BC Home Decor Guide: Natural Stone, Organic Furniture, Green Kitchens and Energy-savings

Toorak Tile and Design offers an exquisite selection of natural stone

Toorak Tile & Design Moves its Collection of Stone, Ceramics and Tiles

Toorak Tile & Design has relocated after 11 years, bringing with it an exquisite selection of natural stone, including marble, travertine and limestone. Visit its showroom for colourful Pratt & Larsen handcrafted ceramics and even rare 16th-century Portuguese, Spanish and Dutch tiles. You can also find glass and stone mosaics, plus a selection of terra cotta and custom-made tiles. Toorak Tile & Design, 3496 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, 604-739-5966.

Monarch Furnishings Opens in Victoria

Monarch Furnishings has opened a second location in Victoria called the Warehouse Gallery, filled with contemporary Indonesian furniture hand-made from solid plantation timbers. The store houses a mix of indoor and outdoor furniture such as teak-root coffee tables and mid-century-style teak buffets. Owner Tony Martin says the new store offers customers more options. “With significantly more floor space, our new Warehouse Gallery should allow us to offer a wider range of furniture at better price points.” Warehouse Gallery, 1807 Store St., Victoria, 250-590-3955.

Vancouver’s New MTH Woodworks Offers Organic Furniture

MTH Woodworks, a new Vancouver-based custom woodwork and design firm, features the work of Michael Thomas Host, who has travelled the world learning woodworking techniques and gaining inspiration from places like Switzerland, New York and Australia. Together with experienced custom furniture and interior designer Tanja Hinder, they have created modern organic furniture designs and contemporary items that reveal the natural beauty of wood in striking pieces, while minimizing wood waste. MTH Woodworks Wood Shop, 306 – 2255 Cypress St., Vancouver, 604-720-8693. 


Sidney’s Muffet and Louisa Offers More Specialty Items in Bigger Space

Twenty-four years after opening its flagship location in Sidney, BC, Muffet and Louisa has moved and expanded. Its new location offers another 1,000 square feet of signature items like St. Geneve duvets and pillows, Abyss towels from Portugal, All-Clad stainless steel cookware and enamelled cast-iron cookware from Le Creuset and Staub. Gourmets can now find Nepressso coffee machines and even more specialty oils and pantry spices. Owner Muffet Billyard-Leake says the shop has an updated look and is a better showcase for its fabulous bed linens and towels. Muffet and Louisa, 2506 Beacon Ave., Sidney, 1-800-656-5575.

Energy Star Award for JELD-WEN Doors and Windows

Door and window manufacturer JELD-WEN has won the 2010 Energy Star Award for Sustained Excellence. This award honours the company’s commitment to promoting Energy Star certification and its efforts to constantly make its products more energy efficient. The company has created a number of tools, including websites, to keep consumers informed about energy-efficient products. JELD-WEN products can be found at building supply stores throughout British Columbia, including Home Depot, Griff Building Supply and Dick’s Lumber.

Get Green Kitchens and Baths at Innova

Looking to renovate ethically and esthetically? Innova Kitchens and Baths, a complete renovation and interior design company, has some exciting new green products on display in its new, eco-friendly showroom. The company recently moved to a smaller, more energy-efficient space that still feels comfortable and roomy. Look for products like FSC-certified engineered Echowood strias, bamboo cabinetry, and countertops made from recycled materials. Innova Kitchens and Baths, 5739 Collingwood St., Vancouver, 604-676-1603.

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.