This doesn't look like a family room. This looks like a kids room or a dorm room. The use of color here is so immature. Everything looks really cheap and tasteless.

i do love the first pic. that blue with the crispness of the white and lightness of the birchwood is refreshing. even the green not crazy about the art or the orange accents. i do have to agree with liz though that the accents around the room (especially in the bottom pic)looks a little juvenile or walmart ad-ish but seems like it could be an easy fix. all and all i like it but don't LOVE it. good entry.

The beach house color scheme is kind of trite.
Perhaps I just don't respect pastels?
I think that there is a more mature way to convey beach-y - one that doesn't look like a Florida motel.
I am a fan of the rattan chair, though.

Wow. Liz's post is one of the rudest I've ever read. Nothing constructive there at all. It makes me embarrassed for her.

Call me a little kid, then, cause I think this is gorgeous. Not what I'd do in my living room....but who cares? This isn't about me.

I like the pairing or the green wall and the blue ones. I think orange is a really great colour to use as an accent. And it can be easily switched out with another when the occupant feels like a change. I like how disciplined the colour scheme is...there's nothing that doesn't fit.

It's a good entry too. I like how the pictures are presented. I get a great look at this room and how the colour is used.

Are the AT website's colors trite too?

I'm not saying everyone has to love every post, but can we please try and make constructive comments and not hurtful criticisms. This contest is about people sharing the love of their home with others -- let's appreciate that.

sorry--it should read: pairing of the green wall and....

I've really been struck by the rude tone of many commenters during this contest. I say bravo to all those who have entered! Don't let the decor vultures get you down!

I like the cheerfulness of this room. What's wrong with inexpensive, colorful acessories? They can be changed to suit one's mood and budget!

Liz: it's called a budget. Some people use them. Some people also make better use of the English language. i.e. "cheap & tasteless" could also be expressed as "not to my liking" - and be far less rude.

Al & Aja - pay no mind to what mean people say. You wanted a place reminiscent of the coast - this has succeeded. If you wanted a little more pop of color you could paint the shutters on the far windows, or put in some small colorful fabric blinds.

I think I have figured out why some people are so damn rude when commenting on the color entries - they are going to enter and want to scare other people off to increase their chances. Well HA! It isn't working and thankfully we're getting to see some neat interiors.

I like a lot of things about this room. The first picture especially appealed to me. It feels like a comfortable and fun room to relax in - and that's not easy to pull off. Thanks for sharing it and ignore the haters :)

I love the colors in this entry. It reminds me of the freezer pops we used to eat in the summer as kids. It would be hard to be in a bad mood in this room.

P.S. People like Liz don't have the balls to put their place out there for comments.

It's not my style, but even if a beach house color scheme is "trite" who cares? The room looks clean and evokes the feeling they were going for.

I think that changing the artwork in the first picture and adding a few more sophisticated elements would make the room feel more complete, and toning down the color a few notches would make it more serene.

I don't think it's an omfgbbq!!! entry, but sheesh.

I am torn on the "how to be honest with people" argument. I do agree that the paintjob in this place looks like a kids room. I also realize that it takes guts to post a pic of your place. However, any time you put yourself out there, some people are going to criticize in a way that other people might find offensive. I told a poster from the midwest that I hated their paint color and manner of painting. Which is true. Do I need to tell someone in a "nice" way that I find something awful? Or should I be honest?

I don't like the way that these folks decorated their home using color. I think that the accents could have made the space more interesting. I think that darker colored wood and less heavy mis-matched furniture would have been more interesting in this space. I don't like that they chose green and blue in the same pallete in that room. Two different blues or two different greens would have been more interesting. I also think that budget doesn't have to mean that something looks cheap. And I don't think that it is unfair to tell people that their furniture looks cheap.

I have a couch in my home that my cats attacked. I don't get offended when people say "your couch looks bad because your cats have destroyed it." Instead I plan on getting a new couch.

Thank you Sarah and Robin: I've said this in many way before.

It is shocking how rude these comments have been and its increasing. My opinion is that all entrants deserve respect. I thought the purpose of this site was to inform and educate and open everyone to various design possibilities.

It is easy enough to state constructive criticism without being rude.

I am drawn in by the softness of color in the first photo. And maybe this family room is really for a "family" and therefore the style seems appropriate. It is clear thought and time was put into the effort.

