Photo Karen Graham.
Festoon owners Anna Rodrigues and Phil Raby
Cavan-Monaghan residents Phil Raby and Anna Rodrigues have opened a new shop in Millbrook, offering retro-inspired furnishings and gifts influenced by mid-20th century designs and aesthetics.
Festoon is the second retail outlet for the partners. The original Festoon based on the same concept was located in Toronto in the trendy Leslieville area on Queen Street East. After moving to the area, the couple began to consider trying the model here. Festoon features a wide variety of unique décor items- some new, some used and some even more used, or vintage.
What unites the product selection is their style. There’s no pine Canadiana at this location, rather mid-century pieces one might associate with old movies from the 50’s and 60’s. There are products for all ages as well- vintage toys for youngsters and cool accessories for everyone. Think of the store as a curated collection of interesting furniture, gifts and accessories. It’s the perfect place to browse to find a unique gift for the person who has everything.
Products are hand-picked from a variety of sources: estate sales, on-line auctions, Facebook Marketplace and other on-line ads. Some of the new pieces are ones where the person who ordered it changed their minds, so they are also one-offs. Collectors themselves, Phil and Anna enjoy browsing different sites to add to their offerings.
Phil and Anna are both are post-secondary teachers, but on-line course delivery expanded by COVID has provided the flexibility in their schedules to take on this project, which allows them to indulge their interest in scouring different sites to add to their offerings without having to make room for them inside their own home!
There are plans to turn the back part of the store space into a photography gallery, as both are also photographers. In addition to featuring rotating exhibitions of works from a variety of photographers, Anna hopes to eventually offer photography workshops in the shop.
The store is open five days a week and closed on Monday and Tuesday. For more information, visit the store or their website at www.festoon.ca. Welcome to the neighbourhood! KG
