Design Source Warehouse
Location:
Hours of Business:
Phone:
Web Address:
553 Hillside Avenue
Tues - Sat 10am to 5pm
721-5530
www.designsourcewarehouse.com
Chosen for:
Hidden Jewel in a Surprising Location
Specialists in Iron Fencing & Gating
Factory-direct Furniture From Europe & Asia
"Holy Toledo!" exclaimed owner Michael Peiffer as he opened the door of Design Source Warehouse at the precise moment that 25 Grapeviners prepared to enter. Everyone gathered in the foyer that overflowed with furniture and antiques. Janet, Michael's wife and business partner, joined the throng as their business was pronounced, "Best-of-the-bunch for the month" of March 2006.
Quality, Quality, Quality. The wooden
furniture is just that—solid wood!
Given its location in the heart of an industrial area of town, Design Source Warehouse could easily be overlooked. It's a pleasant surprise to find such a treasure tucked in between Bridge Street and Rock Bay Avenue.
Everyone gasped as we stepped down from the cozy foyer that opened into a large warehouse. It was difficult to decide what to explore first when we realized there were three more rooms plus a mezzanine!
Displayed in the central room was a large variety of reasonably-priced French Country and Asian fusion furniture—everything from a small bedside table to a floor-to-ceiling entertainment unit interspersed with some interesting antiques.
For practical storage, some of us particularly loved the wooden cupboards with many small drawers. We were also drawn to a trio of smashing black trunks with Asian-themed metal fasteners. Piled from largest at the bottom to smallest at the top, they'd make a "Wow!" statement while storing all that stuff you need to keep but not display. And don't get us started about the large ornate mirrors on the mezzanine!
Design Source orders factory direct from Europe and Asia, receiving one new container every month. Customers can register their e-mail address to be advised of the arrival of a specific item.
Garden supplies ranged from iron fences, to urns, planters, birdbaths, arbours, statuary, fountains and patio sets. Someone was quick to purchase a concrete birdbath with two birds perched on the rim - sale price: $8. With prices to suit anyone's budget, you can choose from an $18 iron fence panel for your small garden... or spend $3000 on a gorgeous iron gate for your Uplands estate.
Although Design Source Warehouse has been open for four years as a wholesale venue, it did not extend service to retail customers until last year. As Assorted Treasures, Janet and Michael used to be situated in an old yellow house at the corner of Oak Bay Avenue and Foul Bay Road. One of our grapettes" was thrilled to find an item at Design Source Warehouse that she used to buy at the original store and feared she would never see again.
Need a new piece of furniture for your
renovated space? Got a garden-enthusiast
friend with an upcoming birthday? Or treat
yourself to an un-birthday present...