Welcome to Design track mind by Melissa Gulley

I am an interior designer from Newton, MA having a lot of fun writing this blog between client appointments, kid stuff, kid school stuff, dog stuff, husband stuff, husband's company stuff (http://www.fueldog.com/), life stuff, old house stuff, family stuff, extended family stuff and the rest of the detail stuff. I am not a writer (clearly) so please ignore the typo's, spelling mistakes and desperate need for proofreading.

It’s all Greek key to me!

The Greek key pattern (sometimes called meander) made up of repeated vertical and horizontal lines is recognized as a Greek symbol representing infinity and unity.  It is seen as ornamental relief on architecture all over the world.  As a decorative element, you see it used on furniture, accessories, trims, clothing, fabric and endless other items.

The-Greek-Key-Motif, www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MAAs much as I thought the roots of this symbol were Greek- as the name implies - I dug into researching its origin and found roots in many different countries.  I found examples in ancient Egyptian civilization, all over the Mediterranean and in China symbolizing good luck.  In fact, the Greek key pattern has been found by archeologists as a decorative element with dates preceding ancient Greece by thousands of years.  One such find in the Ukraine dates from 18,000- 15,000 BC.  It seems most cultures it adorns have a unique version of its meaning and its origin.  Some believe the pattern derives from the twisting, shifting path of the meandering river of Phrygia in the Mediterranean region of present day Turkey.  Thus my confusion, the deeper my research dug the more opinions I came up with on its origin and meaning.  Suffice to say “I love it” and think the geometric formality of the pattern is amazing in interior design. 

This is what happens to me writing blog posts, I sit down to write a quick post on an idea and hours later I emerge as a haggard research obsessed lunatic who still couldn't find that one last photo (not that I am usually short on photos).  Then I am so (self) abused that I simply cannot sit and write another post for a least a week.  Thus my inability to post frequently enough to keep up with my over achieving blogging group.  I am not worthy!

Here are those big gorgeous Greek key photos you’ve been dying for me to shut up and show you (like where’s waldo- find the Greek key variations in each picture):

greek key twin bedroom, www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA

decor_pad greek key valences, www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA

suzanne_kasler greek key bench, www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA

greek key bed, www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA

david_jimenez greek key pillow on yellow chr, www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA

greek key bedding, www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA

greek key domino, www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA

GREEK_KEY_balcony, www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA

greek_key_dining amanda nesbit, www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA

greek-key-curtain-trim-l, www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA

The house we live in has an interesting past, we are the third owners.  It was built in 1890 by a wood carver, he would carve houses in the area then go travel.  When he ran out of money he would come home and carve parts of this house until his next gig.  My house reads like a bit of a travel log, Ireland here , England there, a little India, and a lot of Greece.  Below please find some photos of molding in my living room, third floor office and play room- my love of Greek key continues!

www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA

Above: (hopefully not too hard to see) is the Greek flower corner block to a doorway and the Greek key ceiling molding in our living room.

www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA

Above: Another Greek flower/sun corner block for a doorway and the Greek key relief running around the room.  This room has vaulted 14ft ceilings and an original Victorian skylight that's 8ft tall x 6ft wide (so much for keeping in the heat).  This skylight has a different Greek key (similar to the living room) running around the glass panels- see below.

www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA

The third floor playroom has the feeling of a church rectory.  It’s the top of the turret and the ceiling is an octagon, the Greek key Below- runs around the room at about 7ft with interesting corner blocks like my office.  I was able to find drapes from Pottery Barn (shush quiet- don’t tell my work room I bought off the shelf drapes) with a Greek key.

www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA

Kitchens With Character

Let’s generalize here for a minute and look back:
In the 1990’s kitchens had honey wood cabinets, full overlay doors, highly speckled – probably green granite, undermount stainless sink, tumbled stone back splash, ceramic 12 x 12 tile floors and black, white or some stainless appliances.
Since the end of the 90’s the HOOD has arrived, the kitchen of the 2000’s have the big mantle hood, white cabinets (inset doors if high end) or painted cream with glazing, stainless commercial looking appliances, Carrara marble or absolute black-honed granite, different color cabinetry for the island- counter top too, porcelain farm sink, subway tile back splash, picture framed tile motif behind range, wood or limestone floor.
How crazy is it that the most expensive room in the house is so easy to date.  I have done kitchens for clients on the cheap for $20,000 and high end kitchens for $300,000.00 and both can just as easily look completely dated in 10 years or less.  I do love a white kitchen (Christopher Peacock and the movie “Something's Gotta Give” have totally changed what kitchens look like) and I must say my heart skips a beat for a custom mahogany kitchen with inset doors.  A French range can stop me in my tracks and make me giddy with happiness.  But these things are obscenely expensive.  I’m also sick of all kitchens looking the same, I need to see some character in future kitchens.  Below I have compiled a group of kitchen photos that are slightly different, it’s not that they don’t have any of the standard things mentioned above but they have a special feeling that makes them unique.  Please note that I am in New England so most kitchens are traditional although I have done and truly LOVE contemporary Kitchens - these photos are not.www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA
www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA
www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA
www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA
www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA
www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA
www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA
www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA
www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA
www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA
www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA
www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA
www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA
www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA
www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA
www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA
www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA


www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA
www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA



