Chester NJ Retailer of furniture, home accessories, interior design – Maison Berger and Paint Couture!™
Right now I m sitting in the sun which is streaming in through my slider…I have never done this before shockingly !!
The Corona Virus, horrible and beastly as it is, has forced me to stop working 24/7 and slow down and take a little downtime.
I have worked my whole life. Even when switching jobs I didn’t take time in between. Since opening my own shop 30 years ago I have worked the whole time between 6 and 7 days a week. Sure, I took some amazing ski vacations over the years (at Vail my favorite) but even then I fretted about being away from my business.
Now don’t get me wrong, this virus is a terrible, terrible, terrible thing and I am distressed that people are sick and dying. They are in my thoughts and prayers every day.
But this “stay at home” order is in some ways a gift that I never asked for and never would ask for. However, now that I’ve got it I am wholeheartedly enjoying it for the gift that it is and for what it is worth. I would never have taken time for myself.
For the first time in my life I have no income stream…none in the forseeable future and can’t even imagine how this will all end…but right now the sun is warm, I have nowhere to go, nothing pressing me, and I feel as though God has given me time to rejuvenate, to plan, to rest, to rethink everything, to enjoy the moment! I will trust that he has plan and meanwhile I will not allow this gift to go to waste.
I put together a list this morning of projects that need doing.
I filled an entire sheet.
I posted it and every time I walk by it I think of something else to add. There are some plusses to being stuck at home.
Some of the things on the list have been on the back burner for months and perhaps years!
I have decided to make sure that I pick something on that list to complete every day…with that in mind I literally could stay home for a quite a while.
Well, that will take care of some of the time I have on my hands…
I have already discovered this morning that my mind is still creative and fertile…teeming with ideas…mostly how to improve and take my business to the next level…new things I want to do, plans I want to put into action.
It’s almost scary. Maybe, just maybe, that is why when this is over our economy is going to go nuts….we will all have this pent up creativity and desire to go full steam ahead.
Some things with regard to my business I have already implemented in this new free time I have found myself blessed with.
Minuses, of course, we all know. We miss each other, we’re a little scared and we can’t wait for it to be behind us. And, it’s hard stop from eating! 😉
Stay safe, my friends.
Barbara
It’s a stressful world right now.
I am always glad that there are certain activities that
keep me busy when stress is in the air…
Painting is one such enjoyable and therapeutic activity.
What is Yours?
Yup, it’s the doldrums of winter yet again. Everything feels slower in January but that is really not true. During and just after Christmas in the shop you are already planning like crazy for the coming year.
In January I always make the trek to Atlanta to shop for Christmas 2019….and for Spring goods that I may have missed when buying in the Summer/Fall for the Spring….confusing but you must do things ahead if you want the best for your customers! Market is always an amazing whirlwind.
This year my take away from the Market is that COLOR IS BACK! and Vibrant Color at that! This is wonderful from a design standpoint. It will, however, take some time for this to transfer in a big way to the retail market. Design trends always occur on a curve….slowly up – then strong for awhile – then slowly down and out…..so expect the grey hues to start drying up.
My other reaction to Market this January is that the manufacturers are feeling positive about the economy so they are stepping out of the comfort zone and bringing in more exciting designs…this has been missing from Market for the last several years – and the change is more than welcome!!! You will love the new fresh variety!
Color in the market was strong in tabletop goods, paintings and artwork, and fabrics! It made my heart beat!
So now that I have made buying decisions for Spring, some Summer/Fall and Winter 2019 I am eagerly awaiting orders to ship in…this is the exiting part. Selling off the old merchandise (translating to some great deals for my customers), taking in the new purchases and reorganizing the shop to showcase the new looks.
So, long story short, the Winter is really a busy and fun time in the shop!
Well, last week the Mark Roberts Fairies arrived on the scene! As always they are adorable. We have a selection out now for your viewing pleasure!
This year Mark has introduced some new elves and they are beautiful! They have weighted feet so they can stand alone anywhere which makes them even more fun. Lots of great detail!
There are a couple of girl fairies again this year…this is Joyous Christmas and she has the most amazing skirt!
They are out now! Come and see and choose yours!
Wow, another year has come and gone at The Whistling Elk.
We have just entered our 29th year in business!!
So very soon now we will be celebrating our 28th Anniversary. Watch for our posts letting you know what our special plans are…coming soon!
I still love what I do after all these years!
