BLOSSOMS LIVING OWNER - CARLA SHARBACK
The Blossoms that we all know and love is becoming "Blossoms Living", an 18Karat Neighborhood Store in Saskatoon. Blossoms has grown along with 18Karat for 19 years and appreciates the companys philosophy in supporting equality and fairness in the factories that produce their products while maintaining beautiful organic designs and products for clients to purchase. Blossoms will soon be celebrating their Grand Reopening as Blossoms Living so, we thought an interview with owner, Carla Scharback, would be very timely!
ATMOSPHERE: While waiting in line at the check-out stand, which of these magazines would you pick up and flip through: House & Home, Elle Decor, Traditional Home, Dwell, Other?
CARLA: All of the above! And then some. I am a self admitted magazine junkie. Still grieving the loss of Metropolitan Home.
ELLE DECOR - APRIL 2011
ATMOSPHERE: Which room in your home best represents your design style, and what features were key to the design?
CARLA: My living room. It has big windows, a fireplace and room for my large paintings. It isn't formal but I love my chairs, occasional tables and credenza from Global Views.
ATMOSPHERE LOVES THE "FRENCH KEY EVERYTHING CABINET" AND "LUCY CHAIR" FROM GLOBAL VIEWS
ATMOSPHERE: Which room are you dying to renovate? Will you continue the same feel, or will it be a departure?
CARLA: Hands down my kitchen. It was the first room I wanted to renovate when I bought my 1950's house and the last room left! It will be bright - a timeless, organic design.
ATMOSPHERE: Can you share a memorable design disaster or a design decision you wish you could make over again?
CARLA: Trusting the roofer that my shingles could be off the roof and the roof uncovered in my first house. The rain really "affected" my plaster walls. Live and learn!
FOR THIS PARTICULAR DESIGN DILEMA, ATMOSPHERE RECOMMENDS THE BURBERRY "REGENT" DOUBLE UMBRELLA
ATMOSPHERE: If you could live anywhere and had an unlimited budget to build/buy whatever you wanted (think Dream-Home), what would it be (ocean front beach house, penthouse condo, rustic lodge in the mountains), and describe the design?
CARLA: Definitely ocean front, and somewhere warm please! I loved Jennifer Aniston's home in Architectural Digest!
JENNIFER ANISTON AT HOME - ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST - MARCH 2010
ATMOSPHERE: In your travels, what hotel room has inspired you or felt most like home?
CARLA: I really love the Loden in Vancouver. (Trevor & Curtis recommended!) The design was clean and polished without being to "glitzy".
THE BEAUTIFUL LODEN VANCOUVER BOUTIQUE HOTEL
ATMOSPHERE: If you were selected to be on a television design show, which show/ designer would you love to have work for you, and what room would you have them tackle for you?
CARLA: Sarah Richardson, welcome to my kitchen!
WE THINK CARLA WOULD BE RIGHT AT HOME IN THIS IMPECCABLE KITCHEN BY DESIGNER SARAH RICHARDSON
ATMOSPHERE: When entertaining at home, where do your guests tend to gather the most and why?
CARLA: In the kitchen and dining room. That where the food is happening and drinks being served! I love to sit around the table with good food, drinks and conversation!
ATMOSPHERE: What CD would be playing in the background?
CARLA: My range is huge - anything from Willie Nelson to Neko Case to the Stones. No Hip Hop or Rap please.
CARLA'S ECLECTIC TASTE - WILLIE NELSON, NEKO CASE AND THE ROLLING STONES
ATMOSPHERE: Where do you tend to do most of your décor and furniture shopping?
CARLA: I am fortunate to be able to travel and buy for my own business, which spills over into my life. Most of my large case goods & upholstered furniture are from Sew & Home. Of course!
FURNISHINGS AND DECOR. A PAGE FROM THE 18KARAT CATALOG
ATMOSPHERE: What is your favorite piece of furniture or décor that you currently own?
CARLA: I have several beautiful paintings. Currently I am meditating on a very large piece about "balance" by my friend and mentor Linda Chartier. It draws me in and calms me down.
LINDA CHARTIER'S WORK IS REPRESENTED BY THE ROUGE GALLERY IN SASKATOON (ROUGE GALLERY OWNER - WANDA UNDERHILL WITH THE ARTIST)
ATMOSPHERE: What is your next object of desire?
CARLA: Bedroom suite for principle bedroom!
ATMOSPHERE: In Saskatoon, what space (private or public) has left a strong design impression on you?
CARLA: I always feel a gentle quietness when I visit the Mendel Art Gallery. I love the space, the smell and even the sound of quiet foot steps on the cork floor. Steps away from the organic beauty of the riverbank.
THE MENDEL ART GALLERY AND CIVIC CONSERVATORY
- Heather Whyte - Project Coordinator/Showroom Manager
