Chaletmomma

I receive inquiries regarding the items we live with here in the Chalet so this week I’m sharing my thoughts about them and what, if anything - I’d do differently.

During the Summer of 2018 I got the itch to change things around. I started by completely revamping the Livingroom console table. Changing the orientation of the family photos and adding books to the top of the table made such an impact. Then I moved onto finding a new coffee table. I love this table from Home Sense with its brass accented legs and the round shape was definitely the way to go.

In October 2018 our new Montclair Sofa from Crate & Barrel arrived. I had to reorder it, when the original didn’t have fabric suitable to be scotch-guarded. We ended up with a microfiber fabric but, I do have a piece of the original heathered herringbone fabric that I will eventually sew into a pillow cover. The sofa is pretty stain resistant and comfortable but, truth be told the original fabric of linen and cotton had more give because it was natural fabric - the sofa was more comfy.

If I had known the difference would I have gone with a microfiber or maybe just have gone with a different color? I don’t know. Look at these side by side images taken 11 days apart - granted the time of day and light conditions aren’t exactly the same but, you can see that the white sofa did what I wanted - what I hoped it would do - it brought a feeling of lightness to the space.

Then I added a pair of matching lamps from Home Sense on the sideboard. I really love the balance in the space. I am tossing around the idea of updating the shades with fabric. And friends can I share - that I chuckle at the fact I have six lamps that are either green or turquoise!

In February of 2019 I swapped the beige and blue chairs in the livingroom! I was on my way to being wholly in-love with the room after our antique Bergère chair was brought into the space. The addition of the lovely New Zealand Wool Baxter rugs from Crate & Barrel left me absolutely gaga! And just this past weekend I unveiled the large abstract canvas I painted. This space is still evolving.

I will say the coffee table, sofa and rugs are holding up marvelously. The rugs shed very little from the get-go. So yes, I will give all of these pieces a great big thumbs up.

Like I said - would I have gone with a white microfiber again? I don’t know. Maybe I would have gone with color instead - a green or blue sofa. The idea of bringing in more color definitely appeals to me but, then the rugs would need to change and if any of you were here and read my article Chalet Design than you will remember it took me 6 months to find my Crate & Barrel Baxter Rugs. I even ordered rugs from a different company I sent back because they caused me to have one of my Vertigo attacks. The space is 10 x 24 and many don’t seem to notice I use 3 separate rugs to cover it. We have a 5x8, an 8x10 and a 6x9. Swapping the sofa for a color would cause a domino effect friends. So for now I am pleased.

I continue to crave color and I brought in more with the addition of my ever changing pillow collection, the new canvas and the new curtains I sewed for our kitchen once it was painted and recently with our new diningroom rug. I’ll be sharing a piece about the diningroom transformation in a few weeks.

If you’d like to read two articles dedicated to the transformation of the space please click the titles. Design Shift and Chalet Design.

Tell us what would you change about your space? Leave a comment below.

Til next time friends be safe and wear your mask!

Friends I love when I’m able to share an Instagram friend who I’ve also had the pleasure of meeting in real life! Sandy Jandu is an Instagram Influencer and Interior Designer. She shares her creative home with her husband Vin, their daughter Alice age 5, dog Anakin and cats Bader and Mia.

When I started following Sandy on IG in 2019 I was happy to learn we both lived in New Jersey and thrilled to learn we lived only 10 minutes away. We immediately met for coffee.

Sandy has an incredible eye - adding layers of color and texture to spaces. She added a wall of wood and deep colors to her homes entry. So inspiring!

She was born in the United Kingdom and moved to Canada when she was six - living there as the middle of three kids; she has an older sister and younger brother. I was always a creative, very imaginative kid, and preferred my own company to play.

Tell me how did you end up in NJ? I got married to a New Yorker, and we moved to NJ a year after we were married.

I love to ask every creative I interview if they decorated their bedroom as a child - most say yes as did Sandy. Yes, always. In high school, my bedroom was a pastel purple with black accents.

What did you study in college? I went to the University of Waterloo and to Western University and I have a BA in Visual Arts and English and a Bachelor of Education. My career goal had always been to teach – and I was a high school English and Visual and Media Arts teacher in Canada for about 4 years.

The Process

Room View

Sandy created this free hand mural in her diningroom!

“I want to be the voice for people who buck trends and design to the beat of their own drum”

— Sandy Jandu

Why did you create Ellee Home? I started ellee home because I didn’t see anyone like me doing design and diy. Now having done this for two years, I’m a part of an amazing community and get to share people of color influencers with my audience.

Sandy created the above space for a clients child. I asked her to speak about how she found herself in the world of design. I’ve never not been into it lol. I’m a creative person and a very visual person. I have always loved making my spaces *fit* and I love that I get to sometimes do that for other people.

When we met in 2019 your focus was definitely on client design and assisting others with their websites but, I see your attention has shifted. That’s exactly right! and I’m pushing interior client services back so that I can focus on being an influencer of the Instagram community.

Any influences on your style? I’m influenced by texture and how materials balance or contrast with each other. A few designers/influencers I love are Gina Baran, Erin Conway, Shavonda Gardner, Medina Grillo, Emily Henderson, Lea Johnson and Erin Wheeler.

Please share with my readers where you’ve been published:

Apartment Therapy
Apartment Therapy
Clare Paint - this was special for me because I’m such a fan of Clare paint and they asked me to be part of their new color launch for this project. That’s why my livingroom is my favorite transformation. I loved my Clare Paint for this project!

I started the hashtag #zerodollarupdate and it’s been incredible to see how creative my community has been in creating design and décor for their home for $0.

Anything you wish to share you’re working on for 2021? I’m working primarily on my basement in terms of design content and I’m working really hard to be able to support my family through these creative means at least 50% of my work time.

Sandy thanks so much for your time! I’m inspired by your design sense and so happy to see how you’re touching others on Instagram! Can’t wait to meet up again when this crazy time is over!

You can find Sandy on Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok and her Website.

Til next time friends stay well.