How would you describe your personal space and approach to decoration?

Liv Biggar: My home office in particular blurs the lines between some version of shabby chic, the Candy Land board game, and the treasure chest you used to choose from as a reward for being a good patient at the dentist’s office. 

Betsey Johnson is known for saying “The rule of decorating is: buy what you love to look at, what you love to live with. And throw it all together and it'll work because you love it.” These are words to live by. I rarely hesitate to bring something into my home that I immediately feel drawn to, because I know that it will have a place and purpose even if it doesn’t seem immediately obvious. 

My childhood was largely spent around community theatre. Worldbuilding through sets and costumes feels very natural for me. I like there to be a sense of the fantasy or a playfulness to each room with unexpected touches. 

What colours, textures, eras, modes, media, or aesthetics inspire you? 

Liv Biggar: Colours not normally found in or associated with nature. Deeply saturated hues. I like to see a spectrum. The term “kaleidoscope” feels like the best way to describe what I’m after.

I’m drawn to fads or trends from different eras that borrowed from the past. Late ’60s medieval renaissance, deco luxe revival from the ’80s, the 1990s obsession with the Victorian era… everything new is old, and no new ideas are original.

I’ve collected a number of beautiful photography books or unusual books with niche images or subject matter. Things like a stack of indie adult magazines I got at a flea market many years ago, or a book of Snoopy-isms that was printed entirely in green and orange in the ’60s I found at Toutoune Gallery on Bathurst. Nothing beats a quiet afternoon looking around Monkey’s Paw on Bloor St.

I am also obsessed with movies. The bathhouse in Spirited Away, the chocolate factory in Willy Wonka (1971), Munchkinland from The Wizard of Oz are some of my favouritesfor the unbeatable whimsy and larger-than-life presence they achieve (even through the 25” TV screen where I first watched them).

What are a few items at Baa that you love for yourself or think would make great gifts? 

Liv Biggar: If you can’t think of an idea for a single impactful gift, I recommend starting with a lovely vessel and working backwards to fill it with smaller mementos that add up to a meaningful package. If flowers feel a bit like a cop-out, you should consider buying a vessel (like the Fantasy Pitcher) and filling it with a bouquet. It will make them seem more special and also demonstrate to the receiver a less traditional way for them to interact with it. Baskets are another great example—stuff them with inexpensive pantry items or build a baby shower gift around it. The options are really endless.

Baa is a magical place with many hidden things to discover. You could pair a sun-shaped lavender sachet with a garden seed kit and package it with a botanical gift tag for a magical little forest-themed gift. Or maybe pop a fish soap inside a washi paper pot in the ships and waves motif and pair it with the fisherman’s house concertina card for something nautical. 

If all else fails, go back to the basics and consider interests and personality. If they love to bake, try a cookie stamp. Maybe your dinner party host could use some cute cheese knives. Your most whimsical and weird friend will understand why you picked them out a banana split candle. Even the most practical person could use some really great dish soap.