A Natural Eclectic

Gorgeous. Stunning. Enlightened. Brilliant. Captivating. Textural. These are all terms used to describe the experiential richness between the covers of Vancouver artist, photographer and stylist Heather Ross’ first book, The Natural Eclectic. She brings a storied perspective to life in the pictures (shot by her) that offer visual context of how nature has influenced her styling aesthetic and foraging experiences across the globe. 

Her shop - that the book was named after - sits on a relatively quieter street in the crosshairs of South Granville, Kitsilano and Granville Island. The location is an apt metaphor for her life where she’s been a creature of many talents and thus juggling creative balls in the air. The space inside, while small in square footage, is at once cozy but voluminous thanks to the soaring ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the entire shop with perfect natural light. It immediately evokes a mood with its poured concrete floors and dove grey walls. Her styled micro-vignettes in every corner of the shop lends itself to prime Instagramming. It’s literally impossible to take a bad picture in there.

Heather held the launch party of her book yesterday at the shop and Vancouver’s design community came out in full force. Her infectious personality will have you coming back to the store over and over. She’s got so many stories to tell about her well-travelled life but when Heather is brought down to her roots. She prefers the simple pleasures in life: a walk on the seawall or by the beach, observing a tiny hummingbird flying around her patio while sipping tea or happily painting in her studio while the rain falls outside. Warm and inviting, Heather will be as enthusiastic talking about her day as she would about one of her delightful vintage glass vases. 

If you have any appreciation at all for styling and decorating, The Natural Eclectic is one of those weighty books that you’ll want to absorb page by page over tea on a weekend afternoon. Both thoughtful and inspirational, Heather is a true Renaissance woman who now has finished one chapter of her life and about to embark on the second. I can’t wait to see what that book will look like.

The Natural Eclectic is available for purchase at Heather's shop of the same name, at 2170 Fir Street in Vancouver or on her website.