Lifestyle store with a curated edit of designers and artisans based in Toronto, Canada.
Each season, we invite someone to create a plate that reflects the ideas at the heart of River Crossing’s collection. Over time, these plates will form an archive of seasons, makers and ideas.
We think of dressing the table as a tradition worth preserving. The table is as much a place for gathering as it is for enjoying a meal, and for many families it is the bedrock of rituals. To dress the table is to celebrate the ritual of eating together—to draw our attention to the objects we live with and, ultimately, to one another.
For Fall/Winter 2026, we turned to our close friend Lyane Van Schaik-Munk, whose pottery evokes warmth and tranquility. While experimenting with hand-drawing on clay, Lyane began painting the wildflowers that dot the Ontario landscape. Her delicate paintings enliven the table without overwhelming the scene, and compliment flower arrangements beautifully.
What is your favourite street to cross?
My favourite street to cross is Pimlico Road in London. I love to find inspiration wandering through all the galleries and design shops. I discovered this street while wandering London, and it was full of inspiration for me. Travel has been a big part of my life—a way to learn and grow creatively. If I look back, there have been a few streets that have had the courtesy of making time fly while my soul is fed. For now, in this time and space, it is still Pimlico Road.
What is something worth taking your time with?
When life is busy and the news and information are all too loud, I find poetry to be the answer. Taking your time with poetry is almost required and therefore it is a surrender the minute you pick up the book. I cannot drift off or be distracted when I read poetry—it is a soothing read where I seek to find meaning and discover my emotional reaction to the words. One sentence can make you think and dwell in all sorts of possibilities.
What is your favourite daily ritual?
I love to make my coffee every morning, before anyone else in the home is awake. I generally will enjoy it while listening to the birds or the sunrise while my dog snuggles up next to me on the sofa. It is a time to lay out the day and set my intentions. I am deeply grateful for this routine.
When do you feel most restored?
There is nothing more restoring than a long soak in a bath. After a particularly exhausting day, if I still have a night out ahead, a bath restores and motivates me to get dressed and take on that evening. Other times, it can initiate a peaceful rest. In my world, a bath solves just about everything.
Can you name an object you couldn't imagine living without?
I would find it hard to live without a fireplace. In fact, every house we have ever owned has had a fireplace, and, if we bought it without one, it was the first thing we added. Making a fire, feeling the heat and being so grateful for the warmth in the room. The autumn and winter seasons are spectacular in Ontario and they are better with a fireplace.
Where do you feel most at home?
I feel most at home sitting on my porch at the cottage. Someone once said to me, “Who wants a Porsche when you can have a porch?” That line has never left me. A porch is where life happens: we eat, nap, laugh, play games, hug each other hello, and wave goodbye. Long live the porch!
What is one tradition or habit you hope to pass on?
I hope to pass on the importance of meals together. Our family has had great discussions, arguments and laughs while creating and sharing meals. Family meals are restorative and informative. They are a rare moment in a day or week that all of you are together uninterrupted.
What do you love?
I love music and dancing. Music can change my mood, and dancing releases so much and fulfills at the same time. I don’t think my life would be nearly as good without music and dancing. They take me to my happiest state of mind.
