Petite & Sweet is just like it sounds. Pretty, light, and charming, nestled in a quaint Summerhill community. The fusion of an event planning company and a sweet couturier, Petite & Sweet opened its boutique about five weeks ago, bringing with it its existing clientele and also seducing the odd curious passersby from off the block.

And they're right to be curious; it's not exactly clear what Petite & Sweet is upon first glance. "We have everything totally unnecessary, but necessary," manager Derek says. "They're 'wants,'" Elle Daftarian, one of the owners, pipes in.

Elle teamed up with business partners Casper Hydar and Yolanda Gampp to open the shop, which is sort of like a gift boutique, flower shop, event planning space, and cafĂŠ all in one. In one corner you'll find lots of sweets and treats, including chocolate bars ($4.25) wrapped in beautiful handmade Japanese paper. In another: last minute hostess gifts, such as a Martha Stewart cupcake book ($30), decorative note cards ($14), and handmade cake stands ($110).

The back of the shop is the cafĂŠ area, serving specialty Italian Hausbrandt coffee, French Fauchon tea, cupcakes ($3.25), marcarons ($2.75) and more. Derek prepares me an Americano ($2.25) while Elle tells me about Petite & Sweet specialty treats. "These fancy Oreos are fantastic," she says, motioning towards the glass counter. "They've been dipped in chocolate, and then we add a transfer." Petite & Sweet also offers mini cupcakes ($2.00), which I try in its signature lavender butter cream flavour. It's lovely and aromatic, with just enough sweetness to pair well with a rich Americano.

Elle and I slip downstairs where she shows me her workspace and design area. "Excuse the mess," she says, "I'm just putting some last things together for an event." The mess amounts to little more than a stray ribbon on the floor, but I suppose compared to the pristine and airy French-inspired motif upstairs, a ribbon out of place might begin to look like clutter.

"We do sweet tables for all sorts of events," she says, leading me toward a display. It, true to name, is quite pretty and sweet. "We get a lot of weddings, and that sort of thing." Pretty & Sweet also does flower arrangements (silk and fresh), gift-wrapping, party favours and more.

As for retail items, Elle and her partners just look for things they would have in their own homes. "I have a little girl at home," Elle says. "The profile in our graphic was actually based on her. Everything here is just pretty and lovely--things I would want to share with her."

Photos by Dennis Marciniak