It's All About The Mix!

This week I thought I would take a deep dive and share the resources for a vignette I receive a ton of queries about every time I share it on my Instagram feed.

Left to Right:

The lamp is one of a pair from Home Sense. I do have a penchant for Green Lamps. I will admit I am tossing around the idea of upgrading the shades - we’ll see.

I spied this portrait in the Ever Dwell space inside the Middletown Peddlers Mall in Louisville, KY. Lindsay Stivers was lovely enough to ship him. We all refer to him as Mr. Nelson - due to fact Nelson is written on the top right of the art.

The candle holders were my Mothers. I love how they look with the Maple Branch Beeswax Candles from Larger Cross.

The landscape is thrifted from Lindsey McCord.

The clock is from Target at least 15+ years ago.

The Stag - I picked up while on a comp shopping trip 5 years ago at Ross Stores.

The hanging photograph of a painter was thrifted at the Olde Engine Works in Stroudsburg, PA. The piece is floating on a matte board in a Michaels frame.

The brass tiger is a thrifted find from the Cape May Antiques Center.

The leather tiger is another piece I thrifted from Lindsey McCord.

The tortoise shagreen egg is a one of a kind work by ceramist Elena Boiardi.

The loin one of the first pieces I thrifted through Instagram. The seller is no more.

The small brass pitcher I picked up at a garage sale.

There is a small modern blue metal dish under the pitcher of hydrangeas - I found in the Coxsackie Antique Center - my sister and I bailed off the New York State Thruway on our way home from a weekend in Vermont.

This showstopper vase was birthday gift from my dear late Uncle - it was something he found at an Art Event and thought of me! It was like nothing he had ever given me… not like the Royal Doulton, crystal or local history artwork but, this blew me away and I loved it the minute I saw it and I treasure it still years later.


The time-frame for these items in my possession span a few months to 35 years for the candle holders. The leather tiger, the lion, the landscape have some age to them, as does Mr. Nelson and I know the photograph of the painter is from the 1960’s. I do wonder about where they’ve lived before and I’m thrilled to have them here in the Chalet.

For me it’s about how pieces tell a story. The story changes because pieces are constantly shifted. I will say this vignette has changed very little since the leather tiger joined - I just love having him and the brass one together - I joke about it but, I am a cat person. So I’ll be keeping an eye out for more tigers to add but, I won’t seek items out. I won’t dive into Etsy, Amazon or Ebay and troll for items. I prefer to let my collections evolve by being in the right place at the right time.

I hope you’ve enjoyed learning about these pieces origins.

Til next time friends stay safe!

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Art Inclined

Gladys TAy

Gladys TAy

I was struck while watching an Instagram reels the other day by my friend Gladys Tay with her gently leaning this small piece of unframed art against a stack of books and I thought I’ve been leaning art against books, windowsills and well just about anywhere my whole life.

ARE YOU ART INCLINED???

This practice does not come from indecisiveness regarding where to hang said art - I genuinely like the layering and flexibility propped art offers and today I’m sharing friends who do as well. Enjoy! Click image for sources and please check them out!

Gladys tay

Gladys tay

Regine Labossiere

Regine Labossiere

Emma Carole Paradis and Kimberly Carole

Emma Carole Paradis and Kimberly Carole

Natalie Papier

Natalie Papier

The Chalet Porch prior to it’s incarnation into remote 4th grade

The Chalet Porch prior to it’s incarnation into remote 4th grade

Gen Sohr

Gen Sohr

My friend Tracy Bilello has a private account so I’m unable to link But, i’m thrilled she shared this cool shot of her bar

My friend Tracy Bilello has a private account so I’m unable to link But, i’m thrilled she shared this cool shot of her bar

Christina Carleton

Christina Carleton

Dana Dore

Dana Dore

Alison Sheffield

Alison Sheffield

Citrus and Cedars

Citrus and Cedars

Coleen O’Neill

Coleen O’Neill

Mariana Silveira

Mariana Silveira

Elizabeth Wynn Marshall

Elizabeth Wynn Marshall

Do you lean art? I love how many places there are to. I especially wish I had room at the Chalet to set aside a chair to showcase art and of course a book or two!

Til next time friends stay well!

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Images: Accounts Linked

Let's Meet Natalie Papier

Natalie Papier

Natalie Papier

Natalie Papier of HOME EC. is incredibly talented - She is a trained painter and uses her amazing eye in the spaces she creates for clients and in her own remarkable home.

She announced last week she’s one of the designers participating in this spring’s One Room Challenge. I’m thrilled to follow along and witness her creative process.  

Natalie - her husband Alan, son Kellen, daughter Maddie, dog Billie and cat Boots moved to Charlotte, NC last year from Oak Park, IL and her work transforming what she has coined the #charlottechateau is simply mind-blowing friends.

Natalie holding Billie, with husband Alan, Maddie and Kellen in front of the Charlotte Chateau

Natalie holding Billie, with husband Alan, Maddie and Kellen in front of the Charlotte Chateau

Natalie I understand art is your first passion but, tell me did you decorate your bedroom growing up? Ohhhh yes. I liked to display all my treasures (books, decor, pictures, art supplies).  I was actively taking art lessons from age 5 on and had a very large drafting table in my room where I spent many hours creating. Reading and drawing/painting were my true loves. You asked if I had any anecdotes - when I was five I found a dead bird that I used feathers from to make an art project of a realistic bird. My mom even laminated it and kept it - gross as that was!

