A better home improvement centre by design

Open this photo in gallery:

There’s a remarkable building where Toronto meets Vaughan, with a giant sign that says IMPROVE. What’s inside, however, is even more remarkable. IMPROVE Canada is the country’s largest home improvement centre that serves the needs of architects, builders, contractors, designers and their clients. The architecturally stunning building houses more than 350 showrooms, making it easy for one- stop shopping, ideas and inspiration for projects.

In the three years since the home improvement centre opened, it has become more than just a place to visit. “It’s an experience,” says Lisa Reis, marketing director of IMPROVE Canada. “The centre is laid out like a small city with streets. So there’s a lot to look at, and then you can see how many distinctive and eye-catching showrooms we have,” she says. Visitors can enjoy a cappuccino and light snacks as they tour the space. The venue also accom- modates industry-related events, workshops, design seminars and the like. There’s nothing in Canada that matches the array of renovation and design companies and distinctive products gathered under IMPROVE’s 320,000-square-foot space.

“We sell petrified wood furniture— made from fossilized trees,” explains Serene Gabara, whose Zenporium (showroom 46) features tables, chairs and sculptures that look warm and inviting in the light. “The fossilized wood is 80 to 100 million years old, and they come from the island of Java [in Indone- sia],” she says. Tubicen Lighting (showrooms 282, 283) offers its own line of energy-saving LED smart fixtures. Store manager Jenny Zhen says the company’s lights range from a few hundred dollars for an attractive lamp to several thousand for what is essentially a sculpture for the home. “The lights in our fixtures are designed to last as long as 10 years,” she says.

Open this photo in gallery:

At Surfaces for All Purposes (showroom 374), business coor- dinator Arya Fereidooni shows clients how they can save time and money by substituting porcelain for marble. One of their most popular brands is Maxfine, a line of large, thin and durable ceramic slabs, which designers ask for by name. “Our installers are trained in Italy, and we do fireplaces, showers, and backsplashes for kitchens. It’s high end, but it’s a lot less than marble— you get the look without the maintenance,” she says.

Beyond surfaces, architects, builders, contractors, designers and their clients can get ideas for complete bathrooms and kitchens. One design company, Vangarde (showrooms 79, 126), specializes in IKEA hacks – add-ons and modifi- cations to the Swedish company’s popular kitchens. “People can come to us when they want to update without completely redoing their kitchens,” says Catalina Ochian, who serves as an enhancement specialist at the company. IMPROVE CANADA also sells new and innovative products that you’re unlikely to find anywhere else, including smart windows that fog up when you touch them (Turnkey Lifestyle Tech, showroom 129); a mosaic maker, whose work decorates many of the centre’s streets (Artistic Mosaic, showroom 70); and a spiral staircase which also acts as a bookcase (Italian Art Interior, showrooms 155, 150).

Metalwork vendor, Art Boulle (showrooms 42, 21), builds custom doors that weigh several tonnes, but open and shut with the push of a finger. Each piece is built in Ecuador and takes four to six months to complete. Reis admits that a day at the IMPROVE home improvement centre can be overwhelming, which is why she suggests planning ahead. “Start with the website, ImproveCanada.com, book time with the vendors you want to see,” she says. But the trip will be worth it. “I’m sure there are so many people who drive by and wonder ‘what’s inside this fancy building?’ What’s inside is even better.”

Advertising feature produced by Globe Content Studio. The Globe’s editorial department was not involved.