Chaletmomma

Hi Friends last month I was invited to talk on an IG live - discussing how I go about helping clients find their aesthetic. I had such a great response and so many follow-up questions I thought I’d write a post and share it with all of you.

I touched on how my passion for decorating started as a child - constantly moving furniture around in my bedroom - grabbing extra pieces my mom Rita wasn’t using... chairs, bookcases and swapping stuff - I loved creating color coordinated bulletin boards by matching paint to my bedding... buying and hanging sheets to make custom window treatments. My love of a mix of old and new was formed in that bedroom!

Everyone has a style - an aesthetic but, do they understand it?

If they don’t - if they feel either lost or maybe they feel pressured by ideals they see on Social Media - are they Boho are they Traditional are they Modern?

These labels while awesome can add to a client’s feeling of being overwhelmed most don’t live in a magazine spread - it’s real life. It’s a dresser from childhood or a couch they don’t love but, it’s super comfy for the kiddos and it must stay. I look to embrace those pieces - look to give them a new life with paint, fabric, a new lampshade.

Or through Pillows... you can all laugh because I definitely love me some pillows! I adore how pillows can offer so much design flexibility for a relatively small investment.

I had a client who disliked her sectional. After being home for 5 months during lock down and looking at the largest piece in her livingroom she wanted to replace it. We chatted about what feeling she wanted her space to convey. She wished for a lighter more beach house vibe - craving time away and well, we were on lock down! So we introduced a new rug, new pillows and some fun new art all in blues and viola’ she loved her sectional again. Those items combined were less expensive than investing in a new sectional. I never want to spend money unnecessarily.

My client fell back in love with her sectional - after we introduced a new rug and new pillows.

You run into clients who are so afraid of “getting it wrong” they haven’t moved forward.

These clients already owned the foundation pieces for an amazing deck. We developed a plan and went shopping. I also shopped their home for additional decorative items. This was pre-covid and they are still lowing it!

My job is to start asking questions - put my Nancy Drew cap on.

What color always catch your eye?
What are your 3 favorite colors?
Sometimes I ask about Clothing - what color/s do you wear?
Dishes, Dishtowels - tell me what you use everyday - why did you purchase these pieces?
Do you have any collections? Sometimes clients have a collection and they may not view it that way. Books, small curios, pieces of china, artwork that can be grouped together - with fresh eyes I will suggest where these pieces could be incorporated into the space in a more impactful way.
Is there a favored piece of art in your home? So either the piece may be used in the space or we can look at the subject and colors.

If I’m in a clients home - I look around / ask to see any collections. Maybe convince them to let me peek in some cabinets. I am on a fact finding mission - I definitely push a bit to learn as much as I can. I jot notes, take pictures and think about the space.

“Everyone is into one of the following: Comfort, Color or Collections”

— Meryl Gallagher King

I hesitate to ask clients to do Homework - they’re hiring me - so before I ask them to send me pics of spaces or objects they like or share any Instagram accounts they follow I ask them to close their eyes and tell me what their dream space is -

I find everyone has a picture in their minds eye of what they want.

I may share an Instagram account or two during the initial meeting to see what resonates with them. Like I said I don’t think anyone’s home is either one thing or the other but, there are some that may speak to the client. But, I try not to muddy the water on the initial visit.

It sounds like oh easy peasy tell me what you like but, it can be a slow process - sometimes I need to do research - send images until we land on Yeses - and the client may not be ready - it’s a big step - to open their home and ask for another to come in. I always tell them I’m here for you. And together we’ll land on the right elements that will speak to them and the client will embrace their unique take on home!

I’m a list person so I start two lists: a must have and a nice to have. And as anyone knows in design and really to me this is a continuation of customer service… things can change. The client may like something and then decide no or the fabric you love may no longer be available. Design is ultimately about striking a balance between beauty and living and that’s what I am here to do for my clients and friends.

