our community

Designers Walk, Castlefield District and King Street East are three areas in Toronto where you can tour a showroom, meet with the trade, and absorb the vibe the area has to offer. I encourage you however, to take a drive to the other end of the city, just south of Queen Street West and Trinity Bellwoods Park where you will find the abd showroom quietly located on a residential street. Abd has been in its current location for twelve years, and we love to support the small shops and coffee houses that surround us. A quick run across the street to Woolshed and saying hello to our neighbours at The Design Agency while my tea steeps is a calming reminder that we work in a neighbourhood full of greatness.

The following five spots have become a part of my routine, I’m not sure what I would do without them.

Dear Grain

Dear Grain has the same intense feelings for baking as I do for design, supporting their craft and appreciating the greatness of each layer within. The ingredients + heart and soul that they pour into each little bite make it really hard to choose just one thing… which is why we share a lot at abd. Dear Grain wants to intertwine those who create with those who consume by practicing transparency and generously sharing their love for what they do. This entire ethos is amazing. Add to it the absolute tastiest of both sweet and savory treats… a true winner and a half. Yum

Dear Grain
48 Ossington Avenue

Type Books

Type is a long-time favourite spot of mine to find inspiration and feed my curiosities. With jam-packed shelves to satisfy whatever it is I’m in the mood for, I can get lost for hours in this space that is a haven for knowledge and empowerment. Owners Samara and Jo are so passionate about their business and you can feel it in the curation they offer to the droves of book lovers that pop in. It is so important for me to keep inspiration flowing, and books provide this- whether it be a gorgeous book on design or an epic biography on Anthony Kiedis.

Type Books
883 Queen Street West

Jaybird

I’ve mentioned my love for Jaybird Yorkville before, and they also have a Queen West location close to the showroom. What sets Jaybird apart is the mindset they bring to my workout: Work your butt off but be gracious and forgiving to yourself. Feel when you want to exert full force or when you need to pull back. And provide space to feel these two extremes. As a business owner, partner and mum, this gentle reminder to be kind to myself is very cathardic.

Jaybird
735 Queen Street West

Susan Hobbs Gallery

Don’t be fooled by the nondescript exterior of this building on Tecumseth. Just a few blocks from our showroom, The Susan Hobbs Gallery has been introducing contemporary artists to the Toronto art scene since 1993, making it one of Toronto’s oldest and most vital private galleries. Walk through the front door into the gallery space to find carefully curated exhibitions of both new and established international artists showing mostly sculpture with a focus on conceptual art.

Susan Hobbs Gallery
137 Tecumseth Street

Sud Forno

In the pursuit for authentic, artisanal Italian bread, the Terroni family opened Sud Forno so they could perfect the craft in-house. Sud Forno is a neighbourhood hub near Trinity Bellwoods on Queen where day or night you are sure to find an Italian tradition to sip or munch on. Often a staple for a team member’s birthday or client presentation, we always find that the amazing vibe and energy of Sud Forno comes with us back to the studio.

Sud Forno
716 Queen Street West

Image above from deargrain.com