Vancouver Special

At Innit Designs we adore Vancouver Special, a retailer that truly values quality in modern design and a commitment to showcasing artisan-made products . We’ve had a fantastic experience working with their professional and fun team. It’s always a pleasure to see our furniture displayed in their beautiful store. Highly recommend! Looking for Innit in Vancouver? Go to Van Special on Main St.!

Love the furniture and decor here! Very modern and well-curated sections too. Designer heaven 😗 Staff were really friendly too.

If you’re looking for something unique and chic, you can come and take a look.

Vancouver Special is a great spot if you are looking for original designs in furniture and housewares. Also available, a very wide selection of coffee table books. The items in stock here are decorative solutions by themselves and will become conversation pieces when you bring them home. This store carries a nice selection of Alessi products, the Italian company is always coming up with extraordinarily designed housewares and kitchen utensils. Prices, competitive based on quality. Customer service, as the cute sign on the front door says, come and support a local "small" business.

Such a well curated store, beautifully designed, and great selection. Truly if you are struggling to design your space, a five minute walk through this store will give you countless ideas. Almost feels like you have a personal interior designer. Additionally, I can’t say good enough things about the service I received from Anne and the team at Vancouver Special. Anne was super understanding of a mix up with a gift card, and was quick to rectify my issue! Thanks Anne!

Well curated design store. Had a great experience shopping there. The staff were friendly and laid back, not pushy or dismissive, which was a pleasant surprise. Found they carry "apartamento" magazine, which is pretty hard to find around here. The high prices reflect the market pricing and the quality of designs.

I recently bought a portable speaker that unfortunately had a manufacturing defect. The staff were super helpful and responsive to my concerns – they immediately arranged for a replacement speaker, no questions asked. By the time it was ready for pick up, they had received a new shipment of the same speaker in a different colour that appealed to me. I asked to switch my replacement for the new colour and they generously made the exchange. I am always happy with the customer service at the shop. They'll check in with you while you browse but will also give you the space to simply enjoy looking around. The staff are very kind and knowledgeable about the products they carry. So happy with the purchase and with the service I received. Many thanks to all.

Gorgeous pieces but very high prices.

This store is eclectic! I didn't know what to expect when coming in here to purchase some fancy salt and pepper grinders but OMG they have a ton of stuff. I suggest not coming here with your wallet. Be seduced with your eyes, go home and digest what you saw and then seriously ask yourself if you need whatever you fell in love with (which is 90% of the store, or at least it was for me). I knocked off 2 stars simply because of the lack of product knowledge. I was asking about the salt and pepper grinders and the lady didn't know anything about them. She had to ask someone else who had some answers. New questions ended up with that second employee and when she didn't know, they referred me to someone else. I just think that maybe they should all be on the same page because I didn't want to play telephone with the information. Also they didn't look at all happy or interested in being engaging. It seemed like the goal was to get people in the store and that was it. They weren't chatty or friendly when I was buying the salt and pepper shakers. In fact, they were busy chatting away while they processed my purchase. Love the stuff in this store but you can get most of this stuff online and then not have to deal with the lack of customer interaction and lack of product knowledge. They have everything (product wise and location) to be a very awesome niche store for people who have a bit of money to blow if they worked on customer service.

I can't say I'd ever spend a few hundred dollars on an alarm clock, or have the need for a paper house making kit, but I like to know I have the option. If you're one of those impossible people to buy gifts for, your loved ones might want to have a peak inside the white walls here. Don't feel shameful over your lust for the finer things: if I were oozing cash, I might just refit my home in swank new accessories too, but for now, I'll continue to make this a dreamy little pit stop on my way up or down Main.

is it really hard to answer nicely to your customers' questions? I was planning to buy sth but the pretentious attitude really put a bad taste in my mouth... pls train your staff with a better understanding of customer service no matter their age

The people that work here are so stuck up. They do not greet customers when they enter or exit, and they never offer to help anyone. I COULD shop here, even though their stuff is incredibly overpriced, but I won't because of their crappy attitudes.

On any stroll up and down on Main there are my usual places I always check. Vancouver special was always on my list if I made it up that far. The place always seems to have new items, and is spot on with the design world. "Hay" has always been in my sights so having it front and center always fills me with hope. The place has a nice selection of the-hard-to-come-by designer household pieces. The only downside is there isn't allot of range in price point. I mean I have no problem dropping dough on a great design piece but id like to not have to drop "all" my dough any time I drop by. There is however a exception; the awesome selection of books. There is always room for one more book! This is really the reason I keep coming back. Art and architecture are my bread and butter and boy does Vancouver Special deliver. Worth a look!

