“It feels perfect being downtown. The vibe is so exciting,” says Scott Elias, co-owner of Victoria’s luxury home décor retailer Luxe Home Interiors.
“On the first of May, we moved our business to 564 Yates Street (between Government and Wharf) from our long-time home of 22 years, on the corner of Douglas and Hillside.”
The new change of space was necessary as their lease was expiring at the Scott Building due to redevelopment plans. Luxe has found a new home in a 160-year-old heritage building that has been the site of a silent movie theatre, a supply store for miners enroute to the Klondike, and the offices of the local women’s temperance union.
Historical buildings often make ideal retail spaces for modern furniture and home décor, with the juxtaposition of old and new creating a beautiful atmosphere for display.
“We love the exposed walls and natural light that pours in from our skylights,” says Elias. “The team is very excited – one of our members feels that Luxe has finally found its home.”
Luxe Home Interiors’ new space has two levels – a 3000 square foot main floor featuring living room and home office furniture, and 2000 square feet upstairs floor focusing on bedroom, dining, and smaller items.
“Our designers are thrilled about setting up the store and utilizing the space in interesting ways.
“We feel incredibly fortunate. A year ago, our doors were locked due to the pandemic, so we are happy to have seized the opportunity to move downtown,” Elias adds. “We just know how lucky we are.”
Customers will appreciate a rare downtown parking perk with one hour free in the Bastion Square parkade, directly across the street.
Since the owners expect an increase in ‘walk by’ traffic at the new location, home accessories and smaller gift items have been added with Luxe’s commitment to developing partnerships with local artists and craftspeople, including charcuterie boards from Saanichton, contemporary indigenous art & rugs, metal art from Nanaimo and blown glass from Parksville.
Luxe has always been a brick-and-mortar retailer and has never gone the e-commerce route. However, their website is a vital source of visual inspiration and ideas and will continue to be.
“During the quarantines and isolation periods of Covid-19, we all learned how vital human connection is, as well as the importance of creating a home that is comfortable, functional, and visually appealing,” adds Elias.
The owners believe that customers deserve the opportunity to touch, see and feel the furniture they’re interested in. The online shopping experience can often leave folks feeling flat, receiving goods that look nothing like the photos, sometimes even damaged in shipping.
The furniture labels and brands Luxe is particularly excited about carrying vary in style but never scrimp on quality. “Rene Cazares out of LA does exceptional upholstery. We love the Bernhardt brand for the elegant look they provide, and Trica from Quebec is ideal for condo living, especially with all the smaller spaces popping up all over downtown Victoria,” says Elias.
“We are a people business that sells furniture, not the other way around,” he says. “This must be about relationships, with our staff, with our clients, and our business partners – we want to touch people somehow.
“We believe in revitalizing the dying art of exceptional customer service with quality and integrity.”
Visit the Luxe Home Interiors website, Facebook page and Instagram page for the latest updates, location information and inspiration for your home.
