Shop Visit: Esther Lee of @thiswildheart

We recently had the pleasure of having Esther Lee from the Toronto-based blog This Wild Heart visit our shop in Parkdale. We met Esther last year while selling at a local market alongside fellow vendor Rugged Lot, who specializes in hand-crafted leather goods made by her husband, Roy Lee. We're big fans of Esther's Instagram account, which showcases her beautiful photographs of captured moments around the city, so we thought to ask her a few questions about her aesthetic, inspirations and favourite spots in Toronto:

What is your design motto?

Simplicity is key.

All my design influences come from the idea that less is more. We're moving into a small home soon and I know this is going to help us make the most of our space and not live on top of one another! 

Where/whom do you look to for inspiration?

Everything inspires me. I find myself constantly people watching, finding inspiration in peoples' outfits and style, in architecture and what surrounds me and from what I find through social media/ Pinterest of course!

How would you describe your design aesthetic?

I would say my design aesthetic is fresh, simple and minimalistic. I'm not a huge fan of colour but if they're muted and put together just right, they can be the perfect amount of colour I need! I adore things that have multifunctional purposes. For instance, I find myself using a lot of glassware cups as vases as well.

What is your favourite hidden gem in the city?

This is a tough question! I love my local coffee shop spaces like Early Bird Espresso and Sorry Coffee Co, but my favourite place to go for some inspiration is Allan Gardens. It's a free public space and no matter how many times I visit, it never ceases to take my breath away. It's my go-to place for inspiration and all things pretty!

What is your ideal way to spend a day off?

Grab some coffee, maybe even brunch, people watch for hours, visit Allan Gardens, and finish it off with a picnic in the park with the hubby for dinner just before sunset.

What inspired your Slow Living content section?

I found myself feeling inspired by local people who I've been fortunate to meet at events or gatherings. Each contributor has their own special talent or hobby or small local business. They inspired me to showcase what they have to offer as much or as little as they'd like to share. Thus, Slow living is a reminder to go back to remind us to appreciate the little things and gratitude for being surrounded by so many talented people who we are fortunate enough to learn from and be inspired by.

Thank you Esther for taking the time to answer our questions! We're thrilled to announce that we've teamed up to offer both our followers and Esther's a chance to win a Cambie blanket! For details on this exclusive giveaway and Esther's blog post about Cambie, please visit This Wild Heart.

(Photos 2, 3, 4 + 5 taken by Esther Lee courtesy of This Wild Heart and Photos 1 + 6 of Esther at Cambie, snapped by us)