Sudbury’s newest furniture store is as unique as the furniture it houses, and its creators say it’s changing the game for big box stores.
Diggs & Dwellings set up shop in June and specializes in high-end and Canadian-sourced furniture.
Their modernist-inspired space was designed by the owners and Tim James of Castellan James + Partners Inc. (recently rebranded as 3rd Line Studios).
James met one of the owners, Jen Reich, when he did work on her house several years ago and they clicked creatively.
For Diggs & Dwellings, James worked closely with Reich and her business partner, Ian Worthington, to create a brand that stands out along the Kingsway, in a rapidly growing shopping district in the city.
“They’ve taken on the project and been involved in key decisions.
Their aspirations for making it high-quality and a highly designed building have pushed it in a way that has provided this more unique kind of box store,” said James.
Reich has always been interested in design, and Worthington was involved with Furniture World before its closure.
Reich and her husband heard Norm Bouffard was selling property along the Kingsway, and they purchased a little over three acres.
Their neighbours include Bouffard’s Skater’s Edge, a dance supply store, a baby store, a Pita Pit and a Microtel.
“We had an opportunity to fill a market that was needed in the North for quality furniture, with more styles.
It was a great chance to be a landlord and a tenant at the same time,” said Reich. “The location was fantastic, it’s right in the heart of shopping, so it’s really more of a destination.”
The owners and James dedicated themselves to turning Diggs & Dwellings into an “experience,” not just another store, one that starts before you even get in the store.
The 23,000-square-foot building is perched on top of a hill, looking down on the Kingsway.
Large windows dominate with simple black trim adorning the structure.
Outdoor speakers, 15-foot sidewalks and landscaping welcome visitors.
The furniture is clearly visible from outside, and inside, the stark black ceiling, white walls and a concrete floor allow the furniture to shine in the natural light.
“We wanted to make a more natural shopping experience by bringing in natural light, and we wanted to keep the colour palette simple so it can showcase the beautiful furniture,” said Reich.
James said the design is unique for Northern Ontario, and drew his interest from the start.
“We tend to gravitate towards the projects with more challenges to the design, and we don’t see a lot of buildings in the commercial sector with this kind of design attention,” said James.
“I think it’s quite unique in the concept of the big box store.
They’re typically inward thinking where you walk into the doors then it’s revealed to you,” said James.
“They were focused on ensuring the building would be open, visible from the street, and be the kind of building they could display their furniture from.
When you’re coming down the street, you can see right in.”
James sees the building as an extension of the business’s vision.
“They wanted to to bring furniture design ideas to Northern Ontario. I think it was a good fit and a good idea that Jen and Ian had, and I think they were very focused on ensuring that the architectural frame would be an extension of the Diggs & Dwellings idea,” he said.
They aren’t done yet.
Now, James is working on a second building for Reich, a 9,500-square-foot building with a complementary aesthetic. They will be looking for tenants shortly.
