If you’ve walked recently along McRae between Sutherland and Airdrie, you’ve probably noticed the graceful arrangements of potted plants outside Housebound, a retail location opened by home décor curator Colton Slater a year ago. The plants and their containers aren’t usually for sale, but perhaps you’d be interested in purchasing a marble sandaled foot Slater uses to prop the door open on summer days.
Colton grew up in Severn Bridge in Muskoka, came to Toronto after finishing high school in 2009, and then attended George Brown College, where he studied business administration. After a few years, he realized his heart wasn’t in BA, so he shifted gears to attend the former Ryerson University to become an interior designer.
Housebound began as an online business six years ago, and, as Housebound Interiors, has an active online presence. Colton posts weekly updates of collections on Instagram, at @houseboundinteriors, for his 16,000 followers. The success of the online business during Covid led to the opening of the 207 McRae location.
Colton still returns to Severn Bridge to visit family, but has made his life in Toronto, in Davisville Village. He spends significant time travelling to the US and Europe (especially Italy) on the lookout for antiques and décor for the store and the online business. He tends to buy what he likes for himself personally: “buy what you love,” “[nothing] trendy,” and mostly “vintage or antique” and “unique.”
One example is his luxury hand-poured candles, which he sources from a company in Spain that started in 1899. A potter in Washington, DC features a new collection three times a year and sells to just three other stores, and only to Housebound in Canada. If you’re in the market for a gilt-framed mirror, you could be looking at 1950s American or 19th- and early 20th-century Italian.
Why this particular location on McRae, which is somewhat off the beaten track? Colton describes it as “a bustling road.” When he saw that this location was available, “it looked like a cute little spot, with a lot of potential in this strip.” He hopes shoppers will think of it as a “destination.”
His usual hours are Thursday to Saturday between 11 and 5, but appointments outside those hours are also available.
