The Shop Directory is a curated guide to online shopping, and features my favourite online retailers. I make it a personal mission to find the best boutiques of the web and to share to share them with you, while helping out entrepreneurs by giving them some of the visibility they deserve (read more about my motivation to launch the Shop Directory here). The shops featured in the directory all have been selected for their uniqueness, quality, style and product assortment. You’ll discover fantastic designs for your home that can be shipped right to your door. It’s design shopping made easy!
Here are five totally awesome shops I recommend you visit today.
Mengsel
Why I like it: Prints and home accessories with fun, graphic and colourful illustrations by talented Luzelle van der Westhuizen.
About the shop: “Mengsel = Mixture in Afrikaans and Dutch
Luzelle van der Westhuizen studied jewellery design at Cape Town’s University of Technology, graduating with honours. After graduation, she set up a small jewellery studio in Cape Town, but after a couple of months, the travel bug bit and her bags were packed for London. After working for other designers, the time was right to go on a creative adventure again. Luzelle completed a short course in printmaking in London and started creating colourful prints under the name Mengsel.
Her work is inspired by geometric and hand-drawn patterns, as well as African and Scandinavian design. Using traditional silkscreen printing methods, the result is colourful, bold and sometimes whimsical. Luzelle has also done freelance design work for clients such as Marc Jacobs and her work has been sold in stores that represent the best in contemporary design, such as Heal’s.”
Sarah & Bendrix
Why I like it: Gorgeous and unusual products designed by Veronika, the shop owner. They make perfect gifts for a friend or yourself!
About the shop: “We take delight in stories of others, the small details: little feet on a wooden floor, fresh dew, soft light, rainy walks. It’s about those moments in time treasured forever. Memories of true romance, subtle and enduring. This idea is carried through our design, celebrating the simplistic and beautiful. We are collectors and story tellers…
Sarah & Bendrix is a small design studio based in Surrey, United Kingdom. est. 2009 by Veronika. A lovingly created gift store for your home and beyond. We specialise in wedding and anniversary gifts, but also sell items for children. Framed pictures, posters, letterpress stationary, wooden toys and jewellery.”
Nordic Elements
Why I like it: It’s a lovely and well-designed shop filled with great, timeless design from Scandinavia, and few fab finds from British designers.
About the shop: “After nearly 6 years we felt it was time for a change and have been working on bringing together new and established brands to compliment our new identity ‘NEW CLASSIC OLD CLASSIC’.
Our homeware collection is the result of our passion for good design & good quality. We select our brands and designers carefully to offer a wide choice of products for people who enjoy design as much as us.
Our web shop feature a selection of products from the brands we represent, some of these products we believe will become NEW CLASSIC’s. We have chosen some of our favourite OLD CLASSIC’s to feature alongside these. Enjoy!”
The Modern Shop
Why I like it: Not many Canada-based shops have such a great assortment of modern furniture, lighting and accessories from top brands. A go-to place for a special gift or to finally splurge on that designer piece you’ve been eyeing for a while.
About the shop: “The Modern Shop is 100% Canadian owned and operated. It was founded in the summer of 2010 to address a need for a fine modern lighting & furniture store in the Ottawa / Gatineau area as well as fulfill a need for an online modern design retailer in Canada. The Modern Shop prides itself on selling quality designs from some of the best brands in the world. We travel the globe to find exciting new products we’re proud to showcase in our showroom located at 541 Sussex Drive in Ottawa’s historic Byward Market.”
Luvmother
Why I like it: This Montreal-based company makes functional children’s clothing in lovely colours and made from super soft merino wool – Quality everyday activewear for kids created to last!
About the shop: “Curators rather than inventors, we have ideas, ‘know how’ and dreams of doing things well. We value people and craftsmanship and as a result accept paying a little more for a job well done. Materials and process are key ingredients to anything we put out, so it goes without saying we make clothes that not only fit as they should but are also made from premium, traceable materials, feel good next to skin and have a built in hand-me-down quality.
Simply put, we remain eager, curious and optimistic. We respect our roots and look forward to the innovations of tomorrow. We learn from our mistakes, take advantage of all that is good and put it into the mix! No muss, no fuss and very matter of fact.”
Photo in top banner: HAY
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