I’ve been following Artemano and admiring their furniture for a long time, so I was absolutely delighted when they asked me to host the upcoming launch party of their newest store.

But let me tell you a bit about the company first. Founded in 2002, Artemano opened its doors in Laval, on Le Corbusier Boulevard. Today, they have eight stores, a showroom, a warehouse boutique, and are about to officially open their ninth location, which is the launch party I was invited to host.

Artemano has a very Zen-inspired look, featuring clean-cut, modern furnishings. Its owners Shimon Finkelstein and Eyal Shoam have a strong interest in a variety of creative fields. Finkelstein has a passion for photography, and this is very clear in the striking photos Artemano uses to feature its furniture. Shoam, on the other hand, loves architecture and multi-purpose designs.

The duo’s interests are clearly visible in the brand’s aesthetic. Their work strongly signals influences from South and Southeast Asia. In fact, that is where they select and ship many items from, mostly created from rosewood, mango, suar, teak and acacia. Once the pieces arrive in Canada, they are re-made to add Canadian touches and converted into highly multi-functional pieces. The brand highlights that they rescue “wood from old Indonesian fishing boats, railway ties – or sleepers – from India, old construction wood from Thailand, as well as salvaged drift wood and storm-felled trees”, to ensure all their pieces are highly sustainable. Below are just some of the highlights.

The Don Mills store is celebrating its opening on Dec.5, and the company has a lot of exciting things planned for that day. You can find me there in the afternoon, as I celebrate the opening with my guests and several other wonderful hosts.

Food Dudes will be serving appetizers at the event; I’m a huge fan of their catering and we actually hosted a special FAJO team dinner with them earlier this year. Another highlight at the Artemano Don Mills’ opening will be that all guests will get a chance to win a $2,000 shopping spree. DJ FeelGoodSmalls will be live on location – she is quite well-known in Toronto for looking cool and trendy, and spinning for many fashion brands, including Mackage, Bench and Guess.

In addition, all attendees will get a chance to shop that day and everyone will receive a 50% discount should they decide to make any purchases. My husband and I have already been eyeing some coffee tables, so you never know what we may come home with at the end of the day.

Full details are below. See you at the party!

Story update: interview with Eyal Shoam

Following the store opening, I connected with Eyal Shoam to ask him about the party and what’s next for Artemano. Here is what he said.

Eyal Shoam, one of the owners of Artemano. Photo courtesy of the brand.

Don Mills is a fantastic neighbourhood with beautiful homes. It’s offers a great natural ambiance with a lot of people walking around. It’s an urban setting, where hundreds of people can discover our home every day.

What makes the new location unique and how is it different from other Artemano stores? Every single Artemano location is different in its own right. Artemano Don Mills is a 5,000 square foot showroom. It includes a South Asian-inspired lounge area in front of a bank of wide windows, where guests can sit back and relax, while watching fish swimming through the store’s large water feature. Our designer has created an escape through the use of a charcoal grey and black that sets a dramatic stage for our furnishings. Visitors travel from one unique ambiance to another, experiencing the fusion of natural and modern elements.

What did you personally enjoy the most about the launch party? Witnessing people’s reaction when they come into our escape. Seeing them touch and feel everything that surrounds them. Watching them make themselves at home and enjoying the space.

Are there any special promotions that the store and the brand as a whole will have between mid-December and end of February that you would like to share with our readers? Our Boxing Week Event begins on Dec. 26 and will run until Dec. 31. Other events and promotions are planned too — check us out on Facebook for updates!