Monday, May 21, 2012Mostly Cloudy 24°C
Design Stores

Ministry of the Interior

Rating: 3.0/5 (40 votes)

Posted by Anita / Reviewed on July 27, 2007

20070727_mint11.jpg
Ministry of the Interior is a funky (but not cheap) furniture and design store on Ossington Avenue between Queen and Dundas. The store stocks items from furniture to wallpaper created by an eclectic collection of designers from around the globe.

The colour yellow dominates the renovated auto body shop, complete with sliding door. The ceiling and window backdrop are drenched in it. The colour is known to be optimistic, mentally stimulating and an initiator of creative thought. Like a curator, owner Jason MacIsaac has used this colour to represent the feelings the designers' work evokes. It's far from mainstream and not even close to cookie cutter. This then feeds into the philosophy Jason has for Ministry of the Interior. "It's important to me that every item has a great story. I want to remind consumers that buying furniture today is all about collecting special pieces and creating a space, not just loading up on the season's trends."

Areaware is a New York design collective that believes in creating objects that deepen the relationship people have with everyday objects. Their Red LED clock and banana shaped fruit bowl caught my eye, but the Matchstick necklace stole my heart.

Tse & Tse from France creates discussion starting tableware pieces. I loved the unusual salt and pepper flasks. The Areaware collective's Alma Fortune cup is influenced by Tasseography. One of a kind fortunes are embedded in the cup using 22k gold.

David Trubridge's tasteful hanging lamps are the complete opposite to Jason Miller's Antler Lamps. The antlers win in my book, with the 12 Antler chandelier being my favourite.

Influenced by graffiti culture, Tres Tintas designer wallpaper allows you to bring the designs home without the noxious paint fumes. My favourite item in the store is the Shoplifter tote bag in all its ironic glory.

Jason Miller's furniture is as much fun as his lamps. Recycled plastic tables are made to look like picnic benches complete with carved graffiti. The duct tape lounge chair looks like the beat up chair you had in university but it comes with a much higher price tag.

Rounding out the store's offerings are Dwell bed and table linens. Dwell brings modern textile design to bedding and uses bold prints not found in your average department store. Marimekko totes come in various colours for the stylish eco-conscious.

The backroom exhibition space is used to host entire collections by eclectic design stars like Jason Miller.


Discussion

10 Comments

Andrea / July 31, 2007 at 09:38 pm
user-pic
Thank you for this design post! I look forward to reading more soon! I am always looking for these types of store in Toronto... i'm tired of going to www.apartmenttherapy.com and other American Blogs
sooooo
Thanks!!
Xavier / September 28, 2008 at 09:26 pm
user-pic
Hi,

I don't know il you've seen what Moodroom in Montreal do. It's the same spirit and you should discuss
Lennart Landgren / October 7, 2008 at 08:02 pm
user-pic
I am looking for information on a show mid October by the swedish designer Jens Fager! Can You please help me?
Tom / October 27, 2008 at 05:49 pm
user-pic
Half way between a museum, for the communication of the product histories, and a showroom, for the exhibition of limited collections, Moodroom's aim is to stimulate curiosity, channel it through expert advice, and create the desire to bring self expression to one's interior.

See our website at www.moodroom.ca
jay / March 16, 2010 at 10:40 am
user-pic
Buy directly form the designers, or fluff this trendsetters ego.
traitement impuissance masculine / December 6, 2011 at 02:35 pm
user-pic
I can not subscribe to your channel
Luigi / December 11, 2011 at 09:03 pm
user-pic
great blog
missouri paydayloans / February 3, 2012 at 02:34 am
user-pic
My spouse and I stumbled over here different website and thought I should check things out.
cialis soft meilleur prix / May 8, 2012 at 04:41 am
user-pic
For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged, by better information or fuller consideration, to change impressions, even on big subjects, which I once thought right but found to be otherwise.
http://pharmacie-burthier.com/acheter-cialis-soft.php
Alexander / May 11, 2012 at 06:16 pm
user-pic
Spot i'll carry on with this write-up, I really believe this amazing site needs a great deal more consideration. I'll more likely once again to learn to read much more, many thanks for that info.

Add a Comment

Search

Find a Design Store

Or use the options below to assist you in locating a Design Store in Toronto.

Search Results

Please select criteria from the dropdown menus above to start your search.

Reviews

Recent Reviews

Refine the list using the categories below:


Loading...
Other Cities: VancouverMontreal