Low Cost and Easy Thanksgiving Table Ideas

Even though Thanksgiving is late this year, it seems to me like it came pretty quickly. I'm not hosting our family dinner, but I plan to go to my parents house a few days early to help with preparations and to set the table for our Thanksgiving celebration.  And I'll let you in on a little secret.  I'm not a big holiday decorator. I usually put a few holiday touches in each room, but I don't go to too much trouble.  It has to be easy and it has to be practically free.

Extra points if you can name any of the plant material in the arrangement below. Those big green things that looks like brains are the fruit of an Osage Orange tree.  We used to have one in our back yard and every year it dropped tons of these big green fruits. They provide great color and texture.  The small red berries look like Nandina berries, and we have one of those growing wild in the woods behind my house. Throw them in a big white bowl with pine cones sprinkled on top for a colorful, natural centerpiece.

Source

There is beauty in simplicity.  Behold.

All you would have to do to create the tablescape below is take a walk around your property with some scissors.. And please take note of the simple glass jar as vase.  

I love this idea.  Upside down wine glasses become a fun group of candle holders.  So smart.

It's a Southern thing, ya'all.  Magnolia leaves as chargers.

1. Partially fill a simple glass vessel with water. 2.  Put some fruit in it.  3.  Add a floating candle on top.  4.  Put it on a tray with found sprigs.  Done.  I really have done this one before and it looks great!

And finally, winter fruit in blue and white containers. That's what I'm talking about. 

This is just the beginning. I'm sure you smartypants have some cheap and easy Thanksgiving table ideas.  Share it with me in the comments!

The Green Room Interiors provides Interior Decorating and Design Services 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@gmail.com

Last Minute Gift Ideas

Unbelievably, we're about 9 days out from the big day! Nothing like the countdown sign at the entrance of Wal-mart to light a fire under my procrastinating self.

How is your shopping coming along?  I'm nearly done with mine.  As usual, once I get the majority of my shopping done I feel pretty good about it - and then those last few shopping days creep up on me and I panic!

So, for those of you who are sharing this boat, I give you some last minute gift ideas that are sure to please the most discerning recipient.

First up, we have books! Not only can we enjoy what's inside the pages for a lifetime, they look great on the coffee table. All can most likely be found at your nearest Barnes & Noble.  Here are three at the top of my  list.

2.  Scarfs.  They keep you warm AND they add a pretty shot of color right by your face.  All good!

                                                                             Here

BONUS: For you fashion-challenged readers, I've provided a link that gives you 40 ways to tie a scarf!  You're welcome.

3.  Candles.  Diptyque in particular.  Here's why this is an awesome gift. It's because Diptyque candles are such a luxury item it's hard to justify buying one for yourself.  Getting one as a gift removes the anxiety !

I'd love it if you would share your favorite last minute gift ideas!

Happy shopping!!

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

The Good Kind of Shopping

Hello and happy Monday!  How was your Thanksgiving?  Mine was delicious (thanks Mom!) and I'm happy to say that my now slightly larger backside did not stand in any of those awful Black Friday lines.  I will never understand the excitement some people seem to get from that tradition. That being said, I did manage to make it to a few Antique Malls and actually found some lovely things.  

Like this sweet floral chair.  

It has a great shape -  and that peach and gray floral fabric? It reminds me of my own peach and gray wedding ages ago.

Who doesn't love a gold faux bamboo table?  

Alex Papachristidis hasn't met one he doesn't like (and I say that in the best possible way).

Image Credit

This pair of interracial concrete greyhounds would be wonderful flanking a fireplace (or my front doors).

I'd love to have these, with a side of Zimba.

I haven't personally jumped on this bandwagon, but these lockers look great in orange.

And could be very practical in an office.

That concludes the stuff I didn't buy portion of my little shopping excursion. I'd love to know what you bought over the weekend. And more importantly, are you out of your "yoga" pants yet?

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.

Want to follow my blog and see what's new in my booth?  Like The Green Room Interiors on Facebook!

Weekend Victories

How was your weekend?  I actually got some things done that have been on the back burner for quite a while and even squeezed in a little shopping! 

First up, the thrill of victory!  I finished this antique dresser and plan to bring it over to my booth this week.

For those of you who are wondering, the paint I used is Rustoleum's Oil Based High Gloss in Royal Blue.  Right out of the can.  I'm kind of excited about how it turned out. The original finish on this piece was pretty shot, but the lines were fantastic. Once again, paint is the hero!

I also picked up a small herd of brass deer for my booth.

I have high hopes for them this holiday season.  They would be perfect for holiday tablescapes , on the mantel, or even on a coffee table. 

Oh, and along the thread of the upcoming holidays, I found a set of vintage mint green ornaments.  I think I'm doing green and gold on my tree this year.  Not the 70's kind. 

