Inheriting the tradition of a strong work ethic, in the service of creating distinctive and luxurious living spaces is “Master of Bijoux Chic Style” Robert Sweep, whose sense of proportion and the mix of modern and traditional design aesthetic has influenced those who have experienced his sanctuaries of style. The legacy of Robert Sweep has been associated with the most important brands of modern furnishings and iconic lighting. Drawing from the classic modern aesthetic of B&B Italia, the bombastic expressions of Moooi, to the surrealistic creations of Ingo Mauer. These become the tools of trade and the eclectic mix becomes a hallmark of Roberts unique sense of style. Always leading the way, as he never ceases to re-invent his expression when trends would overlap his own wake. Like water his emotional well requires borders, always avoiding the murky homogenization of design, Robert seeks pure and clean expressions of the imagination, a world always larger than the confinement of walls.
Robert was born and raised in the prairies of Alberta with his eyes and ambition focused ahead. Early on, his goals reading like an adventure novel included listening to The Beatles, skiing in the French Alps, driving European cars and wearing designer clothing.
In order to achieve these dreams, Robert utilized the skills that came so naturally for him, in sales. His very first job was delivering newspapers in Drumheller on bike in the summer and with his dad in the truck during the winter months.
His work ethic being rooted in getting up early and making the deliveries on time.
Following this, his next job was stocking grocery shelves at the local grocer in Drumheller, only after refusing to take no for an answer after asking the owner for a job. “You need me”! was Robert’s reasoning why the owner should hire him. He was only 14 and already had a sense of purpose and ambition.
During his university years, he funded his education and love for skiing working sales at the highly esteemed menswear fashion clothing store – Henry Singer in Edmonton. Here he learned essential selling skills and techniques from Fred Singer himself who became Robert’s mentor and role model. His aesthetic eye was keenly developed for detail, and he polished his selling and display skills that proved to be an essential tool when later he would open his own retail store.
After studying business at the University of Alberta, Robert Sweep joined the sales team at Xerox when the technology was just getting established in this industry.
“The photocopiers at the time were state-of-the-art, sizing 20 deep 20 wide and 24 inches high, took one paper at a time, needing hand loading, without paper trays and – wait for the drumroll – it took about 4 minutes to get one copy! During that time, the ultimate in the technology was the 900 series. It was the high-volume, super-computerized model, sizing about the scale of a kitchen Island and cost about ½ a million dollars!”
He trailblazed territories becoming a lead salesperson. His skills in closing the deal making him renowned in his field. Favoring a smaller company to a large corporation, Robert changes gears and takes on a sales position at RGO Office furniture. Here at RGO in Edmonton, his roots firmly established in sales, is setting the stage for what is yet to come in his career, his own retail store. Before this happens, Robert must make a risky move to quit a very good paying job and venture out on his own.
Identifying new market opportunities, Robert sees the potential to introduce rustic, Mexican furnishings to Calgary at a time when the airlines were first offering affordable vacation destinations to Mexico and Margaritas were the choice cocktail on “Electric Avenue”. He travels to LA and establishes sources to import furniture with the new “Rustic” appeal. With ignited passion, he launches the opening of his first signature store on 10th avenue leading the way before the Mexican furniture trend is established in Calgary.
His store featuring rustic, re-purposed wood tables, ironwood furnishings, and antler chandeliers – a first of its’ kind in Calgary. In walks Evalina in a chance shopping encounter. Again, Robert doesn’t take “No” as an answer after asking Evalina on a date. Timing is everything. Evalina at this time, is a freelance designer in technical sportswear, is headed to LA to meet with a client for a design meeting. What are the chances that Robert too is heading to LA that very weekend for a friend’s wedding? After refusing a request for a dinner date on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, she finally agrees to dinner and a movie in LA on Sunday. How could anyone plan this? The rest is written in the stars for the two of them. They meet in spring, with a marriage proposal a month later, and an early fall wedding. Robert is true to style.
Soon after their marriage, Evalina and Robert establish Robert Sweep Homefurnishings on 11th Avenue, introducing their inspiring modern furniture showroom, showcasing brands such as B&B Italia, Moooi, Ingo Mauer, Bonaldo, Poltrona Frau. Robert Sweep Homefurnishings soon became the “Must See” Store on the Avenue amongst art galleries and boutique wineshops. Their showroom became the quintessential canvas for showcasing Roberts’ aesthetic style and with a clientele wanting to create the look within their homes, Robert expands his business providing interior design services for clients with his team at the showroom.
Inspiration for the business always came through travel. Always seeking the newest expression in his field, the Milan Show, Frankfurt, Paris and New York are cities that embody the inspirations. Hotels, Restaurants and Lobbies were the new pilgrimages for the designing duo.
Following the financial crisis of 2009, the Calgary flood of 2013 and changing markets, Robert diverts direction with his store as he navigates a personal health crisis together with Evalina. Evalina closes her bridal salon in 2012 and winds down their wholesale gown business with Bergdorf Goodman. After closing the 11th Avenue store in 2015 and in 2016, together they open a more intimate home furnishing and décor store in Mount Royal Village East featuring the leading brands Kartell, Alessi, Blomus, Matouk, Pappelina of Sweden, and Canadian made Vangogh Designs, and Mobican furniture. As the industry direction was heading towards offshore manufactured products, Robert focuses specifically on domestic and European made products. Sensing the homogenization of design through large scale manufacturing, Robert chooses to present design-based manufacturers who strive to create and build with the traditional values of craftsmanship. Companies that are dedicated to modernizing their designs and techniques. Companies that strive to build with a reduced footprint to our natural resources is “more” in the grand scale of humanity.
“Doing more with less is a better way of looking at things.”
The store grows into a local hot spot with its reputation of showcasing unique, quality product selections and the beautiful displays. Robert and Evalina embrace the community rapport with their store clientele and built lasting friendships from the flow of people as they visited the store. Maintaining a growing clientele seeking the Robert Sweep aesthetic in their homes, Robert and Evalina continue to build on their services with interior styling and design consulting with their unique style and talents.
When Covid hit the world in 2020, a wave of change was to follow creating financial highs and lows and a chaotic ebb and flow that no longer followed logical order. The world was in recovery and the retail landscape was changing rapidly. With quick pivoting and re-structuring, Robert and Evalina have navigated their business into a new chapter that is focused on residential design consulting services where they have excelled, alongside their retail operations. With the financial horizon of high interest rates, changing demographics, along with chaotic markets following the pandemic, Robert and Evalina chose to close their Mount Royal Village store in Calgary.
The chapter closes with a focus on what is to come next. Like a book reads, the stage is set for the next chapter.
Robert and Evalina decide to move their personal residence and business operations to Predator Ridge, in the Okanagan. Anticipating changing markets, and business opportunities, they focus their business to design consulting servicing clients in Calgary and the Okanagan.
“With more clients going through a downsizing mode in their lives, we are offering our expertise in helping clients make this transition and working with them to create a living space that is relaxed with comfort and quality being the LUX in the design aesthetic. Helping our clients achieve this is our driving force and the relations we build along the way give way a rewarding and meaningful next chapter of our lives”.