With the opening of our second event space, we thought it would be nice to share our story… a little behind the scenes, “play by play” of our journey to completion. So, we sat down with our friend and photographer, Justin Rearden, to give you a little glimpse of what we created at SAINT ELLE.
Saint Elle Owners (L to R): Leigh Watson, Nealy Glenn & Chandra Watson
Justin Rearden: Tell me a little about your background and how you ended up in the events business?
Leigh Watson: My sister, Chandra, and I met Nealy in college at the University of Evansville in Southern Indiana. After graduation we parted ways, Chandra and I headed to Los Angeles to start our career in music and Nealy to New York City for Acting / Film. After Nealy got her masters at NYU we reunited in Los Angeles and spent over a decade in the City of Angels, my sister and I as touring Musicians (the Watson Twins) and Nealy in the Film business. As creatives a “structured” life isn’t always part of the puzzle, so we all worked a side hustle… catering, bartending, waiting tables, part-time on commercial production sets, working at art galleries, flower shops, you name it! I think all these different positions have informed us in how we run our venues. Hospitality is always #1 at SAINT ELLE & the CORDELLE and we run a creative, efficient, organized team.
JR: Where did you draw inspiration for the space from?
Chandra Watson: I wouldn’t say there is a specific city, but when I’m traveling unique restaurants, boutique hotels and hospitality experiences are always an inspiration. I love the thoughtful details that go in to the experience from design/flow, to a cute book of matches or a hand thrown ceramic plate… all of it creates inspiration. We tried to incorporate elements like this at SAINT ELLE in hopes of making our guests feel welcome and appreciated.
JR: How do you balance style with budget when shopping for a space?
LW: We are all really into Interior Design and creating comfortable spaces. I think we really look for those key design pieces that are maybe a higher price point and then look for the more affordable accent pieces. Picking all the furniture and decor for SAINT ELLE proved to be a challenging task. Right when we started shopping, we went into quarantine due to COVID, so all retail was closed. Fortunately, we have the internet and very visual minds!! There were a million emails back and forth between the three of us full of website links, mood boards, furniture mapping and budgeting that took a ton of time to put together. Spending that extra time searching for the more cost effective items really paid off in the end and I still feel we created a space that feels elevated, yet approachable.
JR: What was your favorite splurge piece?
Nealy Glenn: I think my favorite splurge piece was the bathroom wallpaper. We found an amazing artist in Krakow, Poland on Etsy who makes the most beautiful wallpaper. He was super easy to work with and made the process so enjoyable. I always love finding artists from all over the world that add to the spaces we create.
JR: Which corner or room in the venue is your favorite?
NG: The bar is my favorite! It feels so warm and high style. It transports me and makes me feel like I am in a different time and place
CW: This is a tough one as the little surprise moments within the space are a fun reveal. I will say our restrooms continue to get attention from visiting clients. The Olive Branch wallpaper, the brass sconces and Tuscan tile bring a wow factor for client and guests.
JR: What piece would you steal for your own home? .
LW: Just one piece??? Wow, that’s hard… probably one of the artwork pieces we purchased for the venue. The painting from Codie O’Conor was a commission and she used our color palette, which makes that piece a “one-of-a-kind” specific to SAINT ELLE. The Theresa Bear botanical photographs line the hallway to the Suite and are just so unique. Paul Collins’ black and white of the “Winter Forest” is an abstract nod to all our plant life at the venue. Each one of these pieces was thoughtfully chosen and a representation of our venue through artwork.
CW: Would have to say the Codie O’Conor painting in the Bridal Suite :) It’s a wonderful unique addition… it also looked great in my Living Room LOL!
NG: I would steal the plants. One can never have enough!
JR: Whats your favorite drink on the menu?
NG: All of our drinks are delicious, but I would have to say my favorite is The Saint Elle. It’s a unique twist on a familiar bourbon drink that is so refreshing and tasty. Notes of Rosemary and Apricot served on the rocks… instant classic!
JR: Who takes care of all the beautiful plants?
CW: Awe the plant babies! Our Sales Associate Mandy and I take care of them weekly, making sure to water, prune and clean the carts when needed. It was a bit intimidating at first as the plants are quite large in size and a big feature, so we want to make sure they always look lush and beautiful. Luckily the natural light in the space and the custom built moveable plant platforms allow us to easily move them throughout the venue into their perfect positions for both “sunlight sessions” and “event ready” looks.
