Let's Meet Natalie Papier
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Natalie Papier
Natalie Papier of HOME EC. is incredibly talented - She is a trained painter and uses her amazing eye in the spaces she creates for clients and in her own remarkable home.
She announced last week she’s one of the designers participating in this spring’s One Room Challenge. I’m thrilled to follow along and witness her creative process.
Natalie - her husband Alan, son Kellen, daughter Maddie, dog Billie and cat Boots moved to Charlotte, NC last year from Oak Park, IL and her work transforming what she has coined the #charlottechateau is simply mind-blowing friends.
Natalie holding Billie, with husband Alan, Maddie and Kellen in front of the Charlotte Chateau
Natalie I understand art is your first passion but, tell me did you decorate your bedroom growing up? Ohhhh yes. I liked to display all my treasures (books, decor, pictures, art supplies). I was actively taking art lessons from age 5 on and had a very large drafting table in my room where I spent many hours creating. Reading and drawing/painting were my true loves. You asked if I had any anecdotes - when I was five I found a dead bird that I used feathers from to make an art project of a realistic bird. My mom even laminated it and kept it - gross as that was!
Charlotte Chateau Sprite room
What and Where did you study? I took private lessons from my high school and small town college art teachers from age 5. In HS and college I would have these same teachers! I went to a small community college for visual arts and went on to study/practice pottery, screen printing, photography and watercolor in my 20’s.
Oak Park, IL Home
I know you were on an episode of House Hunters - that’s super cool - how did that happen? I sent an audition tape in when we started looking to move from our condo in the city to a house in the suburbs. Our realtor was a dapper and charming guy from Chicago, Don Friedman, and it was super fun although exhausting filming 4, 8 hour days in total.
So the home you and Alan found in Oak Park, IL. How did the transformation of it go? The Oak Park house was a slow, steady curation as it was a much larger home from what we had and we were house broke for awhile. That’s when my love for thrifting really kicked in. And where I started experimenting (a lot) with paint and covering the walls and ceilings with it. I pulled from the beautiful pattern mixing and the variety of design aesthetics I fell in love with during the time we lived in London. We lived there for a year and a half for Alan’s job - Kellen was only 1 and I would walk around the city with him all day admiring the beauty and architecture.
This ties in with my next question - I know you and Kim Daunis started with a vintage business - tell us about the creation of your business: Kim and I were friends that started a vintage pop up business together with another friend. After a couple years, I started designing under Home Ec. for friends and acquaintances with the encouragement of my book club. After a year, I was so busy, I asked for Kim to help with a project. We worked so well together, we decided to partner up and take on the interior world full-time. It continued to evolve and gain momentum from day one.
The move to Charlotte was based on Alan’s career but, please share what it’s been like creating the Charlotte Chateau. How neat was a blank slate? We had the opportunity move for Alan’s job to Charlotte but actually turned it down. We are both originally from Illinois. My husband from the NW suburbs of Chicago and I’m from a very small town two hours south west of Chicago. After another brutal Chicago winter, we were like what are we doing??? So we took the plunge! Kim and I separated the business with me continuing it in Charlotte while Kim decided not to continue. Alan and I looked at 30 houses in 3 days! We turned down so many “new” houses because I wanted to create my own design but, the process was daunting not knowing the neighborhoods well. I fell in love with the Charlotte Chateau on site but, it needed ALOT a of love. Still does...ha! But the vibes felt right, the school district is great and it was the right choice for us. I started the design process from Oak Park and we stayed in temp housing for 8 weeks in Charlotte while the kitchen and other areas of the house got fully renovated.
Charlotte Chateau views from the Kitchen Island toward the sunrise Room
Talk about your design philosophy – your brand is colorful with an infusion of art, funk and the unexpected: I just design with pieces that inspire joy. I have a healthy love for color (which I attribute to my art background), art, vintage, whimsy.... I strongly value original art in my home. It speaks to my soul.
Charlotte Chateau bath
Please tell me what your favorite space is in your home? The kitchen. It’s the first house we have ever lived in that I could totally renovate start to finish and pick every element. I wanted it to have a timeless Parisian feel and feel open and light but also being in a curated portrait art collection for a focal point.
Charlotte Chateau Kitchen
“I strongly value original art in my home. It speaks to my soul.”
How has Instagram impacted your brand? Instagram has given me a space to share my portfolio and a space for free marketing to potential clients. It’s also connected me with artists, makers, real life friends and businesses. It’s been a place for my business to get discovered by magazines and sponsorships. So truly is has made my business what it is.
Charlotte Chateau Den
Natalie you’re one of the designers for the 2021 Real Simple Home this is such an incredible project! Real Simple asked me to be part of their 4th annual Real Simple Idea Home - a home that is fully renovated in Westfield, NJ and will be in the October issue. I have never been in the house - I’m working off plans to design the livingroom and I am excited and nervous of course! I’ll be sharing updates on my Instagram feed.
Apartment Therapy Small Cool Experience
And you’re part of the Apartment Therapy Small/Cool 2021 Experience this is an awesome shoppable on-line design showcase broadcast on @apartmenttherapy Instagram feed Friday June 11 - Sunday June 13. Yes you can virtually see my small and cool room starting June 11 at @apartmenttherapy Small/Cool Experience. My space will bring to life the Flexible Spaces trend - as working from home has become the new norm for so many - our spaces need to reflect this and I’m so excited all the items will be shoppable which is so - if you pardon the pun - COOL through Overstock!
Design 360 ° Award Winner - Natalie Papier
Charlotte Chateau hallway with newly installed Cole and Son wallpaper Frutto Proibito
Friends check out the linked articles below.
Oak Park, IL:
Charlotte, NC:
Recent Client Project
Plans for 2021: We’ve already talked about the big things coming up - the One Room Challenge, the 2021 Real Simple Home and the Apartment Therapy Small/Cool 2021 Experience. But I truly just want to keep creating spaces that bring joy into homes and reflect the unique personalities of the people living in them.
