In the corner of Stanley Avenue and Begbie Street near the Fernwood/Oak Bay border you may have noticed an inviting design shop, painted an elegant matte black, beckoning you in. Owner Carey Salvador took a chance on a rundown space three and a half years ago, fulfilling a long standing dream of opening a home design store and bringing to life what now is .

鈥淢y husband saw that this space was for rent, so we went to look at it and it was just in shambles. I walked in and said 鈥榥o.鈥欌��

Luckily Carey, with encouragement from friends, had second thoughts and so, with what I assume must have been a lot of hard work, 鈥渏ust made it happen.鈥�

Originally from a small farming town in Alberta, Carey left at 19, came to Victoria and went to school for interior design. With varying jobs, travel and life experience, she has come full-circle back to Victoria from where she was living in Vancouver with her family, and to interior design, bringing a beautiful curation of old and new items alike to a now gorgeous space that has been given a new lease on life.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 know if I can label it,鈥� Carey says when I ask how she would describe the aesthetic of the store. 鈥淚t鈥檚 constantly evolving from the day we opened to today. Maybe it could be described as country modern rustic. However, I think the next evolution will be cleaner lines, more simplicity. Where you can incorporate antiques but still look minimal.鈥�

As we sit chatting in the shop 鈥� which is filled with ceramics in a minimal colour palette, lush sheepskins, gorgeous scents and a feast for the eyes ofbeautiful things 鈥� Carey greets the people who wander in and out.

鈥淚 just love creating a nice space for people.鈥�

Outside of work, Carey has a love for horseback riding, photography and family, but says, 鈥滶ven outside of work I鈥檓 passionate about design. I鈥檓 constantly looking; it鈥檚 impossible for me to stop looking. To keep the shop fresh and new it takes a lot of time.鈥�

Proving that when you do what you love it isn鈥檛 just work, she adds,

鈥淲hen I open that door in the morning it just makes me happy.鈥�

Fashion:

Uniform

Denim and mid- to high-rise trousers. All-time favourite piece: Floral dress by (鈥渢hank you Still Life xoxo鈥�) and a pair of fabulous trousers I bought at .鈥� Currently Coveting: Leather bag by . Favourite pair of shoes: Oxfords. 鈥淚 have an obsession.鈥� Favourite Day bag: Tanner Goods. Favourite jewellery piece or designer: I was obsessed with this (large) opal ring 鈥� of course 鈥� surrounded by diamonds. I don鈥檛 know how many years I made my family stand at the window and gaze at it with me, but I finally bought it for myself. I still love it to this day.鈥� Fashion Obsession: 鈥淐urrently鈥�cashmere turtle neck (鈥渨here can I find one?鈥�) with high-waisted trousers. That would be my ultimate winter uniform.鈥� Accessory you spend the most money on: Watches. New and vintage. 鈥淚 love men鈥檚 vintage Omega watches. So sexy.鈥�

Style Inspirations:

Style Icon

鈥淛amie Beck 鈥� I can鈥檛 even handle her!鈥�

Favourite Artist:

Henri Cartier Bresson and Annie Leibovitz. 鈥淚 have always loved photography, and have a passion for it. It鈥檚 my favourite interest outside of design.鈥� Piece of art: 鈥淚 LOVE antique oil portraits and my favourite piece is . Favourite Fashion Designer: 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know if I have a favourite, but Ralph Lauren is the epitome of classic fashion and interior design.鈥� Favourite Musician: 鈥淛oni Mitchell and my 7-year-old daughter, Lucia.鈥� Era of Time that inspires your style: 鈥淭hink Jackie Onassis Kennedy 鈥� late 鈥�60s, 鈥�70s. She was often clad in trousers, an elegant blouse and large sunnies.鈥�

Life:

Favourite local restaurant: 鈥淚t鈥檚 safe to say I am a regular at . (The best.)鈥� Favourite Cocktail/Wine: Devil鈥檚 Lair from the Margaret River region. Album on current rotation: Banks. Favourite Flower: 鈥淚 could never just love one: 鈥業 must have flowers, always, and always.鈥� Claude Monet.鈥� Favourite city to visit: Montreal and Singapore. Favourite Hotel: Pali House Society (Santa Monica specifically). Favourite place in the whole world: 鈥淗ome. Or wherever my family is. Honestly, there鈥檚 nothing better.鈥�

Beauty:

Necessary indulgence

Massage () and pedicures. Moisturizer: Eminence Organic Skincare. Must have hair product: Big Sexy Spray Volumizer. Beauty secret: 鈥淚 definitely don鈥檛 hold any secrets, but finding time for me, being quiet, hot baths and working out.鈥�

Reading Material:

What do you read Online for style: 鈥淚鈥檓 almost always online reading up on design. You could say I get鈥� focussed. I can spend hours and hours and 鈥�..鈥� FavE Print magazine: Country Living Modern Rustic (AU) and Elle Decor EU. FavE style Blog: theglamourai.com. 鈥淜elly Framel is not limited. She is strong, bold and damn amazing!鈥� Coffee table Book: Anything by Sibella Court. Last great read: A Stolen Life: A Memoir by Jaycee Lee Dugard. Book currently reading: All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. Favourite book of all time: The Guests of the Sheik by Elizabeth Warnock Fernea.

- Story and photograph by Lia Crowe

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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