Often, the most treasured items are ones that are difficult to find—but not everyone enjoys the hunt. Recently opened Gild & Co. (4415 West 10th Avenue) helps urban dwellers score quality vintage pieces refurbished to like-new condition. Owner Bonnie Wilson’s eye for interior design extends beyond mid-century modern style: find mint-condition Victorian-era chaise longues next to reupholstered Louis XV dining-room chairs, wrought-iron bed frames, elegant crystal chandeliers, and more. Wilson also offers upholstery and restoration services at the shop, and Gild & Co. accepts inquiries from clients looking to sell preloved pieces.

> Michelle da Silva

Edmonton-based furniture studio IZM has opened a pop-up shop inside the Chinatown Experiment (434 Columbia Street). Co-owners Jerad Mack and Shane Pawluk produce modern, minimalist-style pieces that are handcrafted using solid wood. Their furniture includes tables, chairs, benches, cabinets, and dressers that are available in a variety of sizes, wood finishes, and upholstery. The shop is open from 12 to 5 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday until October 22. Highlights include the Eyeful coffee table ($2,950), which features a sleek frosted-glass tabletop on a geometric wood frame. Meanwhile, the A+ chair ($986) has retro appeal, with its high, curved back and neon upholstered seat.
> Michelle da Silva

Later on this month at the Chinatown Experiment, look for bright, geometric shyrdak carpets and other cool felted accessories all the way from the steppes of remote Kyrgyzstan. From October 25 to November 5, you can find vividly patterned pillows and ottomans, as well as the region’s all-wool cozy carpets, brought to you by Vancouver’s Bingo Bill Exchange. Nina Watts and Ann Klaveness travel to the little-known Central Asian country to meet the women who handmake the carpets to support their families. The wares have a strong social benefit, but they also look of-the-minute—textural, graphic offsets to the most contemporary rooms (think colour combos like orange and grey or scarlet and black), or charismatic accents for your best boho interior. Prices run about $15 for smaller jewellery up to as high as $3,000 for a spectacular carpet. 

> Janet Smith

The Cross Décor & Design (1198 Homer Street) has temporarily closed its Yaletown space for renovations, which will double its size. In the meantime, find many of the shop’s Pinterest-worthy home furnishings and accessories at 594 Davie Street, where a pop-up shop has been set up inside a second Cross-owned space. Add a subtle metallic accent—and extra perch—to any living space with a silver or gold Moroccan leather pouf ($395), and stock up on popular Voluspa candles (starting at $9.95) for fall. We like the Voluspa Japonica Goji & Tarocco Orange candle, which features seasonal notes of berry and orange. Large, Italian-made herringbone blankets ($135) also help warm cooler nights. The Cross pop-up shop plans to stay open until the end of October when renovations are expected to be completed.
> Michelle da Silva

The thought of designing custom furniture can be both exciting and intimidating for home-décor neophytes, but Lison Ouellette has more than 25 years of experience helping clients pick the right pieces and upholstery. The Vancouver-based interior designer opened Lison Art Furniture (345 West Broadway) this year, and her passion for chairs is on full display at the spacious showroom. Choose from more than 40 styles of chairs, including stools, dining and office chairs, armchairs, and chaise longues made from mahogany or beech wood frames. For Ouellette, helping clients narrow down the right upholstery is the fun part: from classic fabrics like leather, to more exotic materials such as animal hide and fur, there is a chair at Lison Art Furniture to suit every style.
> Michelle da Silva