Carla Bassi is an artist. Her medium: flowers. Bassi, her husband, Jim, and her daughter, Thea, own and run Che Bella floral design in East Village, a premier San Diego floral design team. Pronounced “kay bella,” the name means “how beautiful” in Italian. Though the name served them well for the eight years or so they spent in the colorful cottage shops on West Fir Street in Little Italy, Carla said the story behind the name goes much deeper. It was a term of endearment from an Italian family in the neighborhood where she grew up and it also reflects her own initials: CB. Though Che Bella provides full-service floral design for weddings, offices, holiday decorating and hotel and product launches, Bassi believes that regardless of budget, even the smallest introduction of plant life can change the feel of a room. “It doesn’t need to be an arrangement. It can be a single stem,” said Bassi, who has worked in interior and floral design for 41 years. “Even a single stem can change the energy. Especially in this time when everyone is doing without on some level, it gives you a sense of luxury.” For contemporary architecture, including the modern loft units peppered throughout downtown, Bassi recommends adding something structural, like a well-shaped branch. “The really geometric shape, it always reads cold and uninviting,” she said. “Adding a simple, organic thing can make it more peaceful and warmer. It’s like the difference between florescent lights and windows.” In addition to providing floral arrangement for private clients and urban condo dwellers, Che Bella has an impressive résumé, including arrangements for The W Hotel, Tower 23 in Pacific Beach, the U.S. Grant Hotel, Bloomingdales and The Keating Hotel, where they worked both on floral and interior design. Bassi said adding some floral life is even more critical for city dwellers. “It definitely changes the energy, not being the only living thing in your space,” she said. “It’s there for no reason other than to be beautiful.” She recommends putting a floral accent near the front door so the fragrant smell is the first thing that greets visitors when entering and the last thing they remember when exiting. Carla said none of the arrangements at Che Bella are pre-made. All bouquets and arrangements are made to order and designed to the needs of the client. Being a storyteller who uses rose instead of prose, she said she always likes to find out about the person or place where the design will be going to be able to create something that captures the meaning of the occasion. Che Bella relocated about a year ago to an East Village loft space in a converted ice cream factory called the “Reincarnation” building, adjacent to Sushi Performing Arts. In addition to floral, other interior design accents are available at their tranquil storefront, and visitors are greeted by the family labrador, George, and Milo, the cat. Che Bella also offers floral design classes, both as private parties and as public events. Che Bella is located at 1037 J St. For more information on designs or classes, call (619) 232-3193 or visit www.chebellafiori.com.
