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Reclaimed Zen

Monday, November 7, 2011 by Chris

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Normally, one photo from a shop review jumps out as the one to feature. I'm usually looking for some colour and an image that gives a good sense of what the post is about. But the choice was especially hard with Toronto's Zenporium (998 Queen Street East, 416.778.1936), a relatively young retail operation specializing in home furnishings crafted from wood reclaimed along the Pacific Rim, particularly Indonesia. To make choosing even more difficult, Zenporium's offerings fall into two distinct camps, the rough and rustic and the sleek and contemporary. Teak root side tables have a foot in each camp (priced around $400), while this dresser is crafted from wood reclaimed from old fishing boats (about $1,000).

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Cocktail With a Twist

Wednesday, November 2, 2011 by Chris

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TV's Mad Men is a cultural phenomenon that has inspired a new generation of hipsters to jump on the cocktail bandwagon and Toronto retailer Kristen Voisey is capitalizing on the craze. Last spring, Voisey opened BYOB (972 Queen Street West, 1.877.989.8980), a shop specializing in retro glassware, bar accessories and a range of ultra-cool custom bar cabinets like the beauty that folds down from the wall when the clock strikes party time ($789). And it's not all retro fun at BYOB; Voisey stocks a wide range of contemporary accessories like Whiskey Stones, cocktail shakers and the animal head shot glasses and bottle stoppers, below. If bar culture is your thing, BYOB is your home away from home.

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Africa on Queen

Wednesday, September 7, 2011 by Chris

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Kiondo, a Toronto gallery specializing in African art and decor items isn't exactly new but with no storefront signage, the shop has been flying a little under the radar. Business owner Chris Johnson has been importing crafts and art from Africa — mostly from around the Guinea Coast — since 1988, selling privately to dealers and designers before opening Kiondo in 2009. A painter and illustrator, he's something of an accidental retailer having fallen into the business by happenstance. Johnson shares the shop at 323 Queen Street East (416.533.9959) with his wife, jewelry designer Laura Serrafero (Eles Designs).

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Gratitude Moment

Friday, August 19, 2011 by Chris

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On Wednesday I had the pleasure of sitting down with Marta Calle, brand director of CB2, the furniture retailer currently readying its first store outside the U.S., on Toronto's super cool Queen Street West (opening November 2011). Calle was tanned and relaxed having just spent a week in Mexico and when I remarked that she'd landed herself a pretty sweet gig, she said, "I have the best job in the world, I know it and I work really hard to keep it. I'm grateful and give thanks for it every morning." I love meeting people who appreciate what they've got, who are confident but not arrogant and most of all, comfortable in their own skin. That describes Marta to a T. Check out my post about the newest CB2 on The Grid.

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Shops: Sputnik Vintage

Thursday, August 11, 2011 by Chris

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I hadn't planned to make this mid-century week on styleNorth, it just turned out that way. Last Saturday I hiked out to the Toronto suburb of Etobicoke with my new friends Susan and Dave to visit Sputnik Vintage, a relatively new player in the local MCM furniture market. Sputnik is owned and operated by a knowledgeable and very funny veteran dealer named Peter Frampton who doesn't sing but is a master of accents and impersonations. Frampton dealt in antiques for decades but he made the jump to mid-century stuff when saw the popular taste heading in that direction. Smart move.

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