If you are searching for wood laminates, runners, area rugs (lots of modern ones) and exclusive designer carpet lines like Martha Stewart, Thomas O’Brien, Thom Filicia, David Easton, then Normandy Carpets is for you. Plus, they can create custom made rugs and runners in almost any design imaginable with endless types of bordering.

For designer products, this boutique-like carpet showroom is known by word of mouth – and that’s a good sign. For 43 years, this family run business has been selling quality carpeting from major Canadian, American and European mills.

Since they buy in volume for their commercial sales, they can meet and beat the prices of their competitors. Once you’ve entered, expect the friendly staff to give you an education on flooring.

Location: 950 Boul. St-Jean #10 Pointe Claire QC  H9R 5N8
corner: Brunswick
Tel: 514-426-7847
Hours Mon-Wed 10-6, Thurs & Fri 10-8, Sat 10-5, Sun 12-4
www.normandycarpets.ca
info@normandycarpets.ca

Antique hunters and lovers of heritage objects will find lots to choose from at the 5th edition of the Old Montreal Antiques Show as 15 well-known antique dealers will show off their wares at the “antique” Bonsecours Market. “The collections include many rare, even unique pieces that tell the story of a people and a country.” says OMAS promoter Nabil Bedjaoui.

This is considered a high-end event for the quality of its pieces and exhibitors, yet it caters to all tastes and budgets. Thus, visitors will find prices ranging from $50 to $100 000 for Canadian furniture, period furniture, decorative accessories, folk art, tableware, jewelry, works of art (paintings and prints), manuscripts, vintage games and toys.

For the first time at OMAS, the Quebec Ceramic Collectors Association, which brings together 150 enthusiasts of antique and contemporary Quebec ceramics, will present industrial pieces from the 19th century and works by master ceramists from the 20th century.

Whether it’s to start a collection, enrich an existing one or simply for the love of antiques, the show is good place to buy authentic, carefully selected pieces.

Location: Bonsecours Market, 325 rue de la Commune Est
Dates: Oct 16-18
Hours: Thurs Oct 16, 6-9, Fr, Oct 17, 12pm-8, Sat Oct 18 11-4
Admission: $15, $45 for the Thursday evening charity cocktail party (ticket valid for three days)

Princessa is a leading retailer of designer wigs, hairpieces, braids, weaves, extensions and hair accessories. They carry a wide variety of styles in both high quality synthetic fibers and human hair. The brands, including Sensationnel, Outré, Marie Daniel, and Magic, are available in a variety of colors, lengths, and textures offering versatility and styling possibilities.

Looking for hair care, hair styling and skin care products to suit your unique beauty needs? They stock a variety of shampoos, hair and scalp conditioners, relaxers, hair colors, moisturizers, polishers, and leave-in conditioners that will help you to maintain healthy manageable hair. Look for brands such as Dark & Lovely, Luster’s, Motions Organic Roots, Black ‘n Sassy, Optimum and Optimum Care, Dr Miracle, Profectiv, Proline (Soft and Beautiful).

Among their many skin products are Palmers, Hollywood Beauty, Red Fox cocoa butter, Queen Helene, Razac, Ambi, Ultra Glow, which aid in softening and moisturizing dry ashy chopped skin and maintaining a healthy looking complexion.

Hair styling with headbands, barrettes, clips, bobby pins etc. adds a nice touch to just about any hairstyle. Head ties, rollers, and hair nets help to keep a styles lasting longer.

Location: 1669 Dollard Ave, Lasalle QC H8N 1T7
corner: Rejean
Tel: 514-595-4894
Hours: Regular plus Sun 11-5
www.princessabeauty.com
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1vTq3rv
email: princessa@qc.aibn.com

Montreal coffee lovers have loved Cafe Union since it opened in 1910. This wholesaler roasts the coffee right here, so you can choose one kind or blend from amongst the espresso, melange maison (regular and strong), Kenya, Panama, Columbia Supremo, Fair Trade, decaf and Swiss washed decaf.

Those who like flavors can buy Bavarian chocolate, Irish cream or hazelnut vanilla. Coffee related products like iced cappuccino, Chai latte concentrate or flavored syrups (vanilla, hazelnut, caramel) now line the shelves.

Free delivery is offered for 5 pounds or more. They sell espresso machines (Gaggia, Saeco, Rancilio, Pavoni, Mokita, Breville, Quick Mill, Jura and Franke) and teapots, too.

It was a natural extension for this store to start a repair depot. Any commercial or domestic espresso machine by Gaggia, Rancilio, Pavoni, Saeco, Mokita, Jura or Quick Mill can be brought here for overhauls and servicing.

Location: 148 Jean-Talon ouest
corner: Waverly
Phone: 514-273-5555
www.cafe-union.com

Archambault, Quebec’s largest piano store  has a piano sale each autumn . This sale is not at the store but held at a location in Ville St Laurant.

Some pianos from their regular stock gets sold: perhaps it might be Hallet and Davis (Baldwin), George Steck or Perzina from Germany and then they usually clear the Yamaha pianos which were used in music camps at Orford and Lanaudiere.  These have only been used for about 6 weeks.