Speaking of the 70's kind, what do you think of these glasses? I got a set of 6 for my booth, and I think they would be perfect for styling up the bar.

Source: Uploaded by user via Ashley Breckel on Pinterest

And the headliner:

Teenager pried off of sofa to wash the car - for the very first time.  Some of us found it more amusing than others. 

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.

If you stumbled across my blog and would like to follow along, you can like The Green Room Interiors on Facebook!

Happy Mother's Day

Have a wonderful weekend and celebrate the challenges and joys of motherhood!  See you back here Monday!


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

Attention Family Members

I'm sure you're just full of ideas for wonderful gifts to shower upon me this Sunday, but on the off chance that you haven't done your shopping yet, here's a little hint.

And in keeping with the tradition to fulfill your every need and make your life a little easier,  I've provided a link.

Here you go!

Love, 

Your Awesome Mom

p.s.  Let's keep an element of surprise.  Emerald or Citrine?  Your call!

What's on your list?

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

Follow The Green Room Interiors on Facebook! You'll find all of my blog posts, see what's new in my shop, and see my favorite design images!

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Wishing you all of the magic the season has to offer!

I'm taking a blog break until the first of the year.  Can't wait to see you back here in 2012!

Best to you and your family(ies)!

Kim

xxooxoxoxo

Color Coded Christmas

Do you remember when Christmas was usually done in red in green?

Source: everyday-houseblend.blogspot.com via Wanda on Pinterest

Even though we often still think of red and green as the traditional colors of the season, Christmas truly comes in every color!
Have a thing for purple?  

Source: houzz.com via Koshina on Pinterest

Source: 4.bp.blogspot.com via Consuelo on Pinterest

I read somewhere that blue is America's favorite color.  Why not use it at Christmas, too?

Via

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I love the citrus colors Tobi Fairley used on her Christmas tree.  Would you decorate with orange and lime and lemon yellow at Christmas?

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Or what about just black and white?

Via

Via

All great looks, agreed?  I'd love to know your Christmas colors this year!

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

104 Ravioli

Did you have a good weekend?  I went to my parents house in Atlanta this weekend to partake in the annual making of the Christmas ravioli.  I'm half Italian on my mother's side (her folks moved to America from Sicily right after they were married!)  Every year we make homemade ravioli to enjoy for Christmas dinner and it's quite a delicious and fun event.


We start by making our own dough.  There are about 5 different versions of the dough recipe, and this year we used some semolina flour.

My brother Greg, who inherited my Mom's "great cook" gene, is mixing the dough.  Then it is left to rest, kneaded, and rolled out on the pasta machine

The pasta sheets are then topped with this filling of meat, garlic, cheeses and a few ingredients I am not at liberty to reveal.  It's a closely guarded family recipe.  In fact, when my brother broke up with a girlfriend many years ago, the first thing my mom asked was, "Does she know the ravioli recipe?"  Luckily for her, she didn't.

 World's best mom working on a row of the world's best ravioli.

World's best ravioli all cut and sealed.

All ready to go to the freezer where they will wait for Christmas Day.

Now all we had to do was repeat 104 times and we've got enough ravioli to feed about a dozen ravioli-loving relatives.

Too bad we our computers don't have smell-o-vision.

What are your favorite holiday traditions?

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

One More Reason to Give Thanks

Just when I was about to give up all hope that I would ever see a Campaign dresser in this town ...

there it sat out on the sidewalk of my favorite thrift store, with a lovely green "Sale" sticker on it! 

Taking delivery today and adding it to my "Things I'm Thankful For" list.

See you back here Monday, hopefully with another Project Dollhouse update.  The husband has the whole week off and I have a long list for him!

Hope you have a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday!

Paperwhites in the House

Last week I potted up a bunch of paperwhite and amaryllis bulbs to sell in the shop and give as gifts.  Paperwhites are so fragrant and I love the natural element they bring to holiday decorating.


You can find the bulbs at Home Depot, Lowe's or Wal-mart and they usually come boxed with a plastic pot, potting mix and the bulbs.  I usually buy them in the garden center where you can find bags of bulbs. I plant them in vintage containers and use regular old potting soil.

Red Lion Amaryllis in blue & white porcelain pot with Nandina berries

White milk glass container planted with Paperwhites and blue and silver ornaments

Vintage elephant planter with Paperwhites and acorns

Potted bulbs make great hostess or teachers gifts, or keep them for yourself!  They're beautiful when used en masse on a mantel or on your dining table.

Image

Martha Stewart

Christmas bulbs in pots available at Merchants on Main.  607 E. Main St., downtown Chattanooga. Priced from $10 - $32

Have you started your holiday decorating?

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