Seats With Style

Forget overstuffed, chunky armchairs: we’re loving the ultra-contemporary, high-design casual chairs at Kozai Modern (1515 West 6th Avenue), perfect places to take a seat in a city-scaled condo. Our favourite? The Rivage, a brilliant mashup of Japanese and Danish aesthetics by Atelier DQ, all sleek, grainy walnut or dark-cherry arms and frame hoisting a hiply tilting seat, available in leather (black is best; $3,200) or neutral fabric ($2,650). For even more of a conversation piece, check out designers Masazo Tano and Takako Moriya’s Polpo with its minimalistic frame and super-heavy leather seat in deep red or rich camel ($1,750). Now that’s a design statement worth standing back and admiring before sitting down.
> Janet Smith

Mirror, Mirror

Part art gallery, part furniture store, MINT Interiors (1805 Fir Street) carries an eclectic mix of glassware, tableware, lighting, décor pieces, wallpaper, and home furnishings. Co-owners Michael McNamara and Rien Sharma opened their show room in the Armoury District to feature unique pieces by artisans from across the globe. The Seychelles Mirror ($172 to $296) is available in three sizes and features a circular mirror held by a thick wooden frame. Display one or several of these along a narrow hallway or in a small room to help the space appear larger. The lighter mango wood blends seamlessly with lighter walls, while the shiny brass trim on the inner rim of the frame gives the decorative piece its luxe feel.
> Michelle Da Silva

Chair Shape-Shifters

It’s one of the ongoing dilemmas in a tight, Vancouver-sized loft or condo: where should your out-of-town guest sleep? (If you don’t want to share a bed, of course.) We think we’ve found the solution at Vancouver Majestic Sit and Sleep (1828 West 4th Avenue), where they carry chairs—just 39 precious inches wide—that actually fold out into single-sized beds as quickly as you can say “space saver”. Choose from seven different styles of frame (we dig the Arts-and-Crafts-cool, woody Tahoe), six different mattresses, and more than 75 fabric covers, from the simple neutral to the wild-patterned. (Combination prices start at about $749.) Best of all, your overnight guest will get a real bed instead of a run-of-the-mill couch-surf.
> Janet Smith

Floral Fifty

Canadian home-furnishing chain EQ3 (2301 Granville Street) is helping to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Marimekko’s Unikko print. The Finnish textile and clothing company has released a special version of the signature print, which features the iconic poppies in orange and white against a black background. At EQ3, find limited-edition Unikko-patterned Oiva ceramic tableware ($20 to $98), including bowls, mugs, plates, and teapots stamped with a special anniversary mark.
> Michelle Da Silva

Shag Stunner

Artist Zoë Pawlak’s work can be found in group and solo exhibitions all over the world, in private collections, and in print and online publications. Now, Vancouverites have another way to collect Pawlak’s art: the locally based artist has teamed up with Burritt Bros. Carpet & Floors (3594 Main Street) to launch a collection of graphic area rugs inspired by her artwork. The Over Oceans collection includes five rugs based on Pawlak’s abstract painting Over Oceans. Each rug is hand-knotted in Nepal and made with Himalayan wool and viscose. The Over Oceans rug is an eye-popping mix of pinks, red, blue, and white. Anchor Holding, meanwhile, with its moody mix of blues, is more subtle. The rugs measure eight feet by 10 feet ($7,900) but can be custom-ordered to any size.
> Michelle Da Silva