Tiny House Mama blends shopping experiences in its East Chinatown shop

Photo: Tiny House Mama

When Stacey Lipstein, perhaps better known as Tiny House Mama, launched an Instagram account to chronicle the renovation of her 1875 Victorian bungalow, she had no idea it would take off like wildfire. And now she's channeled the spirit of that makeover into a beautiful Gerrard St. shop. 

The flowered building set in the middle of Toronto's East Chinatown houses a collaborative space featuring the curated stylings of Tiny House Mama Beauty + Goods combined with Heri Furniture, which has a showroom and workshop in the back.

The Tiny House Mama shop is a collection of Lipstein's passions brought to life, which includes a collection of vintage Moroccan rugs, pillows and other assorted home decor, paper products and locally produced beauty goods. 

"All the items sold at Tiny House Mama are things I'd have in my own home, incorporate into my life and, of course, lather and soak on my own body," Lipstein says. "That was the intention behind Tiny House Mama Beauty + Goods. I'm such a sucker for the little and not-so-little indulgences in life."

Lipstein is no stranger to the east end having lived and worked in the area for over a decade and launching Leslieville's first designer salon, Fuss Hair Studio. 

"I love this part of the city, but I feel like it gets overlooked a lot," Lipstein says.

She says her aim is to bring a new creative outpost to this stretch of Gerrard that houses local and female-designed products, collaborations and produces pop-ups and events.

"One of my favourite things that happens in the shop is connecting people" she says. "Inevitably, when customers come in, we strike up conversation and, of course, the client sitting in my chair joins in. I have had passersby come on in, take a seat and even hang for a bit, which is a really neat twist to a traditional shopping experience."

Lipstein says she is taking different experiences and blending them together under one roof to create a personalized, customized, and totally fun way to shop and get your hair done."

"I'm a hairstylist by trade and wanted to make sure that was also part of this space, because this is also a huge part for me, in bringing together community, and because I love hair and have built my life around it."

That's why a simple vintage turquoise hair chair serves as the cornerstone of Tiny House Mama, and one that services clients during operating hours.

Tiny House Mama is located at 652 Gerrard St. E. Visit tinyhousemama.ca for hours and more information.