Phil’z 20th Century Design

Found some great fixtures perfect for our new lounge bar at work.
Once purchased and installed we realized the colored glass on two fixtures positioned side by side were off color match, particularly when turned on .
A quick google search revealed some mostly older negative reviews of the source from where I purchased the lights which left me a bit apprehensive in having to now go back for replacement.
I was met by one of the owners, Cynthia
And she was eccentric and pleasant. At first glance she was quite surprised but eager to help.
I was able to get a color match replacement on the spot .
Everything worked out and very grateful for our new light ;)

I recently visited Phil’z after receiving a recommendation from a family member who spent WAY to much on a piece of furniture from there.
Arrived at the store and was immediately greeted by a big sign on the door saying no photos. OK. Weird.
Entered the store and my 2 year old sat down in a chair that I was standing beside. The sales lady then walked over and instead of greeting us, asked that my daughter (who was clean, well dressed and well behaved) remove herself from the chair. I thought this was strange given that the chair was a grey material chair with metal arms and legs of the variety that you can find in the waiting room of any insurance office, homeless shelter, or auto impound yard. However, I complied thinking that maybe the sales lady was uncomfortable. I put my daughter in her stroller where she sat quietly while I looked around.
The sales lady however, proved to be VERY CREEPY. She followed us around never getting more than five feet away. She did not ask if we needed assistance. She did not try to explain her need to be my shadow. She just… followed us around. CREEPY.
As I looked around the store I realized that most of what they sell is overpriced junk. The furniture just looks interesting because it is out of context. An office desk as a dining room table, a stage light on a coffee table… They have some nice dining room tables, but other than that. JUNK.
If you need a reclaimed light for hundreds of dollars, and you enjoy being treated like a criminal while you shop, then this is definitely the place for you. But come on people, if they want your money, they should have to treat you like a valued customer. I just felt uncomfortable.
I will never spend a dollar in this store.

I really like this store. They have really unique items that feel like they are one of a kind. Apparently the owner scours around buying unique pieces for the store, so if you see something you like and it works in your home, you should totally pick it up. I don’t believe they can order a second one for you. I saw a great couch here and totally regret not getting it.
As for the service, I can see where everyone is coming from. There’s usually only one person working, and she’s not the friendliest. I did speak with her before, and she mentioned that at least one customer had come in inquiring about specific pieces and took pictures and dimensions etc, and in the end, they ended up going on to make it themselves. I think that’s why they are pretty adamant about people not taking pictures there.
However, there’s no need to take those bad experiences and reflect them onto everyone else.

WIth the wealth of interesting design and furniture shops in Toronto, it’s baffling to me why anyone would ever patronize the sourpusses at Phil’z.
«Patronize» is the theme at Phil’z, with a customer service style (if you can call it that) that is terse, pretentious and dismissive. …Or maybe they just single-​out people named Kyle for extra-​rude treatment (see other review).
I didn’t experience the hovering that other reviewers here did; quite the opposite. I was just full-​on ignored (there were no other customers in the shop). It wasn’t until I politely inquired about an item that the female owner trudged over to me with great heaving sighs. I asked about a large portrait and where it came from. She quite literally sneered and huffed that it came from Toronto, as if that was somehow blatantly obvious and then gave no further information. I spent a few more minutes looking around, realized I was somehow intruding and decided to leave.
The pieces in the shop ARE interesting, but before putting down a chunk of hard-​earned money customers would be wise to read other reviews, ask Phil’z LOTS of questions about their return policy and confirm that the one-​of-​a-​kind antique treasure they have their eye on isn’t in fact a mass-​produced fake. Buyer beware.

I have never been treated so poorly at a store before stepping into Philz 20^th Century Designs.
The lady working here is quite the piece of work.
She was practically breathing down our necks the entire time we were browsing. As you can imagine, this made for a very uncomfortable shopping experience. When I inquired about a few particular pieces, the responses she gave were just dripping in condescension. Ugh. Spare me the pretense.
It bothers me how a place that treats its customers so poorly manages to stay in business.
Shop elsewhere or be warned.

Felt I needed to review after a very negative experience here.
Several months ago I spent close to $ 2000 at this store on a dining room hutch and some chairs. Great stuff and works well in the house. No complaints in that regard. Walked in today with my two month old son in a stroller (he was asleep) and was pretty much treated like a piece of sh-​t from the second I walked in the door. Same woman who sold me the furniture a few months back, this time warning me to watch the stroller around the furniture before even moving a few steps into the store and a few seconds later, almost yelled when I passed within a few inches of a couch. Was pretty stunned and so waited a few minutes, looked around in one spot in the store, and then quietly left.
I was willing to shell out another couple of grand on a couch and had hoped to find something there. Now I will never shop there again. Very unfortunate attitude, in a neighbourhood that is otherwise very friendly for both children and adults.
Let me say to that I am sympathetic to her situation. Located on Queen St., she likely has to deal with a lot of unreasonable people throughout the day and we can all have a bad day. I do very much believe in supporting local businesses and really want stores like this to thrive.
But I’m not a doormat. If I walk into your store with a friendly smile and am all but given a two-​word directive, it’s safe to say I’m never going to walk in your door again.

so i have a bit of a quandry regarding this place. i was taking pictures, of the stuff as i was looking… which i can see might make the proprietor feel uncomfortable (not for any particular reason mind you), though the thing is, her stuff is so unique, so difficult i imagine for her to find and bring to the store, that its not as if i could be photographing this stuff to steal ideas or make copies of it myself. i could have been a snap-​happpy tourist. when i tried to ask her questions about some of the stuff, like what time period stuff came from (as early as the early 1900s) she was very curt while i was polite and inquisitive. she was a hoverer, which always makes me SOOO uncomfortable.
the furniture and other home doodads were unbelievable in their uniqueness, style, peculiarity (like some enormous movie light from the thirties lying on the floor because you couldnt possibly have it standing without a crane), and unfortunately price. for the most part any piece of furniture or accessory (like a lamp, let’s say) was minimum 1000 dollars — most at quick glance were in the 3000 dollar range. now again, i am willing to admit that it must take some great effort to find these gems, but whether they are worth the price tag is in my opinion debatable and i dont know if i could, with comfort have that conversation with the owner, which i think, as one who sets these prices, should be able to and expected to answer those questions. the rich stay rich because they dont spend money on frivolous things — so if im not the one who will be buying your product because of its price, then make sure the ones who can afford it know that they are getting value for their money.