Enlist the help of a design pro in a different way—by shopping from one.

Vancouver designer Ami McKay, owner of Pure Design Inc., has opened her own bricks-and-mortar lifestyle shoppe in East Vancouver. Find eco-sourced home products in line with the designer’s commitment to sustainability, including artisanal hand-made baskets, pillows and wooden serving bowls (many of these items are frequently used in McKay’s own projects). The point, she says, is “to spotlight and create a marketplace for the amazing artisans whose work I have long supported in my design process. I have always liked to use pieces that tell a story, and this is my way of spilling my secrets!”

If you’re lucky enough to catch the designer herself in shop, she’s likely to impart a little wisdom on how best to use them, too. —Noa Nichol

Pure Shoppe, 711 E. Hastings St., Vancouver, B.C., 604-757-6631, purebyamimckay.com