Carrie Davich had been running Maude Woods in Pasadena for nine years when she heard about the opening of the new Valley Country Mart (20929 Ventura Boulevard). “I was shocked when I could find no real home shops in the Woodland Hills area. It seemed there was a real opportunity there.”
Carrie Davich
Her new outpost, tucked in the attractive horseshoe-shaped outdoor mall, showcases Carrie’s talent as a buyer, honed from years of shopping at the Rose Bowl flea market with girlfriends. “They would always marvel at how we could all be looking at the same table full of ‘stuff,’ and I would be the only one to see the one great thing. It turned into the ‘thrill of the hunt’ for me, as I didn’t really need anything else. Our attic started to fill up, and I joked with my husband that I was going to open a store someday. He called my bluff!”
Carrie’s keen eye and good taste is evident throughout the space, which showcases a selection of both old and new—from accessories to furniture. There are vintage items from estate sales that have been restored and upholstered as well as contemporary pieces culled from gift shows. “I believe that many different styles can live in the same space. It is just a matter of how it is put together. It’s the layers that give a home personality—your personality,” she explains.
The retailer is especially drawn to unique lines that offer one-of-a-kind pieces. “One is Art Department, a husband/wife team who are originally from Russia. They do amazing, glazed terra-cotta frames and pottery that I‘ve never seen before.”
Another eye-catching item is an eastern European, handspun linen “eye of the dragon” framed panel. “I love the history of old textiles. I started sewing when I was 8, made most of my own clothes through high school and am now a big needlepointer.”
Maude Woods is named after Carrie’s maternal great-grandmother who—you guessed it—was an artist.
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