By Susan Kelly
Sometimes, seeing things out of context is a good thing. Or so Paulena Paton finds every time she glimpses the chic outdoor furniture designed by her company, Protégé Casual, gracing a downtown Toronto indoor living room. “It happens more than you’d think, and it’s an extension of the major trend towards outdoor spaces being designed to blend seamlessly with a home’s interior,” says the managing director of the family-run Concord-based business. “It’s something we prioritize in both our in-house collections and other luxury brands we carry.”
Of the 18 Protégé Casual-designed collections, the Castelle sofa and club chairs are especially popular in this regard; about 75 per cent of clients from across the country buy them for indoor use. On trend with the natural look, handwoven twisted wicker wraps seamlessly around gracefully bowed arms, a stunning addition to any elegant contemporary or transitional decor, inside or outside the home.
Paton has been part of both the design and the research and development sides of Protégé Casual since 2017. She works alongside her father, Vaskin Jakarsezian, who founded the company over 40 years ago. With his extensive experience, he brings expertise in creating outdoor furniture to withstand the Canadian elements. “We stay ahead of the curve when it comes to world trends, but put a lot of time and effort into making our collections durable and a joy to use here,” Paton says.
It takes up to 18 months for Protégé Casual’s elegant collections to go from drawing board to showroom. Though frames and mechanisms are largely sourced overseas, all design work is performed in the Concord headquarters. Testing for UV and saltwater resistance and strength is also conducted there, as is the custom crafting of upholstery, cushions and protective covers by skilled staff once customers have chosen from the thousands of fabric options available in varying textures and tones. Turnaround time is swift: With highly coordinated operations, a custom order takes on average about two weeks from the time it’s placed to when the furniture is delivered.
Dealers carrying Protégé products can be found across Canada, but the Concord showroom is open to the public, offering 8,000 square feet over two floors in which to browse. That makes for hundreds of options for every taste and lifestyle: ever-popular deep seating or sectionals, club chairs, gliders, chaise longues and more. Plus a wide choice of shade solutions and outdoor accessories, including lights, ottomans and coffee tables. Outdoor heat and fire features are available to warm the chilly nights and help prolong the season. Customers within 150 kilometres of the GTA, including the Muskoka region, can also request an in-home consultation, one of many complimentary services offered to clients.
“Ultimately, your patio or other outdoor space is an extension of your home, and you should be equally proud of both.”
Wherever you meet a Protégé professional, be prepared to answer a lot of questions—whether kids, pets and extended family are to be considered, how often you entertain and what kind of shindigs you like to throw, and the like—all aimed at getting to know you, and your needs and tastes. “Ultimately, your patio or other outdoor space is an extension of your home, and you should be equally proud of both,” Paton says. “We’re here to help you create the perfect oasis in which to share an elevated experience with friends and family, and make beautiful memories now and for many summers to come.”