Colin and Justin's top 10 must-stop shops
June 27, 2009
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Colin McAllister & Justin Ryan
The Toronto retail sector, in the three short years we've been based here, has changed dramatically. Arriving in 2006, we were immediately hit by how buoyant the design community appeared to be. And with our (then) bigger budgets for both private commission and the creation of TV show miracles, we used to shop till we dropped round a host of chi-chi destinations whose ranges were impressive, but whose pricing mechanisms were also impressive ... for all the wrong reasons.
These days, however, it's not a case of "to buy or not to buy" (we still, after all, have to satisfy so many projects), more a case of what to buy and where to buy it. More than ever we've had to become intelligent shoppers and we've watched, during the last 12 months, as Toronto's retail community has become far more competitive. Twenty per cent off here, half price there and so on and so forth – you get the gist. We've always maintained that bad design generally occurs as a result of bad shopping – and conversely, that good design is usually the result of sensible shopping – so you do the decorating math. But don't panic. With a little care and without knee-jerk bargain buying, the downturn can be made a little easier. If, that is, you're the customer and not the retailer.
We're regularly asked where we buy our carefully assembled kit and the answer, we have to report, has a variable quotient. One month we'll favour a quirky little downtown boutique because they've procured an overbuy of adorable Jonathan Adler from a U.S. fire sale, whereas other times we'll be excited by a new DIY multiple whose bulk buying power has enabled them to offer astoundingly good deals on wooden flooring or associated building materials. And then, of course, there are the C and J staples like HomeSense, a store that carries designer product at up to 60 per cent off SRP. Yup, Toronto, at all levels, appears well served by its design, build and decorating community.
To clarify matters, we've plundered our own little black book and assembled, for your retail delectation and in no particular order, the C and J top 10 destination shopping guide. Here's where, wallets sometimes flexing, but more often saving, you'll find us going wild in the aisles ...
1
STACARO
225 King St. E., 416-367-5959,
stacaro.com
Whether you’re searching for a cute wee
Campaign table as an interesting talking point
in your downtown condo or a monolithic dining
room wall unit with storage sufficient for every
bit of flatware and stemware you own, this
King East mecca is sure to appeal. We’re
forever humbled by knowledgeable staff and
an amazing array of product that will definitely
help you create an über-stylish abode.
Bag a little piece of snowy white coral for just a
few dollars, or a pewter storm lamp for 50
bucks. And if you can’t find your Holy Grail
designer item in one of Stacaro’s stunning
room sets, then speak to Miranda, store
manager, and she’ll help you source exactly
what you need. Design shopping? Pretty much
as good as it gets.
2
AT DESIGN GROUP
5 MacPherson Ave., 416-323-0323,
atdesignhome.com
We stumbled across this tiny wee store after
enjoying coffee in Patachou, a cute little food
emporium, and a destination that seems
perpetually crammed with Toronto ladies
sporting perfect noses, intensely lacquered
“hair dids” and strangely plump lips. Hey, we’re
serious people watchers and spend loads of
time sipping lattes in Patachou, then popping
next door, which looks more like a summer
cottage or lakeside bunkie than it does a cool
home trinket store. But don’t be fooled. This
place is hawt! Pop by, ask for Armine (she’s
one of the store’s co-owners) and prepare to
lust after gorgeous metal bowls by Michael
Aram, stunning ceramics and one of the city’s
best range of candles. Olfactory senses at the
ready — stand back, sniff and enjoy.
3
DEBOERS
5051 Yonge St., 416-226-3730,
deboers.com
A little designer gloss will help lift you from
even the deepest decorating doldrums, so
dash to DeBoers for some seriously glam home
paraphernalia. If you covet classic pieces like
Eileen Grey tables and Mies van der Rohe sofas
(mixed with a little overtly glossy Italianate
styling), then this is the store for you. Like
Prozac for the home, this joint will help elevate
you to a seriously stylized world of beautiful
things and precious collectibles.
4
IKEA
Locations throughout GTA,
ikea.ca
It goes without saying, eh? Few of
our designs are complete without a
visit to the big blue and yellow shed.
Our favourite GTA store is the one
in Etobicoke although it has to be
said that all Ikea stores are packed
with amazing value home kit. These
guys revolutionized flat-pack
furniture and their kitchen ranges
are startlingly well priced. No fuss,
no pomp, no ceremony. Just
awesome value all round.
