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10 places recommended by SparklingSingle

Expert Young & Single from St Lawrence Market

Created on Mar 19 2009

While there are certain neighbourhoods in Toronto known for their home stores, there are great decor shops throughout all parts of the city. Here are some of my favourites, ranging from cheap and cheerful to high-end and swanky. And after all, your home is your castle!

Filter

75 Jarvis Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5C2H2

Rated this place:

posted Feb 15 2009

Everything old is new again: This store has a lovely “filtered” collection, so walking in you’re pretty much sure to find something you like … although you never know what that might be! Their furniture typically includes a mix of great industrial products (like antique steel filing cabinets) as well as a variety of Danish Modern pieces (like sideboards.) Add to this an always interesting selection of art and off-beat decorative items, such as beautifully-worn antique bowling pins. Although the store is small, the fact that the collection is so well-edited means that each visit is worth the trip, whether you’re shopping or just browsing. The perfect place to find something unique for your home.

Commute Home

819 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M6J1G1

Rated this place:

posted Feb 15 2009

Distinctive pieces for the home: An afternoon stroll down Queen Street isn’t complete without a trip to Commute Home, whether you’re in the market for new furniture or not. With its open layout and casually studied arrangement of stunning items, it feels part retail, part museum. The selection includes an extensive collection of great statement-making pieces that are a nice mix of rustic, delicate and arty. Many of the items are constructed from reclaimed materials, so your purchase is not only gorgeous but also has some history. If you’re looking for another example of their work, Commute Home is also responsible for the dazzling interior of Colborne Lane restaurant.

Fluid Living

35 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON, M5V 2P2

Rated this place:

posted Feb 15 2009

Furniture to fall in love with: Fluid is the perfect name for this store, not only because it reflects the modern urban lifestyle that the furniture suits, but also because it describes the look of the pieces themselves, with their beautiful clean lines. The furniture here may be more expensive than you can find at other stores throughout the city, but there’s good reason for it—these are the kind of items it’s easy to fall in love with. Fluid is a great shop whether you’re in the market for new furniture now or just making a wish list for the future. And its location on Bathurst is convenient for all the new loft owners in the neighbourhood.

Telegramme

1103 Queen Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4M1K7

Rated this place:

posted Feb 15 2009

Checking the fine print: Telegramme stocks everything from turn-of-the-century fine art lithographs (many on a large scale) to recent club posters for gigs by bands like MGMT and Belle & Sebastian. Also on offer is a great selection of Cuban Film Festival posters from the 60s and 70s with striking graphics and colours. (Hint: Look up at the ceiling to see them.) As well as the works on display, they have also have large books filled with lots of other options. Telegramme does great framing, whether you’re displaying one piece on its own or creating a triptych of smaller works and they offer great advice.

Tap Phong Trading Co

360 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON, M5T2G4

Rated this place:

posted Feb 13 2009

Never know what you might find: You typically find stacks of plastic tubs and other large household items outside Tap Phong, which makes it one of those places you might initially pass by, not realizing the treasure trove inside. But if you do make your way through the front doors, you’ll be glad you did! Tap Phong is one of those stores where you can go in for one thing and leave with ten more. It’s a great spot to get reasonably priced plain white plates and platters and it also stocks everything from bamboo steamers to industrial sized pots. Plus, it offers a good selection of reasonably priced Asian ceramic dishes. A fun way to spend an afternoon browsing and buying.

Kosoy & Bouchard

651 St. Clair Avenue West, Toronto, Ontario, M6C1A7

Rated this place:

posted Feb 13 2009

Dreamy, delicate ceramics: Kosoy and Bouchard ceramics have to be seen in person to be truly appreciated. Their line consists of lovely, delicate bowls and platters in a range of sizes and shapes. Most items have patterns reminiscent of lace or latticework imprinted directly onto them, giving them a unique sensibility. Colours range from an antiqued white to pale shades of blue and green. Dreamy! They make the perfect pieces to build a room around, or to give as a special gift. In addition to ready-made items, they also offer pottery classes. And they have a line of glass pieces and do custom work on request.

Hardware Furniture Inc.

760 Queen E, Toronto, ON, M4M1H4

Rated this place:

posted Feb 15 2009

Not your typical hardware store: Hardware is a beautiful home furniture store in Riverdale that sells furniture made from reclaimed and upcycled items. So everything in the store has a wonderfully worn, storied appearance and tons of character. Many of the items are large, ideal for a bigger open-concept loft or house. Although, they also have some smaller decorative items that would work in almost any setting. There is a range of prices, although many of the pieces are (not unexpectedly or unreasonably) on the higher end. They often have an especially good selection of tables and mirrors. Hard to pass by without stopping in for a look!

Chatelet

717 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M6J1E6

Rated this place:

posted Feb 15 2009

Sweet and sparkly interiors: Chatelet is a home décor store that stocks a great selection of sweet, feminine items. If you’ve got a bit of magpie in you and love things that sparkle, this is the ideal stop for you because they carry an extensive collection of mirrored dressers and tables. They also offer a number of other girly-inspired items—everything from pretty dishes decorated with Paris-inspired designs to toile-covered chairs. Plus, they stock larger pieces like settees and armoires. In addition to the products they carry, the store offers interior design services and custom sewing. I love the duvet cover they made for me. And if you can’t go in person you can also shop online at www.chatelethome.com.

Pavilion

739 Queen St W, Toronto, ON, M6J1G1

Rated this place:

posted Feb 15 2009

Hip urban home décor : Pavilion is a great place to find contemporary furniture for living rooms, dining rooms and bedrooms. The store is large and has an excellent selection. Make sure you give yourself enough time to see everything! The furniture is displayed well, helping you imagine how the pieces will look in your own home and also providing a good source of decorating ideas and inspiration. In addition to the larger items, Pavilion also stocks linens and smaller accessories. If you need help, the staff are all very knowledgeable and helpful. Prices are reasonable, given the design and the quality of the products.

Urban Essential

175 King Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M5A1J4

Rated this place:

posted Feb 15 2009

Essential finds for the modern home: Urban Essentials is one of my favourite home stores in the city. Not only because it stocks reasonably-priced, good quality furniture, but also because it is owned by the sweetest, most helpful couple. The store offers a wide range of products from pictures, to side tables, to vases, to sofas. Don’t be fooled by the relatively small size of the store. There’s lots to see and plenty more available from their catalogues. Everything you order arrives quickly and they carry a number of condo-sized pieces. Its good value for your money and items purchased here stand the test of time.

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