When Riva Mackie was pregnant with her first baby, she sought products for her home that were natural, organic and ecologically sustainable. But she and her husband Andrew couldn’t find any. “So we dreamt up Riva’s Eco Store,” says Riva.
They launched the successful shop in Lower Mount Royal in 2008 before moving to its current location in Inglewood. After seven years of growth, the Mackies decided to rebrand the store as Goldgrass Home and focus solely on artisanal home furnishings and interiors, offering everything from hand-crafted ceramics and non-toxic children’s toys and furniture to all-natural luxe mattresses and handmade tiles.
Andrew, an architect by trade, and Riva, a former tennis pro and Rolf practitioner, are extremely mindful of the merchandise they carry. They research and locate products that are not only beautiful but are healthy for the user, the craftsman who made them and the environment. “We blend health, art and design together,” says Andrew. “It’s something we’re passionate about.”
They also seek healthy products with a tried-and-true history. “For example, research may lead us to a local potter who’s been using clay from Medicine Hat and crafting something in a way that’s been done for hundreds of years,” explains Riva. “Or it may lead us to the Hästens company that’s been making beds since 1852.”
