Chaletmomma

Friends I’m so happy to have Layla Rovira here at the Chalet this month to share a bit about herself!

Layla welcome my dear! Welcome. Please introduce yourself - Hi Meryl thank you! I am happy to be here. I’m Layla and I have an Instagram account @casa_de_layla - I live in Northern, Va.

I have been married to my high school sweetheart for 24 year this December. We have 3 children: Eddie (21) in college, Daniella (17) a senior in high school and Marco (14) a freshman and he and I are doing homeschooling together. I am also mother to a not so mini schnauzer, Rocco who is 9 years old and a rescue cat Tito, who is almost 2 years old. They both always keep me company as I am a homemaker and spend most of my days home.

Your home is the center of your Instagram account - What architectural style is it? We live in a classic Colonial style 3 story townhouse. Virginia is full of history and it’s architecture is known for its Colonial style which I absolutely adore. Our home was built in 1993 (I was still in high school!) but we purchased it in 2006.

What attracted you to the home? You now that feeling with a wedding dress? The one that as soon as you try it on you just know? Well that is exactly what happened to me when I walked into this house. I just knew! My husband and I both knew right away that this was the house for us. Time flies, that was 17 years ago!

Tell us your favorite space in your house and why. I know it sounds crazy but my favorite place in our home is the kitchen. It is where I spent most of my day really. Kids coming in and out of the house all day and always hungry. My youngest spends time in the kitchen with me while he does his morning school work and I just love it.

I know my kids are old enough to cook something for themselves but I enjoy preparing them snacks, food, desserts, etc… and I especially love when they sit by the kitchen table while I am making something for them to eat and they tell me all about their day and what’s going on in their world. I feel like our small kitchen is the heart of our home.

Can you talk about your design philosophy. Sure! My design philosophy has always been: bring things you love into your home and your home will love you back. I do not follow trends or rules when it comes to home decor. Trust me, it makes life easier when creating your home. It’s important to say my house is not for young kids… it’s how we live now because my kids are older.

You are always thrifting. What is the best thing you’ve ever thrifted and why? Yes, I LOVE to thrift! My passion for thrifting has always been a part of me. But 20 years ago it was harder to find good thrift stores in my area. Now thrift stores are easier to find and it has become a way of living for many including myself. I love that a thrift store does not dictate what’s on trend like big box stores do.

It’s amazing the things you can find second-hand!

One of my favorite pieces I’ve found was on FB marketplace. My antique English pine dresser and it was FREE! It was listed as trash night freebie, pick up tonight after 7pm or it would go to trash. I love that piece and I am so happy I gave it a new home.

Another of my favorite finds are my collection of big framed art. We have a small entry/foyer with high ceiling which works as the perfect place to showcase my thrifted art on it. It’s a small area full of character.

I like knowing that my home is mostly thrifted. I love all the character and style my finds bring into my home.

Recently you thrifted a set of vintage Bird themed Tray-Tables. We chatted about the set after I saw your Instagram story about them. They are fabulous! Thank you so much Meryl! Would you believe me if I told you I paid $6.99 for the set?! I walked into the store, did not grab a cart because it was a quick stop but when I saw them I ran to them and put them in a cart as fast as I could!

Did you decorate your bedroom while growing up? It’s funny you asked me that because I did decorate my room all the time when growing up. I would change the wall color in my room at least twice a year. My whole family would joke that my room was 5” smaller in square feet from all the layers of paint on the walls.

I would also rearrange my bedroom furniture all the time. My mom, Lola, would not mind at all because she loves home decor as much as I do.

I know you thrifted your previous China Cupboard through FB Marketplace and revived it by DIYing and adding white paint. Can you talk a bit about this project? I don’t consider myself a DIYer but once in a while I do get an itch to create/DIY something. Most of the DIY’s I come up with my husband ends up doing them for me, LOL. But I do remember when I purchased that secondhand China cupboard for $20 and thought that I could make it work if I painted it white. It was an easy DIY and I really liked the way it turned out. After having it for a while I donated it (full circle moment) because I found the perfect China cupboard that fit better with my style and had more storage. Home takes time and it took a while until I found the perfect China cupboard for us.

