An Interview with a white washed, shabby chic, blonde haired diva........or.....in otherwords an Interview with Lisa of My Back Shed in Oakville

A few days ago when I started the blog - I had decided to interview some people who have been involved in my life - not only at a retail level but also on a personal level...Lisa of My Back Shed and I are currently involved in the new business venture with Patrick and Sharyl ( Partners in Time) with the store Pied a terre....it is located just one block east of Flik and is doing quite well....Lisa is also a good friend of mine and has been involved with our family....She is a remarkable woman with great talents and is lucky also to have a great bunch of women who work with her at her store in Oakville....

What gave you the inspiration to open your own store?
Victoria magazine was a huge inspiration for me. I used to love the August issue which showcased beautiful shops owned by women. I longed to be one of those women and lucky for me it became a reality.

Describe the aesthetic of your store
I would describe my shop as very pretty. For me it's all about the furniture , I can't resist a piece of furniture with beautiful lines or lots of ornate detail. As I am buying the furniture I am already envisioning whether the piece is going to be a creamy white or done in an elegant black. It's amazing how a couple coats of paint can transform a piece.

If there was one piece of furniture you ever regret selling....what was it and why?
When my daughter turned 14 she decided she no longer wanted the french country look I had decorated her room in. To my "horror" she decided she wanted to replace all of her beautiful antique pieces with pieces from Ikea. We compromised and got rid of some things but I insisted she keep others. One of the pieces I did replace was a gorgeous desk. It had a bow front, 7 drawers and lovely detail all around, in hindsight I think I made a huge mistake letting that one go

What are the new ventures that you are involved in and where is 2010 going to take you?
In August of 2009 I teamed up with Flik and Company as well as Partners in Time. We combined forces and opened a new shop on Queen street called "Pied A' Terre". The mixture of all of our different styles has resulted in a very ecclectic mix of furniture and accessories. So far the response to the new store has been very positive. In only a few short months we already have a very regular client base which seems to keep growing every month. Other ventures "My Back Shed" will be involved in in 2010 is the February Home Show, Kimberley Seldon's Designer Flea Market and we are hoping the Style at Home show will return this fall. All of these shows provide great exposure for the store and it's an opportunity meet other shop keepers from all over Ontario

If you were to describe your own style - what is it and does it reflect in your store?
I don't think my style has a name. I like so much of what's out there now. I really like the sleekness and sparkle of contemporary design , but I also love the detail and curvy lines of traditional style. Figuring out how to make them work together is the tricky part. Our store definately leans more towards the traditional , but I do try to bring in some more contemporary accessories to try and make it a bit more modern.

What is the one colour you love personally but do not use in your store.....and why not?
Mauve is a colour I really do like and I wear it alot in my clothing, but it's not too often I will use it in the store. I know it's very popular right now for decorating but I do feel it's quite trendy ,so I tend to stick to colours that are more like neutrals so people won't tire of them. It also makes it much easier to merchandise the store, I like it to have a very cohesive look.

Visit Lisa at My Back Shed in Oakville or see her items at Pied a terre in Toronto

http://www.mybackshed.com/