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

Weeds in a Vase

Here in the Southeastern United States we have a very prolific weedy shrub that grows everywhere known as Chinese Privet.  Because it invades and chokes out native vegetation, it's known as a nuisance plant.

Here is a healthy stand of Chinese privet in all of its glory in my back yard.  Right now, each plant is producing hundreds of black seeds that will turn into even more Chinese Privet.

After taking another look at the plant, I began to appreciate its arching stems and loads of black berries (even though they appear purplish blue in this image).  So I decided to make lemonade from lemons.  I snapped off a few big branches and brought them into my house to add some height and softness.

Before I brought them inside, I decided to strip away the black berries.  I was afraid as they started to drop they might stain my new carpet.  If I had hardwood or tile flooring in here , I would have left the black berries in place.  

Don't you love finding beauty in unexpected places?

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

Tree of Life

Happy Tuesday, kids! 


Nature provides an endless supply of inspiration for me when designing a space, and trees are a favorite muse!  I blogged here and here about using trees in design, and today I want to share some images that feature the Tree of Life motif.  The Tree of Life design has been around for centuries, and it's meant to portray how all life on earth is connected. Beautiful!

Hope you're finding your inspiration this week!

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

Royal Wedding Inspiration - Trees in Design

Did you get up early on Friday to see Kate and Will tie the knot?  I did - and even though getting up at that hour of the morning was tough, I'm so glad I did!  The whole production was gorgeous and moving - I know I teared up a time or two. It was truly a beautiful and happy day!  One of the things that struck me the most were those stunning potted trees that were placed in Westminster Abby for the wedding ceremony.  I thought they were just perfect -they made such an impact yet they were understated at the same time.  

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Trees as muse - it makes perfect sense.  Trees are sculpture, a symbol of strength, and the inspiration for Joyce Kilmer's "Trees".

Let's explore how trees are relevant in interior design.

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This room is an absolute favorite of mine.  Those trees on the walls are the art - notice how nothing else was placed on the walls?

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Yes, that's a chandelier.

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What do you think of this one?  The homeowner/decorator used a stencil from Victoria Larsen for the tree's silhouette and then added the gold leaves she found at a craft store.

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"I think that I shall never see a poem as lovely as a tree.."  from Joyce Kilmer's  famous poem, "Trees".

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.