Charlotte Chateau Sprite room

Charlotte Chateau Sprite room

What and Where did you study? I took private lessons from my high school and small town college art teachers from age 5. In HS and college I would have these same teachers!  I went to a small community college for visual arts and went on to study/practice pottery, screen printing, photography and watercolor in my 20’s.  

Oak Park, IL Home

Oak Park, IL Home

I know you were on an episode of House Hunters - that’s super cool - how did that happen? I sent an audition tape in when we started looking to move from our condo in the city to a house in the suburbs.  Our realtor was a dapper and charming guy from Chicago, Don Friedman, and it was super fun although exhausting filming 4, 8 hour days in total.

So the home you and Alan found in Oak Park, IL. How did the transformation of it go? The Oak Park house was a slow, steady curation as it was a much larger home from what we had and we were house broke for awhile. That’s when my love for thrifting really kicked in.  And where I started experimenting (a lot) with paint and covering the walls and ceilings with it. I pulled from the beautiful pattern mixing and the variety of design aesthetics I fell in love with during the time we lived in London. We lived there for a year and a half for Alan’s job - Kellen was only 1 and I would walk around the city with him all day admiring the beauty and architecture.

This ties in with my next question - I know you and Kim Daunis started with a vintage business - tell us about the creation of your business: Kim and I were friends that started a vintage pop up business together with another friend.  After a couple years, I started designing under Home Ec. for friends and acquaintances with the encouragement of my book club. After a year, I was so busy, I asked for Kim to help with a project. We worked so well together, we decided to partner up and take on the interior world full-time. It continued to evolve and gain momentum from day one.

The move to Charlotte was based on Alan’s career but, please share what it’s been like creating the Charlotte Chateau. How neat was a blank slate? We had the opportunity move for Alan’s job to Charlotte but actually turned it down. We are both originally from Illinois. My husband from the NW suburbs of Chicago and I’m from a very small town two hours south west of Chicago. After another brutal Chicago winter, we were like what are we doing??? So we took the plunge!  Kim and I separated the business with me continuing it in Charlotte while Kim decided not to continue. Alan and I looked at 30 houses in 3 days!  We turned down so many “new” houses because I wanted to create my own design but, the process was daunting not knowing the neighborhoods well. I fell in love with the Charlotte Chateau on site but, it needed ALOT a of love.  Still does...ha!  But the vibes felt right, the school district is great and it was the right choice for us. I started the design process from Oak Park and we stayed in temp housing for 8 weeks in Charlotte while the kitchen and other areas of the house got fully renovated.

Charlotte Chateau views from the Kitchen Island toward the sunrise Room

Charlotte Chateau views from the Kitchen Island toward the sunrise Room

Talk about your design philosophy – your brand is colorful with an infusion of art, funk and the unexpected: I just design with pieces that inspire joy.  I have a healthy love for color (which I attribute to my art background), art, vintage, whimsy....  I strongly value original art in my home. It speaks to my soul.

Charlotte Chateau bath

Charlotte Chateau bath

Please tell me what your favorite space is in your home? The kitchen. It’s the first house we have ever lived in that I could totally renovate start to finish and pick every element. I wanted it to have a timeless Parisian feel and feel open and light but also being in a curated portrait art collection for a focal point.

Charlotte Chateau Kitchen

Charlotte Chateau Kitchen

I strongly value original art in my home.  It speaks to my soul.
— Natalie Papier

How has Instagram impacted your brand? Instagram has given me a space to share my portfolio and a space for free marketing to potential clients. It’s also connected me with artists, makers, real life friends and businesses. It’s been a place for my business to get discovered by magazines and sponsorships. So truly is has made my business what it is.

Charlotte Chateau Den

Charlotte Chateau Den

Natalie you’re one of the designers for the 2021 Real Simple Home this is such an incredible project! Real Simple asked me to be part of their 4th annual Real Simple Idea Home - a home that is fully renovated in Westfield, NJ and will be in the October issue. I have never been in the house - I’m working off plans to design the livingroom and I am excited and nervous of course! I’ll be sharing updates on my Instagram feed.

Apartment Therapy Small Cool Experience

Apartment Therapy Small Cool Experience

And you’re part of the Apartment Therapy Small/Cool 2021 Experience this is an awesome shoppable on-line design showcase broadcast on @apartmenttherapy Instagram feed Friday June 11 - Sunday June 13. Yes you can virtually see my small and cool room starting June 11 at @apartmenttherapy Small/Cool Experience. My space will bring to life the Flexible Spaces trend - as working from home has become the new norm for so many - our spaces need to reflect this and I’m so excited all the items will be shoppable which is so - if you pardon the pun - COOL through Overstock!

Design 360 ° Award Winner - Natalie Papier

Design 360 ° Award Winner - Natalie Papier

Charlotte Chateau hallway with newly installed Cole and Son wallpaper Frutto Proibito

Charlotte Chateau hallway with newly installed Cole and Son wallpaper Frutto Proibito

Recent Client Project

Recent Client Project

Plans for 2021: We’ve already talked about the big things coming up - the One Room Challenge, the 2021 Real Simple Home and the Apartment Therapy Small/Cool 2021 Experience. But I truly just want to keep creating spaces that bring joy into homes and reflect the unique personalities of the people living in them. 


Natalie I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you saying Yes when I asked! I’m blown away by your designs and most especially by your creative and lovely spirit!

You can find Natalie on HOME EC., Instagram, Facebook and Houzz.

Til next time friends stay well.

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Images: Natalie Papier