Rooms without Pattern

Monday, May 20, 2013

Pattern is something I love to work with and is a great place to begin the design of a room.  





I bet you would never guess that I'm also drawn to rooms that have little or no pattern.  This room by Gerrie Bremmerman is an all time favorite room of mine.  

I realize there is subtle pattern in the weave of the rug and the detail on the console tables and mirrors, but for the most part, it's a combination of solids - and allows you to focus on the shape of each piece of furniture.

I think Myra Hoefer does patternless rooms better than anyone.  I read an article once that said the key to using only solid fabrics is to vary the sheen.  She mentioned that she loves to combine velvets and silks.  All in solid colors - and one of the colors she loves to use is yellow.  



2 images above from Myra Hoefer Design

This bedroom by Suzanne Kasler is done in blush feels so restful and calm.  Can you imagine how different it would feel if it were layered with pattern?


Where do you stand on using pattern. Love it or leave it?  Or does it depend on how, what and where?  

The Green Room Interiors provides interior decorating and design services to happy homeowners in Chattanooga, TN.  Call Kim Lemmon at 423.653.3186 or email thegreenroominteriors@gmail.com and find out how a well-designed home can bring more joy to your life!







Five Yards

Sunday, May 12, 2013



Okay, so it's really 5 1/4 yards.

  Of this business.



Pretty gorgeous, no?  I found it here in town (Associated Fabrics for you locals).  I had seen this fabric on the 50% off rack time after time thinking it would still be there if I ever decided I couldn't live without it.  But when I went in there last week the roll was noticeably thinner. 

And the print is discontinued.  So what was I to do?!?!??  This was a purchasing situation if I've ever had one. And I have. 

And so I find myself with a bit of a conundrum.  What to do with 5 yards of this fabric.  5 yards is a challenging amount.  It's too much for doing just the seat cushions for my dining room chairs. And the print is big and I don't think you could appreciate the beauty and the fabulous movement of the fabric.  

Observe.



See what I mean?

And it's not enough to recover a pair of these chairs I got for my living room.


So for now, I'm thinking about making a showstopper kind of wall treatment with it.  



Maybe one enormous framed panel as a backdrop for my dining room buffet?  Something like this...




Or even two smaller framed panels flanking each side of my dining room buffet. Like this. (Insert my buffet for the french doors in the photo below)


That's the direction for this week, anyway.

Do you have any other ideas for my 5 yards of fabric?

The Green Room Interiors provides Interior Decorating and Design Services in Chattanooga, TN.  Contact Kim Lemmon and find out how a well-designed home can improve the quality of your life!  423.653.3186 or email thegreenroominteriors@gmail.com








Pleated Lampshades

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

First of all, I want to congratulate you for clicking through to read this post.  You're a design geek of the highest level.

I firmly believe that it's the details that take a space from "pretty good" to extraordinary, so I tend to scrutinize rooms that I admire and make mental notes of all of the details.  One of the details on my radar right now is the use of pleated lampshades.  


Pleated lampshades were big in the 80's and 90's, but fell out of favor for the more streamlined drum shade.  Apparently someone smarter than me thought that if brass could make a big comeback, why not bring back  pleated lampshades too.


I think this is just part of a larger movement to more classic interiors, where the pretty details are layered on.

Nick Olsen in House Beautiful




Are you ready to revisit pleated lampshades?  I found a  diy tutorial here and source here.

The Green Room Interiors provides Interior Decorating and Design Consultation Services in Chattanooga, TN.  Call Kim at 423.653.3186 or email thegreenroominteriors@gmail.com to find out how a well designed home can improve the quality of  your life!