There’s more to buying furniture than meets the eye. It’s not just about filling an empty space or replacing an old couch. It’s about finding pieces that resonate with your personal style, pieces that will add warmth and character. Furniture that transforms your house into a home, a comfortable place that feels like you.
Elena from Uptown Living understands this deeply. She opened her store in downtown Orillia in March of this year, fulfilling her lifelong dream of being an entrepreneur in the field she’s been passionate about since she moved to Canada many years ago.
“I’m from Panama. I came to Canada when I was 20 years old.” recounts Elena, “I was supposed to come here as a student only for six months, but I fell in love with Canada and ended up staying.”
She attended George Brown College where she studied fashion design, architecture, and business administration, which fueled her love of learning and creativity. It wasn’t until she started working at a high-end furniture store in downtown Toronto that she found her passion for interior design.
Elena describes interior design as a puzzle where pieces need to be sought out and meticulously put together to create a cohesive and appealing design.
“When I was a little girl, I loved puzzles. And you know, you start with nothing and you start putting things together, piece by piece. You have to go find the pieces and make sure that it fits and goes with the rest of the other pieces too.”
The tricky part is having to figure out what the image is that you’re building towards, the style of the client and the space that they envision.
Apart from their interior design services and consultations, Uptown Living takes pride in offering its customers an array of Canadian custom-made furniture options to achieve the perfect design. The store offers two distinct lines – semi-customizable and fully customizable furniture.
The semi-customizable line allows you to choose different arm styles, densities, fabric or leather, and two sizes for depth and width. However, the fully customizable line is where the magic truly happens. This line offers customization down to the inch, allowing you to adjust anything from arm sizes, seating depth, or even the entire sofa length to fit your space perfectly.
At Uptown Living, Elena strives for excellent communication and transparency. “With this kind of business, you have to know when to give space to people and when to approach them. Be aware of their personality, and read between the lines.” She continues, “It’s very important to listen. People want to be heard. People want you to understand them and when you really care, you listen to understand.”
That’s the philosophy at Uptown Living, comfort – ensuring that her customers feel at ease when they walk into the store and when they relax on their furniture at home. In making sure her customers feel heard, understood, and valued.
So step into Uptown Living and let her help you create a space that truly feels like home. After all, as Elena says – “People want to create something that feels worth it. A place that’s comfortable, special. It’s them.”
Uptown Living is a custom furniture store in downtown Orillia offering interior design services and Canadian made custom furniture. For more information visit https://uptownliving.ca/
