City guide: Toronto

The motto at Burke O'Neill Cabinetmakers & Joiners (121 Miranda Ave., 416-537-2610; burkeoneill.com) is “Beautiful furniture begins with beautiful wood.” What you'll find here are dining tables, cabinets and armoires lovingly handcrafted from premium hardwoods like white oak, American cherry and black walnut. Owner Rory O'Neill specializes in custom orders in many styles, including English and French country and traditional. Also check out the store's cashmere throws, water hyacinth baskets and leather boxes.

“Take a boo” is Old English for take a look at everything, says Martin Swinton, who owns Take-a-Boo Emporium (1927 Avenue Rd., 416-785-4555) with his wife, Andrea. The store is chock full of rare delights, so there's lots to see and purchase. You'll find everything from a Victrola gramophone and Depression glass to custom Quebec-style armoires and reproduction European tapestries. If you're new to the art of collecting, try one of Martin and Andrea's in-store antiques courses. Other services include caning, furniture restoration and repairs.

Owned by Alexandra Naranjo and Evelyn Eshun, both interior designers, Artella Interiors (2719 Yonge St., 416-484-0055; artellainteriors.com) offers complete design services, including in-home consultations. Their forte is high-end drapery and bedding, with lots of fabrics to choose from, such as Robert Allen, Jab and Kravet. They also carry a large selection of traditional home furnishings from more than 60 suppliers. Popular decorating items include Italian tapestries, needlepoint pillows and Asian-inspired, hand-painted lamps.

Hot Property (1024 Dupont St., Suite 105, 416-538-2127) offers a diverse collection of vintage items to add a funky flair to your home. Now open by appointment only, the store carries a variety of period props and collectibles to peruse, including leather luggage and tools from yesteryear, and painted pottery, hip lighting, retro furniture, photos, paintings and posters. Some of these museum-worthy objects are art deco, art nouveau or Arts and Crafts designs, but mostly they're midcentury modern. Owner John Silverstein calls his collection "classic modern design."

Dreaming of creating a garden but you only have a balcony? Don't despair. Instead, venture into Poppies (1094 Queen St. W., 416-538-2497). Owners Laura Tarbat and Barb Goode say their niche is container gardens, and they'll graciously help you set up a lush one that will be the envy of all your neighbours. Unique houseplants, botanically themed artwork, and Himalayan salt-rock lamps, which emit a warm orange glow, round out the mix of the store's distinctive goods.

For years, Toronto's abandoned 170-year-old Gooderham & Worts Distillery, located just east of the city's downtown core, had been slated for redevelopment. Finally transformed for a new era, the distillery, now renamed The Distillery Historic District (55 Mill St., 416-364-1177; thedistillerydistrict.com), blends carefully restored industrial Victorian buildings, lanes and courtyards with a creative arts, shopping, dining and entertainment experience. “I'm inspired by the history and romance of the district and the creativity of each of our tenants,” says Mathew Rosenblatt of Cityscape Development Corp. The following three listings are a sampling of The Distillery's cutting-edge design stores.

In keeping with its think-outside-the-box philosophy, Fluid Living (416-850-4266; fluidliving.com) now combines its showroom and design firm in one space. The 6,000-square-foot contemporary Canadian furniture store and bustling design offices are divided by thick, clear glass and boast stately pillars and original distillery limestone and brick. Check out the fresh urban designs, ranging from clear glass dining tables to felt armchairs and sleek oak bedroom sets.

Appropriately named Distill (416-304-0033; distillgallery.com), Kelly Murray and Allison Skinner's gallery opened in March with the goal of providing a venue to showcase art, crafts and designs by emerging Canadian artists. The small industrial-chic space features works in various media, including paintings, drawings and photography, plus textiles, ceramics, glass, furniture and jewellery.

“I was seduced by the space,” says Sandra Ainsley, owner of the Sandra Ainsley Gallery (416-214-9490; sandraainsleygallery.com), The Distillery's first tenant. The glass gallery opened in November 2002 with a jaw-dropping exhibit of massive sculptures by renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly. The gallery's towering ceilings, exposed ductwork and moody lighting offer a theatrical backdrop for luminous sculptures by both well-known and up-and-coming artists.

Image courtesy of Toronto Tourism