Let's Meet Christine Work

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Christine Work

Hello Friends this month I’m sharing a lovely Insta-friend Christine Work.

Welcome to the Chalet Christine please introduce yourself. Hi my name is Christine Work and I cannot believe I’m 48 years old. I’ve lived in the Hudson Valley of NY for 20 years with my husband, Dave and 13 year old son, Braden. We moved here from Boston where I met my husband Dave while going to graduate school. I’m originally from the suburbs of Chicago where my family still lives. While I miss my home sweet home Chicago, there is something very special about the Hudson Valley with its river and mountains.

Christine with her husband and son

I ask every interview regardless if they’re an Interior Designer or not - Did you decorate your bedroom while growing up? I am not an interior designer, I just really enjoy design and art and making our home ours. I do believe everyone interested in home decor as an adult MUST have spent time decorating their rooms or dollhouses, and I am no different. Looking back, my parents were very patient with my constant furniture rearrangement. Each year I would also get to pick out a new wallpaper for my one accent wall; I wish I had photos of this ever changing wall.  I remember one time insisting on ripping the carpet out of my bedroom.  I did know there were hardwood floors underneath. Once I had the idea, I couldn’t wait for any help, I just went for it. From that moment, I knew I was never going to be a fan of carpets. The room looked SO much better!

Christine you have a very pared-down design style. You like graphic pops and antiques – in neutral backgrounds. Has this always been your design style or has it evolved? Meryl, I’m impressed how perceptive you are about design style.  I DO love a neutral background. I guess I’ve always felt that with a more or less “blank canvas” I could be more creative with layers. For me, it allows me to change things up without the investment of time and/or money.  It’s easy to switch out pillows or art rather than repaint, retile, etc.

Fun Graphic pillows

I started to appreciate antiques and family heirlooms when I met my husband and his family - they had furniture and art that was passed down generations. Since, I am first generation, my family started new when they immigrated to the states. In our home now, we have quite a few pieces from my in-laws - our dining room table, pie safe, and my favorite - the jam cupboard which makes for great LEGO storage.

Jam Cupboard

Please share your Design Philosophy. In preparing for this interview and thinking about my design philosophy, I looked back at photos of this house from the past 10 years. Even in the past decade, my design choices have evolved. I have certainly accumulated more antiques, vintage rugs, art and a LOT more plants.  While it wasn’t intentional, my mix of furniture styles and decor resonates with me.  I don’t want to feel stuck with one look or style or genre.  I have always appreciated variety in all aspects of my life. I think the one intentional design approach I have is for there to be meaning, history and story behind all the “things.”  I love having my son’s art hang on the walls.  I love framing family mementos.  My grandmother, mother and father-in-law all passed away within the same year and it has been important for me to have their memories where we can see and remember.

looking across the home’s entry to Christine’s Work From Home Space

I really love the impact you created by painting your fireplace surround black. What led you to make that change. I think black or any other dark color such as moody blues or greens really add depth and dimension to a space. I think every room or even outfit benefits from a grounding dark color.  I thought by painting the fireplace, the family room would have more of a focal point and it would really just make our simple mantle more “rich.”  While it took a little convincing of my family, there were no regrets.  

Recently you updated your kitchen appliances - can you share why. It’s hard to believe we have been in this house for just over a decade. Isn’t it at the ten year mark that the appliances start to fail?!?!? The washing machine went first and then the microwave broke. We decided to not replace it with an over the stove one but instead with a hood. A microwave now lives in our basement but isn’t used much. The decision to replace our stove was my husband’s - he wanted an induction stove for safety and environmental reasons. I was reluctant to have to learn how to adjust my cooking, but I would now recommend this type of stove to anyone…it boils water in a second and is a breeze to clean. Since we rent our house a few times a year, we had to have reliable working appliances.  

Kitchen

Your bathroom was shared on Apartment Therapy - this is so cool how did it happen? One of our COVID projects was to hang wallpaper on one wall of our upstairs bathroom.  I thought it would be fun to just try something different - a fun but temporary change. The only other thing I did was get a new shower curtain and of course a vintage mini rug. I’m shocked that it’s still hanging and we haven’t really tired of it. But that bathroom is on my project list…I’m just not sure what to do with it. It was featured on Apartment Therapy twice - the first time when I submitted a before and after: Before and After: Bold Wallpaper Turns a Bland Bathroom into a Work of Art for $75 and the second time as a wallpaper feature Before and After: 9 of the Most Gorgeous Wallpapered Bathroom Redos Ever.

