About Châtelet Home
The Châtelet Design Aesthetic
With its mix of shabby chic, French country, rustic farmhouse style and Palm Beach regency, the Châtelet design aesthetic can be either elegant or irreverent, cozy or coastal, rustic or polished. Choose which direction you want your decor to go in when you pop by the store or browse Châtelet's online store. A feeling of connection to your home environment, nostalgia for things that have stood the test of time and - above all - joie de vivre is central to the Châtelet design philosophy.
One-of-a-Kind Style
Châtelet specializes in taking vintage pieces with good bones and doing what it takes to bring them up to date. This can include painting, changing the hardware, reupholstering, etc. Choose from our "finished" pieces that have already gone through Châtelet's upcycling process or pick a piece from the "unfinished furniture" and have us do it up to your specifications. Either way you'll come home with a one of a kind piece that's just right for you.
History of Châtelet
Many people don't know this, but Châtelet began as a custom sewing for the home service about 25 years ago out of a tiny space on Dundas West in Toronto. The business blossomed and Teresa added a retail component that eventually peaked with 3 store locations. Teresa has now scaled back the business to the current location which houses the store, the sewing studio, the paint booth and the furniture warehouse. This now seamless shopping and ordering experience is more convenient for both Teresa and her customers.
The Châtelet Name
Loosely translated, “châtelet” is French for “little castle”. In the France of old, the owners of chateaux would often build a mini version of their chateau on the grounds as a folly. This “châtelet” could be used as a gatehouse, a stable or a refuge for the Chatelaine of the property. Owner, Teresa Wiwchar, came upon the word Châtelet in a French home decor magazine. She liked the way it sounded, but more importantly she loved the idea that, while not everyone can have a chateau, anyone can have a Châtelet.
About the Owner
Teresa Wiwchar studied interior design at the International Academy of Merchandising and Design and is a self-proclaimed “flea-market junkie.” She followed her passion for nostalgia, sewing and home décor from an initial custom-sewing venture to the creation of a lifestyle brand that has endured for 25 years.