For Barbora Samieian, co-founder of furniture and d\u00e9cor company Sundays, Vancouver has options galore for coffee\/cookie breaks and creative cues.<\/p>\n
When Barbora Samieian was a child in Slovakia, Sundays were reserved for culture, food and family. \u201cOn Sunday afternoons, you go for coffee and cake and an art gallery visit with your grandma,\u201d she says. Now a mother living in Vancouver with her husband, Moe Samieian Jr., and their four young children, Samieian still dedicates her Sundays to quality time with family. \u201cAfter everybody\u2019s up and has a bite to eat, we hit the Seawall, walk down to Granville Island and then over to Kitsilano… We do it rain or shine. A lot of our ideas and next steps for the business come on those walks.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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<\/div>\nThe elements of her perfect Sunday \u2014 family time, food, culture and a stroll \u2014 have been a source of inspiration for Sundays, the furniture and home d\u00e9cor company she co-founded. After living in New York, where a number of direct-to-consumer furniture brands successfully fill the void between Ikea and high-end designers, Samieian believed there was room for a similar business to thrive in Canada. \u201cWe saw an opportunity to hone in on a specific look and a specific price point that was married [to] good quality,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
Fortunately, Barbora married into a family that knows furniture. Moe grew up working at the Samieians\u2019 furniture business, as had her sister-in-law, Sara Samieian. An old friend of Barbora\u2019s, Noah Morse, brought a background in furniture design to the team (Morse is also a co-founder alongside the three Samieians). With Barbora\u2019s knack for branding and strategy (honed at Field & Social, the popular Vancouver chain of salad restaurants she\u2019d co-founded, in 2016, with Moe), the foursome had everything they needed to create a new category of Canadian furniture.<\/p>\n
Sundays launched in the summer of 2019 with a small selection of couches, chairs, coffee tables and rugs; a dining room collection was added the following year. Designed in Vancouver and crafted by suppliers in Asia and Europe, the carefully curated pieces are defined by sturdy construction, the use of natural materials, and an elegant, modern style. This is furniture intended to be lived with \u2014 which the Samieians do, literally. They test each piece in their own homes with their families before approving it for production.<\/p>\n
And Sundays is growing. Riding the wave of homeowners opting for house-interior upgrades, triggered by the pandemic\u2019s lockdowns, it now offers a full suite of home furnishings, from beds to credenzas to woven-cane room dividers, as well as rugs and cushions. The store has also expanded its brick-and-mortar presence with pop-up showrooms in Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary, giving customers the opportunity to experience the products in person. It\u2019s all part of Barbora and her co-founders\u2019 mission to share the relaxing, warm vibe of a perfect Sunday at home with family \u2014 one stylish furniture piece at a time.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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01. UBUNTU CANTEEN<\/strong><\/p>\n
With its sunny back garden, this cozy caf\u00e9 in the Fraser neighbourhood is a weekend go-to for Samieian\u2019s family of six. \u201cThe energy feels like visiting a lovely neighbour with something delicious being made on the spot in their open kitchen,\u201d says Barbora. \u201cAnd if you love a good charcuterie plate, the Ploughman\u2019s Breakfast is a must.\u201d
\n4194 Fraser St.; ubuntucanteen.ca<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n
02. JANAKI LARSEN STUDIO<\/strong><\/p>\n
Over five years, Samieian\u2019s visits to the studio of ceramicist Janaki Larsen, children in tow, led to a friendship as well as a creative partnership. \u201cHer minimalist ceramics are in our home, throughout Field & Social and in many Sundays photo shoots,\u201d she notes. \u201cHer work and studio bring me true joy.\u201d Samieian\u2019s advice for acquiring one of Larsen\u2019s highly coveted pieces: Follow the artist on Instagram, where she posts her latest drops.
\n#110\u20131706 West 1st Ave.; janakilarsenceramics.com<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n
03. FIFE BAKERY<\/strong><\/p>\n
This tiny gem of a bakery in Mount Pleasant turns out some of the best sourdough in the city, including Samieian\u2019s preferred version, the Porridge Loaf. And there\u2019s more than bread to tempt you. \u201cYou\u2019ll come for the bread, but you\u2019ll leave with a macchiato, a sausage roll and a chocolate chip cookie for the toddlers,\u201d Samieian warns. 64 E. 3rd Ave.; fifebakery.com<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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04. CAFF\u00c9 LA TANA<\/strong><\/p>\n
Samieian loves this Italian grocery and caff\u00e8 on buzzy Commercial Drive for its takeout house-made, ready-to-serve pastas and meatballs or for brunch with a friend. \u201cIt\u2019s like going back in time with a modern twist [and] a lovely atmosphere in a gorgeous, moody space.\u201d Don\u2019t miss out on La Tana\u2019s Wine Bar, which opened last fall with a list of all-Italian wines and dinner served seven nights a week. 635 Commercial Dr.; caffelatana.ca<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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05. PUBLISHED ON MAIN<\/strong><\/p>\n
A favourite date (or double-date) spot for Barbora and Moe, this Mount Pleasant restaurant boasts beautiful interiors as the backdrop for inventive sharing plates that emphasize local, seasonal ingredients. \u201cWe come here over and over again,\u201d says Barbora. \u201cThe menu is always changing, although I believe the schnitzel is a staple. It\u2019s delicious, and so are their cocktails!\u201d 3593 Main St.; publishedonmain.com<\/a><\/p>\n
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