Be careful when you go into Canoe. It is a vortex, and once it pulls you in, you may find it difficult to leave. One of our favorite retail stores in the Northwest, Canoe strikes the perfect balance of modern classics alongside newer designs destined to become iconic over time. We’ve been sourcing gifts, accessories and home goods at this carefully curated shop since its opening nearly 12 years ago.
To owners Craig and Sean, “modern is an approach, not a style.” Their mission to seek out products whose aesthetic will outlive trends – like the clean modern lines of the Stelton thermal carafe, designed in 1977 by Eric Magnussen and widely hailed as a contemporary classic – is one to which we can wholeheartedly relate, because it’s how we approach design for our own clients: to create spaces that will serve well into the future.
For more than a decade, Canoe has had a hand in furnishing some of the most artfully tended homes in the area. By sourcing the best of everyday design from around the world and making it accessible in one place, Craig and Sean make it possible for anyone to bring good design home. From Japanese ceramics and toiletries to French glassware and locally made bags, we can always find the perfect gift for any friend or client (and all too frequently, ourselves) at Canoe.
Currently in their second location – tucked just behind the art museum in downtown Portland – Canoe will celebrate their 12th anniversary this fall. As the holidays approach, we are thrilled to have several reasons to return and lose ourselves in good design all over again.
