I’m no interior designer, but I’ve come to think of home decoration as a bit like a game of dominoes – make one change, and it sets off a chain reaction. Our domino moment came in June when we sauntered along to the Gstaad Palace Hotel’s garage sale. We bought a gorgeous bolt of fabric that screamed, “Turn me into curtains!”

Little did we know, this would be just the beginning.

Bargains and hidden gems
Making the curtains wasn’t easy, but the pride we felt when we hung the finished article was real. As we stepped back to admire our work, my husband said what I was thinking: “That dining table has got to go.” Which was when the real fun and games began.

Truth be told, the table had always jarred. It was part art/part furniture that we’d bought in San Francisco. It had never really been a great fit with the alpine style in the rest of the chalet. But neither had we experienced what my old boss would call a “compelling event” to replace it.

But thanks to the curtains, that time was now. We knew what style of furniture would work: a round wooden table with a slate centre, just like the one we’d had in Rougemont nineteen years before. My husband wondered aloud if we could find another. We knew the shop where we had bought ours had closed many years ago, so, out of mere curiosity, we started browsing second-hand online sites.

I didn’t hold out much hope. We were looking for something quite specific and I’ve always found you have more success with the second-hand market when you approach it with an open mind.

But oh, what a doubting Thomas I was! Within a week we were amazed to find the same exact style table that we’d bought in 2005. Even better, it was less than an hour’s drive away. Easy. So what if two weeks later, we found ourselves on a nine-hour round-trip to Bern, Zurich and Chur for chairs to match … our lounge rebrand was coming together.

Online is easy
Emboldened by our success, over the next few weeks we tackled one item of furniture at a time, deploying a “one out, one in” strategy. We scoured the online sites, favouring ricardo.ch and Facebook Marketplace.

We also learned that the “Gstaad/ Saanenland Buy and Sell” Facebook group was a great resource, with the added benefit that everything listed was nearby, guaranteeing no long drives. This group was also a brilliant resource for selling or giving away items. The biggest surprise of all? It turned out to be a fantastic avenue for connecting with new people.

Through it we’ve met long-time locals as well as those who’ve traveled to the region from far afield. Some share our interests, while others have been friends of friends. It’s truly been a case of the six degrees of separation at work. And all because we decided to make some curtains.

The fabric under the bed
We’ve spent five months swapping furniture and creating a whole new look in our lounge. It’s been hugely successful, but I think we’ll press pause for now. That is, if we can ignore the equally gorgeous second bolt of fabric from the Gstaad Palace Hotel garage sale, currently tucked under a bed in the spare room. I already know it will be perfect for creating a fabric wall in the master bedroom…

But don’t worry, the domino effect has not spread beyond the lounge – for now!

ANNA CHARLES