November 2nd, 2021 | Style And Design
The Top 8 Toronto Boutiques For Downsizers
As far as discussions surrounding furniture and decor go when considering the practicalities of downsizing, most conversations are based around which pieces a downsizer will be able to take with them into their new home and which pieces they’re going to have to part with.
While these are very necessary — and oftentimes stressful and emotionally difficult — conversations downsizers need to have ahead of their upcoming move, there are some silver linings.
One of the most exciting consolations downsizers can take when parting with their current furniture is that they now have the opportunity to replace their old, treasured pieces with new, space-appropriate ones that will work better in their smaller future space.
So, whether you’ve already started collecting new pieces of furniture and decor for your new home or it’s something you need to tackle soon, let our suggestions on where to find some of the most stylish small-space furniture here guide your upcoming shopping spree.
1. West Elm
While we certainly wouldn’t presume we’re the first to tell you about West Elm, one of the largest and most popular high-end furniture stores in North America, we do know that this subsidiary brand of Williams Sonoma deserves a feature on our list.
Not only does West Elm produce some of the most stylish and hard-wearing furniture currently available in today’s mass market, but they also have a dedicated line purely catering to those buying for small-space living.
Through the use of ingenious designs like their pop-up storage coffee tables, various storage beds, and C-shaped side tables, it’s clear the designers at West Elm have listened intently to the needs of the modern condo owner and crafted items conscious of small-space requirements.
Before you plan the layouts of any rooms in your new smaller home, let the chic designs of West Elm’s dedicated Small Space Furniture line inspire you to customize your future living space. Order items online or visit their downtown Toronto location at 109 Atlantic Avenue in Liberty Village in person.
Still on the search for that perfect property to help you elegantly transition into life in a smaller space? Consider looking through the latest listings on Our Properties page here for some guidance.
2. Elte
Those with a deep appreciation of true luxury furniture designs and home finishings will be very familiar with Elte, one of the leaders in contemporary home design across the globe. Founded in Paris in 1919, Elte has now become perhaps Toronto’s pre-eminent luxury home design institution.
Elte’s pillars of quality, craftsmanship, and timeless contemporary design are clearly evident in every item they craft. Those who live in more concentrated spaces will be happy to know Elte’s brand ethos that has now carried over into their somewhat recent expansion into small-space furniture.
The demands of our current housing market mean exceptional design is expected even within the smallest modern dwellings. Elte has risen to the challenge and supplied this growing market niche with the calibre of top-class home furnishings it’s been missing.
From seating to storage, downsizers can find a carefully curated assortment of space-appropriate furniture for the most opulent small-space lifestyles of today by visiting their online boutique or paying them a visit in person. Elte has two large Toronto-based showrooms both set in the city’s inspiring Design District, one across the street from the other at 80 and 95 Ronald Avenue, respectively.
These days, downsizing doesn’t mean compromising — especially considering the vast market of small luxury homes appearing across Toronto’s real estate landscape. Learn more about The New State Of Luxury Real Estate In Toronto here.
3. MUST Société
Since being founded in 2005 under the canopy of the iconic Maison Corbeil brand, MUST Société has launched an array of boutiques country-wide to ubiquitous acclaim. Their high-end furnishings and decor balance form and function in an ethereal manner, with each of their designs exuding both class and serenity.
Specializing in modern-influenced home designs, MUST Société is an establishment forged for homeowners who want to curate their space with quality, no matter the size. With that in mind, however, it’s essential to note that MUST Societété has also taken the small-space sector by storm too.
With a range of pieces from rounded dining room tables, adaptable storage solutions, auxiliary chairs, and tasteful lighting, MUST Société has thoughtfully considered those with limited floor plans, reminding them that indulgence comes in many different shapes and sizes.
Away from their digital storefront, you can find MUST Société’s latest collection in-store at 1270 Caledonia Road in Toronto or in any of their other Canada-based locations.
4. Black Rooster Decor
While the name might suggest Black Rooster deals exclusively in decor and less significant side-pieces, in actuality, this trendy Leslieville-based design boutique deals in everything short of beds. A true mecca for unique furniture pieces inspired by everything from mid-century modern to contemporary European styles, each visit to Black Rooster Decor offers a new, inspired experience.
Exclusivity is something Black Roosted Decor specializes in, as the brand does as much as they can to support North American makers and “like-minded small businesses and artisans,” by featuring their designs throughout their constantly updating catalogue.
If you’re looking for a statement centrepiece, thought-provoking accent chair, striking hung artwork, or eccentric light fixture, you could do much worse than browsing through Black Rooster Decor’s latest selection of high-end items.
Their sole brick-and-mortar location can be found at 1075 Queen Street East in the stimulating neighbourhood of Leslieville. Stop by at your leisure, or browse through their latest offerings online today.
