October 16, 2024

Let's Meet Susan Brierly Bush

October 16, 2024/ Meryl

I am super excited to introduce you all to my friend Susan Brierly Bush.

Hello, Susan and welcome to the Chalet. Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me. Oh, where to begin – please introduce yourself to the readers. Thanks for featuring me and the Big Green Barn in your blogpost, Meryl! I love what I do and I hope to inspire others to embrace their passions and dreams. I live in Morris County with my husband Robert and our rescue dog, Jack. We’ve been married for 10 years and have melded our family of six kids, ages 22 to 34. It’s kinda Brady Bunch, but we’re spread across four states. Robert and I live in a 210-year-old home with an antique barn in our backyard, thus the name of my Big Green Barn business. I’m fortunate that Robert is also my business manager and he often rides shotgun with me when I scour the Northeast for vintage and antique decor.

I know you’re a very busy lady. You’re a daughter, wife, mom, business owner, creative director, editor, interior stylist, marketer, thrifter and writer. You have an MA in marketing, you’ve worked for Sotheby’s fine art auction house and you were a blogger for SothebysHome.com. In recent years, you earned an art history certification from Sotheby’s Institute of Art and studied at the New York School of Interior Design. Since 2009, you’ve worked as a style editor and writer for New Jersey Monthly magazine. Last year, you were named the magazine’s home and garden editor. The overall theme in your work and life is creativity and entrepreneurship. Please share a bit of the path your career has taken over the years and how you’ve crafted your career. It’s pretty cool that, in recent years, all my business and educational experience has come together in a synergistic way. I began working in retail when I was 16 and then was a retail manager after college. I worked as a copywriter for advertising and marketing agencies, then got my graduate degree in marketing, then worked as a freelance business writer, speechwriter and creative director for years as I raised my two sons. It wasn’t until 2005 that the magazine business found me. I was the senior editor of NJ CEO magazine, then the style editor of Park Place luxury magazine, and I’ve worked for New Jersey Monthly and New Jersey Bride for 16 years. During my time at the magazine, I’ve met design luminaries like Albert Hadley, Bunny Williams, Vicente Wolf, Jonathan Adler and Stella McCartney. Funny how things have worked out – I’ve simply kept myself open to possibilities and they seemed to find me. I’m also grateful to all the kindred spirits I’ve met through creative networking organizations and Instagram.

Susan I count myself fortunate because we met through the wondrous world of Instagram and I’ve visited your antique barn for your seasonal barn sales. What was the genus of the barn sales? This business venture began about five years ago, when we had a couple of tag sales in our old barn because I had a bunch of furniture and décor I had accumulated over the years from my past activities in home staging and prop styling. Once word spread and the style editors of Better Homes & Garden, House Beautiful, Domino, Luxe, Veranda and Architectural Digest began visiting, word got out. Soon interior designers and Netflix set decorators found me and that’s when I knew it was time to become an official business. Everyone has been especially supportive because they know that Big Green Barn is a small, female-owned business that sells sustainable vintage décor. That’s what truly makes the barn “green.”

**Happy shoppers last weekend at the Barn Sale**

Last weekend’s Sale including a snap of you and Karina Larsson who sells custom made pillows and lampshades at the sale.

Jennifer Dengel an Interior Designer from Cranford found a lovely piece of art!

**Big Green Barn shop 912 Mt. Kemble Ave. Harding (same as Route 202 between Morristown and Bernardsville).**

What led you to take the very serious plunge in 2023 and open your retail shop Big Green Barn in Harding Township at 912 Mt. Kemble Ave.? How did you decide the where and when of it? In 2023, my husband and I realized that our occasional barn sales were gaining popularity and beginning to morph from an interest into a business. I had considered the idea of opening a retail shop, but wasn’t seriously looking at locations. Then, in the spring of 2023, I sort of manifested my retail location because I just happened to notice a for-rent sign in what is now my little shop in Morristown’s Harding Township. As soon as I stepped into the space, I knew it was meant to be. It was small but adorable. Miraculously, not only was the space already painted green, but my office walls, floor and cabinets had been expertly faux finished by the well respected William Totten of Oldwick. Bill had occupied the same space as his interior design studio years ago. So there was a lot of good creative energy there. Since that day, I’ve more than tripled my space in the same building. Many of my clients live in the Harding area, so I was happy to move closer to them. It was a win-win.

What is your sourcing process? How do you choose your inventory? I occasionally scout at high-end estate sales and auctions. But most of my vintage and antique furniture and décor come from mom-and-pop shops, community thrift stores and humble tag sales. I spend a lot of money at community thrift stores because I like to support their efforts. Working for Sotheby’s fine art auction house in NYC was the experience of a lifetime. It really honed my eye for unusual and exceptional artifacts. Just since last December, I’ve begun to accept select consignments. At least twice a week, shoppers ask me to consign their merchandise or family estates. My passion is keeping high-quality décor out of landfills and it makes me happy to be a sort of matchmaker, uniting shoppers and their finds.

