Interior designer Sissy Yellen recalls her childhood fondly, especially when she contemplates her bedrooms. “I had big opinions on the matter, even though I never really imagined growing up to furnish homes for other people,” Yellen says. “I had a very playful phase with bold colors in the ’90s — orange and hot pink color-blocking. Then I experimented with a more traditional look with whites, light pinks, sage, and florals. I was so adamant about what I wanted my space to feel like. In my teenage years I even tore up my carpet at one point because I favored the wood floors beneath it.
Today, Yellen runs Sissy Yellen Living from a recently built studio on her 1917 home’s property in Bloomfield Hills. She and her husband, Brandon Yellen, have three daughters (5, 3, and 1). Here, we look at six children’s spaces created by Yellen, including a room in the designer’s own home.
PRETTY IN PINK
Lowdown: Yellen worked on the space for a young girl’s room, in addition to designing a baby brother’s nursery and the living room in this Bloomfield Hills brick Colonial.
Goal: To have the space grow with the young girl into her teenage years. “My goal was for the room to be timeless, with whimsical, luxurious, traditional, and interesting touches,” Yellen says.
Homeowner/child request: “Pink, traditional, timeless,” Yellen says.
Challenges: Not many, aside from COVID-era lead times. “There were also a few damaged items and we waited on a few replacement pieces. The room came together just shortly before the clients’ new baby arrived.”
Designer’s faves: “The wallpaper panels, the unexpected pop of pink on the ceiling, and the monograms.”
A TREAT FOR TWINS
Lowdown: This twin room for school-aged girls in an historical Colonial in Bloomfield Hills is one of several rooms Yellen worked on; others include the living room, master bedroom, and library. “They’re dream clients!” Yellen says.
Homeowner/children’s request: “Must be fun, and must have pink!”
Challenges: Damaged items and COVID-era lead times.
Designer’s faves: “The unexpected color palette that the flame-stitch fabric inspired. I can say I’ve never seen a room with pink, green, and yellow work so beautifully!”
The stepped valance and zig-zag rug are the showstoppers in this baby boy’s nursery in a Birmingham home.
SURPRISE NURSERY
Lowdown: This baby boy’s nursery in a Colonial new-build in Birmingham is one of many spaces Yellen worked on for these clients. The baby’s gender was a complete surprise for the parents. “I was able to install the room and lock the door until the baby was born,” Yellen says.
Goals: “Whimsical, luxurious, cozy. I wanted to introduce a new color palette for a nursery that was still sweet, but cool and different,” Yellen explains.
Homeowners’ request: “Have fun!”
Challenges: “I created the stepped valance to cover the shape of the top of the window, which wasn’t lending itself to the style of the nursery,” the designer says.
Designer’s faves: “The rug is the showstopper. I also love the stepped valance and the pillows.”
GENDER-NEUTRAL WITH BUNNIES
Lowdown: The room shown here is in Yellen’s own home. “It was designed to be a flex-nursery for the many children I would eventually have,” the designer says. “It was to be the space where future clients might ask me, ‘Who designed your nursery?!’ — and the rest is now history. Three babies have occupied the space.”
Goals: “I wanted to take some risks and practice incorporating a design element that I love. There are certain motifs in design that my children’s rooms are known for — including scallops, monograms, contrasting color palettes, pattern-mixing, and material-mixing.”
Challenges: “Keeping it traditional in some senses, but also introducing some contemporary flare. That paid off, as I developed a sense of confidence when it comes to designing spaces for clients with different styles.”
Designer’s faves: “The scalloped drapery, the bold colors, and the wicker accents,” Yellen says.
BABY-GIRL LUXURY
Lowdown: A transitional Colonial in Birmingham now has a beautiful nursery for a baby girl. Yellen also worked on the living room, foyer, and another nursery for a brother.
Goals: “To create an elegant and comfortable nursery that could grow well with the child. I wanted to draw attention to the soaring ceiling and huge picture window. I accomplished this with the wallpaper selection, a huge motorized Roman shade with the most perfect grosgrain trim (it frames the window), and bedside sconces, which are like jewelry for the wall,” Yellen says.
Homeowners’ request: The parents wanted a sweet and timeless space with high-quality materials.
Challenges: Lead times for some of the pieces.
Designer’s faves: “The custom linens, the mixture of velvet and beautiful pink prints, and the custom Sister Parish Teddy bear,” Yellen says.
CONTEMPO-COOL
Lowdown: The homeowners of a transitional Ranch-style home in Bloomfield Hills needed a great space for their new baby girl. Yellen also worked on the home’s foyer.
Goals: “To create a fluid space that felt contemporary but also warm and cohesive in a ‘traditional’ sense. I achieve this by repeating floral motifs, the dusty mauve, gray, and powder blue color palette, and materials like acrylic.”
