It's easy to mistake Lyla’s House for a cafe and nothing else.
But mother and son business partners Alex and Karoline Ratcliff have brewed up an interesting concept in downtown Georgetown. Lyla’s House - named after owner Alex’s little cousin - is a blend of a cafe and furniture and home decor store.
“I drew a lot of inspiration from the cafes I went to in Europe,” said Alex, who lived abroad for four years. “Their cafes are so desirable to me. And there is nothing like that here, even in Toronto.”
The emphasis on wood finishes, use of tiles and the general minimalist design make the interior at 76 Main St. S. feel chic while not intimidating.
Espressos, Americanos, cortados, flat whites, lattes and teas flow here just like any other cafe. Patrons can accompany their drinks with eats like cookies and muffins.
The cafe side of the business aims to create a relaxed atmosphere for those in need of new decor for their homes.
“Going to a furniture store is so awkward. ‘Can I sit on this couch? How long can I sit on it for? Everything is delicate. Can you touch it?,'” Alex explained. “So I was thinking, how do you get people to use the furniture in a natural way that will let them say they want to buy it?”
Lyla’s House will contact the supplier and order the couches, chairs and tables that are both on sale and part of the shop furnishings. But customers can also buy and walk out with smaller items like candles, soaps, mugs, books, etc.
While the business just opened this month, the pair's entrepreneurial spirit has been in their genes much longer than that. The Ratcliffs are very much a business family.
Karoline and her father both started a plastics company. Little Alex would watch them carry out the day-to-day tasks of the business. With a welding company also under her belt, Karoline says she has “never really worked for somebody else.”
As a mother with strong business acumen, she gave Alex room to strike out on his own at a young age. When her son was in high school, she loaned him and his friend $1,200 to start a T-shirt printing business.
“I thought that if they came up with a whole plan, I would just let them try it and support them,” Karoline recalled.
That venture did not succeed, but it taught Alex a few lessons: Things aren’t easy to sell, and people are not going to care about something as much as you do.
Karoline provided advice and support throughout the development of Lyla's House. At times, she said she had to pull her son down from the clouds.
“I know what it’s like to start something from nothing, and it's a lot more difficult than some people might realize,” she said.
Going forward, the pair is mulling over creating wall spaces for local artists to display their works.
The new local business is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
For further details, check out the Lyla's House Instagram page.