You’ve already mentioned you’ll celebrate 11 years in your home next month. Can you share how you ended up in this house? We built our house just down the street from our last home and moved in 2013. Our last home was built in 1888 and was 1100 square feet. It has been a great experience to have lived in such a historic home as well as in a new build. I’ll never not love the character of an older home but the amenities of a new home are quite nice too. This is a photo of our 1888 home’s basement - you see I’m still using the chairs and the desk in our current home.

When we were building our house, we frequently heard people say…it’s so great you are building your own home, you can have whatever you want. I would quickly correct…no, you can have what you pay for. So since building, we have done a few projects such as replacing a kitchen window for a larger window since we have a river view, adding crown molding to more of our rooms, a lot of landscaping including installing a bluestone patio and walkway, taking all the wire shelving out of the closets and having my husband custom build shelves, and more recent and my favorite - adding built-ins around the french doors in the room we use for guests as well as my Work From Home space - our Den.

the Den with it's wonderful built-ins

So tell us do you have a favorite space is in your home. I really do enjoy each and every room of our home. It is important for me to use all of our spaces; I don’t like to be wasteful.  But if I had to choose a favorite, I would choose my son’s room.  I love to see how he makes it his own.  It’s a different glimpse into his personality and it too has evolved over the years.  A close second is the room I use when I get to work from home - I love my gallery wall filled with many IG artist friends, and I love my books

Christine you’re a talented artist. Is this a pursuit from childhood or something you’ve cultivated in adulthood? For as long as I can remember, I have loved to color, draw and paint. This was something my mom Irene and I did together. She was so talented. For me, it is just something I enjoy. What thrills me is that my son enjoys the time we spend painting and drawing as well.  I have a few things that I have painted framed, but for the most part, I just keep a sketchbook.  

art projects

Pattern mixing in Dave's home office

I love seeing the pieces you find thrifting. Have you always been a thrifter? I’ve only somewhat recently found the thrill of thrifting. Thrifting is such a great way to create unique spaces. I love the hunt and the surprises. And while I certainly enjoy a trip to IKEA or Target, I appreciate not having a home that looks trendy. It is important to our family as well that we be good to the environment. Thrifting furniture [wood] and rugs [wool] and decor is a more sustainable way to create a unique space with a story. I’ve also thrifted more than my fair share of wood bowls.

Please share with the readers what is your day to day gig? By day, I oversee the Planning, Assessment and Research Office at a community college. I love working in higher education. It’s a rewarding field to be able to serve the community and students. And I appreciate being able to work on a beautiful campus in a historic mansion. My offices are the bedroom, sewing room and walk-in closet of the home. My account is entertainment for me - I love design and art. And what I didn’t know would happen by starting this account would be the friends I would make. I have met local people with whom I have become good friends as well as many other people I have met on IG but not in real life that play a meaningful role in my life.  Meryl, you are an example of a person who I’ve grown to know through this platform and who I care about. Awe Christine that’s so sweet and kind of you to say and I feel the same my dear … both mom’s of 13 yr old only sons; lover of thrifting and graphic pillows!

Plans for the rest of 2024? We are always talking about future projects - what we actually end up doing is a different story. We are considering replacing the single door to our balcony with a french door. I’m excited about this - it will make the inside and outside more functional and just look nicer. We are also thinking about replacing the tile in our shower with porcelain slabs and getting new vanity tops. And there are always the little things - upgrading lighting, hanging art, repotting plants, painting, etc.  

Thank you for this opportunity to share a little bit about me, my family and my home. I appreciate the community you have created and cultivated. And I’m so happy to call you a friend.

Christine thank you for taking the time to sit down and be interviewed and answering a million of my last minute questions… ha! I appreciate your time and I super appreciate you as a friend! XX

Please follow Christine on Instagram and I’ll see you there too!

Let's Meet Hilary Prall

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HILARY PRALL

Today’s interview is a dear friend - Hilary Prall. I’d been hinting for a while to Hilary that I wanted to include her here and today’s the day!

Hilary Welcome to the Chalet my dear! Hi Meryl Thanks I’m really happy to be here.

Awesome - So tell the readers about yourself. I’m Hilary Prall, I’m 45 and I live in Ankeny, Iowa with my husband Jason and our dog Cooper and cats Sheldon and Howard.