**A beautifully curated moment at the Big Green Barn in Harding**

How can I not ask the one question I ask every creative I interview - Did you decorate your bedroom while growing up? Please share anything you wish about your younger self. I grew up in the Midwest and my family lived on a small farm for a few years where I rode a tractor with my dad. My two sisters and I would jump into Mom’s station wagon before school to deliver our produce to the local grocery store. My Dad used to flip houses as a side gig and I was his helper. He taught me how to paint and hang wallpaper when I was about 12 years old. I was an unusual kid, not liking dolls or tea parties like other girls. I loved drawing and painting and was obsessed with Lite-Brite and Spirograph. I penned a little newsletter for my fifth-grade Girl Scout troop, was the editor of my eighth-grade school newspaper, worked on my high school newspaper and yearbook, and studied journalism in college. For years, I’ve buried myself in interior design magazines and I love studying art history and design. Did I decorate my own bedroom as a kid? I remember being very excited to choose the wallpaper for my tiny teenage room. And I’ve loved wallpaper ever since.

**Susan At the Big Green Barn in Harding**

Recently I shared a Friday Grid on Instagram of the color red and you replied: “Decades ago I read an article in Architectural Digest suggesting every home should have a red space. I was so inspired that I ran right out and found the yummiest Benjamin Moore shade of red and splashed it all over my foyer” I know this was the foyer in your last home, a charming cottage. Can you share how long you’ve been in your current home – what drew you to it and can you share your design philosophy. Bob and I were married 10 years ago and temporarily lived in my sweet cottage while looking for just the right home. When we moved into our present circa-1815 farmhouse in 2015 and saw the huge green barn in the backyard, we knew we would eventually turn it into some type of business. Our Colonial-style farmhouse was lovely but very vanilla, so we’ve filled it with colorful artwork, mid-century furniture, quirky artifacts and, of course, scads of wallpaper. We thought it would be interesting to juxtapose a traditional home with lots of mid- century décor and a splashy palette. Rather than decorating our antique home like George and Martha Washington, our style is more like Rob and Laura Petrie – with a cheerful maximalist twist.

Social Media – IG – how has social media impacted your career – your brand? Over the years I had done a lot of blogging for Sotheby’s Home, Bed, Bath and Beyond and New Jersey Monthly. But I had never found the time for social media. It wasn’t until the 2020 lockdown that I threw myself into Instagram. That’s when I began to establish a widespread network of meaningful connections with kindred creative spirits (like you, Meryl!) Now I’m on Instagram every day and I’m continually inspired by my fellow creatives.

Susan, Me & Kristin in May 2023

Kristin, Noreen & I in Oct. 2023

Susan & I in May 2024

Plans for the rest of 2024 & 2025. The Big Green Barn business continues to be strong and most recently I’ve begun offering “house calls” because so many shoppers visit my Harding location and like what they see, but aren’t sure how to pull together multiple pieces of artwork for a gallery wall. Or they need a little guidance to style their coffee table or bookshelves. If they have a big project, I steer them to my interior designer colleagues. But, for smaller projects, I’m happy to pack up a few curated boxes of décor, and maybe a couple of lamps and mirrors, and take it all to their home where I can work a little magic for an hour or two.

As for 2025, I’ve always been a big supporter of the Mansion in May designer show house, sponsored by the Women’s Association of Morristown Medical Center. This year I’m feeling inspired to throw my hat in the ring to design a small space, so we’ll see if that might materialize next spring.

Here’s a link to a fun story about Susan and Robert’s home, published in 2017: NJM Style Editor Finds Love the Second Time Around

House Beautiful.com names the Big Green Barn in August 2024 article: 9 Little-Known Destinations Where You Can Still Find Incredible Antiques

Here’s a link to all New Jersey Monthly articles by Susan. And here’s this month’s: Everyday Luxury: Build a Chic Wardrobe With Just a Few Basics

Follow Susan on Instagram: @big.green.barn and @susanbrierlybush and visit her Website: www.thebiggreenbarn.com - meet her in her Shop along the Country Mile - 912 Mt. Kemble Ave. Harding (same as Route 202 between Morristown and Bernardsville).

Susan I can’t tell you what fun this was for me…Thanks again for saying yes when I asked.

I have penned a few articles about my Big Green Barn Visits:

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

Images: Susan Brierly Bush and Me

September 25, 2024

Let's Meet Christine Work

September 25, 2024/ Meryl

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.

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.

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.

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.

Before

After

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.

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.

Before

After

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.

Basement of the 1888 House

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

Son Brandon's Room

Den Gallery Wall

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.

**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!

Images: Christine Work

June 19, 2024

Let's Meet Hilary Prall

June 19, 2024/ Meryl

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.