So. Many. Colours. So. Many. Objects of desire. So. Little. Money in my pocket. Ironically named after the infamous and slightly tacky 'Vancouver Special' style of house that is found scattered throughout our fine city's landscape, this is a store that sells a higher level of designer creations than its namesake might promise. From clocks to sofas to paper products to throw pillows, they sell pretty much every finishing touch to furnish the discerning design-savvy Vancouverite's home. Beautiful and sometimes abstract objects of desire; fun and sometimes useful gifts for that friend with everything or nothing at all; stylish and *almost* affordable accessories for the home -- this is not what a Vancouver Special is, but is what Vancouver Special specializes in.

A great concept of bringing good design to the everyday home where for those of us who appreciated design however can't always afford the high end furniture we adore, Vancouver Special offers a great modern design alternative that is more approachable. Good design at good value on design brands from Japan and Europe from modern wool area rugs, home accessories to modular upholstery, and one of my favorite great buys: merino wool cube ottomans. Another favorite is the beautiful glassware collection designed by my favorite local designers MOLO DESIGN. Owner Anne Pearson a recent grad from UBC shares an appreciation for modern design with the everyday shopper. The attention of detail in the designing of her retail showroom is a perfect example of the positive outcome of collaborating with one of Vancouver's leaders in modern architecture. Anne worked with Battersby Howatt to design this simple modern interior. Combining a well designed interior to feature well designed product makes for a shopping experience you'll want to come back to. It is retailers like Vancouver Special that have helped transform Main Street into the destination shopping experience that all of us design lovers are looking for.

Totally fun shop to blow your pay cheque...great selection of super fun coffee table books..great unusual gift options like a Lego memory stick for your computer...unique towel bars...Danish Couches..terrific selection of radios and just about anything you never knew you always needed..... Vancouver Special is a must stop on your stroll of Main Street...even if just to look and be inspired by the modern simplicity of the stores aesthetic...if you are gonna buy something be prepared to pony up the cash..good design unfortunately doesn't come cheap..

One of the best spots in town carrying unique home furnishings, great design books and special gifts for those who already have everything. Dizzying array of eye candy everywhere - so many colours, cool gadgets, beautiful objects of desire: everything from furniture, textiles, dishes, kitchen gadgets, lighting, stationery, audio and the like with pretty high price tags but hey....good design never comes cheap. This is not Ikea after all. Nothing but the best. Saw a few things that I really want to buy. Guess I gotta cut down on clothes shopping and maybe even eating to spend my bucks here instead....

Thankfully I am not in the home decor department. I am content with my room being full of concert posters that looks like Tim Armstrong's refined basement suite. I was intrigued by some of the designer decor, however, most of the designs aside from being colorful were things that didn't need a designer name to. It's good to look for fun, however, spending a shit load of money on plates? Would that money be best spent elsewhere like food for that plate? Some people feel good about themselves that they paid 4 - 5 times as much for a similar item they could've gotten elsewhere. All the power to them. I think my friends are just happy that when they come over they have a plate and a cup to begin with instead of having to eat off a Dixie pic nic plate and drink out of a mason jar. The lady at the til none the less was really sweet and nice.

I love this store. I'm a design enthusiast, certainly not an expert, but I enjoy some urban excavation, as I like to call it, and Vancouver Special has some great finds. It's been my go-to place for cool items for the house and for fun gifties like the GoVino wine glasses. After coveting their Elektra chaise for over a year, I noticed they had a great sale price on a floor model. I decided it was a sign so I bought it. The sales associate was extremely helpful. The store had a decent delivery charge and was able to deliver, on time, around my crazy work schedule which I really appreciated. Seriously, Vancouver Special is one of the coolest stores in Vancouver. Check it out!

It was a rather disappointing visit after reading about it in VanMag and making a special trip from downtown just to check it out. The selection of household items and books is limited. The items carried in the store are easily found at other similar retail establishments in the city. It does have a good selection of Tivoli audio equipment.

This is a fun and funky homewares and knick-knack store with lots of surprises just waiting for you to find them. A great place to shop for quirky birthday gifts or original pieces for yourself. There's chinaware in fun colours and groovy patterns, stylish notebooks, soaps, lamps, and even a couple of sofas (which are more stylish than comfortable). When I went in they had an awesome ginger bread display in the window. Artists had made these fabulously creative ginger bread houses for a charity auction, just in time for the Christmas season. There is also a table covered in books that I think are all written about art. This store is definitely for the eclectic artist who's looking for something creative and unique.

Books, books, books! I love the interesting selection of art / design / architectural books. It's one of my favourite shops in Vancouver to spend time in as well as to buy beautiful books from. The service is also great. When I feel bored of Vancouver the city, Vancouver Special makes me feel connected to other major cities as its book collection represents amazing and inspiring creativity going on around the world.

