Sectional or Sofa and Chairs - My Thoughts

Sectional sofas have been enjoying a resurgence in popularity for quite some time now. People love them because they efficiently seat a crowd and you don’t have to make a bunch of furniture pieces/fabric decisions to fill up a room. They are the workhorse and centerpiece of the seating area!

Here’s a sectional sofa in a project completed nearly 8 years ago in downtown Chattanooga. The clients have since relocated to another state but this same sectional is now in their new living room.

Sectionals are usually thought to be at home in modern settings, but as you can see, they can work quite well with traditional decor as well..

If you’re debating whether a sectional sofa is the right choice for your space, here are my thoughts.

In my opinion, sectionals are better suited for rooms predominantly used by family members.

Think about it. Family movie night. Binge watching your favorite reality tv shows. Snow days. Blankets, pillows and popcorn.

Image above is from Emily Henderson. This is the perfect setting for casual lounging and family cuddle time!

Now imagine this set up when you’re entertaining work colleagues. Won’t we be doing that at some point in the future?

Or, your elderly Aunt and Uncle come for a visit . Would they be as comfortable on a sectional sitting between your toddler and your teenage daughter’s boyfriend?

Call me old fashioned but I think there are times when a little personal space is the way to go.

You don’t have to sacrifice comfort! I’m of the opinion that sofa and a few chairs provide the right amount of comfort and separation for family and guests. When we have them again. If you look at the reflection on the fire screen, you’ll see there’s another sofa placed in the room. The 2-sofa configuration allows for lounging with the family and plenty of seating for guests.

Same room as above image. Design by The Green Room Interiors

A cozy velvet sofa, a pair of swivel chairs, and an upholstered occasional chair provide plenty of seating and comfort in this friendly main level great room. Design by The Green Room Interiors.

Here’s another living room with a sofa and a pair of swivel chairs. Perfect for family time and entertaining guests. Design by The Green Room Interiors.

Design by The Green Room Interiors. Another 2-sofa seating configuration provides the best of both worlds. Family members can stretch out on the sofa to watch tv, or guests can utilize the sofas and chairs for a well balanced conversation area.

So, there are plenty of things to consider when laying out your seating areas, and many options for which to accomplish your goals for your rooms.

Whatever you decide, I advise you take precise measurements of your space and carefully read all of the specs for the pieces you’re considering to make sure everything fits and you have adequate room to move through the space.

Or, you can call me!

The Green Room Interiors is now accepting new clients for late spring of 2021. If you’d like to experience the profound joy of living in a well designed home, email us at thegreenroominteriors@gmail.com. We’d love to help!

The Role of Home - Now More Than Ever!

Hello out there!

How are you doing with your social and physical distancing? If you’re like me, the days are hard to keep track of - and if weren’t for the occasional change in weather, all of the days are pretty much the same.

Since we’re spending so much time in our homes, I’d like to talk about the importance of your home, and the role it can contribute to your state of mind and personal well being. And, promise, this isn’t going to be a “hire me” post (although if you feel inspired, please don’t hesitate to reach out :) )

I’ve said it before but it bears repeating - your surroundings have a tremendous influence on your state of mind. Creating the right mood in your home will help prepare you for whatever the day ahead throws at you. And it should be the place you look forward to coming home to! Every day!

If your work life is chaotic or stressful, you may want to create a quiet retreat that calms and soothes.

Interior Design by Phoebe Howard

This bedroom is a stellar example of a tranquil retreat. Can you feel your blood pressure dropping?

Let’s break it down, so you can implement some of the principles that make this room successful in your own home.

1. Color palette - to create your own restful retreat, stick with soft colors and keep your color palette limited. For my neutral lovers, this is your sweet spot! This room is mostly layered tones of beige and a few accents of dusty blue. It’s so comforting.

2. Contrast - Every room needs some contrast, but when designing a quiet space, keep it to a minimum. The only dark accents are found in the night stand and the bedside desk. The bedside pieces don’t match, but the stain colors are very similar. Everything else is in this room is very tonal and quiet.

3. Pattern - again, keep it to a minimum. The pattern on the damask bed pillows are the boldest pattern found in the room, but they’re kept in check because of the tone on tone color palette.

