HO M E I S WH ERE T H E H EART IS:
116
NOR
RE-INTRODUCING RUG & WEAVE (AGAIN)
FOL K ST
MAC
DON
ELL
DOWNTOWN GUELPH
ST
WORDS & PHOTOS BY CHRIS TIESSEN
As I step through the glass doorway into Rug
when I return from shopping I need a nice
& Weave’s new downtown Guelph digs, it's
long bath to de-stress from the inescapable
as if all the burdens and anxieties of my day
madness of it all.' Sarah nods as if to say
dissolve. For real. The calming ambience,
she knows what I'm talking about. 'But what
chill music, sunny staff floating about, and
you’ve created here is something altogether
the lovely merchandise that defines the
different.’ I take a few steps deeper into
place – all golds and browns and taupes and
the space – as if to test my hypothesis. My
other soothing tones – seem miraculously to
muscles relax. My pulse seems to slow. I’m
take a mental load off. ‘Whoah,’ I hear myself
happy just being here. I turn to Sarah and
exclaiming to Sarah McBean (who, along with
smile. She smiles back. ‘Well that’s really good
husband Svein, owns this home décor and
to hear,’ she says. ‘After all, it’s what we’re
lifestyle haven), ‘I think you might actually
after.’
have created the antithesis of a typical shopping experience.’ With a laugh, she
Sarah elaborates: ‘When we got this space
prevails on me to explain. And so I do.
[in Spring 2021] my friend and colleague Jackie and I spent weeks with graph paper
‘For many folks, me included, shopping can
and measuring tape designing the interior
be a joyless, frenetic experience – especially
to scale and figuring out how to ensure that
leading up to the holidays,’ I suggest. ‘Usually
our customers would feel comfortable while
