These Brooklyn parents take DIY to a whole new level
Because if you can’t find what you’re looking for, why not make it yourself?
Necessity is the mother of invention
For former style director Jane Keltner de Valle and architect Giancarlo Valle, the transition to parenthood sparked more than one lightbulb moment. First, the two creatives transformed their kids’ shared bedroom into an imaginative, tailor-made playscape driven by curvy lines and color play. (Giancarlo designed the quirky bunk bed and built-ins himself.)
Then, when their firstborn’s sensitive skin posed a market void for clean kid-centric products, Jane decided to create her own. We caught up with Jane on life as a parent and co-founder of the burgeoning brand (named Paloroma, after their two children Roman and Paloma) and how their Brooklyn neighborhood plays backdrop to it all.
What’s a day in the life for you and your family?
The morning is a sprint. Giancarlo and I divide and conquer: One of us makes breakfast and packs lunches, while the other gets the kids dressed and out the door. When the stars align, all four of us walk to school together, which is such a nice way to start the day. Evenings are more of a marathon because at least one of the kids draws out bedtime for as long as possible!
How does being in Brooklyn influence your style?
We love that it’s a creative hub. A lot of makers and people we collaborate with live nearby, and we really feed off the energy.
As a native New Yorker, what do you love most about raising kids in the city?
Roman and Paloma have the whole world at their fingertips! I love that they’re exposed to so many cultures, cuisines, art and history. We walk to school, hop on the subway to the Met and see the Brooklyn Bridge from our window.
At the same time, Brooklyn feels like a village—there’s a real sense of community here. It has a lot of intimacy and warmth, which makes for a really magical place to grow up and call home.
“Baths are our moment to unwind at the end of the day and transition to night, for us and the kids.”
–Jane Keltner de Valle, Paloroma co-founder
To learn more about Paloroma and shop the collection, click here.
What inspired Paloroma?
Roman had very sensitive skin as a baby, and the process of trying to find products for him really opened my eyes to what was missing. Nothing out there delivered the clean, gentle and effective formulas we were looking for—something we could trust holistically.
What’s front of mind when you’re choosing ingredients?
I don’t think there’s an option to be anything but clean, especially when the focus is on children. In creating this brand, I was really mindful of the fact that my children’s names are on it. If I can’t stand behind an ingredient or a decision one thousand percent, I won’t do it.