A Touch Of Wood in Ormstown

Emily Southwood - Mélanie Bouchard and Michel Daoust are accustomed to fielding questions about the anticipated opening of their Ormstown furniture store on Church Street. The dynamic duo have had to push back the launch date several times because of their booming side businesses, and because every time they show people their custom wood creations, they make a sale. We are currently trying not to sell anything, so that we can have a full stock for the opening,” Michel smiles. “It’s really a happy problem to have.” What’s keeping them so busy, besides renovating and flipping homes, is the other component of A Touch Of Wood, which consists of selling raised garden beds to garden centers in Quebec. The line of custom, handcrafted raised beds, which turn heads and also keep out unwanted critters, are so in demand that they’re using storefront space to complete all of the spring orders. The most popular design is a stylish mix of galvanized metal with stained and charred Hemlock. A glance inside the location reveals eight employees at work completing the line, which will be sold at 20 garden centers throughout the greater Montreal region. The long-term ambition is to sell their designs Canada-wide. The dynamic duo with ambitious vision came up with the idea for the business after the plant where Michel worked as director closed and they began working as a team doing renos and flipping homes. Melanie—who had taken a decorators course—increasingly discovered her eye for design as the custom pieces they created for their renovations wowed clients. “People love the look of adding accents of reclaimed wood, not too much, but just a touch.” Thus the idea for A Touch Of Wood was born. Their eye for rustic-chic is on point with the large demographic that craves a warmed up modern look. So when exactly is the store opening… “I’m going to frustrate more people by saying we still can’t give an exact date,” Melanie says. “But it will be this summer!” The items customers can expect to find inside the charming location include tables, bars, mirrors, butcher blocks, coat racks, vanities and cabinets. All of their designs use Quebec wood, much of it reclaimed from farmers within the Haut Saint Laurent area. Their full line of raised garden beds can be viewed online at: www.unetouchedebois.ca. As for the rest, the wait until this summer’s grand opening is sure to be well worth it.