Design Deja-vu - Great images from the 60's and 70's

Happy August, kids! If your idea of a good time is driving from one estate sale to another in the summer heat, then you would have loved my weekend! The only problem was everything I wanted was either already sold or more than I wanted to pay. Luckily, I found these incredible vintage decorating books - the one on top was published in 1965 and the Better Homes book was pubilshed in 1975. 

After browsing through these books a half a dozen times, I'm convinced that there's nothing really "new" in design.  And I'm not saying that's a bad thing - I think it just shows that great design is timeless, and doesn't have to be "new & improved."  I have some images to share with you that are out of these mid-century books that are completely relevant (although some might say redundant) to where we are today! These images are crude, the pictures in the books were very small, and I took them with my point and shoot.

This image is from the 1975 BH&G book.  What about that wallpaper?  And that fresh green and white color scheme? It's good, right?

 Oversize paper lantern, (did they have Ikea and Pier 1 back then?) coffee table, painted parsons desk, turquoise and green color scheme. 

Yep, that's a ceramic garden stool and lots of Asian-inspired/Chinoiserie accents. Red lacquer lampshade.

Asian screen, painted coffee table, mix of furniture styles.

Horizontal stripes, black & white color scheme with a single accent color.

Gallery walls

Can you see that this room was done by Dorothy Draper?  Would you make any changes nearly 50 years later?

Don't get me started on this one.  Bri, I'm sure there's a project for you based on that wallpaper.  You can do it at my house :)



Okay, so what do you think?  I've read on several different blogs that certain design elements (like Chevron patterns, gallery walls, painted furniture and ceramic garden stools) are "over".  Do these 50-year old images prove them wrong?

Need some help pulling your style together?  Kim Lemmon can make your home a beautiful place to be!  Call 423.653.3186 for details.

Small Town Antique Shopping and "She" Expo

Okay, so big working weekend plans called for an impromptu vacation to Atlanta for my youngest daughter.  She will be spending the weekend in Atlanta with my folks while I'm doing this. The "She Expo" is at the Chattanooga Trade Center this weekend.  Yessick's Design Center is exhibiting with a fully stocked retail space and we've also been chosen to decorate the stage for keynote speakers Bethenny (Skinnygirl) Frankel on Saturday

 and domestic goddess Martha Stewart on Sunday. 

Please stop by if you're in the area this weekend.  I'd love to meet you! 

Anyway, on the way back from Operation Kid Drop-off I stopped by a little Antique Mall in Calhoun, Ga. (Exit 315 off of I-75).  They had some cute stuff!

This is a pair of Bernhardt side tables stacked on top of each other.  They were in mint condition, and were priced at $129 each (but those folks are eager to cut a deal...)

This brass pinecone finial was priced at $29 and weighed a ton!

Not in love with the shade.

Enormous brass lamp with what looks like snakes all over it.  Creepy/cool.  $89 marked down from $100.

Brass teapot - $19



Apparently "brass" was the theme of the day.  Bamboo candlesticks - $10 for the pair

 Rattan ottoman. 

Faux malachite box - asking $18

Priceless medallion rug - not that priceless, it just didn't have a price tag.

Owl art in brass bamboo frame $24.95

I'm not sure if this is jadeite or colored milk glass but it's very pretty and they had a ton of it.

Elephant plant stand $25

Child's spool rocker $18.

Wanna guess what 3 things I bought?

Need some help pulling your style together?  Kim Lemmon at Yessick's Design Center can make your home a beautiful place to be!  Call 423.653.3186 for details.

Kathryn Ireland and Lavender

Not too long ago, I  blogged here about possibly using lavender as an accent color in my master bedroom.   It's feminine and surprisingly sophisticated (which I like), and could even be considered neutral -  as it marries well with nearly any color you pair it with. 

I love this image I found on Kathryn Ireland's website that features a traditional English sofa covered in lavender!  Have you been to her site?  It's full of all sorts of great inspiration and lots of beautiful color and pattern.

Image from Kathryn Ireland



I didn't realize you could order so many of her products online - not that I could afford any of them.  Naturally, I was excited to find this lovely Ikat stripe fabric in lavender! 

Which would work great with this Silvertree Toile currently on sale for $45 per yard!

What color is calling you?

Need some help pulling your style together?  Kim Lemmon at Yessick's Design Center can make your home a beautiful place to be!  Call 423.653.3186 for details.

Weekend Craig

Here are my picks from this week's Chattanooga Craigslist.  I think just about every design style is represented.

Something for everyone, right?

Happy weekend, kids!

Need some help pulling your style together?  Kim Lemmon at Yessick's Design Center can make your home a beautiful place to be!  Call 423.653.3186 for details.

Ruffles!!

Do you think the pendulum is swinging from modern, clean-lined elements back over to the soft and pretty side?  In the most recent issue of House Beautiful, I was/am completely captivated by Nick Olsen's design of this tiny-space New York apartment.

Image sourced from La Lampshade

  Lots of pretty elements were scattered about, like floral fabrics, soft colors, fresh flowers and painted furniture.  But what really caught my eye were those fun curtain panels with the pleated ruffles edged in emerald green!

which brought to mind these curtain panels I flipped for (pun intended :) in Elizabeth Mayhew's  "Flip for Decorating".

Similar pleated ruffles!

and also these I've noticed showing up in Miles Redd's recently published projects.

Image sourced from Matters of Style blog

Image from The Peak of Chic

Image sourced from The Peak of Chic

So there you have it - ruffled curtains are back in a new and sophisticated way!  Do you love them too?

Need some help pulling your style together?  Kim Lemmon at Yessick's Design Center can make your home a beautiful place to be!  Call 423.653.3186 for details.