Owls are still in. And the shimmering mercury decor accents on the shelves at the new West Elm send Christmas alarm bells ringing. You know that, pretty soon, picture-perfect Christmas trees will be popping up in the stylish Loft area in the centre of the home furnishing store, offering inspiration on how to make your tree look a little less Linus and a lot more you.
From under the exposed beam ceilings, the West Coast-inspired space on South Granville overflows with hand-picked home decorating pieces meant to blend with your personal style. Store associates are on hand to help customers review Pinterest files, hash out space planning and customize design projects utilizing the stores Design Lab, or go to the customers home all free of charge.
This season, collaborations with artists from Cape Town, Johannesburg, Brooklyn, India, and, for the first time, Vancouver, have resulted in pieces that are ready to move in and amongst your home.
With this location, the 10-year-old brand is débuting their Etsy corner, where local artisans from the online handmade marketplace are represented making each display unique to the city its in. They chose well, with Heather Dahls delightful two-tone ceramic vases (among other offerings) now capturing the hearts of all who pass in person.
In addition to owls and trees, grey/graphite hues are another major theme for Fall, with New York-based creative director Vanessa Holden reflecting on its versatility as a base.
Graphite is a palette you can lay a colour back to easily, and go as light or heavy as youd like. Were always looking at colour as a vehicle for texture in terms of a knit or textile fabrication, and getting to a layered look in terms of material and finish. And it takes the light really well, she explained on our tour of West Elm prior to opening day.
Continuing to the front of the store, she touched on an issue that every Vancouverite can relate to:
For small spaces, [choose] things like the rustic storage coffee table. I, at home, have two of them next to each other, she said, describing how the tops pop open to reveal deep hidden storage. I have a couple of kids, and they hide all manner of evils, she laughed.
For those who want versatility, she turned to the seating around the Emerson dining table. This is the bench that we designed to go with it, and people are moving it from the bedroom to the entryway. People often think, small space, we need storage solutions, but its also important to think of everything you own as being able to travel.
Many of West Elms furniture pieces are designed to suit small, urban spaces, and an increasing number of products are also marked West Elm Green a label that indicates responsibly produced, organic, recycled, rapidly renewable, or non-toxic products.
The Sydney native, who came to West Elm by way of Martha Stewart Living (editor-in-chief) and Donna Hay magazine (creative director), says she draws inspiration from trips to Australia, France and Italy, but most of all, from visits to restaurants.
Gastown captured her heart on this trip to Vancouver, but Holden says Vancouver takes her breath away and embodies an indoor outdoor lifestyle that feels easy and relaxed, but refined.
That could be the best way to describe her vision for the Vancouver location, where trees and mountains wouldnt look all that out of place.
