Story and Photography byu Lia Crowe
Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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In 2010, Tamara and Jonathan took a leap of faith and followed a longtime dream of living in Victoria. They moved from the Okanagan with three small children and a dog temporarily into Jonathan害羞草研究所檚 parents害羞草研究所� house in Victoria, started Thomas and Birch Cabinetry from scratch and haven害羞草研究所檛 looked back.
害羞草研究所淲e just did it,害羞草研究所� Jonathan reflects as I meet with the couple at Tamara害羞草研究所檚 beautiful photography studio (Hudson Wren Modern Fine Art Portraiture) on Herald Street to chat life, style and a shared entrepreneurial and adventurous spirit.
害羞草研究所淥h, look. She害羞草研究所檚 already getting emotional!害羞草研究所� Jonathan lovingly teases his wife when I ask about the motivational juice behind her photography work.
She says: 害羞草研究所淚f your house goes up in flames, what do you grab? Your kids and your photographs. For me the juice comes from the fact that I害羞草研究所檓 creating something for families that they will cherish forever. I feel that having a family portrait is such an important part of a family害羞草研究所檚 history.害羞草研究所�
And what gets Jonathan fired up about his work?
害羞草研究所淐onnection,害羞草研究所� he says. 害羞草研究所淭he kitchen is a very intimate place in a home; it害羞草研究所檚 the heart. So when I害羞草研究所檓 creating that space, I need to connect with the client so that I can understand how they are going to use that space and create memories there. I also love the family aspect of our company, the people that work there. Some have gotten married and had kids since working for me and I get to see their families grow. That害羞草研究所檚 exciting for me.害羞草研究所�
What are they passionate about outside of work?
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e all about where the good food is,害羞草研究所� Tamara laughs. 害羞草研究所淲hen we travel, before even seeing the sights we want to know one thing 害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所榳here害羞草研究所檚 the best place to eat?害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟
For Jonathan, it害羞草研究所檚 about his contribution to his kids sports: 害羞草研究所淚 coached my sons害羞草研究所� football team for 10 seasons. Watching them progress as young men has been very exciting to see, and very rewarding.害羞草研究所�
And what qualities do they hope their offspring will inherit from them? 害羞草研究所淚 hope they get Tamara害羞草研究所檚 ability to care,害羞草研究所� says Jonathan. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 so immense and I think that if they can do that with their own kids, they害羞草研究所檒l have great families and success in life.害羞草研究所�
Tamara hopes they get her sense of adventure. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e had some great adventures! Every time I say, 害羞草研究所業 have an idea!害羞草研究所� Jonathan braces himself. Creating these memories for them is such a big deal for me and I hope they do that for their kids.害羞草研究所�
When it comes to style, Jonathan has a fresh perspective having recently lost a bunch of weight.
害羞草研究所淣ow I害羞草研究所檓 enjoying shopping and dressing up! I just got rid of the last of my XL clothes and I害羞草研究所檓 never going to go back. I now care about style,害羞草研究所� Jonathan says as Tamara teases him about his new-found enjoyment of shopping.
Tamara害羞草研究所檚 style can be best compared to the Ralph Lauren aesthetic: 害羞草研究所淪imple and classic. Things that have longevity; not things that are trendy but rather have good style. In that way, you just need a few simple, timeless pieces that you can jam out every day and you never get bored.害羞草研究所�
TAMARA
Fashion & Beauty
Uniform: Jeans 害羞草研究所� dress 害羞草研究所檈m up or dress 害羞草研究所檈m down.
All-time favourite piece: Levi害羞草研究所檚 denim jacket.
Currently Coveting: Ulanily Pointy Toe Bootie Marc Fisher Ltd.
Favourite gift to give: . 害羞草研究所淓very woman needs this wallet!害羞草研究所�
Favourite Day-bag: .
Favourite work tool: My camera, .
Favourite jewellery piece or designer: Leah Alexandra.
Fashion Obsession: Shoes.
Accessory you spend the most money on: Shoes.
Necessary indulgence for either fashion or beauty: 害羞草研究所淒id I mention shoes?害羞草研究所�
Scent: Marc Jacobs (害羞草研究所淯nfortunately it is discontinued now so I害羞草研究所檓 savouring it.害羞草研究所�)
JONATHAN
Clothes/Grooming
Favourite Denim, brand and cut: Levis 511.
Current go-to clothing Item: Blundstone 584 - The Winter in Rustic Brown.
Best new purchase: Anthony of London brown leather motorcycle jacket.
Favourite Day-bag: Milwaukee 害羞草研究所淧ackout害羞草研究所� tool bag.
Accessory you spend the most money on: Watches 害羞草研究所� Citizen Nighthawk.
Favourite work tool: .
Sunglasses: Arnette Witch Doctor.
Necessary indulgence: Milwaukee Tools.
Favourite skincare or hair product: Ursa Major Face Balm and Uppercut Deluxe Pomade.
TAMARA
Style / Inspiration / Life
Style Icon: Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy.
Favourite Artist: Bobbie Burgers and Miguel Vallinas.
Piece of art: Abel Massot.
Favourite Musician: Too many to list just one.
Era of Time that inspires your style: 1960s Mad Men Mid Century Modern.
Film that inspires your style: Kelly McGillis Top Gun blazers, white shirts and jeans.
Favourite local restaurant: .
Favourite Cocktail: Gin and Soda Lime.
Album on current rotation: I have a few on my list rotating right now, including Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Eric Church and Leon Bridges.
Favourite Flower: So hard to pick just one: peony, anemone, tulip, hydrangea.
Favourite city to visit: San Fran.
Favourite What do you read Online for style: 害羞草研究所淚 check out Pinterest once in a while if I am looking for inspo.害羞草研究所�
Favourite Print magazine: Elle Decor.
Last great read: Beneath a Scarlet Sky by .
Book currently reading: Girl Go Wash Your Face by .
Favourite book of all time: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah.
App: Spotify.
Favourite place in the whole world: Anywhere there is an adventure to be had with my family.
JONATHAN
Style / Inspiration / Life
What do you read Online for style: Houzz.
Fave Print magazine: 害羞草研究所淏oulevard 害羞草研究所nd it害羞草研究所檚 not just blatant sucking up!害羞草研究所�
Favourite style Blog: Houzz.
Book currently reading: 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos by .
Favourite Artist: Ren Matheson.
Piece of art: Anything by Ren Matheson.
Favourite Fashion Designer or brand: Banana Republic.
Favourite Musician: Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Era of Time that inspires your style: 害羞草研究所�50s and 害羞草研究所�80/害羞草研究所�90s.
Film that inspires your style: Top Gun.
Favourite local restaurant: Brasserie 尝害羞草研究所椭肠辞濒别.
Favourite Cocktail: Moscow Mule.
Album on current rotation: Villains, Queens of the Stone Age.
Favourite Flower: Tulips because they are Tamara害羞草研究所檚 fave.
Favourite city to visit: Havana, Cuba.
Favourite App: National Post News App.
Favourite place in the whole world: Home.
