INDEX Kids Pages Parenting Sports Table Hopning NORTH SHORE South side of 18th and Marine Drive, West Vancouver European cu Katharine Hamer News Reporter khamer@nsnews.com TORREFAZIONE Italia is net your aver- age Greenwich Village- style, rattan furniture- decorated, goateed serv- er type of coffee joint. “Our cates are elaborate and detaiied,” saves manager Christa Craig, spreading her arms wide to take in the capa- cious, terracorta- ted room. Customers snuggle inte squashy leather sofas, lulled by arias played on the stereo. “Our motto is ‘The warmth of Iraly’,” says Craig. “We try to incorporate music, art..something for every: body. It’s like European cul- ture.” The Seattle-based chain -- best known around tawn for its retail bean operation — opened a seore in West Vancouver almost exactly a year ago. “ft's a nice area,” says Craig, of the marble-look block at 18th and Marine Drive that itself is only a year old. She says a lot of customers come just to hang out, drink coffee and read for hours at a time. “A lot of people over here tell me, ‘Oh, sleepy old Dundarave or Ambleside... now it's coming back to dite’, and we're a part of that —- its great.” “We get older people fram the neighbourhood --- and really young couptes just start- ing out,” savs Leanne Spinner, manager of Decorum Home and Garden Design, which specializes in reproductions of antique furniture. Spinner, along with store owner Ursula Jakubowski, sells “old world” pieces to those often trying to replicate a look they've seen in a magazine. Queen Anne-style chairs, bronze-look models of Venus de Milo statuettes and Art Nouveau lamps, ornate mahogany — cabinets, and Indian silver jugs and candle- sticks are all) set upon bur- gundy flagstones. Decerum may fook the part, but “we're not an expen sive stare” Spinner contides, “we're ving to make decerat wut affordable, so vou can get thac unique picee.” Neat door at La Bianco, owner Kumi Carswell is help: ing a customer Uv on a new WInter cout. Snow-proof outerwear is just.a staal part of Carswell’s stock. The stores racks are filled to bursting with ballgo- wns lettover from New Year's and ready for grad nights: organgas in navy and plum, studded with sequins and wrapped with chiffon scarves. Carswell says she’s been followed by loyal customers from her old location at Park Roval. “Pin se happy not to work in a mall anymore,” she says. And tor those looking for an accessary to go with that vorgeous new frock, the many diamante brooches Carswell has on offer inchide one which simply states, “Born to Shop.” Commercial Avenues is a monthly feature of the North Shore News? business section. If vou would like to sraggest a store or stveet profile, please write to Commercial Avenues c/o Katharine Hamer, Narvth Shore News, 1139 Lonsdale Ave., Narth Vancouver V7M 2H4, E- mail . SERVING up the warmth of Italy: | CLOTHES for all seasons and all rea- Torrefazione’s Christa Craig, left, and Lucio Zapata. rae) ; sons: Kumi Carswell in the racks of her store, La Bianco. Discover the wonderful hobby . January 14, 15 & 16 °10am-Spm Nee over 40 beautiful projects designed fot beg inner to advanced? painters iure Sign up for a course during the Ozen House and you wili i receive 10% off the class fee & 20% off the wood piece. | Wednesday. January 12, 2000 — North Shore News - 15 ing courses Starting February 21 or March 27 or the Weekend course Starting NEWS phatos Cindy Goudman THE “old wortd” style furniture at Decorum Home and Garden Design is classic and timeless, says manager Leanne Spinner — but it wen’t cost the earth. _ North Shore Craft Affairs i al Park & Gilford * Noxth Deancouver (next to the cinema) 986-3138. ae bruary 1 ‘Browse our website- www. pik. net/nsea