February 24, 2021

Revisiting the Reimagined

February 24, 2021/ Meryl

I receive inquiries regarding the items we live with here in the Chalet so this week I’m sharing my thoughts about them and what, if anything - I’d do differently.

During the Summer of 2018 I got the itch to change things around. I started by completely revamping the Livingroom console table. Changing the orientation of the family photos and adding books to the top of the table made such an impact. Then I moved onto finding a new coffee table. I love this table from Home Sense with its brass accented legs and the round shape was definitely the way to go.

In October 2018 our new Montclair Sofa from Crate & Barrel arrived. I had to reorder it, when the original didn’t have fabric suitable to be scotch-guarded. We ended up with a microfiber fabric but, I do have a piece of the original heathered herringbone fabric that I will eventually sew into a pillow cover. The sofa is pretty stain resistant and comfortable but, truth be told the original fabric of linen and cotton had more give because it was natural fabric - the sofa was more comfy.

If I had known the difference would I have gone with a microfiber or maybe just have gone with a different color? I don’t know. Look at these side by side images taken 11 days apart - granted the time of day and light conditions aren’t exactly the same but, you can see that the white sofa did what I wanted - what I hoped it would do - it brought a feeling of lightness to the space.

Then I added a pair of matching lamps from Home Sense on the sideboard. I really love the balance in the space. I am tossing around the idea of updating the shades with fabric. And friends can I share - that I chuckle at the fact I have six lamps that are either green or turquoise!

In February of 2019 I swapped the beige and blue chairs in the livingroom! I was on my way to being wholly in-love with the room after our antique Bergère chair was brought into the space. The addition of the lovely New Zealand Wool Baxter rugs from Crate & Barrel left me absolutely gaga! And just this past weekend I unveiled the large abstract canvas I painted. This space is still evolving.

I will say the coffee table, sofa and rugs are holding up marvelously. The rugs shed very little from the get-go. So yes, I will give all of these pieces a great big thumbs up.

Like I said - would I have gone with a white microfiber again? I don’t know. Maybe I would have gone with color instead - a green or blue sofa. The idea of bringing in more color definitely appeals to me but, then the rugs would need to change and if any of you were here and read my article Chalet Design than you will remember it took me 6 months to find my Crate & Barrel Baxter Rugs. I even ordered rugs from a different company I sent back because they caused me to have one of my Vertigo attacks. The space is 10 x 24 and many don’t seem to notice I use 3 separate rugs to cover it. We have a 5x8, an 8x10 and a 6x9. Swapping the sofa for a color would cause a domino effect friends. So for now I am pleased.

I continue to crave color and I brought in more with the addition of my ever changing pillow collection, the new canvas and the new curtains I sewed for our kitchen once it was painted and recently with our new diningroom rug. I’ll be sharing a piece about the diningroom transformation in a few weeks.

If you’d like to read two articles dedicated to the transformation of the space please click the titles. Design Shift and Chalet Design.

Tell us what would you change about your space? Leave a comment below.

Til next time friends be safe and wear your mask!

January 20, 2021

Lovely Loo

January 20, 2021/ Meryl

During the past 10 months while at home many of us have made changes, we’ve painted, we’ve bought new pieces and redecorated our spaces - because either we were finally able to settle on what we wanted or out of boredom.

Looking back at this image from May - this update was motivated by boredom. I was tired of the old shower curtain and introducing pink to this space with a new curtain and towels was fun and fresh.

Fast forward to October and I wanted a bigger change. I wanted a less busy space and down came all the art. I missed my navy towels so I knew the color palette would be blue and white again.

“Loo is deriving from the French “guardez l’eau”, which means “watch out for the water” When the British adopted it they shortened it to the more pronounceable “gardy-loo”, which eventually became “loo” and was applied to the toilet itself.”

— Google

I used Rub n Buff to add just the right bit of glitter to this Parisian street print.

While we all know how much I love a big mix of pieces - this time I decided to focus on the single theme France and let that be my guide. I went around the Chalet gathering pieces.

I did order one new piece Ballerinas in Blue by Erisha of A Thing Created.

The curtain feels sophisticated, eventually I hope to purchase fabric - something in a modern pattern like the kitchen curtains or possibly something in a chinoiserie pattern but, at the moment I’m happy.

Til next time friends stay safe.

December 16, 2020

CHRISTMAS CHEER 2020

December 16, 2020/ Meryl

Hello friends I’m continuing to embrace all things Christmas - so this week I thought it would be fun to share how we enjoy the holidays here in the Chalet.

On the day the bins come up from the basement and decorating commences - we select our movie to start off the day - this year we started with White Christmas and went straight into A Christmas Carol - the 1951 version is darker than the 1938 version, I also like the 1935 Scrooge, we also have Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol, and this 1969 cartoon is fun - I am really fond of this character I could write an entire piece about all the versions of this Charles Dickens tale of awakening which I love so much! It all started with the Giant coloring book you see here I had when I was little - how I wish I still had it!

Our holidays wouldn’t be complete without watching these films: The Bishops Wife, Miracle on 34th Street, The Bells of St. Mary’s, The Shop Around the Corner and Holiday Inn. The 1977 version of The Nutcracker ballet with Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gelsey Kirkland is a favorite and this year we introduced Home Alone to our son.

Our Tree is chockablock full. It’s a mix of Shiny Brites that were my folks, ornaments mom bought me, a few I crafted, ones I’ve been buying yearly, bits Liam’s made - In addition you’ll see a few extra special Christmas cards and gift tags - finall… — Our Tree is chockablock full. It’s a mix of Shiny Brites that were my folks, ornaments mom bought me, a few I crafted, ones I’ve been buying yearly, bits Liam’s made - In addition you’ll see a few extra special Christmas cards and gift tags - finally it’s topped with some felt gingerbread garland and paper-chains!

Other programs not to be missed: The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting, CMA Country Christmas and of course re-watching our favorites - Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, The Year Without a Santa Claus, Frosty the Snowman, The Little Drummer Boy, Dr. Seuss How The Grinch Stole Christmas, The Polar Express and A Charlie Brown Christmas. We listen to tons of holiday music from Andy Williams, Nat King Cole, Dave Brubeck and Pentatonix among current artists Christmas renditions and my favorite Nutcracker disc is often playing.

I used to decorate the day after Thanksgiving and wrap gifts that weekend. I don’t rush to get it all done quite as quickly anymore. I do have a few things under the tree but, I can’t place anything under the tree for a certain someone until he goes to bed on Christmas Eve after our family leave. Gearing up for our Christmas Eve celebration means baking - cookies, magic cookie bars and some years a cake yum! Gathering on Christmas Eve in the Chalet is carrying on a tradition my Mother started in 1968.

We celebrate with tons of hors d’oeuvres - my Mom’s famous hot crab meat dip, dill dip and savoy treats like chopped chicken liver; while the main course changes from year to year, we always have a bunch of options for dessert. Meanwhile It’s A Wonderful Life plays in the background. This year we may add a card game into the mix - my son is really into them lately - maybe Would Ya, Utter Nonsense or The Voting Game…. The night is always topped off with holiday crackers and all of us adorning our paper crowns and sharing silly jokes!