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All photos credit: Bestoftoronto.net The mood inside can only be described as electric.Upbeat, ambient music floats through the space as guests mingled, sipped tea and exploredthe showroom filled with mixed woods and nature-inspired décor. This is the opening celebration for the newest Artemano showroom at The Shops at Don Mills in Toronto, where we welcomed clients and tastemakers to the stunning space. “We wanted to create a Zen, relaxed and nature-inspired atmosphere for this event,” said Yoni Amir, our marketing director. “We want people to come in and de-stress.” Guests certainly seemed to be making themselves at home. As DJ FeelGoodSmalls spun a...

Many clients express their enthusiasm about the creative ambiances we display at Artemano.  They often tell me that Artemano has inspired their flair for decor and love for nature-inspired products. That our minimalistic approach to design is captivating. That they become inspired by the way we mix different woods and elements together. Creating a visually interesting space with dimension and layers, lends itself to one of Artemano’s signature design approaches: the magic of mixing and contrasting different components together. When placing different but right elements together the result can become an artistic expression. Combining different elements like wood, colour, texture...

Run your hand along the grain and you feel the grooves, deep and firm. You may think of weathered barn boards or cracked old leather. That sense of rustic serenity is mango wood expressing its central character. Yet despite its air of power, mango is graceful and precise. Stare at it long enough and you find symmetry, a sense of order and even dignity in the grain and the markings of distress. There's always beauty to be found in that toughness, too. Some highly figured pieces sport curvaceous loops and sweeping curlicues, especially around knots. In other pieces of mango,...

Somewhere in the forests of Northern Thailand, a branch is growing a little every day, stretching outward and upward with a strength that no one stops to appreciate. Today, the branch is not even considered as important as the insects that live in it. But one day this fast-growing piece of wood will be transformed into something of beauty, a valued part of the home for people living on the other side of the world. If you're a sucker for greatness from humble origins, consider the suar.  A rapid rise from the forest floor translates into a feeling of movement and...

Montreal is the only city I know with its own Moving Day. On July 1st, you’re either feverishly loading boxes into a truck or you’re watching the neighbours manoeuver giant washing machines and fridges down tiny exterior spiral staircases—a guilty spectator sport. At this time of year when so many Montrealers are simultaneously editing their lives, Artemano suggested I try paring back too. Their minimalist interiors are something that require a discipline but easily achieved and rewarding. For inspiration, I pick up a copy of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: the Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, by Marie...