The comments to this contest are atypical of what I've come to expect in AT contests, which is insightful, constructive and helpful to all. I'm not getting a lot of tips and techniques from this contest and that's because, for one thing, the commenters seem to have dropped in caliber from design savvy to Trading Spaces wannabes. But I guess that's what happens when you reach a wider audience. Perhaps I should've put this in a more general place.

This space makes me happy.

Regarding this entry, however, I like Al & Aja's use of repetition under the three windows. The first photo is very pleasing to the eye. Even if it was a dorm room, so what? Still eligible to enter. I've seen layouts in sale ads and catalogs that are similar in color, style, and usage. The only thing I would say about this entry is that it looks completely IKEA. Why not mix it up with some personal or vintage objects that complement your color scheme? The pillows are a good start.

I can't for the life of me understand why this room got attacked. I've seen raves during this contest for far, far worse designs. This looks less like a "kid's room" than at least half of the entries in this contest.

The use of color is great. Some of the furniture pieces aren't so hot (especially in the 2nd picture - the 1st pic looks fantastic), but their colors generally work. I don't generally care for rooms covered with heavily-saturated colors, but this one's pretty nice. They've left in enough white and neutral tones to let the room breathe. Nice work.

If that couch is is in the violet family, which is how it appears on my screen, then the decorator is using a tetrad scheme, ie, four equadistant colors on the color wheel. Do you people realize how hard this is to pull off?!? Hats off to anyone who tries. Bold, ambitious entry.

Look, this is a contest. Some people are going to like entries and some aren't. That doesn't mean that folks should be "ripped apart" but if you don't like someone's use of color, is it wrong to say so?

beautiful rooms! very refreshing!
thank you for sharing your home with us.

Laura,
The difference is that there would probably be no debate that a damaged couch doesn't look great, whereas color & furniture choices are a matter of opinion. There is a constructive, mature way to debate and there is a schoolyard, name-calling way to debate. Come to think of it, I guess how we offer critique is also a choice that each of us must make. OK, I'm done now. I've never posted so many comments to one entry before and they weren't even about the content . . .

I think we can be both honest and maintain an air of polite civility when leaving comments. I think there is a misconception that honesty must come wrapped with the barbs of a subjective opinion. Nor should we believe any of our opinions are more important than treating each other with the kindness and respect that we all in turn likely would appreciate ourselves, because when it comes down to it, this is just a contest about someone else's home. I think it speaks greatly of those who can offer constructive and astute criticism without resorting to a mean spirited tone.

it's not wrong to say you don't like someone's use of color. what we're seeing is coments like "cheap and tasteless". there is no need to belittle someone's asthetics.

"And I don't think that it is unfair to tell people that their furniture looks cheap.
I have a couch in my home that my cats attacked. I don't get offended when people say "your couch looks bad because your cats have destroyed it." Instead I plan on getting a new couch."

that isn't cheap, that's used. there's a difference.

jesus, liz, get your head out of your ass.

snide comments like this one are also pretty "cheap and tasteless".

Actually, Trish, my couch is also cheap.

The first pic is great.

But, from the 2nd pic, I don't think the room is really held together by color. Can't quite articulate why I don't think color approach here doesn't quite work (for me)...

Perhaps it is the green wall (a nice color unto itself) sandwiched between two blue walls that makes the place feel disjointed.

While the repetition of 3-cabinets is really nice, I think I would have made them all-white.

The accessories (pillows, vases, etc) really work, though.

i agree with the many people above who think that commenters have gotten a little too rude and a little too non-constructive. when the contest was first announced, i considered submitting an entry. however, after seeing how mean-spirited some of these posts have been, i quickly decided i'd rather continue to pine away for new cb2 furniture than risk having a bunch of awful things said about the ikea furniture that it's already a struggle for us to afford.

I would get a lot more out of this if people would back up their opinions. I want to learn how to use color more wisely. By seeing other people's choices and learning from others what makes them work or not work in a space is an invaluable opportunity. Labeling something "cheap and tasteless" tells me a lot more about the person that wrote it than the entry.

Plus, "no way" votes are supposed to be explained. That helps keep things respectable around here. It also helps those trying to learn.

Ok,

This is my last post on this subject, I promise:

Cheap furniture doesn't have to mean uninteresting furniture or bad colored furniture.

There are plenty of folks in this contest that didn't spend alot of money on their furniture or decorating or color schemes who still managed to make their homes look fantastic. In some cases, their homes look better than the ones posted by folks who clearly spent more cash on their furniture.

