Alternative Kitchen Islands

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Kitchen renovations and healthy bank accounts rarely go hand in hand. This is certainly true   over at Project Dollhouse.  The kitchen's layout is functional and the workspace is adequate, so the kitchen update is going to be purely cosmetic.  The plan is to keep the existing cabinets and pretty them up with fresh paint and new hardware.   


yes, this is the "before"

I also think there's room in there for a small kitchen island, and since the original cabinets are circa 1972, there's no going to Lowe's and buying matching cabinets for the island.  No worries, there are lots of options for kitchen islands.

Image from Country Living

Image from Apt. Therapy

I love the marble top and all the hooks on the side .


I'm not sure this is an actual island, but it could easily function as one.

Image from Apt Therapy


My favorite -the french pastry table!

New windows are being installed tomorrow - thank goodness.   I'm ready to get to the pretty stuff!

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. 








Project Dollhouse - A Little Progress and Some Sweet Lucite Lamps

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Just to refresh your memory



This is my latest project. It's circa 1972 French Provincial brick home that is getting mainly cosmetic updates on a tiny little budget!  You can see more before photos here. Around here we refer to it as Project Dollhouse.


We've made a little progress!


This is the living and dining room combination we started with:

And now...


We created a cased opening  to define each room and give the whole space some depth.


These next photos need a little explanation. 

See that doorway we're looking through? That's a door that separated the master bathroom vanity area from the shower and water closet.




What we did in the "after" below, is remove that door and repurpose it to separate the Master Bathroom from the Master Bedroom.   I don't have a photo of this shot "before".  There was no door here, just a big opening  looking directly into the master bathroom from the master bedroom,  just like at Motel 6!



Yuck, all of this came out




Even this is an improvement!

Oh, and I went over to Merchants on Main this afternoon to do a little fluff at my space when I spotted this! 


Lovely...Lucite...Vintage.... and there's a pair of them!  Interested?  Email me at thegreenroominteriors@gmail.com.  and I'll fill you in on the details.

Happy Monday!!!  We're off and running again!


Some of us, anyway!








Regarding Million Dollar Decorators

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

With each week that passes, I become increasingly fascinated by this show. The big budgets, the bigger personalities, the demanding clients, the deadlines.  What's not to love?  Here are my observations so far...


1.  Martin Lawrence Bullard is actually growing on me.  After the first episode, I didn't think I could get past all the "Dahlings", "Deee lish uss" and the obnoxious name dropping. And then there was the apartment he put together for Sharon Osbourne.


Haven't we seen this before?


Tuesday's reveal was better, but I wasn't in love with the Jimmy Choo shoes and bags as art in those plexiglass boxes. 


I think it would have been much more effective to have the shoes and bags artfully photographed  and hung en masse.  


2.  I think Ross is stealing Jeffrey's thunder.  He's clearly more focused and it seems his most important role is keeping Jeffrey in line.  The more likable Ross becomes, the less tolerable Jeffrey is.  They are the Yin & Yang of MDD. 


3. What happened to Nathan Turner?  I had such high hopes for him as a little oasis of normalcy in this sea of craziness and he has nearly disappeared from the show! How about they show less Jeffrey learning how to make tarts and show more Nathan Turner ?

4.  I find Kathryn Ireland's eccentricities completely charming and I cannot wait for the reveal of the beach house project.  I adore Kathryn's cozy and comfortable style!

Image via Elle Decor

5. Here's something about Mary.  I've been a huge fan of Mary's work for years.  I remember the first time I saw her was on  HGTV's Kitty Bartholomew show in the 90's. She was less glamorous and more preppy back then, but she had that flair for the dramatic.   It was disheartening in the first episode to see her selfish reaction to the news of her client's divorce. The past few episodes haven't been as painful - for me she comes across as quirky rather than cold. 

For her office reveal, I think the addition of the French doors and the black paint on the windows and doors was lovely.  

I also noticed some similarities between Mary's office that was featured in Domino a few years back and the office space above. 


The layout is identical with the placement of the desk, two chairs, two lamps and art wall behind the desk. And what about the black & white photos of the ladies wearing hats as the center of the gallery wall(s)? The white desks with Chinoiserie details?  (okay, I like that one too).

Are you following the show?  My opinion on the projects and the decorators changes with every episode I watch.  What do you think?

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









Wallpaper Lust

Sunday, June 19, 2011

While fabric searching for some pillows the other day, I came across this pattern, called Cut Paper from Thibaut



It seems I'm fully entrenched in my new blue & white period.




Cut Paper by Thibaut is available as wallpaper and as fabric, and it comes in several colorways.   Although the pattern is big and bold, this calming blue and white palette keeps it from being overwhelming. Stunning as the sole pattern in a room; covering the walls, curtains, upholstery and pillows! I'd love to use it in a dining room, or even a bathroom with white cabinets and white tile.

Has anything new caught your eye lately?

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








Master Bedroom Update - The Chinoiserie Finds

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Okay, remember this post about how I wanted to explore using a Chinoiserie screen as a headboard? 

Sadly,  I can't believe it's been over a year since I wrote about it!  Happily, my patience has paid off and I found my dream screen!


This is a handpainted screen that is the perfect length to use over my queen sized bed!




And, I found some other things that will work in the room, too!





I know!  These are very old embroidered silk pieces matted with emerald green velvet.  They even came with these cute little hangers

And then there's this


I can't even tell you how much I love this lamp!  This photo does not accurately display its fabulousness.  It's enormous and green and has that great big green metal shade.  

I also have a pair of these tables (in their "before" state) that could work as night stands


And maybe this chair (and pillow)


Stay tuned for more (frequent) updates!

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












Project Dollhouse

Sunday, June 12, 2011


This is what we're starting with





Here is where we want to end up





while doing this



More to come...

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