Homeowners’ request: “Cool, contemporary, and cohesive.”
Challenges: “None!”
Designer’s faves: “The wallpaper, which is locally designed and printed, the funky custom side table, and the oversized light fixture.”
BUYER’S GUIDE
INTERIOR DESIGN
Sissy Yellen Living, Bloomfield Hills, sissyyellen.com
BEDROOM 1
Bed Frame – Custom, AFK Furniture; Fabric, Kravet, Kravet | Lee Jofa | Brunschwig & Fils, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Ceiling Paint – Benjamin Moore, Ballerina Pink Chair – Ballard; Fabric, Kravet, Kravet | Lee Jofa | Brunschwig & Fils, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Chandelier – Visual Comfort, City Lights Detroit, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Curtains – Custom, Decoroom, Michigan Design Center, Troy; Trim, Samuel & Sons, Tennant & Associates, Michigan Design Center, Troy; Fabric, Brunschwig & Fils, Kravet | Lee Jofa | Brunschwig & Fils, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Lamps, Bedside – Zeugma Import
Pillows, Throw – Custom, Schumacher, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Tables, Bedside – Hooker Furniture, CAI Designs, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Vanity, Mirrored – Currey & Company, CAI Designs, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Vase – Fleurdetroit, Bloomfield Hills
Wallpaper – Schumacher, Michigan Design Center, Troy
BEDROOM 2
Armchair – Custom, Ballard, Schumacher, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Artwork – Housewife Essentials, Birmingham
Baskets – Petite Cabane, Birmingham
Bed Frame – Coley Home
Bedside Table – Newport Cottages
Bedspread – Custom, Blue House Monogram
Chair, Patterned – RH (recovered); Fabric, Schumacher, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Curtains – Custom, Decoroom, Michigan Design Center, Troy; Fabric, Schumacher, Michigan Design Center, Troy; Hardware, Brimar
Lamp, Bedside – Robert Abbey
Pillows, Throw – Custom, Schumacher, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Rug – Jill Zarin Home
Stool, End-of-Bed – Custom, Schumacher, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Table, White – RH
BEDROOM 3
Artwork – Client’s Own
Basket, Blocks – Pottery Barn Kids
Basket, Turquoise – Pottery Barn
Crib – Babyletto
Dresser – Newport Cottages
Giraffe – Scout Design Studio
Pillows – Crate & Barrel
Pillows – Custom, Kravet, Kravet | Lee Jofa | Brunschwig & Fils, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Rug – Missoni, Professional Rug Works, Troy
Sofa – Pottery Barn Kids
Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Water’s Edge
BEDROOM 4
Armchair – Custom, AFK Furniture; Trim, Samuel & Sons, Tennant & Associates, Michigan Design Center, Troy; Fabric, Kravet, Kravet | Lee Jofa | Brunschwig & Fils, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Artwork – Mary Maguire
Chairs, Woven – Poppie, Maisonette
Crib – Custom, AFK Furniture; Fabric, Kravet, Kravet | Lee Jofa | Brunschwig & Fils, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Curtains – Custom, Designs Designs, Walled Lake
Flooring – Silver Creek Carpet, Professional Rug Works, Troy
Rug – Organic Weave Shop
Table, Woven (side) – Urban Outfitters
Table, Woven – Poppie, Maisonette
Wall Treatment – Thibaut, Ash Showroom, Bloomfield Hills
BEDROOM 5
Armchair – Pottery Barn Kids
Artwork – Hermes
Blinds – Custom, Decoroom, Michigan Design Center, Troy; Fabric, Schumacher and Kravet, Kravet | Lee Jofa | Brunschwig & Fils, Michigan Design Center, Troy Bookshelves – Custom
Crib – Pottery Barn Kids
Dresser – Made Goods, CAI Designs, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Flooring – Stark Carpet, Troy
Pillows, Throw – Custom, Schumacher, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Sofa – Pottery Barn Kids
Tables, Mini Side – Oomph Home
Wallpaper – Phillips Jeffries, Tennant & Associates, Michigan Design Center, Troy
BEDROOM 6
Artwork – Custom, Unfolding Creative, Ferndale
Blanket, Throw – In2Green
Chandelier – Visual comfort, City Lights Detroit, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Crib – Babyletto
Dresser – Client’s Own
Flooring – Metro Carpet & Floors, Troy
Giraffe – Pottery Barn Kids
Rug – Client’s Own
Table, Side – Gustaf Westman
Vases – Fleurdetroit, Bloomfield Hills
Wallpaper – Housewife Essentials, Birmingham
Text by Megan Swoyer | Photography by Emily Engler
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