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 Pigeonhole.
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�
| Owner Carey Salvador at Pigeonhole Home Store. (Lia Crowe photograph) |
Fashion:
Uniform
Denim and mid- to high-rise trousers. All-time favourite piece: Floral dress by GANNI (鈥渢hank you Still Life xoxo鈥�) and a pair of fabulous trousers I bought at Anthropologie.鈥� Currently Coveting: Leather bag by Kara Rosenlund. 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ashmere 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 Kara Rosenlund鈥檚 Wild Horses photograph. 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 Zambris. (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 (Atlas Health Therapy) 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 Boulevard Magazine, a Black Press Media publication
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