Month: February 2018

Whether you’re new to Vancouver or looking for a spring upgrade, you may be in the market for some home décor pieces.  Aside from the big chain stores like West Elm, Crate and Barrel and Restoration Hardware, there are a number of smaller boutique-style home décor stores that we love to frequent.

All selling beautiful wares with friendly, personable owners and staff, here are some of our must visit shops in the Vancouver area.

 

 

Gild & Co

In Point Grey Village, Gild & Co has a lovely selection of furniture, lighting, art, sculpture and other smaller home décor pieces.  It’s also a must for anyone looking for antique and vintage items. If you’re shopping for a unique, show-stopping mirror, be sure to add this store to your list.

4415 West 10^th Avenue, West Point Grey

 

 

The Cross Décor & Design

Want pretty? Look no further. This store in Yaletown on Homer and Davie is 5,000 feet of gorgeous.  Shop here for furniture, bedding, table linens, glassware, art, you name it. They also carry a beautiful selection of pillows, baby gear, candles and some stunning jewelry lines, including Liven Co, one of our favourites. Co-owners Darci Ilich and Stephanie Vogler and their team also offer interior design services and an extensive online catalogue.

1198 Homer Street, Vancouver

 

 

East India Carpets

In business since 1948 and still family owned and operated, this Vancouver mainstay is the place to go for luxury rugs and carpets. Indian, Tibetan, modern, designer… the selection is vast. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, consider a custom, made-to-order rug. It may take a while but it’s the perfect way to get the size and colour for your particular space.

1606 West 2^nd Avenue, Vancouver

 

 

Provide

Just next door, you’ll find Provide on the corner of Fir and 2^nd Avenue in the Armoury district. Provide carries many beautiful ceramics, glass ware, artwork and wood pieces. Carefully curated by owners Robert Quinnell and David Keeler, this is a haven for those looking to incorporate a variety of textures into their space. Be sure to check out the gorgeous Missoni throws.

1805 Fir Street, Vancouver

 

 

Parliament

Featuring modern furnishings and home décor pieces, this is one of our favourite stops in Vancouver’s famous Gastown. Known for their contemporary pieces with some mid-century modern flare, this is a great place for quality pieces that don’t break the bank. Be sure to make your way to the back of the store to see the Kermodi Living Art selection. These indoor and outdoor plants are perfect for those who may not have the greenest of thumbs:  they’re known for their “high design and low maintenance”.

115 Water Street, Vancouver

 

 

Inform

For champagne tastes and champagne budgets, it doesn’t get more covet-worthy than Inform Interiors, also located in Gastown.  This beautiful three-story store carries a large selection of furniture and home décor pieces for every room, from world class design brands.  The design team also offers kitchen and bathroom design and installations as well as a number of other services.

50 Water Street, Vancouver

At this time of year, with grey skies and more than our fair share of rain, you may be looking to increase the positive energy in your life. We definitely are!

Feng Shui is based on the belief that all objects possess an energy called chi and you can use chi to bring you good luck, wealth and harmony. The basic principle of a feng shui home is that the design and furniture layout effect the flow of chi. Good flow, and good things can happen.

Okay, that’s greatly simplified. Truly understanding this over 3000 year old art and science can take years of study. But there are a few simple feng shui principles that you can apply to bring better chi into your own home.

1. Less is more

Take a page from Mary Kondo’s book and de-clutter, de-clutter, declutter. The “less is more” approach increases light and improves airflow. This applies to all areas of the house, including the kitchen. Put away counter-top knickknacks and unused appliances to create a clean, fresh space.

2. Let there be light

Bring in as much natural light as possible. Even in winter, draw back the curtains and open the windows regularly to allow in fresh air. And try not to rely on heavily- scented products such as air fresheners with artificial fragrances.

3. Make a good first impression

The entrance to your home should be calm and inviting. A mirror or stairway facing the door isn’t considered good feng shui, as they can misdirect energy and prevent it from being distributed evenly through the house. Obviously, a staircase isn’t something you can easily change. But by adding plants, flowers, soft lighting and/or a nice entryway rug, you can warm up and ground the space.

4. Keep on top of repairs

Traditionally, the hearth was the center of the home, a place of warmth, comfort and security. You don’t want the modern-day version to be leave you cold, so ensure that your oven and elements are in top working condition. Have a drip or a leak? Get it fixed. It represents money trickling away.

5. Close the lid

On a related note, keep toilet lids shut and sink drains closed. This prevents your money and your good luck from going down the drain. (Not to mention that esthetically, toilets look better this way.)

6. Balance the elements

Feng Shui focuses on five elements – earth, water, wood, metal and fire. Because there is so much “water” in the bathroom, consider introducing some of the other elements. For example, adding plants (earth), or a wooden bathroom stool, can help to bring balance to the space.

7. Think about ease of movement

A bed should be easily accessible from both sides and not placed under a window or facing a door. The best positioning is to the side of the door, so that you can still see it. And don’t sleep with your feet pointing directly towards the door, that’s known as the coffin position.

In the living room, a couch works best against wall. If that’s not doable, consider putting a console table behind it to ground it.

No matter the room, you want to ensure that it’s easy to maneuver around furniture, with nothing block the flow and energy.

Have any other home organizing principles or habits? We’d love to hear them!