Original Cupboard

Layla will you tell the readers where you grew up. I was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. My mother, Lola, is from Spain and my dad, Leo, is from Puerto Rico. I have 2 sisters younger than me, Gabriella and Laura. I grew up between Puerto Rico and Spain for most of my life. During the school year I was in Puerto Rico and summers (3 months) I would spend them with my family from Spain. Best memories ever!

When I was 10 yrs old we moved from Puerto Rico to Savannah, Georgia, where we lived for 2 years. From there we moved to Germany for 2 years (military family) and then moved to Spain for 2 years before returning back home to Puerto Rico.

I feel that my home reflects a little bit of my life in Europe. I still remember crystal clear our homes in Germany and Spain and I can see some of it in our home here in Virginia. I know my love for home decor comes from my mama.

Growing up I remember her always decorating, rearranging furniture, sewing pillows and curtain panels, sewing bed skirts for me and my sisters because she didn’t like what she found at the stores. She was and still is making her home extra cozy for everyone. When I got older we would spend weekends shopping our home to give a specific area a little makeover. She was very creative and resourceful. Keep in mind this is in the 1990’s way before IG, Pinterest, HGTV, etc.

I remember when she found 2 beautiful big stone planters and used them as a coffee table by adding a glass top on it. It turned out beautiful! We would say we were playing dollhouse and to this day I still think about that and now my home is my human size dollhouse.

Where and What you went to school for. What is your career? I went to Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, a private college in Puerto Rico. I have a degree in education. I was an elementary school teacher for 4 years until I had my first child and decided I wanted to stay home for a while. That was 21 years ago plus two more kids later and I wouldn’t change a thing. I love being a homemaker, a home-schooler, and I feel blessed that I have been able to do that for my family. I don’t take it for granted.

How has Social Media specifically Instagram impacted you? I know your account started to take off in the fall of 2021. What have you learned about your audience. Yes, my account started growing in the fall of 2021 and I honestly have no idea how or why. I keep true to myself and my home style.

People really like my pine dresser and Tito too! This image has over 17K likes, it was saved a lot - - so many times and it was shared over 1000 times. I don’t do anything special on Instagram I just share what I love and always keep my account very positive.

Layla you’re in a Book!!! You are one of the wonderful accounts featured in Erin Napier’s latest book Heirloom Rooms: Soulful Stories of Home. I’m dying to know how this happened.

During the spring of 2022 Erin Napier from the HGTV show Home Town and Laurel Mercantile Co., DM ’d me through Instagram with a very sweet message asking me if I would like to be featured in her next book Heirloom Rooms coming out in the fall of 2023. She was following me on Instagram and I had no idea!

I obviously said yes, yes, yes, and we communicated back and forth throughout the year. I must say she is really the sweetest lady and made everything very easy for me through out the whole process. It all took me by surprise since I am not an “influencer” nor a “content creator” but I am so happy I said yes to her. It was and still is a very surreal experience, I still can’t believe it!

My account and followers/friends have taught me that they are here because they share the same passion as me: Making a House a Home.

Anything upcoming for the rest of 2023 you wish to share with the readers? In 2023 I will try to focus more on reels. I miss the old days of Instagram when we would all post pictures but everything changes and change is good right? I will try to create more thrifted vs styled content for sure because I have been getting lots of requests on that. But again, keeping true to my style. I am also playing with the idea of going back to how I started my Instagram account when I had a vintage home decor shop on Etsy…. But for now I just love sharing everyday home decor inspo with all my friends.

Layla many thanks my dear for taking the time to pop by and share your story! Meryl thank you for being sweet to me and thank you for these questions I loved sharing about how our house serves us. This was so fun! I loved it!

Friends you can follow Layla on Instagram.

Images: Layla Rovira

Hi friends - I’m all about the Holidays - I shared my Gift Guide last week and this week I’m sharing some tips to hopefully help you feel a little less stressed this year.

Not only are we looking for the perfect gift to give this season but, we are feeling the pull of perfection. I’m hear to tell you - loudly if I must that your Great Aunt won’t notice if your curtains are the same ones you’ve had in your diningroom since forever - please stop thinking that along with that side of mashed potatoes you need to go to great lengths and redecorate your home in the new few weeks.

What should the priority be - the 5 F’s come to mind.

FAITH
FAMILY
FRIENDS
FOOD
FUN

Yes friends with the focus on these we can tackle any To-Do list and do it joyfully and know that life is perfectly imperfect. We hope the food tastes great but, if the oven breaks lets find humor grab some take out and play charades or trivial pursuit. Let’s show the younger generation the photo albums and feel blessed to be together.

