Canadian designer Janette Ewen frequently works with Mobilia, run by Johannes Kau, as a stylist when she’s creating interiors for clients in Toronto and Los Angeles.
At 50, Mobilia is looking pretty good.
The Canadian furniture retailer this year celebrates a half century of style with a new collection commemorating the family-owned company's origins in Montreal in the mid-1960s.
The mid-century modern pieces include seating and lighting and are an updated version of what appeared in the first Mobilia store in 1966.
Founded by German immigrant Hans Kau and first located in Montreal's Westmount neighbourhood, Mobilia staked its reputation on selling European furniture to Canadians at affordable prices. Today run by son Johannes Kau, Mobilia's eight stores in Quebec and Ontario offer contemporary imports culled from the leading international trade fairs of Cologne, Germany, Milan, Italy, and Paris, combining them with commissioned pieces made in collaboration with Canadian artisans.
"After 50 years in the business, making sure you keep exploring and finding ideas and inspirations by travelling around the world throughout the year is how we keep it fresh," says the younger Kau, who took over as president in 2014.
Canadian designer Janette Ewen frequently works with Mobilia as a stylist when she's creating interiors for clients in Toronto and Los Angeles. "As a designer, when I work with Mobilia, I am always inspired by how well-edited and curated their collections are," she says. "When I pull from Mobilia for photo shoots and TV segments, I feel like I am sourcing personalities, not just furniture and accessories. Mobilia allows me to tell stories through design."
Here are Ewen's top five design trends as inspired by the current collection:
Mid-century modern
Many millennials are discovering this style for the first time and, for other consumers, it represents a nostalgic return to furniture and accessories they grew up with. Mobilia was one of the first companies to bring modern to Canada so it's a natural fit.
Accent chairs
It's always important to have a touch of personality in your home, and accent chairs are where you can bring that signature touch into a space. Mobilia is known for its vast and inspired selection of accent chairs.
High and dramatic headboards
The bedroom is where you can let loose and be more expressive than you might be in the living room. It's a private domain after all, and it's where you can experiment. Mobilia has some exciting options in the bedroom department, including headboards that are up to 162 centimetres (64 inches) tall.
The return of marble
This opulent material is making a comeback and appearing in furniture pieces designed for the dining room and living room. Mobilia has a coffee table that is glamour personified. "Fall 2016 will see more glamour making its way into the home," Ewen says.
Colour in the living room
Yellow and orange and red sofas. Lapis lazuli blue chairs with gold accents. It's time to say goodbye to neutral. Grey is so last year.