Christmas Memories makes a great first stop if you’re focused on getting festive. They are, as one might guess, only here for the season, and will be all packed up by the end of January. The store offers a huge selection of Christmas ware, and is bound to cater to any taste. Store manager Deb James fingers the Ne’Qwa Art as the hottest item on the shelves at the moment. These delicate hand-blown glass ornaments, skillfully painted by hand from the inside, range from around $30 for a single item to $300 for a limited-edition set. The usual popular Christ­mas suspects, including iridescent nativities, Willow Tree decorations and creations by Snow Glorious Snow, amongst a wide variety of others, are all in stock. Singular tree ornaments range anywhere from $5 to $20 per ornament.

For those looking for something a bit more functional but still in the spirit, Christmas Memories also stocks a selection of festive dishes and platters. Just in is a new range by Franz, costing between $50 to $200 per piece. Also available are tree surrounds, stockings, candles, soap, wreaths and even a festive mailbox!

The Gift Centre, another seasonal store, has a number of inexpensive items in the spirit of the holidays. Snowmen and reindeer dance off Christmas ceramic mug sets for $8.99, while a cake plate and server is on the menu for $7.99. Affordable Christmas linens really set the tone from as little as $1.99, and a selection of ornaments are available. Other home accessories include wall art, vases, candles and fleece throws.

Kitchen Stock, a seasonal kiosk, offers a hoard of culinary treasures to take advantage of before they disappear at the beginning of January. The stand offers “everything you need in the kitchen,” assures sales associate Rebecca Telen. Popular gadgets include the Whirly Pop popcorn maker and the Garlic Twist garlic crusher. Also available are a selection of festive baking devices, including a cookie tree kit, gingerbread house and cookie cutters.

Of the more perennial persuasion is Kiya Home Furnishings. With a selection of furni­-ture and home accessories, they may have what you need for a more serious condo makeover. Priding itself on unique product, the shop’s stock puts emphasis on functionality and style. One of Kiya’s features is the option to custom select your fabric or leather for any applicable furnishings. “Leather is in,” says store manager Farrah Nanji, coupling the trend with clean lines and dark colours such as chocolate and espresso. Kiya offers a range of products to fit the bill, from leather couches and dining tables to beds and leather barstools. Nanji is full of ideas of how to make your space work for you.

She suggests an ottoman as an alternative to a coffee table. In a fix, she says, this will provide you with more seating space. Some of the ottomans take function a step further, provid-ing extra storage space within. Kiya offers a selection of ottomans, from $499 and up, depending on your choice of fabric or leather. A smaller alternative, which goes for $199, is the “gypsy cube”—a leather padded box with a lid that can flip over to provide a useful tray.

A recent trend in dining tables that can work in limited-space condos are bistro tables, says Nanji. These tables can seat up to eight when fully extended, but can also fold down to fit comfortably in a smaller space. A table like this would work fantastically for your big Christmas dinner! A 54-inch table on its own starts at $499, or $1,499 as a package with chairs. Another chic option is glass tables, which Nanji recommends will “open up condo space.” “A lot of glass is coming in now,” she continues, including extendable tables.

“There are lots of options to save space,” says Nanji. Another one she recommends is building your own sectional. All of the bits and pieces are available at Kiya for you to put together to fit your space, as well as being able to choose design and textile. Beyond furnish-ing, Kiya has plenty of accents in stock to spruce up your home for the holidays. Among them, frames, mirrors, clocks, lamps, vases and cushions also make great gifts.

If the winter months feel too dreary for you, pick up something bright and colourful from Casa Talavera to spruce things up. The vivid furnishings, decorations, cer-­amics and giftware are all imported from Mexico, and everything is handmade. “Mexico boasts of its colours, that’s what makes it so unique,” says sales associate Zehnul Dadani, explaining the emphasis on colour.

Casa Talavera offers a variety of furnishings with a rather unique service. Once you’ve picked out your desired piece—whether it be a dining table, hutch, bar, credenza or chest of drawers—you are able to specify the dimensions to which you would like it to be built. There are also a selection of woods and tiles to choose from.

The store carries a range of original artwork, with large canvas paintings starting at $295, and metalwork from $325. Recycled materials, such as car parts, have been used to create fantastic sculptures and highly original chess sets. The iguana is a theme running through the store, and one Dadani explains is a symbol of good luck. Planters have the critters “climbing out” of cracks, and metal art makes a feature of them. Casa Talavera also stocks chimineas from around $195 (also known as chimney pots), a traditional clay fireplace also used for cooking and baking, which has become a popular deck and backyard feature.

Nothing puts a thumbprint on your home like a piece of art. Art Box, owned by Rada and Zoran Pribilovic, houses artwork from ACAD students to world masters. Metal art is a must at the moment, according to sales associate Ketelyn Bakema, who says the stock is “flying off the shelf.” An inexpensive source of original gifts, the work varies greatly, and you can get a piece from as little as $20. Art Box also carries original oils by Porter, and hand painted pieces from the Mediterranean, Europe and the U.S.

Transfers add another aspect of the business. Customers are able to pick their favourite picture from an extensive catalogue, and have it printed onto a wraparound canvas to their requirements. Prices depend entirely on specifications. At least half of Art Box’s business consists of custom framing, according to Zoran Pribilovic. The owner says the stores will be running specials all through Christmas and into the new year.

Northland Village Mall also features such big box stores as Wal-Mart, Home Oufitters, Kincaid Home Furnishings, Jacuzzi Premium Spas, Best Buy and Future Shop. There is also a plethora of garment and shoe stores, as well as a food court, so prepare for a full day of shopping!  CL