# Mjölk

By [Brandon Donnelly](https://brandondonnelly.com) · 2013-10-08

craft, design, dundas, funiture, gallery, japan, junction, mjolk, scandinavia, store, uncategorized

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I first heard about [Mjölk](http://mjolk.ca/) a few years ago. Located in the Junction, it’s a gorgeous gallery & store dedicated to Scandinavian and Japanese craftsmanship. It has everything from furniture to hand crafts. It’s well worth a visit if you’re into clean lines and the “pure aesthetic of the north.”

Started by a husband and wife duo, the couple also own the building and live above the store. They recently renovated their home and it was just awarded a [2013 Toronto Urban Design Award](http://www.toronto.ca/tuda/2013/pdf/tuda_jury_report.pdf). You can [see all the photos here](http://www.studiojunction.ca/projects/mjolk_house.shtml#). I particularly like the third floor inner courtyard:

If you’re curious as to what brought them to the Junction, check out this response from a [Dwell interview dated 2011](http://www.dwell.com/shops/article/design-shop-visit-mj%C3%B6lk-toronto):

_“Downtown became so expensive, and that pushed people either east or west. In the past five years, this area has really become a destination. A lot of young, independent businesses have popped up, starting with reclamation stores Smash and Post and Beam. There’s also Crema Coffee Co., Pandemonium Books & Discs, Junction Fromagerie (a Quebecois cheese shop), and Bunner’s gluten-free vegan bakery, to name a few.”_

I like to think of residential properties as a leading indicator for gentrification. Sometimes it’s easy to miss the change taking place behind closed doors though.

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*Originally published on [Brandon Donnelly](https://brandondonnelly.com/mjolk)*