4. Texture is your friend. Velvets, linens, floor length draperies and a tactile carpet underfoot create a soft feel and help muffle sounds.

Let’s go to the opposite end of the spectrum. Say your work life is very regimented, conservative and somber. And your bubbly personality is dying to get out. At the end of the day, you want your spirit to soar!

Interior Design by Celerie Kemble and Lindsey Herod

It’s hard to feel anything but happy and energized in a room like this! Shall we break it down?

1. Color palette - happy colors create a happy mood! Notice how clean and clear the colors are. They are not grayed down or muted, but clean and crisp.

2. Pattern - it creates movement and excitement in a room. Most people are afraid to mix patterns, but if you vary the scale of the prints you’re using and if the colors relate to other elements in the room, they will play together nicely!

3. Texture - it may not be as important as it is in creating a restful room, but you’ll want to mix it up with a few different textures (nubby rugs, slick cocktail table, and always - plants!)

4. Scale - a large, bold piece of art adds color, scale and importance to this fresh and fabulous room!

I hope you found these tips helpful. You can start by making small changes. Something as simple as new pillows, art, or even fresh flowers can help set you in the right direction.

If spending so much time in your home lately has made you realize that your home isn’t giving you the emotional support you need, try and see past “what is” and imagine “what can be”.

Having a home that feeds your soul crucial, now more than ever!

The Green Room Interiors is accepting new clients for early summer 2020. Let’s make the most of your home! Fill out our Contact Form and tell us about your goals for your home!

The Other Side of "Nature Inspired"

When you think of a home that’s described as “Nature Inspired”, what do you expect to see?

I think in most cases people envision a room filled with texture, earthy browns and grays and perhaps a smattering of green.

I think the former retail shop of Lauren Liess is a good example of what most people would describe as “Nature Inspired”. Sepia colors, textural contrast and muted greens. It’s very well done!

But what about the brighter side of nature? Daffodil yellows, peony pinks and clear sky blues are also found in nature.

Here’s to the more colorful side of nature.

Designer Suzanne Kasler is known for her sophisticated, feminine interiors and I adore all shades of pink. The furniture is part of her Paris Apartment collection for Hickory Chair. And you know how I feel about stripes, right?

I’m loving all things yellow these days. It’s such a happy color and really makes a statement in a neutral room.

Does anyone remember this Jenny Lyons room that launched a million or so pins on Pinterest?

This room was featured in the original Domino magazine and the world fell in love with gray and yellow. There’s so much to love and to be learned from this room. It’s a masterful mix of old with new, modern with traditional, rough with refined, and just a wonderful blend of design styles. And it still looks fresh!

Gorgeous bedroom from Veere Grenney Instagram. Love the yellow accents against all the white.

This is about as bold as it gets in this Chicago living room by Summer Thornton. Primary colors can look surprisingly sophisticated, but it’s hard to achieve. I think it’s the ultra luxurious furnishings make this color palette successful.

Here is nature’s most perfect neutral and my personal favorite. Green. I love every shade of it. Room by Meg Braff.

This photo is Tobi Fairley’s living room a few years ago but I wanted to use it because it perfectly illustrates how well all shades of green work together in the same space.

Nothing invigorates a room quite like orange. Room above by designer Same Allen. In the image below we added vibrant orange lamps to a tranquil master bedroom and I love how they read in the room!

To summarize, Nature provides some amazing color inspiration that goes well beyond muddy and earthy tones.
Nature is and always will be the greatest source of inspiration for our surroundings, and that includes colors that are clean and bright!

How do you incorporate nature in your decor?

The Green Room Interiors is accepting new clients for late fall and winter 2019. Contact us to tell us how we can help you make the most of your home!

Where has all the Personality Gone?

I realize this post may be polarizing, but I'm going to forge ahead with it because I got somethin to say about it.

Like most of you, I use platforms such as Pinterest and Instagram to find inspiration for projects or examples of ideas I'm considering. What I'm finding  are basically the same rooms with the same design elements that are just reshuffled over and over again.  It's disheartening to see such a lack of personality in interiors these days. I find it’s getting harder to find creativity and an original point of view when it comes to decorating our homes.

Take the "Farmhouse" style that is so prevalent right now.

