City guide: Toronto

The all-white interior of Wild Thyme (1112 Queen St. E., 416-440-2614; wildthyme.ca) is so airy and minimal that its colourful flowers jump out at you. “Men love to shop in my store because it appeals to their sense of space and design,” says owner Margaret Corrigan. Her specialty? Bouquets with a single variety of flower, such as Dutch tulips in varying shades of red, or large amounts of Queen Anne's lace. Take home an arrangement wrapped French style in white paper with the top open and tied with Margaret's signature black grosgrain ribbon. Watch for an expanded array of products and services this fall.

Calphalon Culinary Center (425 King St. W., 416-847-2212; 877-946-2665; calphalonculinarycentre.com) has the specialty kitchen needs -- from bakeware and cookware to cutlery, utensils and accessories -- to fully equip anyone's recently renovated kitchen. The variety of culinary gadgetry is astounding, but the 1,000-square-foot retail space is so well organized it's easy to locate the perfect baking pan for that angel food cake. The Calphalon Culinary Center also offers hands-on and demonstration cooking classes, like Hawaiian Luau, A Night in Provence and even Doggie Delights, so you can learn how to whip up a feast with your fantastic new supplies.

The beautiful projects at Hardware (760 Queen St. E., 416-462-3099) will have you asking yourself, Now why didn't I think of that? Owners Murray Duncan and Jordan Tabachnik turn recycled building materials and architectural salvage into striking pieces of furniture: aging paint-chipped shutters become doors to an armoire; leaded glass windows are revamped into the front doors of a china cabinet; and the wood from an old front porch is transformed into an elegant dining table. They've introduced their own line of upholstered furniture plus lighting designs based on vintage styles, and added a floral shop inside the store: Hedge Floral Studio.

The first thing that jumps out at you upon entering JP Purveyors Home (693 Queen St. W., 416-364-7791; jppurveyors.com) is the vibrant colours. Owner Jerome P. de Graaf describes his collection of vivid furnishings as Chinese country, with each piece undergoing three to five weeks of restoration and refinishing by craftsmen in China before arriving in Canada. Most of the pieces are between 60 and 125 years old and come with a certificate of authenticity. There are remarkable sideboards, chests, tables and armoires, as well as a fine selection of accessories. Much of the stunning furniture is also highly functional, as it offers plenty of storage. Jerome has also introduced a line of comfortable tailored sofas.

Walk through the doors of Savanna Style (173 King St. E., 416-507-9871; savannastyle.com) and you'll feel like you've just arrived in Africa. Owners Jennifer and Michael Haines have filled their store/gallery with stunning pieces from southern and western Africa, Zimbabwe, the Ivory Coast and Congo. Paintings, fabrics, sculptures and pottery display African artisans' expert skills and local traditions. There are also rich dark wood furnishings made from reclaimed railway ties. If the wonderful wares are not enough, Michael -- born in Zimbabwe -- occasionally organizes guided tours for customers to Botswana and other exotic locales.

Image courtesy of Toronto Tourism