Leslieville is fast becoming one of the most liveable neighbourhoods in Toronto — and it still sits relatively under the radar when it comes to the city’s most premium residential areas. Find out more about the neighbourhood in our Leslieville Neighbourhood Guide here.
5. GUFF Furniture
If you’re more enticed by the authentic mid-century modern aesthetic, you can find one of Toronto’s best collections of beautiful Scandinavian-designed mid-century pieces at GUFF Furniture, also situated in Toronto’s east end.
While GUFF’s warehouse showroom located right beside the Don Valley River isn’t much to look at from the exterior, it won’t take long for you to fall in love at the sight of their comprehensive library of superbly crafted furniture and decor from the ’50s and ‘60s after you venture inside.
Whether you’re obsessed with expanding your personal portfolio of vintage teak furniture or you’ve been hunting down a genuine Eames Ottoman to complete your lounge chair set, you’re most likely to find what you’re looking for at GUFF.
Scan through their current selection via their website or regularly updated Instagram page, or enjoy a more tangible experience by stopping by their showroom at 1 Davies Avenue in the thriving neighbourhood of Riverside.
Are you looking for some more design-driven home inspiration ahead of your upcoming move? Find more tasteful advice on how to style your space here:
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- 5 Tips For Creating Your Own Home Outdoor Oasis
6. Putti Fine Furnishings
Putti Fine Furnishings is somewhat of an institution in the Rosedale/Summerhill area. Located right on Yonge Street, this street-facing boutique is encompassed by a number of other high-end furniture and home decor shops, though none as whimsical and extravagant as Putti.
Take one step inside this charming boutique and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the vast collection of Renaissance-inspired furniture, decor, artwork, and accessories. Putti’s selection of new and antique European furnishings is unmatched, not just within the upscale neighbourhood it’s based in but perhaps across the entire city itself.
Despite the shop’s small footprint, the selection of items at Putti is truly mesmerizing, which is a testament to just how well-suited the items available at the boutique are for small spaces and therefore downsizers. If you’re looking for a truly unique statement piece — be it a sofa, sconce, chandelier, or anything else you can imagine — there’s a great chance Putti Fine Furnishings at 1104 Yonge Street will be able to provide you with just what you’re looking for.
Toronto’s esteemed neighbourhoods of Rosedale and Summerhill simply ooze class and elegance. Find out more about what makes these highly desirable areas so special via our neighbourhood guides here:
7. Absolutely Shop
Just a few blocks north of Putti along Summerhill’s stretch of posh Yonge Street boutiques is where you’ll find Absolutely Shop, another one of the most coveted luxury home stores in the area. Whereas you can think of Putti as offering high-end traditional European home goods and furniture, Absolutely Shop offers a much more contemporary take on classic European-influenced style.
Absolutely Shop specializes in carrying subtle and refined silhouettes across their furniture, lighting, decor, and accessory lines, which culminate in a very calming, cohesive atmosphere when inside the boutique.
While Absolutely Shop carries an ethereal selection of home furnishings from many ingenious designers, they also regularly feature capsule collections from some of the industry’s most revered designers. Celebrated brands like Aerin, Ralph Lauren, Tina Frey, and Pendleton all have their own designated displays within the store alongside the rest of Absolutely Shop’s remarkable assemblage of superior home goods and furniture.
See what small-space furniture Absolutely Shop currently has available in-store at 1236 Yonge Street or by visiting their online shop today.
8. South Hill Home
Perched atop a natural pedestal formed by the hilly topography of Toronto’s Republic of Rathnelly neighbourhood, you’ll find South Hill Home, located at the intersection of Dupont Street and Davenport Road.
The South Hill Home showroom deserves its natural lift and spacious corner lot because this mecca of design is where homeowners travel to appreciate what is perhaps the most tasteful selection of high-end luxury home furnishings north of Bloor Street. Measuring in at a truly impressive 13,000 square feet, South Hill Home’s showroom contains a gargantuan array of premium and sophisticated home furnishings, lighting, and decor accessories.
Needless to say, South Hill Home is a go-to destination for designers, architects, and luxury home furniture enthusiasts across the GTA and beyond, as they offer an industry-exclusive selection of top-quality items that would transform any space with ease.
While South Hill Home doesn’t necessarily specialize in small space furniture more than any other category, their knowledgeable staff of personalized design experts can offer you tailored advice for revamping your smaller space during your next visit to their showroom. Make an appointment with one of their talented professionals and view their selection online, then visit their showroom at 146 Dupont Street ahead of your upcoming move.
Just like South Hill Home, our team at Armin Group Real Estate stands for quality above all else. Learn more about our team and our founder, Armin Yousefi, and how we can assist you with your most pertinent real estate needs here:
