Candles aren’t the most original hostess gift, but the right scent should guarantee a return invitation.

New York-based candle company Joya creates coveted fragrances encased in striking porcelain vessels ($64). Our picks are Himalayan Goji Berry and Quince and Heliotrope Petals—the perfect home décor gift with a burn time of 75 hours.

Chat wittily and offer to help with dishes and you're in for good.

At Love of Mine, 781 Queen St. W., Toronto, 416-368-4999, www.loveofmineboutique.com

If your aesthetic is Hollace Cluny but your budget is Ikea, why not spruce up the Ektorp with some colourful hand-crafted cushions from Australian designer Megan Park?

The pillows (from $47) are made from silks, linen and cashmere and are embellished with embroidery, beading and fringing. Mix in as many prints as possible for a look that is playful, bold and entirely your own.

At Hollace Cluny, 1070 Yonge St., Toronto, 416-968-7894, www.hollacecluny.ca

Who doesn’t love snooping around other people’s homes – especially ones filled with bold lighting, artwork and unusual curiosities.

At Alex Jowett’s place you can snoop all you like, and if you fancy something, hey, why not buy it? Most of the contents is for sale at Atelier 668, and unlike a typical design store, buyers get to experience the pieces within a real home environment.

Several pieces at this studio-gallery-store are up-cycled, such as the vintage kayak chandelier and birdcage lanterns. There’s a 12-foot maple dining table by Brad Denton (the designer behind The Harbord Room, Le Petit Castor and Czehoski), a Brothers Dressler bench, spiral nest chandeliers by Zak Ridgely and work by OCAD photographer Darren Rigo.

There are a few things Jowett (a photographer, writer, surfer) won’t part with, like his vintage cameras, and a Michael Greenwood Walnut table. “I think I’d like to buy that for myself,” he says.

Atelier 688, 688 Richmond St. W, #201, Toronto, 416-671-2537, http://atelier688.tumblr.com

Hours: Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 12 p.m.-6 p.m. or by appointment.

A is for Abacus, B is for Bingo, C is for Caterpillar and D is for Dingo.

Typography fans – or anyone who appreciates the graphic power of letters – will love this alphabet wall hanging ($50) from Toronto’s Bookhou.

With letters, numbers, and punctuation appearing on every surface of fashion and home décor (think embroidered cushions, hand carved bookends and silk-screened skirts), it’s never been hipper to be a type nerd.

Just as appealing to both grownups and kids, this eye-catcher is proof that ABC’s need not be child's play.

At Bookhou, 798 Dundas St. W., Toronto, 416-203-2549, www.bookhou.com

We’d like to think of our kitchen as pretty international, serving up dishes from around the world.

To complement a global cuisine are Not Neutral’s city plates ($60), featuring maps of cities from New Orleans to Tokyo to Berlin to Shanghai. The downtown core is printed on a black background, key buildings are represented with orange icons, and rivers and public spaces are shown in blue and green.

Our eyes and tummy say Mexico City would make a good empanada plate, while Montreal would be for poutine. Paris is obviously for fromage and foie gras (though not together, perhaps) and Rome is for hoof jelly salad. Just kidding. We’re not that adventurous.

Available online at Modern Karibou, www.modernkaribou.ca

Banish boring beige and bring in a backsplash that’s full of cheer and whimsy.

Xenia Taler's tiles are pretty in a kitchen, a bathroom or even a small hallway.

The Toronto-based ceramicist and her partner Steven Koblinsky have made a big splash in the design world with their whimsical patterns and bright glazes.

The installation tiles are thin with unglazed sides for grouting and feature folksy birds, trees, fish and insects.

Any handy Andys around to tile our guest loo?

www.xeniataler.com

Dicing an onion with a dull blade is like climbing a mountain in roller skates. It'll surely end in tears.

Keeping knives in good condition is simple yet important. If a knife is polished smooth, it can only add shine to the finished dish.

Sharpen your Henckels at Word of Mouth in Forest Hill Village. Within two days your blades ($6 small, $8 large) will be as good as new and you'll be slicing with the finesse of a sashimi chef.

Word of Mouth, 398A Spadina Rd., Toronto, 416-488-6155.

Eco-friendly designers are proving it's more hip than hippie to go green.

Take Urban Tree Salvage, a company that turns every scrap of water-recovered and recycled wood  (sourced within 300 kilometres of their shop in Dwight, Ont.) into something beautiful, lasting and unique.

Like modern day Gepettos, the team at Urban Tree Salvage creates one-of-a-kind beds, tables, consoles, cutting boards and wine racks.

Just think, your dining room table might once have held a woodpecker’s perch.

Urban Tree Salvage, 19a Malley Rd., Scarborough, 647-438-7516, www.urbantreesalvage.com

Imagine all the things you love sitting pretty in one beautiful boutique.

Like a modern day house of curiosities, Love of Mine houses heady scented candles, decoupage plates, gorgeous bijoux and a wall of multi-hued butterflies.

Everything in this gallery-cum-boutique wants to be sniffed, touched and talked about. The John Derian paperweights, platters and trays ($50-$300) are hard to resist, as are the baubles and bangles from Alexis Bittar.

Scoop up some antique-style wrapping paper ($7) a delicious Icon candle ($34) or a luxe scarf ($179) from New York’s Leigh and Luca.

With plenty more treasures still to come, our love affair with this store has only just begun.

Love of Mine, 781 Queen St. W, Toronto, 416-368-4999, www.loveofmineboutique.com

Known for its cheap eats and charming cafes, Baldwin Village is hardly a destination for cutting edge design. But a new concept store looks set to change that.  

With its focus on Japanese product design, Cubeshops is eye candy for lovers of all things quirky and cool.

From soap dishes to stress balls to chopsticks and umbrella stands, function meets design at this carefully curated boîte. We loved the paint tube doorstoppers ($8) and manhole shaped floor cushions ($50).

While most products are for the home, Shoichi Aoki fans will love the fashion accessories still to come.

Cubeshops, 11 Baldwin St., Toronto, 416-260-0710, www.cubeshops.com