Conversations with Rob Sharp

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rob Sharp

Hi Rob, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Moved to LA back in late 1999 to expand my Life & Business Coaching practice. My training was primarily with the Hendricks Relationship Institute. During that time I had numerous mystic experiences which really invited me to live more fully in the present. Through various experiences and continued personal spiritual practices (primarily non-dual Course of Miracles) I see the world and others quite differently now.
I live now appreciating others, creativity and beauty in everything while trusting the in the unfolding of where to go, what to say or do. This has lead me to being exposed to timeless inspired design from such design innovators like Richard Hallberg and Barbara Wisely. A couple, Richard & Molly Mulligan wildly creative in many ways lived up the road a few houses from me on Coldwater Canyon Drive. They had owned a furniture and lighting company called Mulligan’s-one of the earliest design celebrating Country living and inspiring the current Farmhouse design trend of today.
I bought mulligan’s from Molly & Richard when they became too old to handle things. The business at that time was way under water but I really felt that with sweat equity and Guidance this endeavor was worth the risk.
Growing Mulligan’s with my amazing business partner Deniz Ozdamar has been quite the creative journey, some bumps along the road, challenges and wonderful people along the way.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Covid of course. The ongoing challenges of material costs, increasing costs of skilled labor, and finding craftspeople who are great at what they do.
In every challenge there is an opportunity. Hence, Deniz (production manager & business partner) and I created an apprentice program for our finishing department, allowing people to learn a new trade and excel in it. We have employees that have worked for mulligan’s for over 25 yrs and have had very little loss or firing of employees needed. Treat your employees fairly, with respect, and leading with generosity with loyalty and productivity always following.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Mulligan’s is a high end To The Trade Only custom furniture and lighting company. In creating new designs of furniture and lighting, inspiration shows up in different ways. We are known for our high standard of finishing and quality of our creations. we have included quite a few Shaker designs in the Mulligan line. Shakers always designed things to be practical, usually having more than one use, and simple but beautiful design. A shaker belief is “to keep things simple in order not to take glory away from God”. For example, We have a shaker inspired coffee table that has a very linear simple design but hides two shelves and a huge drawer to hide the clutter.
It’s funny how so many problems end up being the foundation of successful design.
For example, A designer needed a console that could hide items in a Tahoe lake house in an entry way right from the lake (think flip flops toys etc.) We then adapted our Homestead bench table (that was originally for a one room farm homestead) into a console with a hidden storage area and a console top that the clients would place refreshments for after the lake on.

What makes you happy?
Heart felt connections with others and the environment.

Pricing:

• We are To The Trade only business (designers etc.)
• All of our product is handmade to order
• No change of price to change the finish

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mulligansusa.com
• Instagram: @mulligansusa