Posted by
HGTV.ca Editorial Team
Sunday, September 27, 2009 10:32 AM EDT
Shoppers on the hunt for handmade goods will adore Love, Me Boutique. Located just off Spring Garden Road, Halifax’s busiest shopping street, this small housewares and clothing shop is definitely a reflection of owner Chara Kingston, who’s created a cozy, welcoming space in the main floor of a 100-year-old downtown building. The former to-die-for apartment keeps its homey appeal, thanks to warm pine floorboards, marble fireplaces and red walls. Wooden milk crates act as shelves, and glass display cases, designed by Kingston’s husband out of refurbished windows and other materials, give the place a vintage vibe. The boutique is organized according to function — kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, etc. — and it’s not unusual for a pot of Love, Me tea to be steeping in the kitchen area as you browse.
Love, Me focuses on Canadian independent and small-run product lines, with an emphasis on local designers. This is always my first stop for one-of-a-kind gifts, and the place I direct tourists who are looking for something a little different (in Halifax that means tartan- and lobster-free) to take home.
The housewares section is relatively small, but well chosen. Kingston, always on the lookout for new talent, is especially supportive of younger and emerging artists, like Kyla Francis, whose pop-culture-inspired screen-printed mugs and glasses will add a little rock ’n’ roll your tea parties. A new addition, Jenny Morton’s mugs feature a cast of lovelorn boys, wallowing in sorrow over their lost loves. On a happier note, Bespoke Textiles’ cheeky burlesque tea towels are hand-printed on a hemp-cotton mix.
For those inspired by the Love, Me spirit, the boutique hosts DIY workshops throughout the year, and even the website, lovemeboutique.ca, is a rich source of craft and art ideas.
By Sue Carter Flinn, an award-winning writer and editor based in Halifax, Nova Scotia
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Love Me Boutique
1539 Birmingham St.
Halifax, Nova Scotia
(902) 444-3668