I hope some of this has proven helpful… because truly friends that is what I want to do - is help people - always! Til next time be well. xo

Stacy G. Harvie

Stacy G. Harvie of Capitol Vintage Charm is a self proclaimed vintage hoarder living in Alexandria, VA with her husband Bruce, 5 year old son Grayson, 1 year old daughter Adeline and Hemingway their 9 year old Havanese pup.

Stacy between your family, longtime work as a Government Affairs Advisor helping clients navigate the ins and outs of Washington DC, your Charish Shop and Etsy Shop, the very informative IGTV series Capitol Vintage Charm School and thrifting you are one incredibly busy lady - I really appreciate you taking the time to be here! Oh my gosh Meryl you are so sweet to ask. I am happy to be here! I know I mentioned to you my maiden name is Golleher and I was always called Gallagher - I feel like we’re practically twins and so meant to be!

Tell us a bit about your youth: I grew up in Louisiana. My mom Fran is Cajun and my dad Bill is Irish. Growing up surrounded by family heirlooms and a deep French/Spanish influence really had an impact on me. Everyone’s furniture had a story and every grandmother had a china set.

I always like to ask my interviews - did you decorate your bedroom while you were growing up: I absolutely loved rearranging my room growing up. I remember being incredibly young and cutting out and taping flowers made of construction paper to my walls and furniture to make it look like wallpaper. I have always enjoyed that rush when you walk into a room that has a new and fresh feeling that comes from a new bedspread or rearranged shelves.

I love hearing you created your own custom wallpaper - fun!!!

Stacy what did you study in college: I went to Louisiana State University and majored in Journalism with a minor in History. I moved to DC after I graduated and began a career lobbying for entities in Louisiana. I was here in Washington DC in 2005 when hurricane Katrina hit and was able to assist in the Federal efforts to assist the state. It was the most rewarding experience I have or will have professionally…to be able to do something to assist a place I love and continue to love so fiercely.

How long you’ve been in your home and how has its décor unfolded: We have been in our home for about 3 years and the décor has been a slow evolution. This house has a different vibe from our previous place…very open and lighter…so I am replacing things slowly. I am so naturally impetuous that I am trying so hard to be more thoughtful. We are using our house as it was intended but, I am not entirely sure it is what is best for us. For example, we have a large “great room” with a kitchen on the entrance floor of our split level home. And I am playing around the idea of moving our living room portion to another room and turning that entire floor into a dining room. It would be completely unconventional but, it might actually work better for what we need out of this room.

Oh Stacy, I agree making your home work for your needs is vital.

Please share your thrifting philosophy - what do you look for: When I am thrifting, I love finding the unusual or sentimental. Few things bring me more joy than seeing things family members had in their homes when I was growing up. I even saw the coasters we had growing up recently in a thrift store. They were made of cane and adorned with butterflies - so vintage 70s, it made me smile. For me, items evoke feelings. Yes, it may just be just a needlepoint pillow to one person but, for another it may evoke a feeling of comfort from when their aunt took care of them when they were sick and snuggled with that needlepoint pillow. That is what I love about this thing thrifting… As I mentioned, I am completely impetuous. When I am on the hunt, I can get so excited when I spot something, I can often miss flaws. I am trying to move past my blind excitement and really spend time examining the piece.

I also get so sentimental about pieces when I am hunting. I get lost in stories in my head about these people’s homes at Estate Sales. I envision birthday parties and them using the fine china at Christmas. I truly think it is a privilege and an honor to keep these traditions alive and put them into a new buyer’s hand and even my own home. One day I want my kids to grow up and pass white lusterware plates and think “Mom always brought those out for our birthdays.” One of the things I love about Washington DC is all the international travel people do here. It makes the estate sales and thrift markets so full of world treasures.

How much of the items in your home are thrifted: I would say about 75% of my home is second hand. The remaining 25% feels like it is all Fisher Price! Ha! I love when people come in and point to something and ask where I got it...their face always tickles me when I respond "Goodwill".

Stacy my friend you are looking for memories and history! I totally appreciate this. I have brought small items into the Chalet I fondly remember from my childhood home but, didn’t think to hang on to.

Stacy and I share a passion for vintage lamps - this green one in her livingroom is stunning!

