MADE sells Canadian-designed and hand-made pieces with a refined design aesthetic out of its space on Geary Avenue.

Owner Shaun Moore is unpretentious and polite, speaking with quiet pride about the artists, craftspeople, industrial designers, and interior designers he works with, his passion shining through despite having the flu.

The store reminds me of Mjolk the way it feels like a part-store, part-art gallery for beautiful objects. Some pieces look like sculptures, but Moore assures me almost all of the items in there have a function.

Indeed, upon closer inspection, a wobbly tower of mismatched plates with two teacups askew on top is actually a lamp (Stake of Plates Light, $1,200).

Giant strips of felt tangled together in a big knot and spread across the floor is actually a stool (Knot, $2,950). Not the most practical pieces in the world - I couldn't help thinking occasionally, 'how would you clean that?' - but definitely interesting.

You ceramics nerds will want to check out Jeremy Hatch's "Best Before Creamers" ($45) and "Prospect Plates" ($45).

There's also the limited edition "Redesigned Medalta" series of plates ($56), which - outside of Medalta in Medicine Hat, Alberta where they're produced - are exclusive to MADE.

On the more accessible side of the scale, there are bright, modern coat hooks, a couple of coffee tables that are both unique and simple, and beautiful pieces like the Meridian Pendant Light ($595).

One of my favourite items and one of the store's bestsellers is an ivory, matte vase called "Love is Blind" ($90), its surface featuring a love letter in braille. Note: every wedding gift from me from now on is going to be that vase.