Pimlico is a clean, well-lit space that appeared on Dupont Street recently. Carrying a selection of mostly Canadian- designed housewares, this tiny shop is already attracting interior designers and design conscious consumers.

The adjectives I use to describe the clientele should tip you off to the fact that this is not an everyday store. The wares on sale are considered choices which often use expensive materials and hand-made processes. These are traditional products but are produced in interesting ways.

It's a bit like having a tiny, One Of A Kind show running all year long - perfect for finding interesting gifts.

A fine example of re-thinking production method and design is Tahir Mahmood's mortar and pestle. These large, brightly coloured pieces are made in Pakistan using the traditional method used to make children's spinning tops. I like their generous proportions, and at $75-$100, these colourful tools will bring some dazzle and drama to your kitchen and your cooking.

The hand blown hexagonal glassware by Balance glassworks is another stunner. These are heirloom quality pieces, wherein the simplicity of the design belies the complexity of the thought that went into designing it. $165 for a set of six with base. Jennifer Grahams' delicate ceramics should be on everyone's wish list, as should Heyday's porcelain jars.

($55 to $110 - depending on size)

Eclectic is another word I would use to describe the pieces chosen for this store. Aleksandar Antonijevic, a principal dancer with the National Ballet of Canada, has his photography featured in the store. The photos are already proving to be popular, and a larger exhibit of his works will take over the shop for a few days later in the summer.

It's this kind of innovative marketing idea that just might give owner Tanya an edge in the design mecca of stores that make up Dupont these days.

Photos by Dennis Marciniak