Desirée welcomes you to its new home in Vaughan, bringing notable brands and the finest selection of specialized gifts and European imports to its clients since 1989.

The art of gift giving has been at the heart of the Desirée business for generations, allowing the store to welcome many customers and future brides seeking beautiful and expertly wrapped gifts. Its focus has been offering notable brands and the finest selections of home décor at the most affordable prices. This is the business of Carmela and Josie, owners of Desirée in Vaughan: to bring you these beautiful and timeless pieces. The two sisters, celebrating 29 years of business in the Vaughan area, have been the expert sellers of designer brands such as Alessi, Kate Spade, Swarovski, Vera Wang, Wedgwood, Waterford, Versace and many more.

At Desirée’s newest location, you will have the pleasure of browsing through the trendy, state-of-the-art space while shopping all the latest brands. Whether you are seeking bombonieres, new home décor, creating a bridal registry, welcoming a new baby or much more — the team’s knowledgeable staff is there to assist you in all your personal gift-giving needs. The Desirée team, led by Carmela and Josie, is made up of incredible staff members who have been extensively trained in customer service and product knowledge in order to provide their customers with the best experience.

New brides-to-be can choose from the finest in dinnerware sets and gourmet cookware for their registries, with Desirée offering brands such as Le Creuset: fine cast-iron cookware created for the culinary enthusiast and iconically known for its durability and quality. The store also offers state-of-the-art brands such as Demeyere, All-Clad, Alessi, Riedel, Villeroy & Boch, Missoni and Ed by Ellen DeGeneres.

Brides-to-be can expect to be given savvy advice when making their gift selections. “I always try to tell the brides when they come in to register [that they should] choose items, especially their dinnerware pattern, [that] they’re going to still love 15 or 20 years from now,” says Carmela. The ladies recommend classical pieces, such as home décor pieces from Michael Aram, one of the world’s leading luxury lifestyle brands, showcasing timeless and elegant designs that will ensure longevity in a family home.

Brides are also advised to choose a secondary, more versatile dinnerware set, says Carmela. “Everyday patterns tend to be more contemporary and fun, they can be mixed and matched.” These pieces, says Carmela, are easy to change around and are less expensive. Some favourite brands include designers such as Villeroy & Boch, which is a very popular choice with modern brides according to Josie. Desirée customers will be delighted to have access to a selection of beautiful porcelain and high-quality collections such as Versace and Richard Ginori, as well as exceptional designs and functional pieces from famous Italian brands such as Alessi and Missoni, that bring a contemporary touch to the home.

When we asked the ladies’ expertise on the pieces most appreciated by their clients, they told us, “Our clients really love limited-edition pieces.” They feel a sense of excitement when they know they are purchasing a piece that is exclusive worldwide. Desirée continues to provide its customers with the opportunity to meet the designers through special events hosting some of the finest brand ambassadors, such as Matteo Alessi, Michael Aram, Isabelle von Boch and Vincent Rellis (of the House of Waterford).

Josie and Carmela delightfully share with us stories of the trips organized for their customers to brand factories in Spain, Ireland, New York and Los Angeles. “This has really been one of our greatest rewards, that we have been able to do this with our customers and see these parts of the world. The friendships that have been created in our 29 years of business are something that we deeply cherish,” says Carmela. “Our customers still talk about them and always joke about when and where the next trip will be,” says Josie.

It is clear that at the centre of luminous crystal and art, fine china and timeless gifts are two passionate women that have dedicated a lifetime to manifesting an enterprise stemming from values they embraced from their own upbringing. When operating their business, they share their personal philosophies: “This is definitely a family-run business and that is the backbone of our business, our Desirée family, our employees, our customers, our suppliers — everybody’s treated like family.” The future for Desirée is simple: “We will continue to provide unmatched customer service to our loyal customers while bringing them the latest trends and notable brands they have come to know and love.” As a family business they will now welcome the next generation of family members to their team: Patricia, Lucy and Anna, who are always looking to add a modern approach to the business. Their focus is to refine the skills of the business through the progression of its online and social media presence, ensuring the needs of newer clients will continue to be met.

In the meantime, Desirée’s impeccable attention to personal service is noted upon entering the doors. At the heart of it all are the graceful demeanours of Josie and Carmela, fronting a business they created almost 30 years ago, based on a foundation of passion and relationships — qualities reflecting through them as brilliantly as the finest Swarovski crystals.

3590 Rutherford Rd. Unit 9, Woodbridge, Ont.
905-850-2818
www.desiree.ca