Design Stores
Kimberley Jackson
Kimberley Jackson on Queen Street East is a real contender. If you were wondering where to get handsome coffee, dinner, end, side and other furniture made right here in Ontario, this store should be on your list.
The store has a vast array of tables, chairs, desks and headboards in many finishes and colours but this is not fine woodwork.
In the new dictionary, re-use comes before recycle or renew. To that end, re-using old barnboard to create great pieces of furniture is the way forward, but it's not going to find its way into discerning homes without a certain level of craftsmanship behind it as well.
Don't get me wrong - this is not amateur work. It's professional, just not fine woodworking. I recently posted about Akroyd furniture, which is the same concept but takes it to the next level. Recycled or re-used or local - but with finer joinery and finishes on a smaller scale. And therein lies the difference.
Volume.
A barn, ripped, milled, stripped, edged, and sanded will yield a hell of a lot of boxes, cabinets, tables, shelves and tables. KJ puts out a large volume of simple construction, easy joinery stuff. And it's a nice, inexpensive alternative to the flatpack, made in Sweden, get some cheap meatballs while you're here furniture. They have a blanket box that would do double duty as hallway bench for $495.00. Next time I'm there I intend to buy a set of their candle holders. (3 for $35.00)
But when I walk through the HUGE showroom, I can't help but think- where's the crisp, clean, origami edges we've come to expect from the city? This is cottage furniture in the city - in fact, their main store, factory and showroom is in Bracebridge. It's a country mouse comes to the city problem. I want to like it for its wholesome goodness, but it's not really polished enough to sit beside my clean-lined appliances and modern pieces.
So, unless you have a cottage in the city vibe goin' on, this store might be a pass. On the other hand, if you are looking to relax, rewind and colour match your environment... here's your go to place.
Don't get me wrong, I like Kimberley Jackson in theory, because this is how manufacturing should be - identify a valuable local resource, apply local resources, add value, add sweat, add labour, and then resell in a dense urban environment for a profit.
Photos by Dennis Marciniak
Discussion
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If you're going to do a review on a business, perhaps critique some more of the tangible things about it - like prices or usability. How do there costs compare to other businesses in the city? How useful or comfortable is one of those chairs illustrated in the first picture?
My apartment has quite a few elements of country in the city in it, and something from their store would look quite nice in it.
Poorly critiqued, poorly praised.
KJ, wait 24 hours and carefully re-read what you wrote with an open mind to the comments here. I think you'll find yourself a little embarrassed by what you wrote and (hopefully) you'll find the exercise instructive for the next time you write a review.
I agree with Ian Milne, the workmanship shown here is not on the same level as a lot of urban country furniture that is now in vogue. I'd venture to say that the proprietors are using their layperson knowledge of shop tools to hitch a ride on the current trend.
Also, it seems like KJ's whole team has made comments on here. Save your time and look at what your more established and successful competition has done. Might I suggest a company trip to Urban Tree Salvage?
We paid, $1700 for a table (not a huge amount I know) to be made to our spec which was choosing the stain and design of the edging of the table.
We were told that the stain would take 2 weeks. It took 6 weeks. When we went into the shop to ask about this matter kimberley Jackson herself knew it was way too long. But no apology!!
We finally recieved a sample of wood and stain, which we chose and thought that this was a step closer to getting our table.
Wrong. It took a further 7 weeks. OK they said on the outside it would be 12 weeks so let's give them that one.
When the table FINALLY arrived guess what?
Well, the stain was wrong and the design was wrong. Complete cock up. AND we waited 3 months for this.
BUT once again. NO APOLOGY....
Thanks Kimberly Jackson. I will not be recommending you to anyone I know.
as for KJ, I think their work is quite nice, but it's rustic. it's not supposed to be sleek and modern. and it works very well with modern pieces as well.
Over 18 weeks ago I purchased my table....Have been calling weekly for any shred of info on it's ETA...and nothing. Not one call back....ever.
8-12 weeks was promised upon purchase (and i thought that was a little overboard). Too bad because they've got some nice stuff and are reasonably priced. I don't know if the "deal" on the table is worth 10 weeks and counting of eating on the couch with no forseeable end in sight. Thanks Kimberly Jackson!
On the other hand, I totally disagree with the critique in this article; I think that if this is to your taste, the Kimberly Jackson furniture is gorgeous, and very reasonably priced. I took a look at the Ackroyd reuse furniture store that the article's author recommended - and quite frankly did not like that style. KJ's is for people who like the distressed, rustic look to their furniture - and who feel good about the furniture being built with reused wood.
And what's more is that they called me this morning for delivery and offered me today or tomorrow to get it here in time for Christmas. I thought that was so sweet.
It makes me nervous to hear that custom orders were not fulfilled as promised, so hopefully I'm not disapointed once I get here.
But so far, Kimberly Jackson has done nothing but impressed me.
As for the review - dude! It's country chic. That's what we paid for. And it'll go amazingly in our eclectic, vintage, modern home. I cannot wait.
Please people, do not risk spending your hard earned money on an item that you may not ever receive. Think about it--who resells a sold item and then doesn't give you a refund or an apology?
Again: I am in utter shock.