Happy Tuesday, everyone! I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving. My weekend was filled with family, food, fall festivities… all the essential ingredients for a great Thanksgiving. It’s truly one of my favourite holidays, and this year has given me plenty of reasons to be thankful! However you celebrated, I hope your weekend was just as wonderful.
Speaking of things to be thankful for… if you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you probably know there’s nothing I love more than a good road trip. I’ll happily drive 3-4 hours to the Bruce Peninsula or Prince Edward County – and back again the very same day. When I lived in Toronto, Tania and I drove 2 1/2 hours each way just to eat at one of my favourite restaurants (luckily, Pinecroft is a bit closer to home now!) We even drove all the way to Tennessee and back. But as much as I’ve gotten used to long stretches in the car, sometimes even the most dedicated driver (or passenger princess #guiltyascharged) needs to stop and stretch their legs for a bit. So it’s true: as much as I love a good road trip, sometimes I love a good roadside stop even more. And the one I’m going to share today is a true gem: an antique lover’s paradise and a whimsical “sculpture garden” all in one!
Picture this: you’re driving down Highway 10 in Caledon, and all of a sudden, you glimpse a massive collection of giant marble statues whizzing by the window. If this sounds familiar, you’ve probably passed by Home Grace at least once or twice. Located at 16083 Hurontario Street (the stretch of Highway 10 between Olde Base Line Road and The Grange Sideroad,) this utterly unique store is pretty hard to miss! As one of the largest Canadian manufacturers of marble products, their specialty is sculptures: in every size, shape and form imaginable.
At Home Grace, you’ll find giant lions, dragons, angels, gods and goddesses, religious icons, figures from classic works of art… you name it, it’s here – and immortalized in marble!
A life-sized marble mermaid may not be high on my shopping list at the moment, but whenever I’m driving in this area, I can never resist a stop at Home Grace. The statues are scattered all around the property, and it’s so much fun to just walk through and explore. It’s like visiting a free sculpture garden!
After getting my fill of window shopping at Home Grace, I proceed to its neighbouring store for some actual shopping. Located right behind Home Grace, the Inglewood Antique Market is one of my favourite antique stores in Ontario. Housed in a rustic two-story barn, it’s filled with thousands of antiques and vintage treasures: from furniture, lighting and artwork to glassware, ceramics, trinkets, rare collectibles, and various odds and ends.
Fun fact: the Inglewood Antique Market and I are the same age! They first opened their doors in 1993. (Just don’t call me “vintage” and we’re good.)
Lifelong antique enthusiast Jon Medley has been selling at the market since it first opened, but became the official owner in 2018. Here’s an interesting interview with him from In The Hills Magazine.
The Inglewood Antique Market is one of those places where you could literally spend hours getting lost in every nook and cranny… and I have!
It has everything you’d expect to find in any antique store worth its salt – and plenty more. There’s Wedgwood in every colour…
Vintage jadeite…
Teacups galore…
Tiffany lamps…
Royal Doulton figurines…
And then there’s my favourite part of any antiquing experience: the truly unique, one-of-a-kind finds. The wacky and whimsical oddities that make you smile, laugh, or just downright stop in your tracks. This carousel-worthy rocking horse, for instance:
Or these kitschy dog figurines (my inner Disney kid is especially partial to the 101 Dalmatians set):
Or these “States & Mates” salt and pepper shakers:
I have a bit of an obsession with mid-century “lady head vases” and these ones are especially gorgeous! They’re like a little piece of art on your vanity.
Speaking of art, the Inglewood Antique Market has plenty of it: whether you’re looking for sumptuous art deco paintings, quaint cross-stitches, psychedelic posters or old Hollywood glamour shots, you’ll find it all here.
I don’t know how I feel about the fact that Spice Girls memorabilia is now sold in antique stores…
On my last visit, I told myself I was only going to browse… but I couldn’t help myself! When I found these pretty little butter pat dishes, I knew I had to get some. I’m a big believer in the positive power of adding little “frills” to your life: things that serve no practical purpose other than to look pretty and just make you happy. Whether it’s drinking your morning coffee in a beautiful vintage teacup, a fresh vase of flowers on the table just because, or serving butter on dainty little floral dishes. On that note, I’ve recently started making flower-shaped butter pats using silicone ice moulds… can I get a “yes frills”!?
These are the four I chose – I absolutely love them!
Whether you’re looking for your next antique score, or just want to check out some wacky and whimsical artwork, this roadside destination is definitely worth a stop. So the next time you’re driving down Highway 10 and see a zoo of marble creatures in the distance… let your curiosity get the better of you and stop in for a spell. You never know what treasures you’ll uncover!
What’s your favourite Ontario roadside stop? Is it Webers Hamburgers? Prudhommes Antique Market? The Big Apple? Or something else entirely? Leave a comment or send me an email and let me know – I’d love to hear your suggestions!
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