www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA
Now let’s talk about things I think are really great and in my world necessary:  Double sinks and double dishwashers- in our family we all cook, my husband is the main chef but I do love to get in there and tinker actually more than tinker, my kids are also cooks in their own right- so double sinks is a must.  For anyone who entertains often the double dishwasher is a great luxury/necessity.  (I have neither)
www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA
My kitchen is not in anyway ideal- we had a week to put together a kitchen to move into the house.  I didn't want to spend much due to only having a week to plan so we went to IKEA for their stainless cabinets.  I thought within a couple years I would redo the kitchen and have something I loved- 4 years later and we have no plans to redo.  The bummer is that not only do kitchens look dated but they also look shop worn so easily (anyone with chipped dented cabinets knows what I mean).  As much as the stainless cabinets I have are cheap and a pain in the butt to clean (finger prints!- think stainless fridge) They are almost indestructible, they don’t dent, chip, crack- if they were hammered stainless so you didn't see the finger prints I would never look back.
www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA
Ok the French stove is something I lust after (sorry honey, you turn 40 and it’s the French range that does it for you!)  But look at the matching cabinets- my heart be still!!!  Indestructible, smudge proof and classically freaking fabulous!  (Although I need to sell my house to afford them)

www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA
I wish I knew who made these stainless cabinets (above)- so classic.
www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA

Great towel bars (below)- check out the French range in the back ground- my heart: thump thump thump!!!
www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA
Things I like:  Pantry's, corner angled drawers, cement- Lava stone and wood counters, accessorizing with paintings- sconces and lamps, wood floors, radiant heat, French ranges, indestructible cabinets, timeless design, inset cabinet doors/drawers, big drawers for lower cabinets- not doors, tons of storage, as few as possible upper cabinets, seeing all food at one glance, seeing all dishes at one glance, Fabric  or bamboo/textured window treatments, Deep window sills for herb gardens, mirrored back splash for pantry’s, Under cabinet lighting, Hanging lights, un-lacquered brass hardware, kitchens to coordinate with the age and architecture of the house, character, personality, quality and the final must: a bar with stools for people to chat while you work.
Things I don’t like:  Open shelves (your dishes are constantly dusty and greasy), cabinets that don’t go to the ceiling (all I can imagine when I see that is dust bunnies the size of golden retrievers and people always try to put stuff up there- think fake ivy from the 1980’s Yuck!), tons of recessed lights- I feel like I have spaceship beams on my head, Tile floors (ice cold and too hard), Clear refrigerators (seriously if your fridge is always that clean and organized- you have too much time on your hands and you need to volunteer or get a job!), dido for clear cabinets unless your dishes are perfectly matched or for glass wear- don’t set your self up for constant maintenance if your not the type.
So what isn't going to date??? that’s the big question!  What’s next in kitchen trends?  I have always been a fan of the eclectic look but I am even sick of that due to companies like restoration Hardware mass producing items that you used to only find at antique shops.  What’s unique and desirable that can’t be mass produced and isn’t obscenely expensive- maybe that’s a whole blog post in it self. Finally, here is my quirky crazy kitchen or at least parts of it and me, photo taken from a photo shoot for Country Home magazine (it’s not usually styled for the country look- usually more eclectic):
www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA
www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA

going postal doing laundry

Doing laundry is like being a mail man, or I’ll say mail person and keep it PC.  The mail just keeps coming everyday, no matter how much you delivered the day before there is more again today.  Even by the time you’ve walked your route and get back to the post office, lo and behold, there’s more already.  I TOTALLY understand how someone goes postal!!!  The laundry just keeps coming every day no matter what - gather it up - wash - dry - fold - sort - put away.  Sometimes I’ll announce to my family that as of this very minute everything we own is clean.  But then someone changes and BAAM it’s over - more laundry to do.  I must admit I have a really crappy laundry room- basement- cement floor- yucky.  This is something I plan to change.  I wanted to show you some dream laundry rooms.  Would laundry be more fun if you did it in one of these rooms?  Probably not but I’m going to believe it would be.

www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA
For me it’s about doing it as fast as possible, so the idea of two washers and two dryers is terrific!
www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA
www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA
www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA
www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA
www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA


www.melissagulley.com , www.designtrackmind.com , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Newton MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Wellesley MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Weston MA , Melissa Gulley Interior Design Boston MA, Melissa Gulley Interior Design Needham MA
I have a friend and wonderful interior designer, Nanette Ambroze Chandler, that keeps a proper hamper in each person's room.  When that hamper starts filling up, she puts just that load in the washer when she gets up in the morning.  Then switches it to the dryer before leaving the house and folds when she gets home.  All the clothes go to only that one person's room, so no sorting.  That person puts away their clothes once a week.  Great idea!

For my clients I traditionally use kitchen cabinets, big sinks (so they can also wash the dog), some closed upper cabinets and some open shelves for easy reaching of the detergent.  I often do a flooring that can get wet, wallpaper and a great roman shade - sometimes a cute chair.  There are some great wallpapers and often matching/coordinating fabrics for laundry rooms- this gives a super cute instant fun touch.  A little kitsch goes well in this room.

Check These Out

And These
Photobucket




Really the wallpaper and fabric don’t even have to do with laundry to give you that more sophisticated, “pssst, I’m secretly doing laundry” effect!