5
RONA
Locations throughout GTA,
rona.ca
Why should you run to Rona? Well,
aside from super value deals on
pretty much everything pertaining
to home building, it may surprise
you to discover that this big box
store also carries an inspired
collection of fun interior designs
such as “Surfer” Wall Decals
($39.99) depicting cool-as-you-like
VW camper vans. Stick ’em on and
peel ’em off without damaging wall
surfaces and add a tongue-in-cheek
splash of colour just where you
need it most.
6
L’ATELIER
1224 Yonge St., 416-966-0200
Okay, we’re not going to lie. This
store ain’t cheap. But, by God, it’s
stunning. Sometimes, even when
not on the lookout for a client
project, or casing the place for TV
gems, we’ll simply swoosh by and,
as they say in France, laiche vitrine
or “window lick.” Hey, we can pass
hours lusting after the store’s
double-deluxe collection of
everything that’s beautiful for the
home. Artworks, mirrors, antiques,
clocks, linens, sofas, armoires and
more. All drop-dead gorgeous and
all beautifully arranged by a friendly
staff who seem to relish their
job of unravelling the mystery
of good design.
7
EQ3
222 King St. E. , 416-815-2002,
eq3.com
The subject of a recent makeover,
this monolithic store stocks
everything from toss pillows at a
few dollars apiece to sofas at
several grand. Call by and quiz
charming store manager and design
aficionado Pablo about his
awesome range of lighting,
crockery, bedroom suites and home
office furniture. And, while you’re
there, pop downstairs to their “last
call” sale department for “sold as
seen” bargains and customer
returns. This week, some of our fave
EQ3 finds include charcoal sofas
reduced by 50 per cent to $750 and
dining tables with a whopping 60
per cent off. Great shopping, great
service and great value all round.
8
FRESH FLORALS
175 Danforth Ave., 416-968-1270,
freshflorals.com
Did we mention that we love Greek
food? That’s why we can be
regularly found on the Danforth
chasing good deals on moussaka.
As a consequence of our culinary
predisposition, and Toronto’s
geography, we’ve become major
fans of Fresh Florals, a hotbed of all
things to do with flowers. And we
can’t put it any more simply — this
is the best florist in Toronto. By far.
Okay, so you can buy lesser flowers
for fewer dollars in other stores, but
we reckon that patron Bruno, floral
artist-in-residence, must have
special access to the world’s
freshest and longest-lasting
blooms. In fact we have a Fresh
Florals crimson-throated
Phalaenopsis orchid in our own
condo which has been blooming for
the last 10 months. Divide the initial
$45 cost by 40 weeks and that’s
around a buck a week for serious
beauty.
9
CRATE AND BARREL
Yorkdale, 1-888-657-4108,
crateandbarrel.ca
Blimey — the opening of Canada’s
first Crate and Barrel branch has
made our lives so much easier.
Previously, to secure their
of-the-moment product, we had to
battle a path to New York’s
Madison Ave. then haul all our
goodies back to Toronto in our
luggage. Mais plus ca change! Now,
when we want to snuggle up with
their fabulous cushions and throws,
we simply have to pull the roof back
on our car and hit the mall! Our
current fave buy is the retro White
Party Tub. Constructed from tough
white-painted metal, it looks for all
the world like a Victorian tin bath in
miniature. Stuff it full of ice and
slam in a dozen Molson’s and
you’ve got a ready-made party kit.
Let the good times roll!
10
CORNERSTONE
2886 Dundas St. W., 416-767-8170,
cornerstonefurniture.ca
This store blows our mind. We’ve
long since been using it as a
location for many of our TV outings,
not to mention our own personal
shopping requirements. A
cornucopia of soft furnishings,
garden ornamentation and artwork,
we love this store because its
collection regularly rotates due to
rapid turnover and well-priced
stock. Whether you fancy a crystal
door knob for $15 or a naïvely
painted reproduction 18th century
Chinese wedding cabinet at $500,
you’ll love this well-run store and
you’ll love the bargain basement
surplus and “seconds” department
where we recently picked up a
36-inch carved Venetian mirror for
a lowly $90.
Read more Colin and Justin here.
Toronto Star