BC Home Decor People and Places

Parliament Interiors

Meet the Minister of the Interior

Living space lost its lustre? Let the cheekily titled Minister of the Interior at Gastown’s new store, Parliament Interiors, help you put some pop back into your personal space. The boutique’s experienced retailers have filled this new home decor store with sleek silver, white and chrome furniture, while colourful accessories such as pillows, vases and artwork animate the room. Minister of the Environment, Colette Soros, says all the whites and greys work well with open-concept living. Parliament Interiors is at 115 Water Street, Vancouver, 604-689-0800.

Visit the Urban Tea Merchant

The Urban Tea Merchant’s flagship showcase store is now open for discovery. Sip Parisian luxury THÉ Ô DOR tea in the new 30-seat salon, or purchase some to savour at home. Co-founder Karinna James says the concept of the store is about a journey, as customers will encounter an upscale line of French accessories, hand-poured candles from Thailand and German-made top-of-the-line diffusers, among other luxuries from far-flung locales. As for tea equipage, you’ll find a range of everyday teapots and hand-made creations lined with sparkling crystals. The Urban Tea Merchant, 1070 West Georgia St., Vancouver, 604-692-0071.

See Robinson Lighting & Bath Centre’s Reno

It’s easier to admire Robinson Lighting & Bath Centre’s range of lighting and plumbing products in its newly renovated and expanded 17,000 square-foot showroom. New artistic and edgy bathroom pieces, chef-inspired kitchen creations and sophisticated accent lighting are all showcased in the contemporary space. Robinson Lighting & Bath Centre is at 2285 Cambie St., (at 7th Avenue) Vancouver, 604-879-2494.

Get Vintage at the Passionate Home

Owner Carrie Thachuk describes her store in Langley, the Passionate Home, as “an eclectic mix of all things that are wonderful.” Her main focus is reclaiming and restyling mostly vintage and antique furniture into distinctive creations. In her new blog, Thachuk shares unconventional ideas for using and displaying that fine find, once you bring it home. The Passionate Home is at 20526 B Fraser Hwy., Langley, 604-532-5931.

Collaborate at Designhouse

A new collaboration with Design House of Stockholm has our local Designhouse stores offering new, modern designs by Scandinavian designers, including Lina Nordqvist’s Family Chairs collection. Owner Steve Miller says the new range of products bring neat ideas to its stores. Designhouse is at 1110 Mainland St., Vancouver, 604-681-2800, and 616 Yates St., Victoria, 604-383-3569.

Split Your Visit to The Wood Co-op

The Wood Co-op, known for quality wood furniture, accessories and more created by local artisans, has split into two locations. The Wood Co-op Gallery houses furniture and larger sculptural pieces, while the Net Loft locale is a showcase for smaller gift items, like kitchenware and toys. The Wood Co-op Gallery is at 1554 West 6th Ave, Vancouver, 604-408-2522. The Net Loft is at 11 – 1666 Johnston St., 604-408-2553, Vancouver

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.