Gareth Davies opened the Hintonburg store to connect shoppers with Canadian furniture makers and artisans.
Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn affiliate commissions from purchases made through links on this page.
Article content
By opening a new “pop-up to permanent” shop in Hintonburg, Gareth Davies hopes to make it easier for Ottawa shoppers to buy local while promoting the talent of Canadian artisans and artisans.
“There's a huge disconnect between what people want and what's available in stores,” Davis says. Last month, he opened Maker House Co., a 2,500-square-foot industrial space on Wellington Street West that specializes in “handmade or handcrafted” furniture and homes. Accent by manufacturers in Ontario and Quebec.
Advertisement 2
Article content
“It’s the best craft fair in a mainstream permanent store,” says the 33-year-old. He offers a carefully selected collection of unique items, including live-edge maple dining tables, quirky wall clocks upcycled from old vinyl records, and handmade tosses. Pillows and wine rack made from wooden pallets.
Article content
“In the last five years, the maker movement like Etsy has exploded,” says John, who developed a love for quality craftsmanship as a boy watching his grandfather make furniture in his workshop in Peterborough, Ont. Dako's talented furniture maker tells us. His own handiwork includes live-edge tables with iron legs and wooden shelves attached to the wall with thick leather straps.
“There's a growing number of artists in the city, but it's a bit of a hidden gem for the general public.” His goal is to represent as many local makers as possible under the same roof. “It’s about telling stories and getting their stories out there.”
Davis, who gave up a career in sales to open a new store, considers himself a facilitator, putting buyers in touch with talented local manufacturers and educating them about his technology and other products. We provide a “hub” where you can advertise your network with manufacturers.
Advertisement 3
Article content
“The bottom line is that manufacturers want to take the time to make. They don't want to run a store or host a craft fair.” We explain the thinking behind the new business, which also features workshops and offers custom services.
He also wants to keep prices affordable so “handmade is accessible to everyone.” “It's for people graduating from mass-produced furniture to high-quality handmade furniture,” an accessory without the hefty price tag.
Prices range from $5 for a greeting card to $1,400 for a custom dining table. Maker House Co. donates his 2 percent of all sales to community efforts through the #CraftChange campaign.
“Part of our DNA as a company is to give back,” Davis says.
if you go
where: Maker House Co., 987 Wellington St. W.
Store opening hours: Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.
Nice find: Frontier Collective Live Edge Wooden Coasters, $12 for a set of four. Wood shelves attached with leather straps by Maker House Co., $45 each; Butterfly coffee table made from two heavy tree stumps, $750.
information: 613-805-2453, makerhouse.co or Facebook
Article content