Oh, it's all here from the painted distressed furniture to the galvanized accents and inspirational quotes. And I'm pretty sure that's a burlap pillow on that bench.

I can’t be the only one who is ready to move past all of this.

Industrial is another look that has been done to death.

Black warehouse lights? Check. Metal stool? Check. Old metal locker? Check.

Just between us, I never quite got the appeal of this look . There’s nothing comforting about it.

Last one - "Coastal" - seen below

Blue and white color palette.  Aquatic prints.  Driftwood.  An anchor.

I'm not saying it's wrong to use all of this or any of this.  It's just that these styles have become so formulaic that there's really no "design" or creative point of view that comes into play.  It's a "just add water and stir" kind of room.

For my money, I prefer to go with something that incorporates a range of design styles and furnishings that creative a bigger sum than their individual parts.

Compare the above images to this room by the legendary Bunny Williams

Most definitely not a paint by numbers approach here.  This is the difference between curating an interior and following the herd.  Just try and guess when this room was designed.  It's nearly impossible because it's layered and inclusive of different design styles.  And it’s timelessly beautiful.

This is coastal done right.  Mark D Sikes kept it simple with a mix of blue and white fabrics, a natural fiber rug and clean, minimal accessories.  Do you think this room will look dated in 10 years? I say “Not a chance.” It's so very gorgeous and timeless.

What makes a room magical is it’s mood. And mood is achieved in a subtle, nuanced sort of way.

Did you see this room in Southern Living Magazine recently? This is the stuff I’m talking about. It feels relaxed yet sophisticated. It has just the right amount of color and layers of accessories. No one “formula” was used to create this space - it’s a collection of beautiful design elements from all different styles and eras that come together as a beautiful whole. Also loving the hits of texture here. #winner

Don’t be discouraged if Farmhouse style floats your boat. It can be perfectly charming and timeless if restraint is used.

How about this kitchen as Farmhouse inspiration . There’s a little shiplap, a simple vase of sunflowers, and a framed vintage still life to suggest farmhouse style without being trite or kitschy.

When it comes to designing your space, particularly if you have a theme in mind, restraint is your friend! Keep it simple and it will age beautifully!

Art in the Kitchen

Kitchens sure have come a long way over the past few decades.

What was once a strictly utilitarian area for no-frills cooking has now become command central in today’s homes. Kitchens are now living spaces that accommodate many different activities - and look beautiful while doing so.

Selecting art for the kitchen is sometimes overlooked, but I think it’s a wonderful opportunity to add some personality and color to the kitchen - after all, it’s usually the place where everyone ends up!

As you will see in the images below, you don’t have to resort to giant forks or “EAT” signs to adorn the walls of your kitchen. Original and/or collected art always adds so much to a space, and the kitchen is no exception!

Notice that each of these kitchens has a different feel, and how they have their own distinct personalities!

An eclectic mix of framed art was tucked into these open shelves and mixed with more utilitarian elements - including a big pot of rosemary! Image from OneKingsLane.

Have you seen the kitchen by Lauren Liess below? In this kitchen, the art takes center stage, creating a moody and collected vibe.

The art makes for an interesting view at the sink - which, in many cases, is normally provided by a window.

I love this quaint kitchen. . The collection of landscapes makes this space feel homey and welcoming. This kitchen exudes personality and warmth. There’s nothing slick about it!

Oversize modern art combines with a rustic table and chairs, creating a moment of the unexpected!

Here’s one for my color lovers (me included). The painting - which I adore - was surely the jumping off point for this unapologetically pretty kitchen. The kitchen is humble and definitely not “new” , and they certainly made the most if it!

If order is your thing, consider adding a grid style art installation to your kitchen. Related subject matter and matching frames create order and calm in what is typically a busy space in your home.

Who knew there were so many options when it comes to placing art in your kitchen? It’s a great opportunity to add some beauty in such a hard working space!

The Green Room Interiors is currently accepting new clients for early fall of 2019. If you’re ready to discover the joy of living in easy elegance, contact Kim at 423.653.3186 to schedule your consultation!

Five Little Tricks to Elevating Your Decor

How about today I give you some simple hacks for giving your space a more custom, expensive look without breaking the budget?

