CB2 comes to toronto

Last Friday night I shucked off our usual fish-and-chips-for-dinner-and-crash-on-the-couch routine to get a peek at CB2’s first international location right here in Toronto. In case you’re unfamiliar, CB2 is the youthful, funkier, downtown-living sister to American-owned chain Crate & Barrel.

Now, I hadn’t ever stepped foot inside a CB2 while stateside, merely browsed (and browsed and browsed) online, so I was excited to see what was in store (har, har), particularly since its location in the former Big Bop night club – one of the city’s most legendary “concert halls” – had been furiously debated by neighbourhood purists and urban historians. Chris at StyleNorth has an interesting summary of the building’s nine lives, if you’re so inclined.

Circa 1928: United Cigar Store

I’m always pleased to see historic buildings revitalized for contemporary neighbourhoods; better to re-purpose than re-build, non? (Whether the neighbourhood benefits from said re-purposing depends on the ‘what’, and which side of the street you live on.) Still, it was fitting to see a nod to the night club (and the city’s cultural history) with the inclusion of this original (?) Big Bop sign on the second floor.

Inside, the building’s original exposed stonework and reclaimed wood flooring created the perfect canvas to layer on CB2’s contemporary aesthetic. There was no shortage of goods in the brand’s signature colour (just a few shades off from Pantone’s colour of the year), and bold, fresh shades of blue, green and yellow echoed recent fashion colour-blocking trends.

Maybe it was last week’s obsession with a certain emerald green blazer holding court in my head, but everything that caught my eye was of a certain leafy hue (CB2 calls it “clover”, but tomato tomahto).

I’m seriously eyeing that shower curtain – which doesn’t look emerald, but is, and paired with the best partner of all: chartreuse – to combat a serious case of ’80s bathroom in our new place (more to come on that battle). And those mesh dining chairs are begging to be paired with my grandmother’s rather formal rosewood table.

{ 1. Curtis Clover Rocker |  2. Fan Coral Shower Curtain | 3. Coup Clover Pillow | 4. Hancock Clover Bookcase | 5. Formosa Clover Tray |  6. Reed Clover Chair }

Knowing I’ve got a new place to pretty up in just over a week (!!!), I saved my pennies on this particular CB2 trip. If you happen to stop in during the next month or so, you’ll have a chance to win $10 off a purchase of $50 or more, or the daily grand prize of a $500 shop card. And if you’re not in TO, you’ll be pleased to know that you can shop online; CB2 ships most of its goods to Canada.

All photos Derek Flack for BlogTO

City of Toronto Archive Photo via StyleNorth