Thursday, August 13, 2009

Derek's House

Yesterday, Romaine posted horror photos of how dirty her house is. So I thought, as contrast, I should post some photos of what life is like at MY house.




This is the view into the dining room and kitchen from the living room. In the foreground is my original bar (circa 1960) that I now only use to hold some stemware since it is too small for all the booze I have. I have a full bar in the basement and a separate wine bar in the living room just for wine and champagne. Mike chose all the colors (he likes bold color) and came up with the idea of painting the cabinets and splash wall one color and the rest of the kitchen the same color as the dining room to both distinguish one room from the other and still have nice flow between the two.


This is the living room. When the sun comes through the bay window just right, it makes a nice leaf pattern on the green walls. My grandmother's dying wish was crown molding for this room which I still have not done. The piano was made by the previous owner's grandfather. In the entrance hall beyond is the pine paneling that is the bane of my existence.


The back yard. From the porch you can see the land behind the house and the enclosure around the new patio I built this summer. It's all zipped up to keep the neighbor cats from shedding all over everything in there. I hate them so much. Now one of them is pregnant and likes to sleep inside the tall adirondack table here on the back porch. It better not have its kittens there. I will put them all in my compost barrel at right and turn the crank!

23 comments:

  1. these kittens taste like mulch

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  2. "It better not have it's kittens there. I will put them all in my compost barrel at right and turn the crank!"

    You are so evil! =)

    Nice green interior, love it.

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  3. Hey Derek, love the kitchen colors, looks very cool. I absolutely hate the green in the living room, it matches the grass in your yard, but it's not my house, just giving an opinion...and a dark color like that makes the room feel closed in. Yard looks great...and I'm sure there is some way to make the cat never sleep on the table again (I'm sure you can figure something out). Thanks for sharing your house. Mark-n-LA

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  4. I also don't like the green--it's too green!! It looks like a country club interior or something. You need a color that is more neutral/soothing.

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  5. Love your house. It makes me sad that Romaine's house is so messy -- she should go on the new I'm a Hoarder show on A&E to get some help. :-(

    Do you play Christmas carols on the piano?

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  6. I love your house! Makes me sad that I am not there living with you. And yes, the green on your living room walls ARE TOO DARK!! Kinda makes me wish I was color-blind.

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  7. "It better not have it's kittens there. I will put them all in my compost barrel at right and turn the crank!"

    Not that you'll care but I just thought I'd mention that you just lost a fan.

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  8. If you can't tell I am joking Pagani, then yes, I don't care.

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  9. I think your house looks great... don't listen to the naysayers!

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  10. I like the green Derek, I don't know what these bitches are whining about. If anything I'd even go darker, like a hunter green. And your grandma's right, moulding would look great with that wall. I can just see a gorgeous Christmas tree in front of that window. I'm jealous. I live in a boring white-walled apartment. Kelly in Weho.

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  11. I honestly viewed the pix before reading the text, I intially thought these were Romaine's redemption pix! Your style is very very different than I imagined. It's so warm & homey, I thought your home would be very modern/spartan. But you've done a great job, it's a lovely home. The only thing I'd change is the blue kitchen. I Love your back yard too. Thanks for sharing the pics with us. I can't wait to see Romaine's redemption pix (soon).

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  12. So judging from the pictures I'm going to say you're a Gay Martha Stewart and Martha would be perfectly comfortable going to your house for dinner. I am dead serious here too Derek. I truly think Martha would be delighted looking at it.

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  13. Hi Derek,

    Cool photos. Very spotless place and the yard looks very peaceful and groovy. Thanks for sharing with us!

    Just wondering what the cage is, on the far side of the kitchen. I might be totally wrong, but it looks a bit like a hampster cage.

    Cheerio

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  14. Derek-
    Your pace looks very relaxing. The bold colors look great and pop against the white trim, very refreshing. And for those who say it is too dark, from the looks of it, these rooms get a lot of natural light, and that just intensifies the green. It actually makes me think of a beach house...without having to worry about sand everywhere!

    Eric, I think that is a beverage cart.

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  15. It is, in fact, a beverage cart. Metal frame cart with two glass shelves I bought in LA for almost nothing and then repainted myself ten years ago. It kind of looks like crap up close. Also it is insanely dusty.

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  16. Hey Derek...LOVE the pics...now..I heard it once..but what exact shade of green is that?

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  17. Ah ha! Yes - a beverage cart. Makes more sense than a hampster cage. I've never heard you talk about hampsters, Derek. I'm quite relieved that it is a beverage cart.

    Have a wonderful weekend!

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  18. looks lovely...but never mind that mess behind the curtain (or bedroom door). :)

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  19. Derek,

    I love the green. I came over to my parent's house this morning and my mother painted her very expensive kitchen walls an "Olympic gold" and it is more like an Olympic puke. So the Kelly Green is far superior to whatever else I have seen in the last few days.

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  20. Poor mama kitty! You let her sleep on that table,damn it!

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