On Kerr Street in downtown Oakville, Ontario, My Back Shed has spent more than two decades filling its showroom with French Country antiques, shabby chic furnishings, and hand painted decorative pieces. Owner Lisa Barsony opened the shop in 2001 and has built a loyal following among Oakville and Halton Region shoppers who return again and again for one of a kind furniture, vintage jewelry, and home accents that mix European charm with a softer, cottage inspired aesthetic. The shop’s inventory leans heavily on pieces that carry a story: chests and tables refinished by hand, mirrors and lighting chosen for their patina, and small collectibles suited to gift giving as much as home styling. Barsony’s approach favors character over mass production, and the showroom is arranged so that furniture, art, and smaller decorative objects flow together the way they might in an actual French country home rather than a formal retail display.
Beyond the main showroom, My Back Shed sets aside a dedicated as is room where shoppers can dig through flea market style finds at lower price points, an approach that appeals to both first time treasure hunters and seasoned pickers looking for a bargain before it gets a fresh coat of paint. That willingness to sell pieces in their found condition, alongside fully restored showroom furniture, is part of what sets the shop apart from a typical antique dealer in the region: customers can choose a project piece to finish themselves at home or a ready to place item that has already been finished in house by the shop’s own team.
What further distinguishes My Back Shed from many resale and antique shops in the Oakville area is its custom services arm. The team offers hand painted furniture restoration, transforming tired dressers, cabinets, and tables into statement pieces using techniques Barsony has refined over years in the trade, along with bespoke upholstery work for chairs, benches, and sofas that customers want reupholstered rather than replaced outright. This combination of retail and restoration means the shop functions as both a place to shop and a working studio, a distinction Barsony points to when she talks about the satisfaction of finding the right piece for the right customer and then making it truly theirs.
My Back Shed is located at 131 Kerr Street, Unit A, in Oakville, Ontario, in the heart of a downtown shopping corridor known for its independent boutiques and antique dealers. The shop welcomes walk in visitors Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., making it easy to browse before or after other downtown Kerr Street errands. Shoppers looking for French Country dressers, shabby chic accent tables, vintage inspired jewelry, or a custom upholstery quote can call ahead to 905 847 2922 or simply stop by during posted hours to see what has arrived that week.
For anyone furnishing a home in the Oakville area who wants character rather than mass produced sameness, My Back Shed offers a rare combination: a curated antique and shabby chic showroom, an affordable as is room for hands on shoppers, and in house restoration and upholstery services all under one roof. It is a Kerr Street fixture that has been crafting beauty since 2001, and it remains one of Oakville’s most dependable sources for French Country and vintage inspired home decor, restored by hand and sold with a personal touch.
