Blue & White Monday - The Exterior Files

I'm very excited to participate in The Pink Pagoda's first Blue & White Monday link-up event.  Do you find that Jennifer's Blue & White Monday series actually makes you look forward to Monday?  Me too.

I thought it might be fun to share some inspiring images of blue& white exteriors.  Have you ever thought of this never-fail color scheme for the outside of your home?

This image is for Jennifer, because we know how much she loves blue and white with some pink mixed in.  

Note to self:  plan a trip to Greece sometime soon. 

Greece again.  That saturated cobalt blue is amazing in the intense Grecian sunlight.

How about some blue & white on good old American architecture.

Clever how the blue & white planters echo the color palette of the house.

And finally, this one, for those that lean toward softer colors.

What do you think?  Are you a fan of blue & white on the exterior or do your prefer your blue & white indoors?

Visit "The Blue & White Bash" at The Pink Pagoda for even more blue & white inspiration!

The Green Room Interiors provides Interior Decorating and Design Services to happy homeowners in Chattanooga, TN.  If you'd like to experience the joy of living in a well designed home, contact Kim Lemmon at 423.653.3186 or email thegreenroominteriors@gmail.com

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Celadon

I'm a lifelong fan of the color green - in all of its variations. I've used green in all of my homes from waaaay back hunter green in the early 90's to apple, moss, olive, lime, chartreuse - and now emerald and mint.  One shade of green that is beautiful and timeless is celadon.  The name comes from the pottery and glazes that were produced in Asia well over a thousand years ago.

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Although celadon is a shade of green, it's a grayed-down version that is quite neutral.

"Blenheim Celadon" fabric by James Dunlop

It's such a pretty backdrop for pinks and lavenders.

But wait - you can use celadon as an accent color too. I love it with the warm beiges in this living room designed by Michelle Nussbaumer.

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And it looks fantastic with black and gold in this Michelle Nussbaumer entry.

Celadon is also perfect for outdoor use, since it's a color so readily found in nature.

It's also a great color choice for painted furniture. Amazing with the gold details, isn't it?

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So what do you think?  Do you like this neutral version of green or do you prefer something more vibrant?

The Green Room Interiors provides Interior Decorating and Design Services in to happy homeowners in Chattanooga, TN.  If you'd like to discover the joy of living in a well designed home, contact Kim Lemmon at 423.653.3186 or email thegreenroominteriors.com

Thoughts on Christmas Doors

Have you started decking your halls yet?  We're only a few days into December and I already feel behind.  I think my neighbors starting putting up their Christmas decorations right after Halloween,  yet the Dollhouse exterior is completely void of holiday embellishment!

I normally don't do a lot of holiday decorations outside, but I do like to dress up my front doors.  Here are a few options that caught my eye.

Source: ellenzee.tumblr.com via Barbara on Pinterest

These church doors are so close in color to my own freshly painted coral front doors..  Even though the royal blue ribbon isn't a traditional holiday color, I think it still reads "Christmas".

Source: tinywhitedaisies.tumblr.com via Jodie on Pinterest

Isn't this what the Christmas in your head looks like?  I love the placement of everything here. A wreath on each door works for me and I love the pine cone accented swag above the doors.  The only thing I would add are some small potted trees on both sides of the doors.

From Martha Stewart.  

First can we just talk about that door?  It's everything.  And I do like the whole vertically stacked wreaths they have going on with monochrome ribbon.  Side note: I've also seen lanterns filled with white Christmas tree lights and it's very cute.

Another Martha Stewart styled door.  Green and white is always so fresh.  I love the little trees in the white urns.  This entire look is a winner.

. If I'm not mistaken I think this image comes from a Pottery Barn catalog.  Here's what I like:  the big silver ornaments and the bare branch swag above the entrance.  The rest of it feels overdone to me. 

Source: bhg.com via Lindsay on Pinterest

What I love most about this image is the color of that door.  It's the perfect shade of green! And the weathered black urns with rosemary trees?- yes!  But the red floral decorations? - not so much.  They feel a little uptight to me.

Source: un-forgetables.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Yeah, this will not be happening. 

So among other things, I have thoughts of Christmas doors on my mind today. Feel free to jump in with your suggestions.  How is your Christmas decor coming along?

Need some help pulling your style together? The Green Room Interiors can make your home a beautiful place to be!  Call Kim Lemmon at 423.653.3186 or email thegreenroominteriors@gmail.com

Lots more holiday inspiration over at The Green Room Interiors on Facebook.  "Like us" and you won't miss a thing!

Curtains Outside

You may recall that back in August  I blogged about adding an awning - and possibly a pair of curtains - to the front entrance over at Project Dollhouse.  This idea is still under consideration, and now that the weather has cooled off a bit in these parts, I thought a post that featured porches with curtains would be a nice farewell to summer. 

Do you remember?  This is one of the inspiration images that got ball rolling.

