Artist Ashley Longshore, who balances a demanding schedule between her Louisiana farm, New York apartment, and visits with art collectors nationwide, relies on a unique addition to her support team: a “house doula.” Manon Chevallerau, a Dutch-born professional based in New York City, serves in this role, providing both practical assistance and emotional support tailored to Longshore’s unpredictable daily routine.

Chevallerau, 64, initially trained as a doula for expectant mothers but has since adapted her skills to domestic caregiving. Her work involves organizing household items, restocking essentials, and maintaining a nurturing home environment. “I create a calm environment so that a person can be relaxed and start the day with everything in order,” she explained. For Longshore, who describes her need as “to be mothered,” Chevallerau’s contributions transcend traditional housekeeping or personal assistant duties, blending efficiency with attentiveness.

For the past 18 months, Chevallerau has visited Longshore’s apartment twice weekly, handling an array of tasks— from managing closets and suitcases to running errands—thereby ensuring the household runs smoothly. “I nurture the house and the person who’s in it, emotionally and practically,” she said, defining her role as a fusion of support for both the home and its occupant.

A parallel service exists in London, where Simin Sangha operates as a house doula for clients of Eccord, a property management company. Sangha, with a background in real estate, manages the complex lives of about 50 high-net-worth individuals. Though her clients typically have housekeepers, Sangha’s role focuses on smoothing over daily stresses that fall outside housekeeping responsibilities, functioning more like a lifestyle manager. She highlighted the informal and immediate nature of her work, assisting clients at any hour—for example, reassuring a passenger who misplaced an engagement ring moments before a flight or helping a concerned parent assess their child’s swimming pool irritation.

The concept of a house doula has gained attention recently, notably when an 800-word job advertisement for such a position within a prominent “art world family” went viral. The posting sought a candidate to “make life easier for the couple in every way possible” and required the ability to juggle multiple priorities within a fluid and demanding environment. The advertisement, offering a starting salary of $65,000, was later withdrawn amid public reaction but inspired Dr. Roshan Sethi, a physician-turned-director and co-creator of the television series The Resident. In his debut novel, *The Simp*, Sethi satirizes the role through the story of a household employee attempting to leverage his position for personal gain. Sethi noted the nebulous nature of such roles, which often encompass a broad range of personal and household duties, and observed that the model resembles traditional Indian domestic help arrangements, though it is increasingly common in the United States as wealth disparities grow.

While Sethi’s work presents the house doula role as fodder for dark comedy and cautionary tale, Longshore offers a contrasting view, describing Chevallerau’s presence as essential and deeply valued. “She’s been working for 27 years to prepare herself for her one and only woman-child,” Longshore said. “I didn’t realise how much I needed her in my life, but she’s one of the greatest things I’ve ever allowed myself.”