In my element at Elte

May 17, 2012

By Silvana Longo

A trip to Elte — my bonafide “happy place”… I couldn’t think of a better way to start my day this gorgeous sunny Thursday morning than to attend a designer event in the showroom to meet the co-founders of Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams and experience their spring collection.  It’s one of my favourite pastimes to stroll through Elte and take in all the beautiful pieces that tend to linger in my mind long after I leave. Always a source of inspiration, unsurprisingly, Mitchell and Bob’s collection did not disappoint this design aficionado! The internationally acclaimed furniture company’s spring collection has the look and feel of modern design at its finest. Incorporating high aesthetic appeal with comfort at the forefront of all their designs,  Mitchell (who did most of the talking), assures that Bob is adamant about creating timeless pieces that people will not tire of even 10 years after they purchase them.

That longevity extends to their relationship with Elte. They launched Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams 23 years ago and their pieces have been available there for the last 20. In fact, ever since the Toronto retailer decided to expand their carpet business into furniture, enter Mitchell and Bob as permanent contributors to the furniture haven known as the Elte showroom.

Once upon a dining room chair

With memories of uncomfortable dining room chairs where guests would inevitably migrate to the the living room by the time dessert was served, in the spring of 1989, Bob and Mitchell created their first upholstered dining room chair with the goal of ensuring comfort and uninterrupted dinner parties in the future. There has been no looking back ever since. In the late ’80s, Mitchell + Bob broke free from the “five shades of beige” the furniture world was accustomed to and under Bob’s direction explored the world of florals, patterns and velvets introducing a new era in decor. They are modernists who love traditional pieces (specifically from the 18th Century), and it’s their application of modern colour and textures that create the perfect hybrid of then and now.

HD&R was happy to hear that current influences for spring (extending into the fall collection) are ’60s and early ’70s-inspired. Expect a lot of curves and softness… Don’t expect dark colours to re-emerge this fall! I suspect the boldness of colour in this season’s trends in fashion and decor will carry through to the crisper months. With the beginning of summer breathing life throughout the GTA in the lovely month of May, I appreciate any sign (weather or otherwise) of extending my favourite season. Happy Victoria Day weekend everyone!

Filed under: EDITORS' NOTES