January 16, 2019

Design Shift

January 16, 2019/ Meryl

Over the last few months I have made some design changes to the Chalet Livingroom - today I want to talk about the process.

Let’s start at the beginning… back in July I was lamenting… I didn’t like my livingroom… wah wah…

Should I swap the console table for the cabinet in the upstairs hall? I didn’t like my couch and for that matter I didn’t like the coffee table either… wah!

I stopped dead and decided to pull everything off the console table and restyle - which I did… and viola! Once lightened up with less - I was in love again! Removing frames and books made a huge difference!

Then I decided I needed to a new couch - if you read my piece from 11/14/2018 Couch - furniture for sitting or reclining. I went to Crate and Barrel and placed an order for the Montclair Sofa - Traxx fabric in Feather - it would be delivered in October. I kept looking around the room going piece by piece… what else could I change?

Next up was a coffee table…. while I still love my bench… the rustic finishes were no longer where I wanted the livingroom to be… So I made my way to one of my very favorite retailers Home Sense. In my minds eye I knew what I wanted… and tho and behold it is exactly what I found… round and two tier! I am in love my friends and the brass accents on the legs are the crowning jewel!

The next bit I tackled was the top of the television cabinet…. I put away a lot of decor.

I love how the top of the China Cabinet is styled. For some reason I had always resisted symmetry - I love my new Home Sense lamps! I was inspired by interior designer and friend Diane Rath - she actually picked up these very same lamps up for a client. Diane is someone I’ve seen use pairs of lamps successfully in her designs. I’m loving the deer art here too - I had never leaned art on a cabinet before… on the floor on the mantel on window sills Yes but never when wall space was available. I grabbed this image prior to moving the Art that was hidden behind the lamp.

I reworked the sideboard as I was de-christmasing the chalet. I wanted to get a lighter brighter look in this area, but, before I went out and shopped for something new - I shopped my house. Moving this cloisonne lamp from the upstairs hall really made the area pop - especially since the lamp shade is white. I also took down a piece of artwork.

When we put the Chinese Cabinet back in the corner after Christmas I realized it needed a change too - and that change is this new lamp! I love the pop of white in this corner and yes it’s another Home Sense find! I can’t say it enough whenever I seek I always find it at Home Sense!

You can see in the above image I also organized the decor on my roll-top desk.

I love the new look of the chalet - it’s definitely more streamlined. This is where I’m headed with my design as we enter 2019. My former funky cacophony of crap decor style was adding to a sense of chaos. In general I am moving away from the look I liked for the last decade… it’s funny how things change and yet they circle back around; 20 years ago I decorated in a traditional vain and then I morphed into a more rustic look and now while I do wish to maintain an air of casual usability I want the Chalet to be pulled together.

Traditional Casual with a touch of Chinoiserie is the new description of the Chalet!

Next week I’ll be sharing the Images that are inspiring my thoughts for new floor coverings!

Til next time!

January 09, 2019

2018 Top Nine

January 09, 2019/ Meryl

I was Intrigued by my Top Nine Instagram Images of 2018. It’s so interesting why some images get a lot of hearts… Ok let’s dive in!

Everyone loves a good Nutcracker and this grouping was a big hit! This image was posted on Friday November 30th. The only Friday of the group. We know the Gram is not usually in love with the small or angled but, #9 it is!

NUMBER SEVEN

NUMBER EIGHT

These two images show the before and after with our new Home Sense Coffee table! I had to share these in a grid image… a table change a different angle … a basket… Number eight was posted Monday October 22nd - I know a Monday right? Usually not a specifically high traffic day on the Gram. Number seven from Thursday August 23rd one of the three Thursdays that made the list.

My kiddo decorating the Tree was definitely a goody… and I will tell you I didn’t do anything but, grab a few snaps of him on Saturday December 1st. This was the first Christmas he was fully involved decorating the Tree and NO I did not move one thing he placed.

NUMBER FOUR

NUMBER FIVE

Our Cherry Blossom Tree from Saturday May 5th and this Chinoiserie Pumpkin posted Wednesday October 31st are both stunners and they got much love!

This image is tied to a Chaletmomma piece shared Wednesday December 12th; I tagged designers and friends in the image whom I wrote about in the piece Holiday Decor Round-Up.

Our twentieth wedding anniversary was cause for quite a celebration! I posted this image Thursday October 4th. It’s funny that although my IG feed ( both of them) is about Decor and this is my second most popular image. I wish I knew why this image resonated so. Was it because everyone loves a wedding? Or was it because there were people in it? Are faces missing from my feed? Or were people happy to see a couple reach this milestone? Please leave me a comment - I’d love to know what you think!