I’ve always been interested in decorating. When I was growing up I loved changing my room around from an early age. I would move my furniture and decorations often. Pretty sure I ruined the carpet in my bedroom from dragging the heavy furniture around. When I would stay the night with friends, I always wanted to organize and decorate their rooms too. Our house was always well decorated. My mom made-do with what we could find at garage sales, family pieces she’d inherited, and a few new things—we had a lot of art from Home Interiors.

Foyer

Hilary you’re a gifted thrifted. When did thrifting start for you? In high school, we would go to the thrift store to find clothes and accessories for funny dress up days for homecoming. Once I got married, I started going more regularly (there was a great Goodwill by our house) because I wanted to decorate but didn’t feel like I should be spending a lot of money.

I got really into thrifting around the same time that Instagram was really taking off. That was the time that you followed just a few people and we all had similar interests. It seemed like everyone was posting their recent thrifting hauls and it made us all want to buy more and more stuff…to show off. I do love vintage, so shopping at “regular stores” doesn’t make a lot of sense for me on most things. Especially since the stores are getting so silly expensive. I tend to love estate sales most of all. I enjoy getting a peek into someone’s life…romanticizing their story. We also frequented garage sales years ago but that was way before the internet, and you could still find really good deals. Now, everyone thinks their things are precious and it’s harder and harder to find a gem for a decent price.

Hilary and Jason’s basement filled with thrifted Flags, Paint by Numbers, Metal Globes and so much more!

Any antidotes from childhood you’d like to share? Not decorating related, but I have always been an entrepreneur. I can remember making and selling friendship bracelets at recess for a long time in elementary school. I’ve always had friends, but always stood outside of the crowd too. I liked having a way to bring people to me in a creative way. It didn’t make me sad to make a little money too.

Jason and Hilary

Tell us where and what you studied in college and what was your former 9-5 gig? I received my undergraduate degree in Public Relations from Drake University. I really wasn’t ready to be in college or to know what I wanted to do in adulthood, but that was just the track I was on. I ended up going full time with the grocery store chain that I’d worked at in high school and stayed there until I left in 2016 to pursue the decorating business I’d started. I’m definitely a comfort driven person, so working the same job for so long was easy for me to do…even though I wasn’t truly happy. I was able to start the decorating business purely through social media, which is still amazing to me. I decided a couple of years ago that I couldn’t do that and content creation very well at the same time, so I closed the decorating side of things. I could always go back to it (I still have people reach out), but it didn’t really light a fire in me, so I don’t think I ever will.

Hilary I really appreciate how many areas you speak to on Instagram - tips about DIY, Home Décor, Fashion, Plants, Thrifting and your Health journey. I love to share the things I’m enjoying in the moment, so all of those fall into that category. One of the reasons I think I haven’t been able to grow a huge social media account is lack of consistency, but I don’t really care. Anytime I try to narrow my path, I get very unsettled. This way, I can be as authentic to myself as possible.

Hilary’s amazing Vintage Santa Mug Collection

How did your Website/Blog start – what was the light-bulb moment you said – yeah I’m doing this. I had my first blog hosted on Blogger in like 2010. They were all the rage, I like to write, and I thought it would be a good outlet for me. I didn’t know anything about blogs or how to create one, but I got obsessed with figuring out all the different add-ons: stickers, music, buttons… Then, when I started my decorating business, I knew I needed one for that. I again built my own through Squarespace and eventually hired a virtual assistant to help me with the things I couldn’t figure out. I just recently went all in on having a true web designer build a beautiful and professional site for me. I’m so pleased with it and can’t wait to see where it goes.

What led you to design your Photo Editing Preset? Again…I see what other people are doing and want to do it for myself. Presets were very popular a few years ago and I knew I could recreate the settings I was using to edit my photos and make that available for purchase. I’m always trying to find different sources of income, but want to make sure they’re actually helpful for people.

How long you’ve been in your home and what is your favorite space? We moved into this house in 2018. I had major surgery scheduled for two weeks after we moved in, so I knew I needed to get a few things done ASAP. I hired painters, had curtains hung, and then started game planning for after I recovered. We lived in our first house for almost 16 years and when we moved out, I remember being so disappointed in the projects we hadn’t done. So many easy things that could have been changed out…to enjoy the space more. I really do love our current home…except our master bathroom. It’s the one room that I’ve done a makeover to a few times, but it just still falls flat. I don’t know that we’ll put any big money into it, but I have some goals for it. The space I love the most is probably outside. I love working in the yard and it’s so exciting to see my vision come to life. This is the first time we’ve had a really usable and enjoyable outdoor sitting area…let alone multiple options for one. We’ve done mostly cosmetic things to the interior of the house: paint, wallpaper, a few floating shelves. Outdoors, though, we’ve had the house painted, a new roof and gutters installed, and a major landscaping project completed last year.

