By Samantha Vecchiarelli
Located at 4949 Dundas Street West, Etobicoke’s Village Paint & Wallpaper has been a trusted icon in the community since 1953. As its neighbourhood has evolved, so, too, has this stalwart shop, and today it is a destination for those seeking premium paints, wall coverings and high-quality window treatments, including shades and shutters from the trusted brand Hunter Douglas.
As a proud locally owned and operated business, Village Paint & Wallpaper continues to uphold its long-standing tradition of personalized service and deep-rooted community commitment. Ruth and David Bell became the second family to own Village Paint & Wallpaper in 1999 and have preserved its legacy ever since. “The previous owners’ son wanted to be sure that the succeeding owner would carry on business in the manner that his parents started,” David says. “We were originally customers,” adds Ruth. “We both knew him quite well, and we approached him to get into business. We thought paint was a good fit because David was in the paint sundries industry, and we both loved paint and home decor.”
Their shared passion for decorating has become a cornerstone of the business, and today the shop boasts both excellent-quality products and a plethora of expertise, which they happily share during personalized consultations.
With an eye on what’s next, Ruth and David ensure the business stays ahead of design trends by guiding customers through evolving palettes and finishes while remaining loyal to trusted brands. “We’ve definitely noticed a recent shift,” Ruth says. “Darker colours are still trending for exteriors, particularly on window trims, roof edges and garages, while interiors are moving away from cool grays and embracing warmer taupes again.”
As for windows, David highlights a growing interest among customers in power-automated blinds. “You can actually operate the blinds on your smartphone or tablet basically anywhere in the world,” he says. “You can go away on vacation and set the blinds to open and close so it appears that you’re home.” He notes that this added layer of convenience and security is becoming increasingly important to clients.
Village Paint & Wallpaper also provides high-quality window film installations to meet the needs of its homeowners and businesses. Its range of window films includes energy-efficient solar films, privacy-enhancing frosted films and security films.
Throughout Village Paint & Wallpaper’s more than 70 years in business, personal connection has remained a cornerstone. Familiar customers are greeted by name, and cans of paint are carried out to each customer’s car. “We provide all those personal services, which we can do, as a small business,” Ruth says.
Since taking ownership, the Bells have also built and maintained a detailed customer database, recording names and purchase histories to support long-term project needs. “Say they need a touch-up five years down the road, we know exactly what product they purchased because we have everything tagged,” David says.
As they look toward the future, the Bells remain dedicated to preserving the community-driven ethos that has defined Village Paint & Wallpaper for decades. The duo’s hands-on approach, combined with a deep understanding of design trends and customer needs, along with the personalized colour consultation appointments for both interiors and exteriors they offer, ensures the business will continue to thrive for many decades to come.