“I firmly believe that every single room could use a ginger jar. You can use them to store laundry pods in your laundry room and store cotton balls in your bathroom. ”

— Stacy G. Harvie

I know this story but, please will you share the London Flea Market story: Sure! About two years ago we went to London and of course I dragged my husband and then toddler son to a flea market where I found these gorgeous vintage soldier prints. They were heavy and it was raining but I was determined to get them back home with me. I about broke my arms carrying those darn things all around London that day but, when I look at them now on my son's wall and think back to them in his nursery, it just makes me smile.

I surprised my husband with an adult-only road trip around New England for his birthday. To say I am excited is an understatement! I have been thinking a lot about some of my favorite souvenirs from traveling and hardly any of them depict a famous monument or a popular artifact from the location. These vintage soldier prints are among my favorite. Looking at them makes me think of Windsor Castle and Westminster Abbey. And I didn’t even need a cheesy coffee mug to jog the memory. Shop around and find what makes you happy - in non-traditional places!

How did you come up with the name Capitol Vintage Charm: It was the first name that popped into my head…another example of me being impetuous.

Tell us about the creation of your shops: My Chairish and Etsy shops contain all the furnishings for my dream house. It is everything I would want if my house were bigger and I had room. Just like my taste, it is always evolving as I learn more about objects. I have a Toby Jug in the Etsy shop now and a year ago I would never have picked that up but, after I did a Capitol Vintage Charm School episode about them, I have completely fallen in love.

When Thrifting are you keeping an eye out for yourself or customers or both: My shop is full of everything I would want if my home were bigger. I love every single thing I find, even if I do add it to my shop. What's the old adage - "If you love it, set it free"

What gave you the hubris to start your brilliant Capitol Vintage Charm School segments? Charm School has turned into my favorite thing I do. I would often stand in a thrift store and think “what is this?” or “why did they make it this color?” or “I wonder if this is real?” I got the idea to start asking collectors these questions so we could be better educated on our own hunts. Having the opportunity to sit and chat with these collectors is such a blessing. To have them give me their time and talent is just such a privilege, I always hope my enthusiasm for the topics come through on the videos. I am endlessly curious and love having this opportunity to not only learn but to get to know the collector better.

Stacy you’ve included so much useful information in these blog posts!

Top 5 Most Important Things to Bring With You When Thrifting/Scouting

Rummaging 101: Complete Guide to Scoring Great Finds at Flea Markets

I know you spend a lot of time thrifting with your dear friend Anna Weaver - who I interviewed last month - you two met thanks to the wonderful world of Instagram. I adore Instagram! I can’t tell you how many good friends I have made through this app. I met my Vintage BFF, Anna Weaver. I don’t even remember how I found her on Instagram but, we started chatting and met for lunch and a real friendship was born. She is not only a huge inspiration for me design-wise but, has been such a great sounding board and just a really good friend. We just click and I positively adore her and her crazy sense of humor. I have always loved going to Estate Sales but, I never had a strategy to it until I met Anna. Now, I always start my hunts in the basement as Anna suggests!

Stacy Harvie with her Vintage BFF Anna Weaver

And Sarah Lloyd Stevenson lives down the street from me and is just sunshine. My favorite vintage store and owner Willow from Urban Redeux I randomly met Willow online before she opened her store and have loved watching her totally kill it. She has the best eye and I am constantly loosing my mind when I visit her store.

An unexpected way to display family heirlooms. Click the image for link.

So what are your plans for the rest of 2021: To stop shopping. I am going to take a break and really study what we (my family) need and how to best achieve it. For instance, I had a vintage drop leaf table in my kid’s playroom for a while and recently replaced it with an IKEA activity table. Sure, it went against everything that I believe in design-wise but, the table didn’t make sense and wasn’t working! This IKEA table is a perfect height and has a drawer for the collection of Legos my son has. At the end of the day, we all have to do what works for us.

Stacy I can’t say thank you enough for saying yes when I asked!

You can find Stacy on Facebook, Instagram, Website and YouTube.

Til next time friends be well!