Half the fun of moving into your first apartment is being able to do whatever you want. The other half is decorating.
When I moved out from Toronto three months ago, I didn’t bring any furniture or decorations, save for a few dreamcatchers and my ‘book lover’ bookends. As a result, my apartment has become a sort of creative project – I’m always on the lookout for pretty, quirky and inexpensive things to help liven it up.
I stumbled upon Steeling Home last week while wandering around 17th Avenue. Not knowing what it was, I had to poke my head in and was delightfully surprised by what I found. For someone like me, whose interior dcor preferences veer towards a romantic, borderline-gypsy aesthetic, Steeling Home is heaven on earth. It’s a perfect blend of the whimsical and wonderful, with everything from eclectic kitchenware, unconventional books and brightly coloured rugs to delicate necklaces and bold statement jewellery.
If you’re looking for a unique piece, either for yourself or someone else, the shop carries a selection of Johanna Brierley jewellery, including her Lucky Stone collection. Found on the beaches of Lake Winnipeg in Gimli, Manitoba, each stone has a naturally occurring hole in it and is said to bring good luck to the wearer. Brierley casts the stones in gold and silver to give them durability – that also means you can wear them in any situation, whether you’re walking the dog or heading to a cocktail party. They’re sure to be a conversation starter and the collection ranges from $67 to more than $200, depending on the stone.
If you’re looking for a gift for a brother, husband, son or boyfriend, you can also strike gold (or dinosaur fossils) at Steeling Home. With a unique selection of pocketknives inlaid with 150 million-year-old dinosaur and wooly mammoth bone, as well as a variety of statement cufflinks and old-fashioned Guinness beer glasses featuring the some of the brand’s iconic ads from the 1930s and 1940s, there’s something to suit every man in your life.
Best of all, there’s a brilliant diversity in pricing so that everyone from the starving student to business executive can find something to appreciate and bring home with them. Whatever you choose is guaranteed to add a touch of whimsy and character to your home or jewellery collection and inspire plenty of “Where did you get that?” questions.
Steeling Home is located at 1010 17th Avenue S.W. (403-245-0777).