July 21, 2021

Lovely Loo Redo!

July 21, 2021/ Meryl

In April I unveiled the latest incarnation of our only bath here at the Chalet.

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Let’s back up for a minute and go back to where we started.

2019

Here we are in 2018 and 2019 white walls a blue striped terry cloth curtain and a lot of beachy photographs and art from Chatham, MA and Ocean City, NJ.

Skip to May 2020 the space received a pink refresh with a curtain and towels.

In November 2020 I went back to my white and blue palette. I removed the extensive gallery wall and gave the space a fresh coat of white paint, installing art with a Parisian flavor and this pretty new patterned shower curtain.

This lasted 6 months… when I wrote about this space in January I stated: 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.

April 2021

Well friends I think I knew all along I wanted color - it just took me a while to get there - even people in the world of interiors have trouble at times - I wanted blue and Sky Blue by Benjamin Moore did the trick. I simply adore it and I love that it doesn’t match one of the blues in the curtain - because

A. it would have been too dark and B. what’s the fun in that!

I still love this curtain and it feels sophisticated to me but, to be honest I spied a gorgeous fabric that now has me dreaming of blue with green!😆.

I’m loving this James McNeill Whistler in the mix - previously it was in the principal bedroom as was the lovely floral. It was fun shifting pieces and seeing them with a fresh eye; in addition I recently ordered this signed Tiger in a Top Hat print from Harrogate House Interiors of London. I do love tigers and he adds just the right touch of whimsy!

Thanks for indulging me once again in sharing the latest updates to the most used space in the Chalet! Til next time thanks for being here and stay safe!

July 14, 2021

Spirit and Flow

July 14, 2021/ Meryl

A few months ago I started working on piece of art for the Chalet livingroom - I had painted before and I knew I wanted to buy a canvas and just see what happened. I was inspired by my friend the artist and ceramist Elena Boiardi - when she installed a new piece in the family room of her home and every member of the family took to the work and added their own stamp. While that was the plan here at the Chalet it did not work out that way - I ended up being the lone artist and I embraced the process.

Spirit and Flow hangs on the wall behind the couch. — ***Spirit and Flow*** hangs on the wall behind the couch.

Previously I worked with Great Big Canvas and received this wonderful piece a reproduction canvas print of the Vincent van Gogh work Acacia in Flowers, 1890. While I love it - I felt it was too small for the space. It currently hangs in our diningroom and I really love it there.

An interesting thing happened during this process - I started painted it from both directions… Yes, when I started there was definitely a top and a bottom but, then I questioned the orientation - the balance of the piece and I went to my friend Elena and shared the work with her because she is a multi-media trained artist and I’m not. So with her support and amazing feedback the painting was flipped and I picked up the brush again with a different mindset.

After the work was finished I still couldn’t decide - possibly because of nerves - maybe because I was over analyzing… so after polling my husband, family and friends - on a lark I took to Instagram stories and asked which way people liked it better. The feedback was remarkable. I was blown away by what people said they saw. It was really such a great exchange and felt so heartfelt.

In the end the art hangs as it shown here on the right. I love it!

I’m currently starting to organize the basement (for the 5th time in as many years) and I want to set up a permanent area to paint! I’ll keep you posted!

Til next time my friends be well!