Location: 4380 Garand, VSL
Phone: 514-849-8589 or 877-849-8589
Dates: Oct 16-19
Hours: Thurs & Fri 9-9, Sat & Sun 9-5
www.archambault.ca

If you are a Laura fan, you can find a new Outlet location for Laura Petites, Laura and Laura Plus  in sizes 2-24 selling for up to 80% off in Le Boulevard Shopping Centre.

You will find not only the past season’s clothes (tops, pants, jackets, dresses, skirts, purses) but also some discontinued lines and whatever else they choose to send to this new location.

Location: Le Boulevard Shopping Center, 4270 Jean Talon est
corner: Pie IX
Tel: 514-722-9858
Other locations: 5700 rue de Boucherville (514-355-7864);  Cote Vertu Mega Centre, 3824 boul. Cote-Vertu (514-321-8089); Laval, 1062 rue Chomedey, Ste-Dorothee (450-689-5223)
www.lauracanada.com

Everyone in the family, women, men and kids can score a great find at this warehouse sample sale for clothing and accessories. Bring cash and you can scoop up samples of these brands: Bench, Scotch and Soda, Supertrash,  Maison Scotch, Garcia and Amsterdam Couture.

Note that it will be held in a new location. This sale is cash only

Location: 1035 Hodge, Ville St-Laurent H4N 2B4
corner:
Dates: Oct 16-19
Times: Thurs 9-8, Fri 9-7, Sat 10-5, Sun 11-4
Metro: Station du College
Parking is available

You probably think of Cameo for sofa beds, and you’d be correct however they have gone way beyond that now. Two very interesting concepts are their Kangaroo bed in which the bed is hinged and there is storage in the base. It’s a great idea for condos and kids rooms and hugely popular. The base is completely upholstered and you can choose the headboard style and fabric. The pop-up bunk beds functions as a couch and then voila, inside, a bunk bed duo pops up when you need it.

If it’s sofa beds you want, then come to this family-owned manufacturer and buy direct for every kind, style and price of sofa (and chair) bed you can imagine. Moved to a new showroom right next door, the high-quality couches are known for their fine workmanship and can be made into singles, jr. doubles, doubles or queen size beds. You choose your own fabric to match your decor and budget, and they will turn it into a well-made piece of furniture as well as a comfortable bed with an extra firm inner spring or a memory foam mattress (an upgrade). The mattresses can even be pulled up into a TV headrest.

You can also order made-to-measure couches, sectionals, chairs and upholstered beds. Beds can be made to fit in any doorway, since they can come apart if needed. It only takes 4-6 weeks from the time you order it to the time you can enjoy sitting on it at home.

Their quality includes:
– complete hardwood frame, birch or maple
– assembled without staples
– collapse resistant, quality foam cushioning and padding
– a tight heavy 8-gauge spring support system with 277 coils
– zippered cushions
– well stuffed backs
– fitted arm caps
– custom tailoring

Sofa-bed size cotton sheets are available here too. You can always find a sofa-bed on promotion for only $1,400 with the same time-honored Cameo quality mechanism and mattress.

It’s nice to be able to buy something made right here in Montreal and owned by a local family. They now offer financing.

Location: 7955 Transcanadienne, Ville St-Laurent
corner: Cote Vertu
Tel: 514-337-2933
Hours: Mon-Fri 9-6, Sat 10-5, Sun 11-5
www.cameo-sofa.com
FB:  http://on.fb.me/1nb9jcm

So many warehouse sales are oriented towards clothing, finally it’s refreshing to write about one which is offering up savings on home reno projects. Ends of lines, samples, returns and floor demos from the big box stores have all been gathered together at one huge warehouse. So if you looking for sinks, bathtubs, vanities or patio furniture, you have one week to head over here.

Location: 2800 Etienne Lenoir, Laval H7R 0A3
Tel: 450-622-8899
Hours: Tues-Fri 12-9, Sat 9-5, Sun 10-5 (Monday Oct 13 10-5)
Dates: Oct 7-13
www.ovedecors.com

Monmet Technologies offers high-performance gas and wood-burning fireplace fan kits and blowers for most makes and models of fireplaces. Their kits feature improved heat distribution, whisper-quiet function and full warranty coverage. Warm up this winter, enjoy the pleasure of your crackling fireplace, and at the same time get that heat to disperse around the room.

– they are the manufacturer, so they offer the best prices anywhere
– the kits are made in Montreal
– every fan kit is inspected by their quality control department before shipping
– there’s a 1-year warranty
– the company has ISO 9001-2008 certification

Kits are available for direct vent gas and propane fireplaces for: Napoleon/Continental/ Wolf Steel, Vermont Castings/Monessen/Majestic/CFM, Heat&Glo, Heatilator, Kingsman, Lennox. Kits are available for wood burning fireplaces/stoves for: Napoleon, Lennox, Security/BIS, Pacific Energy,

Since the fireplace fan kits are manufactured right here in Montreal, it’s great to be able to support a local business which has been here for a century.

5524 St-Patrick  suite 202
corner: Monk
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30-4:30
Tel: 514-788-6007
www.monmettech.com