3 Must-see Design Districts in Vancouver
This one is for all of you shopaholics or deal-hunting window shoppers! If you have been following our posts this summer we hope you have found some inspiration and are itching to start a new project. Many of the retailers we have mentioned in our blogs can be found online, but what about local ones? We’ve decided to highlight three design districts in Vancouver that we love. Whether it’s shopping for ourselves or our clients these are sure to be on our hit list. Nothing to do this weekend? Why not spend a few hours in one of these great design districts and seeing all the great finds right here in our very own backyard?
The Armoury District
A hidden gem that few Vancouverites know about is The Armoury District. Located just west of Granville Island between Granville and Burrard, north of Fourth Ave, this is Vancouver’s up-and-coming design and lifestyle district. It is home to many Interior Designers, architects, furniture and tile showrooms, art galleries and fine food purveyors. Before taking a stroll around the area, grab a delicious latte from Café Bica. Some of the stores you must check out are Livingspace, Metropolitain Home and Mint Interiors. Renovating your kitchen backsplash and looking for that one-of-a-kind tile? Then head over to Ames, Stone Tile (a personal favorite) or the beautiful newly opened Ann Sacks showroom. While you are in the area make sure you stop by and appreciate the stunning Waterfall Building on West 2nd Ave. designed by the late Arthur Erickson, one of Canada’s most influential Architects.
South Granville
You have probably driven past this district many times on your way downtown. If you haven’t stopped to check it out, you definitely should! It is home to many of the greats. You can easily spend a whole day going in and out of all the shops. We certainly can! Here you will find 18Karat (love this store every season the merchandise changes), EQ3, Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, Urban Barn, West Elm and Williams Sonoma among many other home décor and furniture retailers. These retailers have online stores, but actually seeing a piece in person can be very different! You will also find many high-end fashion retailers (like Boboli) only found in this neighborhood. It’s a great way to spend a weekend afternoon. I mean who doesn’t love lunch, fashion and home shopping all in a few hours? Once you find parking (trust us, you will want to take a vehicle), start at either Broadway or West 15th and work your way around!
Gastown
Everyone knows Gastown attracts numerous people as a tourist destination, but it also home to a few great design stores as well. Next time you’re meeting a friend, why not do a pub coffee crawl as there so many great new venues. For example we love the interior design of Timbertrain Coffee Roasters. Once you have your caffeine fix, you should be ready to pound the pavement. First stop, Inform Interiors for contemporary furniture, lighting and accessories. And the books… did we mention the magazine selection too? One of the best sections in the store! If you want to find something with an European influence, check out espace d. for some unique home décor. Looking for the design savy guy on your list? Litchfield is a must. They carry some of the best tech accessories and toiletries for men. Old Faithful has that utilitarian meets vintage vibe. Here you will find an array of cutting boards, cleaning supplies, ceramics and wire baskets. If you’re looking for inspiration, Secret Location is a concept boutique worth taking a peek at which houses fashion, food and décor all under one roof.
Well time to shop… Be sure to tell us which design district you want to check out! Share with us your favorite one with the hashtag #area3designdistrict