Talk about your design philosophy. I can definitely get pulled into what’s trending. Not necessarily because I love it, but because I’ve been chasing the elusive social media follow for so long. I have finally learned, though, that no amount of attention on social media can make you happy…least of all in your own home. I’ve always loved vintage, but what I’m drawn to has changed. Part of that is just the design and layout out of this house compared to our old one. Our first house was an updated version of a 4-square layout. There were built-ins, the rooms were smaller, and it was just older. I had more of colorful mid-century pieces. They didn’t feel right in this house, although, I still have some of my Pyrex. I’ve leaned into more of an eclectic look in this house, gold accents, more original art, lots of layers and textures. I don’t have a specific style…other than more is more.

Laundry Room

I love your weekly IG Live: Coffee Talk with Brooke + Hilary Brooke and I have been doing this live for over three years, I think! We didn’t start out with the intention of doing it for so long, but people really seem to enjoy listening to us talk…even though we never have a plan for what we’ll discuss. It really is just like listening to a couple friends chat. People crave connection.

Hilary and Brooke

You offer an Instagram subscription. What things do you offer through your subscription? I jumped on the subscription program right away, but know myself enough that I struggle with keeping up with consistent sharing. For over a year, I shared the food I was eating on my health journey. I started dreading doing that, though, so I’m shifting toward giving my subscribers a sneak peek of my thrift finds. Not sure if I will stick with subscriptions or just let them go by the wayside. A lot of people don’t believe in paying for content…so that’s a hard opinion to change.

How has Social Media specifically Instagram impacted your brand? I have a love/hate relationship with Instagram…as I think everyone does. It has opened so many doors both financially and socially for me, though, so for now…I stay. I do want to turn my focus more to my website and evergreen content (blog posts, ebooks, courses, etc…even Pinterest posts to a certain degree. Things that live on beyond the short social media time span) …with Instagram being more of a platform to build community. Hoping I can stick with that and make it happen.

Livingroom, Kitchen and Dining

What’s on Your To Do List for the rest of 2024? Life has been crazy the last several years with some health issues and losing my mom in 2022. I’ve been working on her estate for two years and we’re mostly done with that now. I’m trying to refocus on my business and create a daily schedule for myself. That’s proving harder than I want it to be.

Hilary not only shares thrifting pieces she incorporates into her wardrobe but, also awesome Walmart Deals

I think it’s so neat you’re on local Television Hilary I mean come on! Yes, I do Hello Iowa once or twice a month. It’s a fun opportunity to connect with a different audience and helps encourage me to get a blog post done for each visit. Check out my appearances: Hello Iowa

Follow Hilary on Amazon, Facebook, Instagram, Like To Know It, Pinterest, Youtube, her Website and Sign up for E-Mails.

Hilary thank you thank you for taking the time to sit down and chat with me I really appreciate it my dear!

Til next time friends I’ll see you over on the Gram!

Images: Hilary Prall

Let's Meet Amie Buice

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Amie Buice

Hi Friends this month my featured interview is the ridiculously talented Amie Buice; an Artist, Interior Designer and Art Teacher on top of being a momma to two sweet boys.

Amie thank you for carving out the time to pop by the Chalet with your very busy schedule - can you introduce yourself to the readers. Hi Meryl, thank you for having me! My name is Amie Buice and I am 37. I have two boys, Trask who is 8 and Oliver who is 6. We have a golden retriever named Posy and a muted calico named Clover.

I grew up in a family of creatives. My great uncles were architects, many of my relatives were artists, and my parents have a great eye for all things design. Designing and decorating my childhood home is a passion of my mom Maria and she has a greater talent for and knowledge of design than anyone I know. My dad Bill also has incredible vision for architecture and landscape design. I was fortunate enough to grow up watching them build a beautiful home together, which is where I learned to love interior design. It is also where I first experienced the way your home’s style is a form of creative expression.

Wall Motif Design for a Client

One summer when I was in high school my brother and sister were both at camp. During this time, while I was home without siblings (love you Will and Rainey haha), my Mom and I took on the project of redecorating my bedroom. It was the first time that I had a real say in the way that my room was decorated, and my Mom went all in with bringing my vision to life. We painted the walls a deep purple, the ceiling a dark blue with gold stars. The carpet was a gold shag (which I still stand by!), the light fixture was a star medallion and the bedding was black with beautifully embroidered flowers. It was a dream! We spend the week painting and decorating, listening to the Train album on repeat. I can’t listen to “Drops of Jupiter” without thinking of my Mom. It is one of my favorite memories, and my first hands on experience with Interior Design.