I’m going to share my five favorite tips with you that I’ve used time and time again to make any room feel a little bit “extra”.

Here goes:

Grosgrain ribbon - I can’t tell you how many times I’ve used Grosgrain ribbon to add some punch to very simple design elements.

Bonus: Grosgrain ribbon can be found at craft stores - even Walmart has it. The cost is minimal, usually about $3 per roll.

Here’s what grosgrain ribbon can do for you!

See that little green stripe on the drapes that separates the blue velvet from the white linen? Well, that’s the just a band of grosgrain ribbon in the freshest shade of green that makes those curtains extra fabulous.

Yep, that’s more grosgrain ribbon , this time in red, to add a little extra detail and color to this custom shower curtain and valance.

Here’s a plain cotton pillow that’s been accented with white ribbon trim. I love that it’s so simple in design but it stands out as a bold accent.

The image above is from Pottery Barn, but there’s no reason you can’t add simple grosgrain ribbon to a plain lampshade yourself. All it takes is a roll of your favorite color grosgrain ribbon and a hot glue gun. Tip: Ribbon is easiest to apply on a drum shade. Tapered shades are a little more challenging.

And speaking of lampshades, that’s my next tip.

Update your lampshades. Lampshades are becoming important design elements unto themselves, and I’m loving the unexpected hit of color and pattern a fun shade like the one below brings to a space.

Here’s a lampshade I had custom made for a recent project. I loooove it paired with the vintage alabaster lamp. And it brings a little life to an understated corner. Side note: I cannot wait to share this project with you! Lots more to come on this one!

Honestly - just a clean, updated lampshade will do wonders for your lamps and your room in general - and it’s an absolute must when incorporating vintage lamps! Black shades are particularly chic!

Images above from a room I decorated for The Junior League of Chattanooga Showhouse a few years ago called “Young Lady’s Retreat” featuring a vintage pineapple lamp updated with a tailored black lampshade.

Paint your trim the same color as your walls. I have to admit - this is a tough one for some people because trim is supposed to some shade of white, right?!?!? Wrong! It’s perfectly acceptable and so so lovely to paint out your trim in a color! Paint the walls in flat or eggshell finish and paint the trim in satin or semi-gloss (in the same color as your walls - or a shade or two darker or lighter). Not only does this method make your room look more expensive, but those baseboards will be much easier to maintain!

Art - step away from the mass produced stuff!! If purchasing an original piece from a favorite artist is outside of your budget, you can always frame children’s art. I just did this in a client’s house and it turned out so great- even better than expected! Children’s art adds lots of color and it offers a true emotional connection to the art.

Or you could have a favorite photograph framed. A photo from a favorite vacation would be perfect - every time you see it, you would be transported that time and place again - even if just for a moment!

My absolute favorite way to source original or unique art on a budget is to visit local antique malls. You just never know what will turn up!

I found this fine art original portrait at a local antique mall for a song - the gorgeous custom frame included! All I had to do was decide on which wall to place it!

Something old. It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of recycling vintage decor. Not only does it add character, it makes your home feel more personal and collected. And isn’t interesting far better than just “coordinated”?

In my living room above, nearly everything is vintage, including some of the furniture! The beauty of this is that I’ll never walk into someone else’s home and see the same pieces.

If you’re interested in adding vintage design elements, you can start with something as small as a vase, planter, candlesticks or even vintage books. Before you know it, you’ll be addicted to the thrill of the hunt!

What do you think? Would you try any of these simple tips in your own home?

The Green Room Interiors is accepting new clients for late summer/fall of 2019. Call Kim today to set up your consultation at 423.653.3186 or email thegreenroominteriors@gmail.com

My Favorite Window Treatment Styles

This topic could go on for quite a while, because there are so many options available for window treatments in your home.

I’m going to keep it simple and just talk about my go-to window treatments that I use over and over again.

1. Curtain panels. My all time favorite because they add softness, drama - and they’re just cozy and wonderful. They can be real statement pieces, or they can be be understated and quiet. It depends on the fabric selection and color.

In this Chattanooga master bedroom, we opted for creamy white linen panels to evoke a quiet and restful mood. Note the woven shades here. They provide light control, privacy and some fabulous texture.

