Patricia Wegerhoff and Tanya Zakarow aren’t interested in decorating for the sake of it. Together behind The Curated Life—an online gallery and lifestyle brand rooted in art, beauty, and intentional living—they curate for meaning, craftsmanship, and emotional resonance. Patricia brings years of fine art curation, interior design, and community building to the brand’s broader vision, while Tanya anchors its tactile, handcrafted side.
What is your business called and what does it do?
Our business is called The Curated Life. It is an online gallery and lifestyle brand rooted in art, beauty, and intentional living. Through The Curated Atelier, we bring together original artwork, wellness products, and soulful home goods that help people create spaces and daily lives that feel more grounded, meaningful, and beautiful.
What made you want to do this work?
The Curated Life began as Patricia’s personal journey after years in fine art curation, interior design, and community building, but over time it grew into a shared path. We both felt drawn to create something slower, deeper, and more intentional, something that connects art, home, ritual, craftsmanship, and the inner life. What brought us together was a shared respect for beauty, presence, quality, and the emotional resonance of the things people live with every day.
What problem did you want to solve with the business?
We wanted to offer an alternative to a world that often feels rushed, overfilled, and disconnected from what really matters. So much of modern living encourages people to consume quickly and decorate superficially, without asking whether something carries meaning, integrity, or real emotional depth. We wanted to create a business that curates for longevity, not trend, and that helps people choose pieces that restore something in them rather than simply impress others.
Who are your clientele/demographics?
Our clientele are people who want their homes and everyday lives to feel more meaningful, grounded, and beautiful. Many are art lovers, design-conscious homeowners, thoughtful gift buyers, and people drawn to intentional living, natural materials, and pieces with soul. More than a specific demographic, they are people who care about how something feels, not just how it looks.
How does your business make money? How does it work?
Right now, The Curated Life makes money primarily through direct sales in the online shop. That includes original artwork, wellness products, and soulful home goods, along with curated offerings that reflect the values of the brand. It also grows through curation, collaboration, and creative partnerships. Patricia leads the broader vision, curation, and storytelling, while Tanya brings a hands-on, material-based sensibility through craftsmanship and the handcrafted side of what we offer.
Where in the city can we find your profession?
We are based in Calgary, but The Curated Life is primarily an online business rather than a traditional storefront. Our work is rooted in Calgary through our creative practice, local relationships, and the wider art and design community, even though the business itself lives mostly online.
What is the best question a prospective customer could ask a member of your profession when comparing services? Give the answer as well.
A great question to ask is, “What do you curate for, trend or meaning?”
Our answer would always be meaning. We are not interested in filling a space just to make it look finished. We curate for feeling, craftsmanship, integrity, and the way something will actually live in a person’s home and daily life. For us, the right piece should not only look beautiful, it should carry presence and create a real sense of connection.
What is the best part about what you do? What is the worst part?
The best part is getting to bring together so many things we care about, art, design, beauty, storytelling, craftsmanship, and intentional living, and shape them into something that genuinely affects how people feel in their homes and in their lives. We also love supporting artists and makers and helping meaningful work find the right people.
The worst part is that running a creative business means wearing a lot of hats. One moment we are curating and creating, and the next we are dealing with shipping, website issues, admin, and all the small behind-the-scenes details that come with building something from the ground up.
What is your favourite joke about your own profession?
Our favourite joke is that we can spend an hour moving one piece two inches and call it work. The funny part is, sometimes that really is the work.
Where can we follow you?
You can follow The Curated Life through its website and on Instagram
PAY IT FORWARD: What is another local business that you love?
We would love to mention Soulidarity in Okotoks. They share a lot of the same values we do when it comes to wellness, natural products, and living with more intention. Their studio offers a wide range of holistic services and also supports local artisans and entrepreneurs, which is something we deeply respect. It feels like a beautiful example of a business that is rooted in both care and community.
