American retailers seem to place la belle province last on their must-expand-to lists, but finally the wait is over for this much-anticipated opening.

Tomorrow morning, Quebec’s very first Crate and Barrel store will open at Carrefour Laval. A full range of the retailer’s covetable wares – from bedding and linens to furniture and stemware – will be on offer in the sprawling 25,000 square foot space (that used to belong to les Ailes de la Mode).

Our apartment is about to undergo a serious makeover as we say bienvenue to Crate & Barrel! —Christine Laroche

Crate and Barrel, 3035 le Carrefour Blvd., Laval, www.crateandbarrel.ca

Designing a nursery is easy. There is a ton of choice, and let’s face it, babies don’t really notice their rooms.

Decor gets more complicated for children and teens. Kids need a space that reflects their personality and style, but without compromising the taste of their parents. Which is why it came as great news that PB Teen now ships internationally.

The PB stands for Pottery Barn, and the stock reflects that: stylish and reasonably priced. The site sells great bedding and bathroom accessories but the study spaces are probably our favourite.

Now you won’t feel bad for sending them to their room. —ASI

www.pbteen.com

Remember when motherhood meant pouring martinis and playing bridge while baby sat in his playpen?

Now, between baby yoga, playdates and crafting class, you really have your hands full.

Take a load off with an Austrian felted lambswool baby swing ($215) created by the designer for his daughter.

With a rainbow of colour choices, they'll never cramp your style.

Exclusively at www.enfanterrible.com

If you wish you could live among the stylish and serene pages of Dwell, start by plonking your pre-schoolers in this heavy-duty swinging pod ($39.99) .

Tied to a tree it's an adventure playground; hung from the ceiling it's a quiet reading nook. 

And while it claims to help kids develop their sense of balance, it's the fact that "quiet time" is no longer a hard sell that has us spinning in circles.

At Ikea nationwide (air-filled pillow sold separately), www.ikea.com 

For those dull days when you feel like tossing all your furniture and starting from scratch, we suggest a few deep breaths and a visit to Style Labo.

This adorable new antique boutique specializes in industrial vintage, from stainless steel 1930s desk chairs to oversized medical lamps from the '50s ($850), each piece lovingly chosen according to the owners’ coupe de coeur. We had our own love-at-first-sight moment when we spotted a double-sided aluminum school clock ($350), and a slick '70s make-up commode from Italian designer Fanini Fain ($390).

One or two statement pieces like these and you’ll have officially put a ban on bland.

Style Labo, 122 Bernard St. W., Montreal, 514-658-9910.

Always keen to avoid paying full freight, we’re making regular trips to the new warehouse for Kinetic Living Concept.

This upscale depot of designer furniture, rugs, lamps and mirrors is our secret ally in the war against décor boredom. If your shabby-chic Sally Ann sofa is dragging you down, upgrade to a pair of Barcelona loungers ($699). Or give your apartment a modern profile with a circular Salorino chaise ($1,499) and replace dining room stools with ethereal Ghost chairs ($175).

Because paying full price is against our religion (along with wearing Crocs in public).

Kinetic Living Concept Warehouse, 1615 de Louvain St. W., Montreal, 514-383-5888, www.kinetichome.com

Just in time to pair with your new tie-dye maxi dress and rhinestone Birks, here are our favourite Canadian green products for kids in celebration of Earth Day (April 22).

Eat Green:
Beautiful, simple and well-crafted, the Tavo high chair by Monte made from recycled leather and wood selected from Canadian forests makes mealtime look good, $345.

Wear Green:
Simply chic, Canada’s Mini Mioche has all the great basics for your baby made from the softest organic cotton. T-shirt pictured, $25.

Play Green:
Canada’s 3 Sprouts makes cool, whimsical toy storage bins from organic cotton canvas and eco-spun felt. They are washable, lightweight and can be used for just about anything, $42.

Bean bag chairs may bring back traumatic childhood memories of shag carpet and the hippie tome Free to Be... You and Me, but you have to admit they’re awfully comfortable.

Thanks to a creative pairing between Dutch company Fatboy and Finnish design house Marimekko (adored by Jackie O, who probably never sat on a bean bag in her life), bean bags are not just a dorm room staple. We love the ’60s style series of Unikko floral prints, but our personal fave is the striking red, white and black Kaivo motif.

Now if only someone would teach us a graceful way to get up from one in a minidress.

$375 at Nüspace, 4689 St. Denis, Montreal, 514-845-6868.

We love the clean lines of our cappuccino-coloured sofa, but our living room could really use a shot of décor caffeine.

We’re coveting the new range of colors from Montreal furniture designer Daniel Perez. As comfy to sit on as they are to look at, each piece is custom built-to-last and most definitely commands a room. For big-impact, choose a Dillon divan in periwinkle or popsicle-orange velvet (from $1,500).  Or, go for a vintage 1960s Oslo chair, re-covered in red and black sateen ($2,100).

For those who want maximum dramatic impact, we suggest the black leather Hugo sectional with metal studs.  At $10,000, we expect enough oomph for the entire house.

Colexion Perez, 1247 Decondé, Montreal, 514-933-3993, www.perezfurniture.com

If your husband trips over a Bratz on his way to perch on the Disney chair as he scrambles for the monster truck about to knock over his red wine, it’s time to rein in the tots.

Vancouver’s brand new Pottery Barn Kids (one of the largest in North America) is set up as complete kids' spaces, so you can envision Olivia snoozing under the all-white paper butterfly chandelier ($99) and Jackson curling up in his vintage Star Wars sheets, while you and the hubby relax in your kid-clutter free living room.

We loved the Easter basket bar with retro-revival Peter Rabbit books, egg-shaped chalk and fabric bunny ears, and the selection of old-school “quiet” toys like Slinky's.

This summer, look for mermaid-themed melamine plateware plus a doll’s beach house.

But the best part: When you yell, “Go to your room!” they’ll comply in a flash.

Pass the Merlot, honey.

Attend free story times, singalongs, and decorating classes in Vancouver and Toronto on these dates: www.potterybarnkids.ca/events.

2935 Granville St., Vancouver, 604-638-7494, www.potterybarnkids.ca