Our main reason for visiting Winnipeg was to see our friends Nils Vik and Thom Fougere (and to make a new friend of Mike from Scandinavian Modern). We met Nils and Thom years ago at IDS (ahhh so young), when they had their prototype on display. Since then Nils opened a very successful cafe, Parlour Coffee, in the Exchange neighbourhood (more on Thom later).

They offer pour over, which is still a rarity.

A lot of interesting events happening in Winnipeg these days!

The Parlour space is definitely more of a grab and go scenario, however there are some bar stools if you’re lucky to nab one.

A simple menu. I imagine their treats sell out pretty early, as there seems to always be a lot of traffic.

Babyccino?

I spy Mjölk Volume II and a much coveted Volume I, probably the only one left worldwide!!!

Tyndall stone facade and some benches to enjoy before the -40 temperatures start.

 

As if we hadn’t had enough coffee we headed over to MAKE Coffee + Stuff. We were invited to be on the Jury for an international lighting competition they were holding, called 011_SHADE.

Some of the other jury members.

Although this light wasn’t photographed the best in the submission package, it turned out to be a surprise hit for us.

This one we found to be a unique take on the bubble light.

This design is so intriguing, with the weight of the concrete and lightness of the wire.

You know how we love that charred wood look.

We attempted a fancier meal on our last night at highly recommended Segovia. We don’t generally do dinner with Elodie as her bath time is at 6pm sharp and she’s in bed by 6:30-7. Add a time change and well, we were heading towards disaster city. We were THOSE people. The ones with a screaming toddler in a fancy restaurant. But I mean come on, who really goes out for an intimate dinner at 5PM??? Sheesh. We should have had that room to ourselves yet the tables filled up around us. Anyway, Elodie refused to sit with us or eat anything. I had bought her a Thomas the Tank Engine toy so she happily played with it on the floor…well happily until she tried to choo choo it to where all the servers bustle about. Rookie parent I am it took me forever to remember to shove my iphone at her, which let us shovel food into our mouths for about 7 minutes in relative peace. Check please!

I will say that although we crammed the food in (is there any other way with young kids anyway?), the food was incredible. Oh to be savored…maybe next time!

 

The main event of our trip was the Thom Fougere + Børge Mogensen exhibition.

It was so amazing to see Thom’s work finally available for purchase, taking production into his own hands and working with local suppliers it is very inspiring. It was also a pleasure to meet and have dinner with Mike from Scandinavian.Modern, a kindred spirit indeed. He really knows his stuff and has impeccable taste. He is always pushing designers that tend to be a little less mainstream here in North America, and of course the Danish modern enthusiasts who are in the know have a ton of respect for his offerings.

Here is the images we could muster on a dark and cozy Winnipeg evening:

The beautiful Tyndall stone table, an iconic stone used throughout the buildings in the prairies.

Charge catch for holding your phone while it is being charged.

Bench coat rack system, and wood and metal side table.

The Parlour portable coffee bar.

Believe it or not, this used to be just like our old apartment. We also have a vintage 2213 sofa in black leather with mahogany legs, as well as Thom’s tyndall table. I think it is a perfect combination.

The newest work on exhibit is Thom’s magazine rack which is to the left of the Mogensen sofa.

 

The brass detail of a rare armchair Børge Mogensen designed for Karl Andersson & Söner.

Børge Mogensen canvas and oak Easy chair for Fredericia.

An incredible module sofa with wall mounted headrests. If we had a place for it in our life, I would love this for our home.

We had a great time in Winnipeg, and we’re looking forward to our next visit!