- Words by Angela Cowan Photography by Lia Crowe
Design has been a part of Tara WalldenB次元官网网址檚 life since her earliest years, from growing up surrounded by a creative and talented familyB次元官网网址攈er father was an architect and her aunt and grandmother headed an interior design firm in VenezuelaB次元官网网址攖o getting her degree in fashion design, working in visual merchandising and retail management, and opening Decora Tile 25 years ago.
Right from the start, she and her husband established it as a go-to destination for renovations and new builds alike.
Neither had been business owners before they opened Decora, and the learning curve and chaos of entrepreneurship was compounded by the rapid arrival of their first baby.
(B次元官网网址淲e started our business and then a year later had a child. My water broke at work,B次元官网网址� Tara remembers with a laugh.)
But the busyness and variety suited her.
B次元官网网址淚 have to be creative. I have to have something visual, and I have to be moving,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淚 canB次元官网网址檛 just sit in a cubicleB次元官网网址攂een there, done that, and itB次元官网网址檚 not my thing.B次元官网网址�
Over the years sheB次元官网网址檚 been able to leverage that creativity in DecoraB次元官网网址檚 showroom, bringing back ideas and products from trips abroad, and pulling from her fashion-design background to provide a unique perspective on home design.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been to Spain to the factory there, and IB次元官网网址檝e been to California to Sonoma Tilemakers,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淎nd I bring it back to the shop and make it a really thought-provoking place.B次元官网网址�
And now that her kids are grown and travel has opened up again, TaraB次元官网网址檚 looking forward to getting back out into the world, exploring and finding not only new tiles and products, but ideas and inspiration.
As general manager and design consultant, she gets to keep her hand in both sides of the business, enjoying the organizational work on the clerical side, while also flexing her creative muscles building the showrooms and working with clients.
B次元官网网址淚 love when IB次元官网网址檝e never met them before and weB次元官网网址檙e both excited,B次元官网网址� she says, describing that magic moment of working with a new client and experiencing the same flash of inspiration and connection. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 all about building relationships with our clients.B次元官网网址�
The 7 Sins
Envy:
Whose shoes would you like to walk in?
My two grandmothersB次元官网网址�. I would like to pop back in time at different intervals in their lives and walk alongside them, to see their struggles and their joys in much harder times than mine. When my life gets challenging, I think back to what they may have gone through and it puts mine in perspective.
Gluttony:
What is the food you could eat over and over again?
There is nothing like a fresh tomato or crunchy peas just picked and eaten as IB次元官网网址檓 gardening. Also, fresh artisan bread ready to sop up the remaining sauce of a good, creamy mushroom garlic pasta, under low lights with my husband, tucked into the corner of a great restaurantB次元官网网址n Italy.
Greed:
YouB次元官网网址檙e given $1 million that you have to spend selfishly. What would you spend it on?
Time away to explore the world and stay a while and rest in each place, absorbing the culture. While there IB次元官网网址檇 slowly cultivate a new wardrobe and furnishing while strolling local shops, bringing it all back to a simple, small, new farmhouse built from years of ideas. HmmB次元官网网址ight take more than a million, ha ha.
Wrath:
Pet peeves?
Narcissistic people who impose their views on you uninvited. Everyone is welcome to their opinions, but donB次元官网网址檛 put my life through hell to rant and push your views on me. We can live in peace with each other. I would like to adopt a greater good and more worldly view.
Sloth:
Where would you spend a long time doing nothing?
A tropical beach, a spa, and with clean, simple food. Several places to revisit and new ones to explore.
Pride:
What is the one thing youB次元官网网址檙e secretly proud of?
ItB次元官网网址檚 no secret: my family, Decora TileB次元官网网址攖he business I helped buildB次元官网网址攎y house and garden, and my need to look on the bright side.
Lust:
What makes your heart beat faster?
The adrenaline of being one with a horse, galloping through a valley and up a hill to a breathtaking view. Being caught in the rain on a warm, sunny day walking along a beach. When life just chimes together and is in sync in that moment, and you feel pure happiness.
You can find .
Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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