CONTEMPORARY FURNITURE
18 Watt
Designers flock here for exclusive continental furniture and lighting. The showroom packs avant-garde Spanish seating from Beltá, Oi Side and CasaDesús alongside poufs, benches and poolside furniture by Ross Lovegrove, Javier Mariscal and Karim Rashid. More accessible are the innovations from Sweden’s Johanson, which designs modular sofas and easy chairs, and morphs felt into stunning sound absorbers. For real attention-grabbers, look to Andromeda Murano’s serpentine glass chandeliers. 834 CALEDONIA RD 416 787 1818 18-WATT.COM
Akroyd
Visitors here peruse a range of bespoke mod furnishings in walnut, cherry, white oak and maple, all sourced from regional woodlots and crafted on site. Check out the media cabinets with slatted doors, platform beds that boast cantilevered side tables, live-edge headboards and slide-out storage drawers. The popular leaf-shaped Trefoil side table, redesigned to pack flat, provides a natural touch, while solid maple serving bowls with a beeswax finish are the perfect complement to AF’s signature tables. 15 CASE GOODS LN, STE #101 & 102 416 367 5757 AKROYDFURNITURE.CA
The Art Shoppe
Treasure hunting is surprisingly easy in this 7,000-square-metre showroom featuring classic and contemporary furniture staples. While AS sources internationally, its modern Italian choices yield especially noteworthy finds, like sectionals swaddled in white leather and linen, saddle leather–topped executive desks and dining tables that extend by remote control. Among its North American gems, you’ll find a whimsical pink velvet stool by Kate Spade and Regency-style chair with gold leaf curved metal frame by Cynthia Rowley. 71 KINCORT ST 416 487 3211 THEARTSHOPPE.COM
Augustus Jones
Drawing its name from a 19th-century Upper Canada land surveyor, Augustus Jones specializes in bringing stunning European furnishings to the New World. Its fresh white interior provides a pleasant contrast to the bold selection of indoor and outdoor furniture and accessories on offer, including previously hard-to-find brands like Enne and Fermob. The curvaceous Chips chair by Ton and the smooth lines of the Wicked series from Vincent Sheppard highlight AJ’s eye for daring forms and quality construction. 33 DAVIES AVE 416 360 1788 AUGUSTUSJONES.COM
Avenue Road
A 1907 industrial building is the perfect backdrop for AR’s selection of distinctive luxe furniture and accessories. Its expansive showroom is home to a variety of exquisite lines, from bespoke kitchen solutions by Obumex to minimalist lighting options from Apure. Jaime Hayon’s plush Vuelta armchair and Sebastian Herkner’s globular Mainkai lamp are evidence of a commitment to both beauty and functionality. AR also offers rugs from The Rug Company and textiles by Kvadrat/Raf Simons. 415 EASTERN AVE 416 548 7788 AVENUE-ROAD.COM
B.O.F.F. Wall Bed
This Murphy bed manufacturer has been catering to condo dwellers for 30-plus years. In its showroom, you’ll find scores of vignettes that highlight customizable wall beds, office systems and go-anywhere cabinets for the home. There are also endless styles of shelving, hardware, door finishes and panels, from Shaker to modern to contemporary. The truly space-deprived will love the wall-bed units that incorporate a desk, a bookcase or even a sofa. 4249 STEELES AVE W 416 636 2633 BOFFWALLBEDS.CA
Barrymore
Upholstered furniture handmade in Toronto is Barrymore’s claim to fame. After selecting a sofa, sectional, daybed or headboard style, choose from thousands of leathers and fabrics – options by Maxwell, Kravet and Robert Allen among them – before the piece is constructed in the adjacent workshop. Barrymore has increased its contemporary offerings to attract a new generation of modern design–lovers. For
