Ministry of the Interior is a funky (but not cheap) furniture and design store on Ossington Avenue between Queen and Dundas. The store stocks items from furniture to wallpaper created by an eclectic collection of designers from around the globe.

The colour yellow dominates the renovated auto body shop, complete with sliding door. The ceiling and window backdrop are drenched in it. The colour is known to be optimistic, mentally stimulating and an initiator of creative thought. Like a curator, owner Jason MacIsaac has used this colour to represent the feelings the designers' work evokes. It's far from mainstream and not even close to cookie cutter. This then feeds into the philosophy Jason has for Ministry of the Interior. "It's important to me that every item has a great story. I want to remind consumers that buying furniture today is all about collecting special pieces and creating a space, not just loading up on the season's trends."

Areaware is a New York design collective that believes in creating objects that deepen the relationship people have with everyday objects. Their Red LED clock and banana shaped fruit bowl caught my eye, but the Matchstick necklace stole my heart.

Tse & Tse from France creates discussion starting tableware pieces. I loved the unusual salt and pepper flasks. The Areaware collective's Alma Fortune cup is influenced by Tasseography. One of a kind fortunes are embedded in the cup using 22k gold.

David Trubridge's tasteful hanging lamps are the complete opposite to Jason Miller's Antler Lamps. The antlers win in my book, with the 12 Antler chandelier being my favourite.

Influenced by graffiti culture, Tres Tintas designer wallpaper allows you to bring the designs home without the noxious paint fumes. My favourite item in the store is the Shoplifter tote bag in all its ironic glory.

Jason Miller's furniture is as much fun as his lamps. Recycled plastic tables are made to look like picnic benches complete with carved graffiti. The duct tape lounge chair looks like the beat up chair you had in university but it comes with a much higher price tag.

Rounding out the store's offerings are Dwell bed and table linens. Dwell brings modern textile design to bedding and uses bold prints not found in your average department store. Marimekko totes come in various colours for the stylish eco-conscious.

The backroom exhibition space is used to host entire collections by eclectic design stars like Jason Miller.