location: 1107 Queen Street East
phone number: 416.465.4247
hours: Weds-Sun 12-6
payment methods: cash, Interac, Visa, Mastercard, Amex
directions: From downtown Toronto, travel east along Queen Street across the Don River until you reach the hip-cat furniture hood that lies between Carlaw and Leslie Streets.

“a little shop with a lot of stuff”
While most storefronts in this neighbourhood feature sleek, sixties-era chrome and grey sectionals, Winkel stands out with its colourful and whimsical window dressing. A film set-decorator by trade, Kari Measham has done a lot of the work for you and filled her home-decor store with really affordable vintage finds, as well as fun and innovative new designs that maintain a vintage feel. The new stock is all one-of-a-kind, and Kari has a penchant for things recycled. Atelier Scrap makes book and hand-bags from the discarded vinyl banners from University rallies, and Recover Journal customizes photo albums with old record sleeves for covers (my favourite: Peter, Paul & Mary). Other really unique draws are the ready-made oilcloth goods, as well as oilcloth sold by yardage in several bright and happy designs; iron-transfer Sublime Stitching patterns that allow you to personalize anything generic; and box/cylinder lampshades that can be custom ordered to your taste – Kari has some of various sizes positioned around the store made from fourties style Hawaiian barkcloth and faux-pony. It is possible to outfit your whole pad with Winkel’s furniture and wares – but ideally if you’re looking for a unique and affordable gift, and have an appreciation for the hand-picked and hand-made, this shop is for you.
Ilka de Laat