Bruce Borgundvaag and Allan Paul, partners in business and in life, have recently brought their retail dream to full fruition: Alastair Home & Design! From idea to opening, it’s been five (long) years but the space is perfect and was “worth waiting for!” Alastair Home & Design opened its doors in June in the former Treasures space. With walls torn down, brick exposed, and some painting, you likely won’t recognize it! It’s become the perfect backdrop for Allan to direct his creative juices and for Bruce to welcome customers looking for that extra special decor item.
In their former lives, Allan was a high school art teacher in Toronto and is an artist in his own right. Bruce was a senior-level marketing leader with more than 20 years of marketing and communications experience with organizations
both big and small. Moving to Stratford in 2018, their goal was to open a shop together where they would offer all the things they hold dear – sustainable goods made of quality material. Due to the pandemic, it took them longer than they expected but they hung in there to make their wish come true!
This is a serious “no fast fashion” zone. You’ll find classic throw pillows made of natural fibres that will stand the test of time, Rareform bags made from recycled billboards (never two the same!), turkish organic cotton towels and throws, gorgeous ‘handmade in the Honduras’ pottery, beautiful dishware, stunning Japanese paper, and “modern” Windsor chairs handmade in Caledon. Alastair is also home to the esteemed brand of very unique decorations from Jonathan Adler and a growing offering of planter and gardening vessels. Books are very important to this couple so you won’t go far into this shop before you stumble on one you’ll want to buy to help redesign your own home!
Bruce and Allan welcome all dogs into their space. Lovers and owners of whippets, they also offer exquisite handmade couch pillows that feature whippets created by South African artist, Sally Chapman. Designed by Sally she then outsources the sewing to disadvantaged but skilled women in the community. Truly unique works of art!
This proudly LGBQT+ business is planning a Grand Opening later this summer, so plan to drop in to peruse the shelves, which incidentally have been upcycled from Pistolnik!
Open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm and Sundays from 11am to 5pm.
For more information, find Alastair Home & Design in our online directory!
