Urban Mode Brings Modern Design to Toronto with Blu Dot Furniture

Bold furniture for modern living: they’re words to live by at Toronto’s Urban Mode. It’s also a phrase that resonates with the Minneapolis-based Blu Dot, whose mission is to bring good design to as many people as possible, with products that are useful, desirable and affordable. To support this joint endeavour, Blu Dot is offering 20 per cent off the entire collection at Urban Mode from October 2-24, both in store and online.

Designed with personality and purpose, Blu Dot’s pieces are made to be enjoyed for a long time. Founded by three college friends – two architects and a sculptor – the trio came together through their love of Scandinavian aesthetics, to produce pieces with a playful, yet down to earth design.

It’s no wonder, then, that Toronto’s own Urban Mode was excited to bring the Minnesota brand to Canada for the first time in 1997. With a product catalogue ranging from larger items such as dining tables and modern sofas to small accents like contemporary table lamps and sleek coat racks, Blu Dot is one of Urban Mode’s most sought-after brands – and with product names like The One Night Stand Sofa, Nook Bed and Son of a Bench, it’s certainly one of their cheekiest. Plus, their choice of colours, purposeful designs and fabrics from such respected brands such as Sunbrella and Maharam fit right into Urban Mode’s storied and carefully curated showroom. “Blu Dot has been one of the most exciting brands that Urban Mode has ever partnered with,” remarks Myrlene Sundberg, one of Urban Mode’s co-owners.

Originally called The Second Story, Urban Mode first opened up shop in 1977 on Queen West (before the street was cool). Over the next 43 years, co-owners Myrlene Sundberg and John Palchinski – an interior designer and a visual artist – established their brand as one of Toronto’s leading furniture retailers.

Urban Mode is now located in a former autobody shop on Tecumseth Street, not too far from their original digs. Owning their own space allowed them to escape the big-box store frenzy on Queen Street – and to personalize the store to their liking. Today, the grey and black brick buildings, accented with bright green trim, house an array of furniture and lighting with personality and purpose.

Blu Dot even has a space of its own inside an Altius Architecture-designed prefab pod, located in the courtyard of Urban Mode’s store. “They are the most prolific brand we showcase, bringing more new, original products to design lovers around the world each and every year,” explains Sundberg. Blu Dot’s 100 000 square foot warehouse allows them to ship at regular intervals – with Urban Mode receiving a new shipment every two weeks, as a testament to their longstanding relationship with the brand.

Blu Dot’s Annual Sale is an opportunity to shop the best of the Minnesota brand – and bring home some of their signature designs. Drop into the Urban Mode showroom at 145 Tecumseth Street or check them out online at urbanmode.com.