Antiquing road trip! Three top Toronto interior design pros reveal the best treasure-hunting spots in Ontario

There’s one downside to Andrew Pike’s long career as an interior designer. “I’m a maximalist of the highest order. My home is jam-packed!” he says. When the as-seen-on-TV expert (“The Good Stuff with Mary Berg,” “The Marilyn Denis Show”) does go sourcing, he looks for thoughtful accessories and artwork.

“I always love decorative boxes, or silver or crystal champagne buckets — I use them as vases. I love to entertain, so unique serving utensils and platters are a great find. And candle holders are perfect. In any space, there’s nothing nicer than candlelight.” Here’s where he has scored some of his favourites.

1. Aberfoyle Antique Market, in Puslinch

About a 20-minute drive from Guelph is one of his go-to stops: a massive outdoor flea market, open Sundays from the end of April until the end of October (entry is $5 per adult). “The selection is incredible — I’ve always done really well there,” says Pike. With more than 100 dealers, there’s something for everyone, including vintage signs, mid-century dressers, and curiosities from the 1950s to ’80s. Overwhelmed? Pike searches for art deco (“incredible details, luxury materials like marble and interesting wood grains”) or Hollywood Regency (“for a bold, dramatic mix of style and colours”).

2. Marions Antiques, in Brighton

Another one of Pike’s haunts is Marions Antiques in Brighton, about 15 minutes west of Prince Edward County. “It’s a big, rambling space with all kinds of furniture and interesting pieces. It’s popular, so the turnover is quick, and new things are always coming in.” His recent acquisitions include stone lions for his deck, and a gilded overmantle mirror that doubles as a headboard. Come for Marions, but stay for the swath of other nearby antique shops, like Uncle Joe’s Attic and Magnolia Cottage. “And it’s dangerously close to the Big Apple,” says Pike, referring to Colborne’s popular roadside bakery, “so a pie or two always seems to make it into the car!”

The pro: Carlo Colacci, owner of Bonne Choice

The modern wing of Toronto’s Drake Hotel is dotted with retro-cool curiosities, curated by Carlo Colacci. The design expert has spent the past 15 years lending his eye to big-name clients and travelling the world to collect standout pieces.

So last year, he opened Bonne Choice, a West End showroom/shop that shares his extensive collection with Toronto’s design community. His inventory includes Memphis, mid-century, postmodern and new pieces, often found in far-flung locales (tip: a new European shipment lands July 27). When he’s closer to home, here’s where he goes.

1. Southworks Antiques, in Cambridge

“This is a great multi-seller mall with a wide range of goods, spanning mid-century modern to folk art,” says Colacci. With dozens of dealers spread out over 30,000 square feet of space in an old textile factory, there’s a booth for every interest, including jewelry, glassware, clothing and vintage signs. Highlights include rosewood dining tables, well-aged Le Creuset, baubles from the turn of the century and vintage trench coats.

2. The 400 Market, in Innisfil

Set aside a few hours: This sprawling antique mall is filled with hundreds of vendors, across more than 105,000 square feet of space. “And the dealers here largely have great items,” advises Colacci. His favourite? “The vintage stereo booth — it’s really fascinating to check out.” In addition to traditional antiques, you’ll see jewelry repair specialists, local farm stands and florists. The market is tucked just off Highway 400, so you can swing by on your way home from the cottage, camping or Wasaga Beach.

The pro: Jullian Sauso-Bawa, owner of Stay

During the pandemic, Jullian Sauso-Bawa’s hospitality career came to a standstill. So, for his next step, the former bartender looked inside — namely, inside his apartment full of cult design pieces. “I had been collecting for years prior to lockdown,” he says. “(The pandemic) afforded me time to work on all the pieces I had accumulated.”

By September 2020, he was opening his own Toronto home furnishings store, Stay, on Dupont Street. Now, furniture by renowned designers (like couches by Pierre Paulin or Robert Haussmann) rotates through the shop at a rapid clip, and conversation pieces like unique lighting and objets d’art abound. Sauso-Bawa recommends scrolling online antique shops (such as Cobourg’s Green Turtle Salvage, Hamilton’s Smash Salvage, Stoney Creek’s Teak in the Creek, Montreal’s Yardsale and Winnipeg’s Keeps Object), but when he has time to go road tripping, he favours these spots.

1. Gallery Elder, in Ottawa

Come here if you’re stuck in a design rut: This treasure trove will help light a creative spark. The goal of the gallery/boutique is to contemporize the antique, and finds include European furniture from the 1880s, medieval stone heads, and 18th-century paintings set up in stylish vignettes. “These folks have their own unique style and taste — it exposes me to things I may never even have considered,” says Sauso-Bawa.

2. Galerie Northfield, Montreal

This appointment-only space is a mise-en-scène of eclectic and rare vintage furniture. Collector’s items — like Frank Gehry-designed chairs, and sofas from Percival Lafer — come and go at a speedy clip, though there’s always a full room of furniture, with a particular focus on lush vintage leather and fine wood pieces. “Supporting these small, local and independently owned and operated businesses is important to keep the culture of vintage and antiques progressing,” says Sauso-Bawa.