For the Nester
Muffet & Louisa Not just a kitchen store, this cosy retreat has an extensive selection of St. Geneve super-luxe bedding. Sheets and pillowcases in luscious colours and patterns come in mega-thread-count Egyptian cotton, high-quality linen or German milled silk. Snuggly down duvets pad the nest with their lofty baffle-box design. They’re stuffed with Canadian, Polish or German white goose down, or genuine wild-harvested eiderdown from Iceland. (A hypoallergenic queen in Canadian goose down is $148.) Sweet dreams are made of this.
1437 Store St., Victoria, 250-382-3201, 866-382-3201; 2389 Beacon Ave., Sidney, 250-656-0011; muffetandlouisa.com

For the Light Junkie
Only Human This narrow showroom in Market Square has a wide selection: Jonathan Adler ceramics, original art, felt handbags by Josh Jakus and furniture designs from co-owner Chris Rothery. All this is illuminated by the eccentric Dandelion lamp ($3,080), the Light Shade Shade (an old-school chandelier enclosed by a semi-transparent mirror shade, starting at $1,833) or the cocoon-like polyester and epoxy strands of the Random Light (starting at $685), all from Dutch firm Moooi.
533 Pandora Ave., Victoria, 250-383-6659, onlyhuman.ca

For the Oenophile
Spinnaker’s Spirit Merchants For the wine connoisseur on your list who would be pleased with a few extra bottles to cellar, consider a consultation with discriminating wine buyer Larry Arnold. Whether he recommends small-lot BC rarities, classic vintages, organics and biodynamics or, for the trophy hunter, Chateau Cheval Blanc 2005 Bordeaux (at $1,400 a bottle, purportedly the greatest vintage produced in the last 50 years), he caters to big and small collectors.
#130-176 Wilson St., Victoria, 250-360-1333; 425 Simcoe St., Victoria, 250-590-3515, spiritmerchants.ca

For the Design Aficionado
Gabriel Ross An expanded showroom has upped the designer furniture ante at this favourite purveyor, with pieces we love by Frighetto and Cassina. Daddy-O will be suitably chill once he unwinds in the Cassina K10 Dodo Chair. Using a side lever, the swivel becomes a chaise with adjustable tilt and moveable back and footrests. In full repose the chair resembles its namesake. Available in custom fabrics or plush leather. Bonus: free shipping in Canada.
589 Bay St., Victoria, 250-384-2554, 866-207-1111, gabrielross.com

For the Young at Heart
Place Function and Design Trish Puckett’s fresh design sense has us flocking to her off-the-beaten-track Place for Iannone’s eco-furniture, Molo soft seating and fun, affordable decor accessories. Collectors of cool also come here to find the latest Unipo ($8.99) and Hazmapo ($22) figures by Portland’s Unkl. The tiny vinyl creatures, released in limited editions, are a hot collectible. The all-white, featureless Unipo encourages budding artists to fill in the blanks.
3690 Shelbourne St., Victoria, 250-381-3488, placemodernliving.com

For the Eco-Warrior
Plenty Epicurean Pantry This emporium, which stocks fine foods (fair-trade, local and global), also celebrates time-honoured crafts for the home. Elegant Colombian black clay Chamba pots (the tagine is $86), the oldest genre of pottery in the New World, are formed, fired and burnished by hand to a smooth satin black. Lead-free and certified free trade, they can go from stovetop to oven to tabletop.
1034 Fort St., Victoria, 250-380-7654, epicureanpantry.ca

For the Art Lover
Winchester Galleries Fine art dealers Gunter Heinrich and Anthony Sam can always find just the right canvas. Historical, contemporary, established or upcoming artists: their repertoire runs deep. Whether it’s Miró, Joe Average or a Group of Seven painting, Winchester can pull from its three gallery locations. Pick an era, a medium and a theme; their world is your masterpiece. We’re partial to this vintage Joe Plaskett pastel, Flowers from Paris #1, at a cool $8,500.
2260 Oak Bay Ave., Victoria, 250-595-2777; 1010 Broad St., Victoria, 250-386-2773; 796 Humboldt St., Victoria, 250-382-7750, winchestergalleriesltd.com

For the Foodie
KnifePro Dwight Joinson’s one-ton kitchen store and knife-sharpening service is the darling of every chef in Victoria. (And he makes house calls in his truck!) His while-you-wait in-store shop allows for one-stop service for everything from professional cookware like copper pots to chef-secret apparel like Sika footwear, and a chance to hone those dull knives. Get a handle on Messermeister, Victorinox, Shun or Wüstof. We especially love MAC knives with their sharp granton edge (from $89 for an eight-inch). You’ll be a cut above.
250-744-0606, myknifepro.com