Our Story

Our Neighbourhood - November 2007

Find Comfort and Style at Haveli Home

Colour, texture, and craftsmanship are three words that come to mind after my first visit to Haveli Home in Liberty Village. This family run business imports textiles, furnishings and home accessories from India, making them available to the Canadian public in a bright and welcoming showroom. Whether you are living in a new condo or Victorian house, Haveli has a unique piece that will enhance your decor.

The store is run by friendly David and Shana Anderson, a father and daughter team whose recently opened business fills a niche in our neighbourhood. David spent most of his professional life working in India and the Far East. In recent years he decided to bring home to Toronto, the high quality products and handicrafts he was familiar with abroad. Having established himself in the textile industry as a clothing manufacturer and costume collector (the collection was donated to the Textile Museum of Canada), the colourful and intricate textiles of India inspired the Haveli Home concept.

The word Havile refers to medieval Hindu courtyard home known to have offered a place of security and comfort in rhythm with the season and nature. This definition certainly holds true when you enter Haveli Home on East Liberty Street. As the stock is replenished for the fall/winter season, rich textiles in burgundy, blue, silver and black and white catch your eye in the form of pillows and quilts adorning the furniture. Davide searches out new and used textiles (such as former saris) and hires Indian craftspeople to turn them into gorgeous pillows, throws, and comfy quilts with immensely detailed stitching. The furniture is truly a feast for the eyes of design lovers. Dark and light shades of solid wood are offered in a selection of new, re-claimed, re-cycled and vintage items. The new pieces are modern in style and unique in their design concept. The re-claimed and re-cycled pieces are most fascinating as many of these are made from architectural elements or quality found pieces of wood that David collects. In turn, he then hires Indian carpenters to integrate these items into new and original furniture. These pieces include a wooden wardrobe made with iron doors still coated in the original paint and a wooden chest built from a carved and painted door lintel forming the front of the box. The vintage furniture is referred to as Anglo-Indian and most of these pieces combine Indian design that reflects aesthetic and detailed carving within a streamlined and minimal English style.

Thinking of the Indian sub-continent in terms of its history, ancient and recent, the religions, cultures, and colonisers, its's not surprising that rich and high quality hybrids have emerged in their design work. You may have to see it to understand it, and Haveli Home makes it available to you. If you are looking for style, comfort and a unique showpiece to perfect the ambience of your home visit Haveli Home today.