This image from The Sticky Fairy made me chuckle.

To stay organized all year long and especially during the Holidays. I use:

Lists

There’s a notes section on my iPhone and I use it for everything. Here’s a screen grab of my Marketing List. I jot down what I need and set up my errand route accordingly. I erase item from the list as they are purchased.

I have been known to accomplish a day of errands with stops at various locations only to get home and realize I forgot something because it wasn’t written down. Insert hand over face emoji!

I have a Christmas Folder in my notes.

I keep track of every thing year after year. Every task receives a Green Check Mark as it’s accomplished. I don’t delete anything.

Cards (Names) I’ve purchased cards.
Gifts (Each Person’s Name and Gift) I’ve started gathering gifts.
Daily Tasks (Days Prior To Do’s)
Food (Shopping and Preparing)

This Daily Task breakdown leading up to Christmas Eve has been a lifesaver since we host our family.

When I worked outside my home in the world of Product Development I would cram all theses tasks into one or two days which was A LOT! If you work outside the home and you’re hosting - I feel for you and hope you will ask for help from those around you. Don’t try and be a Superhero. Ask someone to come over and help you wash stuff up beforehand, give them a list for the market, or limit the amount of items you might be cooking or baking. I don’t prepare all the food myself. My sister and niece bring the Swedish Meatballs, appetizers and cookies.

After hosting for 23 years I’ve learned not to go overboard. I do a regular weekly house cleaning. There are extra things that need attending to - you see my list above. Glasses, Plates and Serving dishes are washed and set up on the sideboard. I also write and place notes with the specific food listed for each dish/plate. I’ll be honest it was hard for me who is very particular about where things are in my home to be ok with piles of prep on the sideboard for days. But, perfectionism is not healthy and I have a small house. Here’s a photo from last year.

CLEANING

I was chatting with a friend about cleaning the other night; she recently started cleaning her home herself. I told her my two biggest tips and I wanted to share them with you as well.

1. Clean from the Top Down. Dust everything start from the ceiling and then gather that dust/dirt by Vacuuming or Mopping.

2. Clean by activity. Starting with the same premise of the top down. Dust every room on the second floor of your home or on one side of your home and then go back in the same order and then Vacuum or Mop those rooms. Do not try and fully clean room one room it takes to long and leaves people feeling frustrated!

The Chalet is neat and tidy because it’s too small not to be. I believe in making the bed the moment you wake. It’s the largest piece of furniture in the room so if the bed is made than the room always looks neat. For my weekly cleaning I start by changing the bed linens and starting the first load of laundry of the day. Then I dust the hall, bedrooms, my husbands study and bath. Then I Vacuum in the same order. I Vacuum the stairs and make my way downstairs. I Dust the first floor and then vacuum. The last thing I clean is the bath.

I know for some the holidays can bring extra pressure. I encourage you not to feel the need to remove everything from your China Cabinet and clean every piece that lives in it. Only prep the spaces your guests will visit and clean the items they’ll be using… sure you might want to wash a few extra dessert plates but, take it easy on yourself.

For Christmas Eve week I will move the Coffeetable and the Leather Chairs and fully vacuum underneath - these chairs are moved to face into the room for Christmas Eve. Re-configuring furniture is just a small house thing that happens for gatherings. We also place the leaf in the diningroom table and bring additional dining chairs upstairs from the basement.

Here is what I use for my cleaning routine. Barkeepers Friends for the kitchen sink. Seventh Generation to spruce up the bath in-between cleanings. I use Vinegar and Baking Soda to clean the bath. Weinman for our appliances. Isopropyl and Method to clean and maintain the granite counters. A Hoover Tempo vacuum with a bag. I have had bag-less vacuums in the past and am not a fan. A small amount of Pledge on a rag for the mantel, coffeetable, console tables, our dressers - a little goes a long way. As a collector a Swiffer is just the thing to grab the dust around objects. I do not use cleansers on my hardwood floors. We are shoe-free so they aren’t dirty. I use the wand attachment from my vacuum and a damp towel to keep them shipshape.

I hope you’ve found one or more things helpful. Check out the Tips page for more. Til next time be well and I’ll see you on Instagram.