The striped  curtains may be more of a statement than I'm willing to make, but I do like the sense of arrival they give to entries that lack architectural detail. 

Source: vtinteriors.blogspot.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

Curtains also give a cozy, finished feel to porches, and in the image below, provide some much needed privacy. I love the way this porch is furnished, don't you? 

Source: bhg.com via Stephanie on Pinterest

Source: alkemie.blogspot.com via Evangela on Pinterest

Apparently an over-achiever lives here. 

Source: countryliving.com via Chelsea on Pinterest

All of the white looks so crisp on this little Bungalow - and the yellow door is the perfect finishing touch.

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Source: thenovogratz.com via Stephanie on Pinterest

Those risk-taking Novogratz 's decided to go bold with yellow and white stripes - and a cool chandelier. 

Source: 2.bp.blogspot.com via Terra on Pinterest

I'm on board for some curtains outside.  Do you like them too?

Need some help pulling your style together?  The Green Room Interiors can make your home a beautiful place to be!  Call Kim Lemmon at 423.653.3186 or email thegreenroominteriors@gmail.com.

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Paint the Front Doors Coral - Check!

I don't why I thought life would settle down a bit when school started back but in reality it's been just the opposite!  Despite the recent chaos,  we've managed to repaint our front doors here at Project Dollhouse.  When I first posed the question,  an overwhelming majority of you supported my plans to paint my front doors coral. And that's just what we did!

Wanna see?

I have to admit that after living with the charcoal color we originally painted, the brighter color was a bit of shock.  (By the way, the color we ultimately landed on was Benjamin Moore's Habanero Pepper, and its beautiful!)  Now that I've been living with the new color for a little over a week, I just LOVE it!  So much that I find myself going to the mailbox a few extra times a day just so I can bask in that coral glow on the walk back from the mailbox!  I've also rerouted all of my trips home so I can drive past the door before pulling in the driveway.  Tell me I'm not the only one who does this.  

Here's a wider shot.  It's hard to get a decent photo because of the sunny day and the shadows on the front of the house.

Wider still...

This is the original brass-tastic 1972 hardware.  Hubby wanted to put it in the trash pile but I intervened, as I will do from time to time.  It's my personal homage to the decade that gave us bell bottoms, platform shoes and disco. A fitting tribute.

Please avert your eyes from the other languishing items on the To-Do  list and celebrate what is To-Done!

Thanks for encouraging me to follow my coral door dream!  I'm so glad I took the plunge.

Need some help pulling your style together?  The Green Room Interiors can make your home a beautiful place to be!  Call Kim Lemmon at 423.653.3186 or email thegreenroominteriors@gmail.com.

Raise Your Hand ...

...if you think I should put an awning on my house.  Most of the exterior work is done at Project Dollhouse and I'm pretty happy with the progress we've made.  Unfortunately, I've never been one to be satisfied with just "pretty happy."  I think an awning over the front door could be just what my little house needs to give it some depth and interest.  Here is the least attractive angle of the front entry. I think the Dollhouse is embarrassed by this unflattering, driver's license-esque photo. I took it at dusk with my phone.

 I like the awnings below for my house because the curved shape mirrors the arches over my big windows. 

Source: google.com via Tara on Pinterest

Source: coldwellbanker.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Pretty, right? And I like the white piping.   What do you think about stripes (not necessarily those colors).

Source: google.com via Leah on Pinterest

Source: capecodcollegiate.tumblr.com via Ellie on Pinterest

I love the combination below,  but do you think the curtains would be too much?

Source: llhdesignsblog.com via Cynthia on Pinterest

Maybe not!  After all, look how well it worked for the Novagratz'.

And finally, feast your eyes on this awnings/curtains situation.  So cute! And quite similar to the Dollhouse - they could be cousins.

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Lots of options here - which one do you like best for the Dollhouse?

Need some help pulling your style together?  The Green Room Interiors can make your home a beautiful place to be!  Call Kim Lemmon at 423.653.3186 or email the greenroominteriors@gmail.com.

So You Want to Plant a Bradford Pear

Don't do it.  Bradford Pear trees were trucked in to nearly every clear-cut new subdivision about 15 years ago because everyone loved their white early spring blossoms.  Big mistake.  It turns out mature Bradford Pear trees split easily because of the stress and weight of their heavy branches.  

Luckily, The Dollhouse has been spared. 

Seriously, go for the Dogwood.

Need some help pulling your style together?  The Green Room Interiors can make your home a beautiful place to be!  Call Kim Lemmon at 423.653.3186 or email thegreenroominteriors@gmail.com

Painted Brick

Welcome to my latest obsession - painted brick!  Whether it's covering a stately traditional home's exterior

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a Victorian Rowhouse

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or a Brady Bunch era fireplace

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there's something about the combination of color and texture that makes me smile! What do you think?  Is painted brick sinful or sublime?