dunbar72's Profile

SO thrilled to see Marmoleum (linoleum) flooring installed and getting amazing comments. Too often, the hideous vinyl flooring a lot of us grew up with in our parents' kitchens is wrongly pegged as "linoleum", giving it a really bad name... Linoleum is a natural product created from linseed, has an amazingly long lifespan, and great for use in high-traffic areas... I worked on the interior design of the renovated Pasadena City Hall and some of the restrooms had the ORIGINAL linoleum that had been installed in the '20s - in amazing shape with the most beautiful patina (we kept them in place)... sorry for the commercial on linoleum, but it's always one of my biggest pet peeves when the product is mis-labeled... all of that to say - GREAT job on this kitchen!!!!!

oh yeah... and TOTALLY agree about Gerard Butler's place!!

I lived in St. Louis for 8 years - ALSO originally because of architecture school at Wash U... and loved every second of living in the CWE!!! I've been in San Francisco for the last 9 years, but would leave tomorrow if all circumstances were right. St. Louis gets a bad rap, but I always tell people they've obviously never been to MY St. Louis.

You already posted a pic of it: The Ace Hotel in Palm Springs is AMAZING! I recently spent a week there and literally didn't leave the grounds. Easy to get in/out of Palm Springs airport (probably easiest from West Coast cities) or a quick drive from L.A.
Highly recommend! (and don't be afraid of the desert heat... The rooms are cool, the patios are covered and the pools are divine!

Hey Chaseygal... I don't think you're WAY off with your selections so far, but I will say that everything seems to be very "safe". I'm craving some contrast... good suggestions about colors so far (paint is CHEAP and easy to re-do if you're not thrilled)

I have both a general recommendation for an approach to design and a specific recommendation for your question re: curtains.

First the specific: consider finding a cool pattern of bed linens in the bargain bin @ Bed, Bath and Beyond or another such store. You might be surprised at what you find there for next to nothing! Buy a rod with matching rings/hooks to clip onto the top of the sheet (spacing them about every 8-9 inches gives a pretty good pleat at the top) The cotton generally hangs very nicely, you can "line" them with a white sheet behind so the sun doesn't fade the color/print. Voila - curtains that you can't find in a Pottery Barn catalog - i.e. your best friend, neighbor or cousin isn't going to end up with the same thing!

Now the general: Just buy whatever you like without concern for whether the color/pattern are going to match or even just blend with the surrounding items. IMHO, a room should represent you. ALL of you. We all have different moods, emotions, likes, dislikes... I'm a big proponent of the thought that any item you like fulfills a need and/or a void in your life. SOMEHOW it will all look good...

linoleum floors... not vinyl, but sheet linoleum... Forbo has some really gorgeous solid colors that would really complement the period of the kitchen and last FOREVER.

Check out Marmoleum "Piano" in the color Evening Meadow. It's a really great soft green with flecks of white and rust... would work really well with the wood cabinets.