great to begin with. In order to give credit to the ever growing number of well thought out designs out there, a number of awards have become established. The juries are made up of well respected designers that dive right into the backbones of each product; how it's made, value it adds and innovation it achieves. Only then giving credit where due. In the coming weeks we'll blog more about some of the most respected awards... red dot, good design, compasso d'oro, interior innovation.... the list goes on. Until then, check out our shop for a taste of some of these great designs.

The importance of Value

I came across a great post on treehugger - a design blog for the eco-conscience, and thought it was worthy of a share. It talks about the price we pay for supporting knock offs and the value in authenticity. Agree or disagree, it certainly makes some valid points.

image taken from http://www.treehugger.com/

Read more about it here and follow up with Dwell's post 10 Design insiders sound off on knockoffs. 

Featured on Desire to Inspire!

Ok, so maybe WE aren't featured, but the lovely Tablo Table...purchased in our showroom...has been! Read more about the table on Desire to Inspire and don't forget to bookmark their blog for future interior eye candy.

Team 7 and Elevenfiftyfour

Team 7 Nox Series

TEAM 7 is a manufacturer of natural wood furniture, and produces healthy, flexible, highly durable room interiors in contemporary designs for home, office and public buildings that are in harmony with nature. TEAM 7 natural wood furniture is designed and made in Austria using pure hardwood from sustainably managed forests. Read more about this fantastic company here...  Contemporary Furniture from Team 7 Available in Ottawa or come down to our showroom and see for yourself.

Antidote Vase by 18KARAT

New stock has just arrived!

These great vases are designed in Vancouver by 18KARAT. Reminiscent of old Gin bottles, these vases are a perfect mix of modern and nostalgia. All lined up, these create a clean, warm pop of colour. We have them in 2 sizes and 5 colours.... so many possibilities.

Pierre Paulin RDI

In keeping with our trivia contest currently underway, I thought I'd dig a little deeper into the Pierre Paulin library...

Little Tulip Chair

1965
Manufactured by Artifort 

"A chair should be more than simply functional. It should be friendly, fun and colorful." - Pierre Paulin

He forgot comfortable, this lovely little chair is so welcoming to sit in! (not ON, you sit IN the little tulip. It hugs you) A collectors chair that has the ability to fit in wherever it's placed, come see for yourself, it's in the showroom now. More great Paulin designs...

$250 for your designer knowledge...

....or your ability to google.

That's right, we are giving away $250 to the first 250 people that correctly answer our featured designer trivia question. Click here for more details. 

Keep cool with Marcel Wanders' Cristal Carafe

Marcel Wanders always finds a way to add an element of play to his designs. The Cristal Carafe is no different. It's beautiful glass carafe, elegant in shape and material, mixes with 5 warm coloured plastic cups. A contrast in materials and styles, yet Wanders manages to create a pleasing dynamic.