Chaletmomma

here's a little story about my sunporch.

CM_LeftWatermark chalet side view with mark too big .png

this is one of my very favorite images of the chalet. it shows both galeries. you may be saying to yourself what in the world is she talking about? well, in a chalet the outside area on the side or back of the structure are not decks or porches - they are galeries.

this is the book that taught me all about my little chalet. this glorious slim volume originally published in 1913 - a gift from my husband. what strikes me funny is the author Mr. Dana lived in NJ.

i love the cover art.

before i delve into the porch - here are some details about the chalet. it was built in 1924 - the first house subdivided from an estate - our street name was originally the name of the estate. it was handcrafted by Austrian craftsmen as a vacation home for the Morgan family. they enjoyed winter sports and summer breezes here. we have breathtaking western views during the winter months. back then they had them all year-long. if you follow me on IG you will have seen how the canopy of green has filled in and we are enveloped by trees.

here is the main galerie in 2009 - the entire ceiling with its original tongue and groove boards and nonexistent insulation was rebuilt. yes, those are actually the underside of our bedroom floorboards. which means the floors were either cold in winter or hot in summer.

the grey painted flooring is actually the ceiling of the basement. these are the same floorboards that extend from the interior. which means just like upstairs whatever the weather was outside... it filtered into the basement - it just depended on what good 'ole Mother Nature was up to.

we spent much time reading, relaxing and listening to ballgames on the galerie. Memorial Day Weekend was always the official opening of the season - that's why feeling a bit wistful i'm sharing the story this week.

05042012 Meryl Blackberry Photos 427_fred on porch wm.jpeg

05042012 Meryl Blackberry Photos 428_ Fred wm .jpeg

here's Fred enjoying some winter sport in February 2012.

i love this picture of my boys in march of 2014 (Fred passed away May 18, 2018 age 17)

Roof overhang 30 - static dot panoramio dot com - cropped.jpg

summer 2016 - we enjoyed the heck out of our upgraded seating!!!

now, this is what you think of when you think of a chalet... with outside galeries you'll see nothing is cantilevered. all the galeries are completely outside structures. cantilevered interior spaces are not good.

winter 2017.

the thing about having snow on the ceiling of your basement is - it must be removed... like asap... before it melts into said basement. water was always a concern all year-round.

rain in spring, summer and fall; snow in winter. we dealt with the weather for almost 14 yrs.

until the nor'easter of February 2017 - there was so much driving snow - finally we knew however much loved the galerie it was time to close it in - and we did just that - from studs, windows and radiators to bead-board walls and new flooring.

this is the last time i ever had to grab towels to soak up the rain right before the final close in. we were so very blessed during construction with regards to weather... i kept praying and God kept listening.

the space turned out better than i ever could have imagined. not only did it add more living space to our cozy home. the chalet is weather tight for the first time in 93 yrs. and a humongous bonus is the noise reduction - no longer do sounds from outside filter up through the floorboards into our bedroom or my sons.

my husband and i sleep more soundly.

#whoopwhoop

a favorite chair anchors each side.

i can't say enough how much i love my porch!

here's the full transformation

any space in your home you would like to radically retool? please share!

til next time.

on the occasion of www.chaletmomma.com six month anniversary i'm taking this opportunity to revisit an interview i did with my dear friend Karen Payne of Perth, AU last summer - it was originally published on her site the Little Design Blog. this piece - seeing it out there in the universe gave me such a lift when i was in the throws of designing the site and creating content and not sure when it would see the light of day!

thanks again Karen! you're the best!!! xx

Chalet

[Sha-ley] | noun

A wooden house or cottage with overhanging eaves typically found in the Swiss Alps.

In 2003 when Meryl Gallagher King and her husband Steven were house hunting in their native New Jersey, the house they were trying to buy fell through. Despite their disappointment at the time, Meryl recollects being out for a drive one day shortly after with a friend, when they stumbled across a ‘For Sale’ sign that soon turned disappointment into a sense of kismet. “I couldn't believe it”, recalls Meryl “a house in my old neighborhood. I was thrilled!”

