Chaletmomma

it all started because i wanted a chair... well, really it started because i wanted to redo the porch... wait - i guess if we start at the very beginning it began with the chair.

yes - this chair... it's a family piece. it was my grandparents. it was in our den when i was growing up. oh it's grand - it's a brick S***house - heavy as all get-out - built to last - 100 years old.

it looked like this when my brother delivered it to the chalet. Yikes! it was rough and one of the arms was loose - with the same heavy floral fabric Mom had done in the 1980's which i actually still liked.

the upholsterer Andy, who's such a great guy, told me the chair was french. i never knew.

oui c'est tres chic.

here i am with my nephew Emmett circa 1988.

for 2 years it sat in the basement. because we knew it would be more than a bit of $$$ to redo. so it sat and all the while i kept thinking and talking about how it would end up in Liam's room. a sturdy chair he could grow into.

everyone agreed - it's divine. Andy did an amazing job - completely rebuilding parts. i chose a hard-wearing high quality microfiber. my son was happy.

the original layout for that side of porch - office waiting room .jpeg

...cut to the porch

if you're new here - you may not know we had a porch redo - a conversion - from outdoor to indoor space.

this image is from October. it looks perfectly fine - but after the Christmas tree was put away i wanted more. i wanted to balance the seating with the other end of the room. to get a great chair and utilize the ginormous ottoman we have.

i went onto the interweb - and found a wingback - it landed on the porch last week. here's an image from my instastories.

let me add - i was in housewares design & product development for years and sold many chairs to catalogs. the idea of not being able to sit on something before i bought it didn't concern me.

but, it was not what i imagined. i sat and sat and it felt off - the room felt off - i was upset. what was the deal???

finally my husband asked me why i was fretting - we'd simple swap it out for Liam's; after all shouldn't i enjoy the chair. the chair i love - the chair we'd spent a gazillion dollars redoing? all i kept thinking was after all my build-up about how it would always be his - i was afraid my son would balk at relinquishing it.

of course my husband was right - he is only 6 years old after all and it was absolutely no big deal to him... he arrived home from school and happily assisted in the transfer.

after the switcharoo - here's his new chair - it has tufting detail.

here's mine!!!

it looks lovely in the space! it works so well with my new Target metal accent table. the very best part - it's super comfy! i'm sitting in it right now!

have you ever changed your vision for a space?

til next time.

while i was redoing the bits and bobs around the chalet - putting Christmas away - i started thinking about design styles - specifically mine.

it's pretty obvious i lean toward traditional - there are four inherited pieces in this image (and more on the other side of the room), but i enjoy many different aesthetics - i also have chinoiserie and mid-century in this room - along with trendy touches from the IKEA lamp and my Target bits.

it's a conglomeration - is that a style? insert emoji with hand on chin? HA!

but, what if i could scrap it all? had a gazillion $$$ - what would i do?

so with that in mind - i'm presenting some of my IG friends whose styles i admire and desire.

Elizabeth @edbdesigns had me the minute i saw the expansive exposed beams in this lovely light-filled space and that wall.

well you all know my wish to #saynotoemptywalls. baskets on a wall=love to me!

Erin @francois_et_moi ability to combines neutrals and such delicious patterns - so effortlessly. resulting in a space filled with personality, not overwhelmed by any single element.

that sectional is calling to me... it's saying momma come and relax!

aah Simone @honeyandfizz what's not to love about the stunning clean lines and brilliant pops of color!

don't you wish you had a surfboard in your livingroom?

Jane @jane_athome has all the blue and white a girl could dream of. her home is a study in luxury done unpretentiously.

never letting her surroundings get stagnant Jane is constantly changing things up - furniture layouts, rugs, decorative elements.

it's so very enjoyable to watch!

Jo @jogalbraithathome use of traditional pieces paired with rustic touches really speaks to me on a visceral level.

her use of blue throughout not only her livingroom but, her entire home is delightful.

Hayley @mumslittleloves has stunningly decorated her home with equal parts white and blue that only enhance the amazing pops of her favorite pink!

every room has a distinct point of view - but, all work together blissfully.

the secret is certainly in the @roomsauce Bev has layered all the ingredients together and the results speak for themselves. with a Julia Child inspired pegboard and a custom shelving unit - this space is wonderfully warm and inviting.