BC Home Decor Guide: Best Places to Shop When Styling Your Space

Sid Dickens’ memory blocks decorative wall plaques are sought by collectors

Score Hand-painted Ceramic Memory Blocks at Sid Dickens, Vancouver
Embrace spring with Sid Dickens’ new collection of Memory Blocks. These decorative wall plaques sought by collectors are made of handcrafted plaster, finished to a porcelain-like quality and cracked to create an aged look. The spring 2010 collection is titled Porcellana (old porcelain is the inspiration) and incorporates spring-like images such as birds and flowers rendered in soft pinks and blues. The memory blocks are all hand-painted and hand-stained, each with a descriptive phrase or meaning affixed to its back. One new tile conveys: “The sublime rapture of spring, beheld in nature’s delicate balance.” Sid Dickens Inc., Vancouver, 604-875-8314, www.siddickens.com.

Find Canadian-made Home Decor at Heritage House Interiors, Delta
Admire striking antique furniture as well as contemporary and country pieces at Heritage House Interiors’ new location in Ladner Village. You’ll find even more attractive art and rugs on the new showroom floor, which is decorated with items like stained-glass lamps, model ships and even window coverings. Nearly every item in-store is Canadian-made and its custom-built furniture allows for unlimited possibilities. Part-owner James Fraser says that with 14 years in its old location, Heritage has earned a reputation for exceptional service. Heritage House Interiors, 4924 Chisholm St., Ladner Village, Delta, 604-946-2455, www.heritagehouseinteriors.com.

Get Eco-friendly Wood at Gillingham Cabinets, Nanaimo
Residents looking for quality kitchen cabinets on Vancouver Island can now rest easy knowing they can make an environmentally ethical choice, too. Gillingham Cabinets has recently cut its carbon footprint in half by using low-VOC (volatile organic compound) wood products and recycling its wood. “I think we’re the first kitchen cabinetmaker on the Island to assess our carbon footprint, and we’re pretty excited about taking the lead that way,” said technical manager Duncan Wilcock. Gillingham Cabinets, 2986 Boys Rd., Duncan, 250-746-4989 or 4131 Mostar Rd., Nanaimo, 250-729-7000, www.gillinghamcabinets.com.

Source Earth-Friendly Flooring at Divine Hardwood, Vancouver
Take a stroll on Mother Nature’s floor, inside Divine Hardwood’s new 2,800-square-foot, award-winning showroom. Specializing only in hardwood, the showroom offers exciting choices, with some detailed examples of craftsmanship, says managing partner Nick Devito. Divine’s wood manufacturer uses ethically harvested wood, solvent- and formaldehyde-free finishes, anti-bacterial treatments, residue recycling, and is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. “Our passion for hardwood extends to the root of our business – the sustainability of our 
forests,” says Devito. Divine Hardwood, 3481 Main St., Vancouver, 604-568-7488, www.divine
hardwood.com.

Buy Eye-catching Kitchens at Appliances Unlimited, Coquitlam
Find stunning brand name appliances and check out a “live kitchen” at Appliances Unlimited, a recent addition under the Audio Video Unlimited group, which recently renovated its Coquitlam store to include this 2,200-square-foot appliance department. The functional kitchen will be at centre stage where in-store cooking demos are held. Appliances include mid- to high-end names like Thermador, Bosch, Fisher & Paykel and Samsung. Vice-president Steve Shigetomi says the move was made because the kitchen is becoming the heart of the home and the social point of the house. Appliances Unlimited, 1200 Lougheed Highway, Coquitlam, 604-522-4000, www.avu.ca. 


Originally published in BC Home magazine. For monthly updates, subscribe to the free BC Home e-newsletter, or purchase a subscription to the bi-monthly magazine.