When Meryl talks about ‘the chalet’ as the home they ended up buying is affectionately known, it is with a charming mix of nostalgia and pride. Growing up just a few blocks away, Meryl remembers fondly how she spent her childhood passing by on her bike often and stopping for candy on Halloween. Back then, the chalet was painted red and was affectionately called ‘The Schoolhouse’ by Meryl and her friends, because of the center chimney, which looked like an old-fashioned bell tower.

*This amazing 1968 watercolor by Nat Lewis was presented to the King family, by the daughter of a former owner.*

Meryl and her husband Steven are now the proud owners of the 1924 chalet, which she describes as the “heart and soul” of their family.

The beautiful 1924 home, is nestled in the Cedars; a leafy quiet part of town by the park, full of windy streets. Built by Austrian craftsmen, the home fits in well with the unique architecture of the area, all built between 1892 and 1952.

The chalet is not overly large for the area, at roughly 1400 square feet (approximately 427m2). The three bedroom home is spread over two floors, a basement and an attic. The property slopes down in the rear and the basement is actually a walk-out with French doors which open out to a patio. Despite initially moving house to gain more space, the Kings' forgave the property for only having one bathroom, because it spoke to them in so many other ways – “what was I thinking?!?”, jokes Meryl. But with features such as the gallery porches with hand cut railings that are mirrored inside; the quirky stairwell and five sets of French doors throughout, “we can do with only one bathroom, right?”, laughs Meryl.

One of the features Meryl loves most is the living room, which is completely open to the dining room, “I love that I get to live in an open-concept house that is original. We have what I have jokingly coined as a 'Step-Saver Kitchen'. If you stand in the middle of the room you can reach out and touch everything without taking a step!” Adding to the homey feel, is the fireplace, surrounded by beautiful carving, which is in the center of the house.

Not everyone shares Meryl’s love of her home, says Meryl as she recounts a funny story. “ I found out a gal I knew through business had toured the chalet and hated it! She thought it weird and small. Cue the awkward pause when I replied ‘well Steven & I bought it!’ “ But true to her happy-go-lucky nature, Meryl didn’t take offense to the comment at all, “I feel blessed every day to be able to call this jewel home.”

The King family went about moving in and quickly realized the furnishings and color choices from their previous house just wouldn’t work. The chalet demanded a more casual feel.

“Look at this image from our first house… Wow! Were we majorly “Adulting” or what?!?”

The Kings’ first purchase for their new home was their set of big, comfy leather chairs and from there they replaced the dining room furniture, the living room sofa and the coffee table. Next, they started painting over the dark trim and doors on the first floor.“ The chalet can be dark with its wide, overhanging roofline. I found the most perfect shade of beige with a lovely warm tone for the first floor by Benjamin Moore: Putnam Ivory. The final touch was carpeting; out went the dark Orientals to be replaced by a lighter pattern.”

All of these changes took about eight years, timed well to welcome the arrival of their son, Liam. Meryl loves this image from Liam’s first birthday in 2012, “You can see the side gallery with its hand cut railings. Liam loves telling everyone he lives in the chalet.”

Meryl, Steven and Liam are the proud owners of the 1924 chalet.

The chalet is a treasure trove of the “lovely bits” that Meryl has carefully collected and curated, her entire life. The home is filled with curiosities - teacups, jars, bottles, tins, baskets, rulers, photographs, lamps, books, art and so, so much more. Meryl adds her favorite hashtag on Instagram is the one she created #saynotoemptywalls, which also serves as a personal decorating philosophy!

*The gallery wall leading to the master.*

Meryl feels blessed to share her life and enthusiasm for collecting with her husband Steven, whom she met when he was dragged to a party. They were married the following year and now their son Liam is happy to join them on their treasure hunting trips. It seems Liam is a collector too, “just look at the bookshelves Steven built for him.”

The family also share their home with Fred, who perfectly sums up the relaxed, welcoming and comfortable feel of the home, far better than words ever could. fred knows how to enjoy the chalet life.

To follow Meryl and to be among the first to hear an upcoming announcement about the chalet, visit @chaletmomma on Instagram . Make sure you tell her Karen sent you!

to follow Karen please visit her Instagram page @all_that_is_home