Cabinet Furniture feels just like a timeless cottage retreat. As I enter the showroom off the main square, all I can see is wood--everywhere.

Cabinet Furniture first opened a showroom on Birch Avenue near the Summerhill subway station before creating a second space here in the Distillery about a year and a half ago. Since then it has been attracting customers from all different walks of life who are looking to invest in lasting pieces of solid wood furniture.

Each item in the showroom is designed by owner Ron Briand, who first opened a custom workshop with his father back in 1995. Back then, the pair built everything themselves, but now the pieces are made at a factory in Scarborough. All of the beds, dressers, nightstands and dining tables can be fully customized, and Briand will work with you to pick the stain, size, hardware, etc. Finished pieces are delivered in about 8 to ten weeks.

The furniture can be created from a wide selection of different woods, including historic 200-year old Douglas Fir. Each piece seems to have a modern edge, but not so much so that they will look dated in a few years. A best-seller is the sleek-looking Captain's Bed, which has two drawers on each side and a headboard that can be upholstered with a variety of different fabrics ($2,849 for king). I've seen similar styles before, but the Cabinet bed looks like a real, distinguished piece of furniture, as opposed to the flimsy knockoffs offered by the large furniture chains.

Another popular collection is the Union collection of tables featuring an 'X' stand at the bottom. The dining room table is another best-seller (starts at $1999 for maple, $2699 for walnut), along with the Union round table (starts at $1595 for maple, $2099 for walnut) for smaller spaces. Cabinet Furniture's showroom also has couches, sectionals, and contemporary lighting fixtures sourced from other companies, adding to its simple, stylish impression