Classic, Crafted & Curated

BY KELLY GRAY

John Klassen wants to up the ante in Winnipeg’s furniture selection. Klassen is the principal of Inland Fine Furnishings (Inland), a company that was, until the summer of 2021, known as Faveri's Solid Wood Furniture, a longstanding business (opened in 1976) that specialized in solid wood-crafted furnishings. Inland is still the place for those heritage pieces, but Klassen and his team are taking Faveri's original thinking to new heights with an approach that will see the store carry more items from local designers and seek out more goods from top names.

“I bought the business in the summer of 2021," says Klassen. "We could see there was an endless potential to offer a better quality product to Winnipeggers tired of seeing the same items in store after store.”

Maintaining the legacy of Faveri's, Klassen and his team have set out to expand the offering through a curated approach to sourcing suppliers.

“It was time for an update, and we came up with the name ‘Inland’ as a good starting place and a refresh,” he says, commenting that they worked to develop an approach where they can curate fully formed spaces. “Rather than just a chair or an accent item, we want people to be able to fully conceptualize their décor aspirations and find inspiration when they come through our doors.”

Klassen has sought out the best within the local and North American market for innovative manufacturers at the top of their craft. For example, customers can look to Inland as the exclusive representative for Stickley furniture products. These New Yorkmade furnishings have been honed to a high craft standard for over 100 years. Today, Stickley furniture is sought after by antique collectors, as well as those looking to make a statement in home design.

“At Inland, we love the range of styles we offer. There is a cottage / farmhouse aesthetic where pieces have a 'made by grandfather' look. These can be hand-applied clear finish on a live edge item that is sturdy and long-lasting with a traditional good sense to their design,” he notes.

“On the other side, we offer styles such as Arts & Crafts and Mission pieces. This side is where Stickley furniture helps us deliver a market edge. Stickley is one of the top manufacturers in North America, and we are proud to meet trends head-on with their high-design, beautifully crafted items.”

In addition to its core furniture business, Inland is excited to offer design and décor consultation. Klassen’s eye for historical style and contemporary trends is perfect for the Manitoba market.

“The heritage homes in our province are often updated and modernized beyond recognition; and that isn’t a problem. But for those looking to preserve, enhance and honour their home’s history, I would be delighted to help," he says.

Inland is constantly seeking out new and exciting artisans, like Cloverdale Forge of Selkirk or Biglow Woodcraft of Winnipeg, where he can showcase the immense talent that we have in our community. And Klassen uses every opportunity to find more.

"We love meeting people who are excited about their craft and can offer something different. It is a joy to take calls and emails from people looking for a showroom for their pieces –trusting us to style and sell items they have poured their hearts and souls into is an honour,” states Klassen.

“In our first year, we just worked to establish our market groove. We toured plants and workshops to find the right mix of artisans to bring our curated approach forward. Now, people have a place where timeless quality meets current furniture trends. We want people to drop in to discuss how we can help them find pieces that bring their décor aspirations to life.”

Discover Inland Fine Furnishings’ curated whole-home approach by visiting www.inlandmade.com

Surface satisfaction

When unique is what you seek in counter surface products, look no further than Vicostone.

Vicostone is an international leader in quartz surface products with a presence that extends to 50 countries. In Canada, Vicostone offers a national distribution network that includes sites in Ontario, Quebec, BC, Alberta, Nova Scotia and Manitoba. The company opened its Winnipeg facility last year with a large showroom and warehouse at 9-1680 Notre Dame.

“We offer a 1,500 square foot showroom where people can take their time and comfortably look over a huge selection of high-quality quartz products,” says Winnipeg-based sales representative Greg Bottrell. He remarks that Vicostone offers a vast selection of 65 colours, many of which are highly unique. “Here at our Winnipeg facility, we currently have 38 colours available for immediate delivery. All others are shipped from our Calgary centre,” he says, adding that Vicostone is an international company focused on global trends. “Our distinctive colour pallet in our innovative collections mirrors the latest in design, and our technology allows us to deliver a balance between luxury and practicality. Vicostone products deliver a sophisticated natural appearance at very competitive pricing,” he says.

According to Bottrell, Vicostone offers not just unique colours where they can meet current design trends headon but offers larger-sized slabs as well. “We have slabs that are 65 inches wide. This means that an overhang for a kitchen island can be made without using a second piece,” says Greg, mentioning that they offer six price points from entry level upward.

Vicostone products are manufactured in Vietnam to exacting standards and then shipped worldwide. These surface products are composed of up to 93% natural quartz and are stain-resistant as well as resistant to scratch, heat, impact and many corrosive chemicals such as acids and common cleaners. Vicostone is low maintenance and cleans up with just soap and water. And, it never needs to be resealed, unlike granite or marble. Vicostone is also air quality safe (NSF, ANSI 51, GreenGuard) and is made especially for kitchens and bathroom applications.

“Without question, we offer some very distinct advantages regarding surface products,” concludes Bottrell. “Our colour pallet offers unique selections unavailable within other manufacturers’ catalogues. Our price point is also worth investigating. We are highly competitive, and our quality speaks for itself,” he says, inviting people to drop into their Notre Dame Ave. facility to discover the unique qualities of Vicostone quartz surfaces.

For more information, visit www.vicostone.ca