Well here it is! Number one is the porch I posted this Thursday May 24th. I invited friends to pop over to the Blog to read Galerie the post all about the transformation from outside galerie (what you call a porch in a Chalet) to our interior porch. I love this picture - the sun - all the lovely blue and white decor - the cow art and my fabulous Home Sense mid-century chair. This really is me from the ground up! I don’t follow any one point of view when it comes to decorating the Chalet!

In writing this piece I realized there was one Friday, one Monday, two Wednesdays, two Saturdays and three Thursday - posts are on the list. So obviously Thursday is an important day for me and the Gram! I don’t know if this will change what I post or not… only time will tell but, I didn’t post on Monday this week too busy with this and that and maybe if I was going to skip a day it would be a Tuesday going forward… My feed is still so small so I feel a lot of pressure to post everyday to not miss an opportunity to connect with someone. I’m pretty sure if you’re here reading this post than you follow me. Hopefully you follow both Chaletmomma and SayNoToEmptyWalls.

So here’s to you! To the fabulous community of friends that click that heart and spread joy!

Til next time!

December 05, 2018

CHALET CHRISTMAS 2018

December 05, 2018/ Meryl

Well it’s finally done… It took four days (3 longer than usual) with much huffing and puffing but, the Chalet is finally all turned out for Christmas and I couldn’t be happier. We always decorate Thanksgiving weekend. As I type this I’m listening the Nutcracker my absolute favorite holiday music. I love all Tchaikovsky!

The outside is the boys domain - the trees in the window boxes are a very special touch.

My decor changed a bit this year and this is unusual for me - I am a history, if it ain’t broke don’t change kinda gal… I used the same decorations in the same places year after year. And let me also share I have been front and center for Christmas decorating since childhood; the first time I fully decorated the family tree I was 11. Ok so 1. I have repeated the same stuff for years 2. after restyling a lot of the Livingroom - along with the new couch and coffee table - same old same old was not going to cut it this year. I started looking around on IG and was so Inspired! Inspired to use less to change the placement or maybe not use absolutely everything in my arsenal.

Let me share what I did!

I added simple green ornaments to the bowl I already had out. and viola I love it!

I have four of these felt ice skates, in addition to being on the balcony door the rest are placed around the chalet - repeating a theme really brings it to life!

How delightful is this vintage light up Santa and Sleigh - We found this last year on our trip to the Black Rose Antiques Center.

Here is my custom Merry Christmas Art, I shared with everyone last week. It’s simple and adds a touch of the holiday without an overpowering dose of Red and Green. I love art in the kitchen.

This collection of Nutcrackers on the side board was based on an image belonging to Emily A. Clark. I’ve never placed the collection here nor, have I placed one of my wreaths in this window before but, I was so inspired after seeing Emily’s front hall table. I found additional inspiration from Jesseca Sali, Michael Warm Jr., Ann, Eddie Ross and my friend Nicole…. just to name a few!

My sister and I each have one of these cute trees - our mother bought them in the early 1990’s. For years this one was in our bedroom and twice we’ve used it as our only tree. I love the size and the burlap wrapped base. I love this Nutcracker my son painted for me last year. How sweet is this gingerbread ribbon I bought last year at Michaels!

The decor on the porch console table has been added to and taken away from - but, I think this is how it will stay through the New Year. I am so happy with the placement of the Advent Calendar. My son is able to easily access and everyone can enjoy it.

Having just restyled the top of the television cabinet I added just a few festive touches - a vintage glass bowl filled with vintage ornaments that were my parents and few bits from my childhood - the Santa mug was my parents and very old. There are several bunches of the mixed faux greenery around the chalet.

Even the mantel changed a bit this year. Yes, the train is a staple along with the Railroad lanterns but, it was pared down - less pieces, less greenery and I am so glad I made these changes.

I feel like I need a drum-roll!

Here she is! Completely decked out… we have 3 bins of only ornaments for this little 6ft Decorator tree! In addition I add special Christmas cards, gift tags and paper-chains! In my opinion you can never have too much on a Christmas tree. This year we moved the Chinese table and relocated the tree to this corner. It was a lot of crazy work… I’m sure you saw my trials in my stories … how long it took and the string of bulbs that went out.. and yes, there was some cussing involved - so will she be in this corner next year??? who knows???