I used to live on Main just 2 blocks down from here; I stopped in because they had a multi-hued array of Solair chairs out front (Canadian designed in/outdoor lounge chair from the 70's a sort of plastic papa-san chair). I had not seen one since my parents last one fell apart after years of abuse by me and my sibs. I decided to go in and check the rest of their wares. Some upscale coffee table books and knick knacks with pricing to match. This is when I usually whip out my phone and start snapping pics in order to remember to look up a particular tome on ebay or the library website- but I didn't. All the while the girl behind the counter mere feet away gave zero recognition to my prescence. Perhaps I don't look it in my business apparel but behind this argyle vest burns the heart of a hipster. At least I might be if that was a term in the vernacular when I lived on down on Main Street. You can be artsy, hip, and sociable too, just ask the awesomely friendly girls down at CocoaNymph. Friendly sales people make more money, maybe someone should tell her that. Worth a look for the wood alarm clock and the art book with an embossed pickle on the cover, just don't expect service. 5 stars for content. 2 stars for pricing (the solairs were $40 less at Fullhouse Consignment) 1 star for service.

******* 3.5 STARS******* sigh ya, i'm totally one of those people that laughed at the pretentious and WAY overpriced goods in this store (i'm pretty sure there was a dust pan and horsehair bristles - WTF!?!?) only to drop some serious cash (in my books) on a great coffee table/seat this weekend. i'll admit it. i'm now officially part of the problem. but let me defend myself. i've been looking for a coffee table/ottoman type thing for several years and could never find anything that was functional and a bit more modern. also, i'm a bit over Ikea. after quite a bit of searching i also found that funky, well made furniture is kinda expensive anywhere you look whether it be the jewel of mid-century goods at Refind or higher end modern in Gastown/Yaletown. at least Vancouver Special is in my hood! so i hummed and hawed but i really loved this piece so i sucked it up and bought it. i found service to be "ok" in the sense that it took awhile for the woman to ask me if i needed help (there was no one else in the store and i probably looked pretty confused) but not a huge deal for me because both staffers were helpful once they did reach me and i kinda like to look around undisturbed. so 3.5 stars mainly because the sale items aren't assembled in one place (there are some but they are hard to find!), it is VERY pricey (although certain things are priced fairly) and it makes me feel a bit douchey to shop here.

Got a design nerd on your shopping list, or maybe you're the one with an eye for detail? The home decor shop on Main street takes its name from something Vancouverites have loved to hate: the Vancouver special house. These days people have discovered a new appreciation for both the housing style and the store. The latter has books on every element of design you can imagine, plus beautiful home accessories, and excellent stationery. Friendly and knowledgeable staff who truly value beauty in the everyday.Who knew a dust pan could be so attractive?

I have been here several times but have never bought anything. The staff are nice and not too aggressive. The prices are a bit high and ridiculous. Lots of interesting nick nacks but none that most could afford.

Owner and shop clerks are super nice and helpful. Great customer service.

First way over priced. Staff are too busy chatting to assist you. Purchased a can of maple syrup, which I assume is safe to eat. From Quebec! It was all moldy! Called the store. Spoke to Amanda to discuss with her. Zero assistance. I need to call back when a manager is in. 1st she did not understand my concern and wanted to know if it was moldy inside or outside.....so not too pleased:(

For a while, I was coming regularly to Vancouver from New York and this store was one of the only ones where I entered and thought 'why don't we have this back home'? I want to address a couple of comments I've read on this forum. Firstly, the prices. You are buying Alessi and Hay, not IKEA, for heaven's sake. Prices here are a lot less than at other design stores (I saw a few in Gastown). If you don't care that your furniture and art objects look like they came at IKEA, then don't shop here. If you are willing to spend a little extra to have something different, then do. Secondly, there's not huge inventory at this store, but what they have is well chosen. I like this store because it is 'all of a piece': there's a genuine overriding concept to the store, not one object seems out of place.

I used to love this store and have bought many gifts for others from it, over the years. Finally, with some money to spend on ourselves, my husband and I went in to buy one of the Tivoli radios. The employee that was in the store didn't know a thing about the product. We left without making the purchase. Fast forward another few months when we were excited to see that they were carrying an outdoor table set that we were eyeing online. My husband went in to see it and ask a few question. Once again, the employee didn't get up from her perch behind the computer, totally uninterested in making the sale. Thinking that we just had some very bad luck, I went back this week wanting to purchase two of the solair chairs. Again, terrible service. So bad that I didn't want to spend my money there. I know the store deals with a lot of design professionals and maybe that is where they want to focus their efforts. I'm just a lowly customer that didn't get a friendly smile or some basic questions answered.