Hot American decor stores we want in Canada

With much-loved American decor chain Crate & Barrel opening its first Canadian location this fall, decor lovers are wondering what's coming next. When it comes to great decor shopping, many Canadians have been blessed in the past decade with a number of long-anticipated Canadian launches, such as Pottery Barn, Williams-Sonoma and Lowes, as well as the arrival earlier this year of modern-design heavyweights Design Within Reach. Styleathome.com wanted to know what else was coming down the pike, so we checked in with some of our fave US decorating and design chains. Here's what we discovered. (Hint: claims of an American invasion may be premature.)

Chain: CB2 Style
Crate & Barrel's more casual, entry-level brand offers a fun and fresh take on condo-friendly, family-friendly design in a warm-contemporary flavour.

Canadian expansion plans: For now there are no plans to open any CB2 stores in Canada, says Crate & Barrel's Canadian PR rep, nor will the new Crate & Barrel store carry any CB2 merchandise.

For now get your fix: Cozying up to Canada's first Crate & Barrel shop. Also, take comfort knowing that CB2 ships to Canada.

Chain: Anthropologie Style
Upscale bohemian finds ranging from cool cut-glass vintage knobs and tongue-in-chic frilly aprons, to patchwork armchairs and artful bedcovers. Picture the older, more confident, more affluent sister of Urban Outfitters (its sister company, incidentally).

Canadian expansion plans: Although its style is anything but shopping-mall cookie-cutter, the chain makes its first inroad into Canada via a flagship store at the West Edmonton Mall, slated to open October 2008.

For now get your fix: If you can't make it to Edmonton, take heart knowing anthropologie.com ships to Canada.

Chain: Z Gallerie Style
This California-based prop-stylist fave offers a mish-mash of decor finds big and small, ranging from affordable art prints to arty rugs, tableware and cushions, plus sofas and outdoor furniture. Its style is almost HomeSense-like in its eclecticism. Mix a dollop of Pottery Barn with a cup of Pier One, stir in a touch of Crate & Barrel and sprinkle in a dash of Bombay, and you've got the Z Gallerie flavour.

Canadian expansion plans: No plans to open here, says a store rep. Sadly, they don't ship here either.

For now, get your fix: At HomeSense, if you're after the thrill of the find. Otherwise, hit any of the other shops we mentioned. Or, if you're in interior BC, visit the similarly named but unrelated Z Decor Home, which offers an array of sophisticated finds for the home, including prestige brands like Martha Sturdy, Jonathan Adler and Kartell.