January 01, 2020

HEY 2020!

January 01, 2020/ Meryl

Hello and Happy New Year my friends! The only thing that kept running through my head about today’s post was this song by the Chambers Brothers: Time Has Come Today . Enjoy.

In reflecting over the last year I’m thrilled with where I am on this first day of the New Year. I continue to have some of the same goals as last year: to exercise and to keep up with the clutter in the basement.

I achieved some of my goals for the Chalet Interiors in 2019 New Rugs for the Livingroom and the Pink Walls in the upstairs Hall.

Some design/decor on the wish-list or 2020 around the Chalet: Painting the Kitchen (possibly new cabinet knobs), Painting the stairwell to the basement, A new Diningroom pendent, We need new cushions for the Diningroom chairs, A new light for the Upstairs Hall, I’m mulling over a few tweaks to the porch or more to the diningroom… we’ll see. New pillows of course… I have a bunch of fabric I want to review and sew up some new covers and swap some out and New Art! Always New Art my friends!

I’m so pleased with where my business is - the blog readership has grown - I was thrilled to incorporate interviews into my pieces this past year. I love learning about people - look for more this year. I was pleased to have my first partnership with Great Big Canvas. I look forward to similar opportunities with other fun brands. I’m also toying around with the idea of adding a resale shop - instead of consigning items - just sell them here.

Of course the part of the business I am over the moon about - the most exciting part is sharing my creativity with more clients in 2020!

sunlight on the way home after dinner.jpg

I enjoyed many delightful trips into Manhattan to marvel at Art and more at the Guggenheim, the Met, the American Museum of Natural History, listen to music, revel in feats of Ballet and eat wonderful creations. I was blessed to meet up with some of my sweet IG friends too!

I was able to read or listen to (thank you Hoopla) 28 titles in 2019! Woo Hoo! I became the moderator of the Great Titles Book Club through church and I’m really enjoying it. It’s the first book club I’ve been involved with.

We were blessed to share fun excursions to the Mountains and the Beach with family. Nothing better than time with those we love! My family is happy and healthy and I am truly blessed.

A sweet friend reminded me it’s always wonderful to be learning - In 2020 I want to be a student - I want to learn more about design, cooking and art and I hope to always be learning how to be the best human I can be. I’m eager to see where 2020 takes me and I hope you are as well!

Til next time friends - I Prosecco to you! Cheers!

December 25, 2019

The Most Wonderful Time of The Year

December 25, 2019/ Meryl

Hello and a very Happy Christmas friends!

Today we will be celebrating at my Mother in Laws lovely home in Warwick, NY. Marge is an amazing decorator! She was the first person I met who had more than one Christmas tree. She was also the first person I ever met who chose a different Christmas theme every year. Friends she was Insta before Insta! She is so incredibly creative. Over these last 23 Christmases she has astounded me with her decor. So what better way to revel on this special family day but, to honor Marge and share her home. Enjoy!

Marge has always designed and decorated, if she wanted it she created it. She has shared stories about the decor in their little side door stone home in a suburb of Philadelphia - when my husband and his older brother were babies. The wallpaper she painstakingly picked out and hung. She tells stories of the faux beams for her dream country kitchen in their next home in a lake community. Of amazing Drexel Heritage furnishings she chose… of twin yellow sofas.

When other women at the age of 84 are happy to sit about - Marge along with her business partner works as a Home Stager and Estate Sale Coordinator. She has designed and executed the holiday window displays in the shopping corridor in downtown Warwick. She has been hired to decorate homes for holidays. Previously she owned and operated her own Antiques business.

She is a tastemaker.

Til next time I wish you the most wonderful Christmas and time spent with loved ones!

xoxo

December 11, 2019

CHALET CHRISTMAS 2019

December 11, 2019/ Meryl

A very Happy and Merry my friends. Today I’m sharing this years Christmas Decor!

I added pops of pink around the Chalet - I’ve decided everything is better with pink.

This year I received so much help from my husband and son trimming our tree. In years past Liam was too young (and I was too nervous about anything getting broken) to let him fully participate. As many of you know from following me on Instagram and Facebook we have a 6ft Decorator tree and we place (cram) four Rubbermaid bins of decor onto it! So many memories - there are ornaments on the tree I’ve enjoyed my entire life. The Shiny Briteswere my parents, The Angel was at the top of our tree every year while I was growing up. My mom fostered an appreciation for Christmas ornaments in me - whenever we traveled if I found an ornament - mom would buy it for me. I enjoy pointing those out to Liam and share where and when I got them and he always wants to know how old I was.