Interior Design Plan for a client

You studied art and interior design in college and recently you entered the world of teaching as an Art Teacher - can you share this evolution. I started out at the University of South Carolina (go, Gamecocks!) and graduated from the Art Institute in Charleston. Entering college, it was my plan to become an Interior Designer. I started out with a major in Studio Art and minor in business. Along the way I realized that I really needed an Interior Design degree, something that was still relatively new, so I transferred and graduated with a BA in Interior Design.

I worked in Interior Design for years under some incredible people and gained so much knowledge and experience.

In 2015, when I was pregnant with my first son, I decided to start my own business so that I could be home with my family as much as possible. I was able to make my own schedule and become more busy as my boys became more busy. Overall, I’ve practiced Interior Design for 13 years.

Wall Motif Design for a Client Bath

Over the years my business transformed from solely Interior Design, to also incorporating making and selling art, and eventually to painting decorative wall motifs in my client’s homes.

The evolution of painted wall motifs came from a project that I did in my own home. I had a vision of filling my boys bathroom with bug art (they are ALL boy), then decided just to paint the bugs on the walls. I was inspired by a friend of mine who had been painting walls (shoutout to Marian Pouch, a very talented Columbia, SC artist!), so I just went for it. I posted my progress on social media and immediately had friends and clients asking me to do something similar for them.

Over the course of a year the painted wall motifs became a larger part of my business than the Interior Design. The motifs that I painted on client’s walls were inspired by textile designs, prints that I love, colors in the clients homes and working through a client’s vision. I have so much fun working through an idea with a client, and testing options until we bring what they have in mind to life.

Pattern Testing for a Client

After 13 years of practicing Interior Design, last year I was ready for a change. For the first time my boys were both in school every day and I felt a shift in what was bringing me fulfillment. I really missed working with other people, and if I was going to change careers, I wanted it to be something that was practical for a life with my boys, where I could work and still enjoy them as much as possible. Teaching Art was something that I knew I could be happy doing for the rest of my career, so I started on an alternate certification route for Art Education. Last year was my first teaching Art at an elementary school and I have truly loved it. Next year I will be teaching Art at the school that my boys attend, which will be a dream come true. But, I still take on design clients especially ones who want hand-painted walls!

Amie’s Students were studying Matisse and inspired her to paint this piece

Amie can you tell us about your design philosophy – your brand is about decorative arts and personalized details for your clients. My design philosophy is that anything goes! I am a no-fuss type of person and that translates into my design style.

I think that a person’s home should be reflective of who they are, functional for the way they live and comfortable to them. Nothing should be too pretty or perfect, old things should be mixed with new things, hand-me downs are fantastic, thrift stores are like a treasure box and children’s artwork should be hung… if not on a wall then at least on the refrigerator! I also think that every room needs something that is “off” and unexpected.

Will you share what your favorite space is in your home and why. My favorite space in my house is my kitchen. There is good natural light, the cabinets are blue and the floor is painted. There are old chairs around my grandmother’s table and a fabulous vintage rug that my Mom gave me years ago. There are plates on the wall, dog bowls and messy baskets with pencils, markers and paper for my kids. The refrigerator is covered in pictures and art. I love to cook so 5:00 pm in the kitchen with a glass of wine and music playing is my favorite place to be.

Handpainted Shades for a client

How has Social Media and especially Instagram impacted your brand? Social Media has played a huge role in my business. For Interior Design, many of my clients came from word of mouth but for art and wall motifs, almost all of them came from connections that I made on Instagram. I have a love/hate relationship with social media, as many of us do. But, I do love the friends that I’ve made through social media and the inspiration that fills my feed daily.

A creation Amie framed to KEEP AND ENJOY

Do you have any plans for the rest of 2024. Oh gosh I’m not much of a long term to-do list maker! But to carry on this year I’d like to enjoy the summer with my boys and begin my next year teaching art with lots of inspiration and excitement. I’ll always find time to squeeze in some painting, too!

Amie thank you again for squeezing me in with your busy delightful life. I am so inspired by the art and life you’ve created where you live your passion.

I encourage you to follow Amie on Instagram and go check out her Website.

Til next time I’ll see you over on the Gram!

Images: Amie Buice