I have been a fan of Michael Penney’s since his early days with Canadian House and Home. He has since left the magazine and then did a season working on Sarah 101 with Sarah Richardson and Tommy Smythe (currently airing Tues nights on HGTV Canada.)
His latest venture is opening up his very own store in Whitby (Ontario) filled to the brim with everything quintessentially Michael. He is also taking on decorating clients, so if you live in the area, it’s certainly something to consider.
My sister lives in Whitby so whenever I go to visit, we always stop in to see what’s new as Michael is always bringing in new and interesting pieces. (I snapped these photos on a visit there last month so some of the items may not be available.)
Love the exterior of his shop painted Farrow and Ball’s Arsenic, one of Michael’s favourite paint colours. It definitely causes passersby to stop and take notice. Another smart idea is having your website address on your storefront window.
He related that a woman bought this sofa without seeing it in person. It certainly is a showstopper!
When I interviewed him early last year, this is what he had to say about his style: “ the common thread is traditional elements mixed with fresh colours and casual comfort. I like to reinterpret the work of the decorating greats through a modern, more loose perspective. I can get into modern and edgy looks, but my heart strings are always pulled most by fresh, colourful and effortlessly comfortable rooms.”
I bought the wicker table that’s beside the sofa with plans on painting it black or a fun colour for possible use in my bedroom.
You may recognize these chairs from the June, 2012 issue of Style at Home.
In this photo, you can see where the pool tables were when the store was a pool hall for many decades.
I look so tiny compared to Michael (I’m really not that short – he is very tall!) We had a lovely chat about the history of the store, items for sale and decorating in general. If you haven’t been to Penney and Company, it’s definitely worth the drive to Whitby!