Below is another room in the same home. This is the media room, and we went with a fabric in a vibrant orange print. The color selection definitely helps create a more energetic space. We used the same woven shades under layered under the panels for privacy, light control and added texture.

One thing to note here is that since the blinds provide light control and privacy, the curtain panels are strictly decorative. That said, we had them made with extra fullness to work aesthetically with the width of the triple window. Wide windows and skimpy curtains are a no-no.

Here’s another example of curtain panels (these drapes are functional because they provide light control and privacy to the sunny back veranda). Did you notice these “windows” aren’t windows at all? They’re French doors, and the window treatments frame them so beautifully! We topped these panels with a simple, box pleated valance to create a more finished look.

Do you see how important fabric selection is? These curtain panels feel so fresh and modern because of the graphic black and white print . This is one of my favorite fabrics of all time, and I love how we punched it up with the orange trim.

2. Roman Shades. Oh, how I love a Roman Shade! They’re so handsome and smart looking. Not to mention super functional!

Here’s where a bold, colorful fabric could have been too much if we had used curtain panels on all of the windows. Roman shades were the perfect solution to providing light control over the existing shutters, and their tailored style keeps the bold print in check. I think having a fabric window treatment in this space really helps soften the hard edges of the brick and wood, and they provide a welcome shot of color!

Here’s a sneak peek of a dining room project that’s complete but not yet professionally photographed. Simple linen roman shades with neutral trim play a supporting role to a yet to be revealed superstar design element that is just out of camera range in this shot. Stay tuned to see more of this gorgeous home soon!

Did you know you can combine window treatment styles in the same room? Here we used curtain panels on a traverse rod that spans the entire width of this wall of windows in combination with Roman shades on the French doors. These window treatments share the same fabrics for continuity. I love how crisp these treatments feel.

3. Woven shades. I absolutely adore the texture and casual feel of woven shades. I’ve shown examples of them above layered under drapes, but they’re just as gorgeous on their own, and they lend an easy breezy vibe to a room.

So there you have it! My 3 favorite window treatments that I incorporate time and time again. Usually I like to keep them simple and tailored but have a little fun with fabric selections and trim details.

I’d love to help you find your perfect window treatment style too! Call Kim at 423.653.3186 to set up a consultation.

When Design Styles Collide

When Design styles collide, that’s when the magic happens!

Nothing creates a more interesting, personalized and collected home like mixing Design styles. And I think that very idea intimidates most people. The thought of combining a Colonial dining table with modern chairs just comes with too much margin for error. How do you know which modern chairs will work with your classic dining table? And then what do you do about selecting a rug/light fixture/sideboard/lamps/art/mirror?

I’m not sure mixing design styles is something that can be taught. For me, mixing styles is intuitive - I “just know” what will work!

Take for instance, this Chattanooga client’s living room. We combined these ornate Rococo candle sconces from her collection with a modern drawing that we put in a clean lined glass frame. Opposites truly attract!

In the same room, a collection of “found” vintage pieces and contemporary works of art work perfectly over this modern sofa. Can you feel the client’s personalities here?

Same client, same room - modern print curtains provide the backdrop (and fabulous tension) to the antique armchair we had reupholstered in this yummy blue velvet.

Shall we go on?

In this Chattanooga dining room, we combined traditional French Louis chairs with modern art and a contemporary light fixture. More contrast is provided between the rough texture of the bamboo shades and metallic accents on the slick white and gold lamps. OH, and that’s a vintage carnival glass compote on the contemporary buffet!

Here’s a view into this gorgeous eclectic dining room from the kitchen. Viva the mix!

Here’s a recent dining room project that’s both rustic and refined. Artisan crafted table from hand-hewn planks combines with modern skirted dining chairs. Modern art and chandelier provide contrast to the antique Deco sconces and vintage Turkish rug.

This is where the magic happens!!

Yes, mixing Design styles creates memorable rooms. It also creates timeless rooms. Because so many periods and genres are represented, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly when the room was done. There’s a collected over time feel that will continue to be added to as time marches forward, and each new layer will reveal something more about the people who live there!

So what do you think? Have I convinced you that mixed trumps matched?

If you’re in the Chattanooga area and struggling with creating your own memorable interiors, call Kim at 423.653.3186 to discuss your needs!