You will also find thoughtful gifts! In addition to Lampe Berger Paris there is Bedford Cottage Throws, exquisite French Jewelry, Sloane Fine Teas and much more! And don’t forget we sell Paint Couture…a fantastic choice for creating amazing furniture and cabinet finishes.
I have just returned from shopping for 2018…
There are lots of great new gift items, accent furniture, artwork, rugs and more! It was so much fun finding great pieces for you!
We are in our 28th Year in Chester of bringing your style, beauty and affordability!
Well, I sold my home and moved to a new one. That is a pretty short sentence but it says a lot and the whole process put me in a funk….so much work! I feel like I fell asleep in March and woke up in August…sigh…
But I am done with that…The Moving Funk is over NOW!
I love my new home, it’s relatively “put together”…at least as much as I plan to do until I live there a little and see what is what. Meanwhile the shop waits for no man….and fall is coming! That means that lots of trucks are rolling in with all kinds of great merchandise and the shop is brimming with wonderful pieces.
Art arrived yesterday, lots of it! Here’s a little sneak peak…
Last week my fall clothing line arrived and it is spectacular! Lots of great fabrics and styles and lots more leggings this year!
Our Lampe Berger is STOCKED…and there are many new gift sets at great values and some beautiful new lampes!
…They ask this when they are standing in my shop amidst the furniture and home accessories that are displayed in The Whistling Elk.
I usually just shrug off this question because I have never really thought much about it – until recently…you see I just sold my home. A short few words but a lot of meaning!
Taking stock and packing I realized just how consistent I really am…there is a resemblance in that I really love to be surrounded by beauty. I guess if I am one thing…that is…Consistent !!
I have lived in my home for 28 years…it feels like a part of me. It always felt good just to be there. Over the years I have brought home pieces that I loved and integrated them into the mix. Some things came and went while others I cannot imagine parting with ever.
My list of belongings reads like a list of the companies that I have done business with over the years in the shop.
I have a J.M. Paquet sofa…they are out of business now being one of the ones to go early in 2008. but the sofa lives on and when the time comes I will have it reslipcovered yet again. Its so comfortable and I still love it so it will go with me to my new home.
My Habersham buffet is another piece that I love. It makes me happy every time I just look at it. It houses my grandmothers dishes which will be going to my niece for safekeeping. The buffet though goes with me. The savonnerie carpet is from Feizy…and it was chosen because…well, I just fell in love with it.
I love this room and have spent many, many hours here! The mantel I bought when a 1890’s home in New Brunswick was demolished. It was a wreck all chipping and dirty. I took my hand sander and sanded all the dirt and loose paint off and then had it attached to the wall.
Since I have always wanted to live in an old fieldstone house I mimicked that with the faux painted fieldstone wall on which that mantel is mounted. I loved this look and am sorry to leave it behind. I guess I will have to paint a new wall!
Another favorite room is the Master Bedroom…and Master Bath off of it…
I purchased a really crummy pair of shutters and nailed them to the wall on either side of a large window and it created just the right look to go with the Dutch Caribbean bed. I cannot remember the name of the company that this bed came from but it is solid hand carved mahogany.
The beautiful painted lingerie chest fit just perfectly in the corner of the room…it’s shape is what makes it special. It’s rounded across the front. It came from RH Home…they were a California company which is also gone. Sadly.
The walls I faux painted to resemble my take on old crumbling Italian walls…and you can’t see it in the picture but on the wall at the foot of the bed is a huge 5 foot x 4 foot picture of a hotel on Lake Como Italy which I have to say I loved waking up and seeing every morning. Perfect way to start the day!
The Linen Press next to the bed is an antique piece from England circa 1880…my niece will be picking up this piece tonight and it will go to live in her bedroom. It came from a company called ARK Antiques which is also out of business…so many great companies over the years have come and gone. Sadly our economy is not good for small business these days.
I really got fanciful with my master bath. The Alma Slade draperies are chenille and were perfect with the colors in the Nourison carpet. But my favorite piece is the Danish Vanity from ARK Antiques…circa 1910. So pretty! And of course I just had to have a little vintage chandelier in there…Right? Absolutely!
I have a thing about old doors and I managed to get my fix with that too in the dining room where I leaned two heavy old French doors to flank a 3 panel screen…an oil from Andrew Kolb & Sons depicting a hillside village in Italy. That’s the only non-bling (Stone County Ironworks) chandelier I own over that table!!! I always meant to hang some crystals on it…
So I guess this is my tribute to my pretty little home that I am leaving behind. I will miss it. A little place always filled with light from all the large windows. But I am also so excited to start over and to what I am going to create next!
The Whistling Elk 
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