The Toronto design aesthetic can be a hard one to pin down. Back in the 1990s, it was all ethnic/eclectic, with batik textiles, hand-woven rugs and wormy wood furniture from Indonesia all the rage. Then came the first decade of 2000, with its clear-plastic dining-room chairs and a penchant for gluing birch twigs to the bathroom wall (if I never hear about “bringing the outside in” again, it will still be a decade too soon). But lately, there seems to be a slightly more relaxed and, dare I say, natural approach to decorating that feels both nostalgic and fresh.
Spruce is a perfect example of this new movement, one that embraces reclaimed and repurposed materials along with a clean modernity that is both practical and pleasing. Owners (and real-life partners) Tara Sameshima and Kim Alke have pulled together a unique signature style that highlights locally sourced textiles, housewares and furniture.
The emphasis on local and independent suppliers is an important element for both women. They already had a go-to list created from their years of renovation projects and discovered a variety of artisans by checking out places like the One of a Kind show, an annual pre-Christmas craft fair held at the Direct Energy Centre.
I also love the reclaimed leather iPad covers, beautifully weathered and buttery-soft with age, and Sameshima’s own scenic photography, which lines the store’s walls.
One thing I can’t help noticing is the affordability of a lot of Spruce’s offerings. Most of the furniture is priced well below what you’d pay at Pottery Barn for similar (though mass-produced) pieces, while the glassware, knickknacks and pillow shams are within even a modest decorating budget.
See spruceonparliament.com for more info.