One last thing, I love the green chair in the first pic. It's a great piece of furniture that looks good in that room and I bet that it was cheap.

And now, I promise, I'll stop posting in this thread.

I love the first picture! If we were judging on one pic I'd say this was a winner. The second photo shows a room that needs "something" and I'm not quite sure what. I'm thinking of something along the lines of losing the white furniture and having all blue walls. But it may look better in person, and I know that changing furniture is a major expense.

Hi, I like this room a lot. I think it is well thought out and uncoventional. Also, the owners seem youthful to me, but not childlike. I think the problem people have with the second photo is the odd use of symmetry, the green between the two blue walls, the trio of cabinets with the trio of flower pots, the two frames on the side of the window, the centered clock. Then the furniture points towards the right of the pic (where I assume there is a TV). The layout is funny and confusing to me.

I think that there is a difference between comments/opinions which contribute to the blog, and others which are just to insult.

The chair in the first photo is so inviting and that corner looks so refreshing! I think the dark couch is a good use of contrast with the bright colors, especially with the pillows as accents.

The first picture looks fantastic--love the pairing of blue curtain and blue paint and the green chair in front. It's one of my favorite color combos too, and I'm glad the two of you took a chance and tried to make it work. The second picture isn't as flattering to the room, the couch seems too dark and takes my attention away from the other pieces, or is that just the lighting?. Have you two considered throwing a light-colored slipcover over it or did you deliberately want a darker blue?

I really like the patterned pillows on the sofa and the chair; they would look great on my sofa. Overall I think the accessories in this room are quite good.

When I first saw this picture, after looking at and judging the last 15 or so, I was sure this was the winner. I love the blue walls against the orange pillows and green chair. Uplifting. Makes me want to drink relax and drink a cocktail of fresh fruit juice and saki, and eat a yummy salad. Could you tell us the color of the wall? I am not as crazy about the second picture--somehow the space looks bottled up by the greens on either side of the blue. But overall, a wonderful entry, far and above most of the others. I can't fathom the negative comments, except that color choices are highly personal.

I want to dive into the wall and curtain in the first pic!

yes, I agree that there are so many rude folks on this site, and I am seriously embarrassed for them. it reminds me of how insecure teenagers act! Good for you for entering. As long as you are happy and comfortable with the results and it displays your own creativity, that is all that really matters, right?

I like this room, nice job. It feels happy and fun to me and I completely disagree that it looks childish.

I agree that many comments seem completely and uneccessarily rude. What's up with that? Even comments that aren't completely obnoxious (I'm looking at you Liz), still seem pointlessly prescriptive. "You should have done this or that, you hung this too high, painted that the wrong color." Umm, no, they didn't. It's their place, and it's just right for them. You can do it "your way" at your house. I don't see that entering this contest equals asking for detailed design critiques.

I've been thinking this for most of the contest, I'm glad someone else brought it up.

Candice, I (respectfully) disagree with your comment:

"I don't see that entering this contest equals asking for detailed design critiques."

Each entry has a POLLING feature that encourages feedback and allows comments. As a past entrant and non-design professional who is still seeking a sugar-daddy, I enjoy the comments and design suggestions - especially about the rooms that have limitations (budget or design-skills or space challenges).

Reading (constructive) comments has helped me resolve design issues in my own place. Everyone has a response to a space. If the comments were limited to "love it" or "not-for-me", the AT site would have a lot less value for me.

I especially like the first pic. So refreshing.

Re the comments, I have submitted an entry to AT (which has not yet been shown) but now am writing to see if I can have it pulled. I think some people have been very hard core during this contest and honestly, I just don't get it. Everyone who submitted an entry I am sure loves their space. Yes, you don't have to love it, too, and yes, you can provide your opinion constructively but in doing so, there is no reason to make people feel like their place looks likes shit and that their taste sucks.

mayam -- i thought yours was already on

mayam -- you are the resident of geninne's modern mexican abode, are you not?

No actually, I am the resident of the Moroccan ruin - it's a whole genre of its own, I can assure you...

Laura--

re: "I told a poster from the midwest that I hated their paint color and manner of painting. Which is true. Do I need to tell someone in a "nice" way that I find something awful? Or should I be honest?"

Um, if someone used the word "hated" to you about an aspect of your decor you were really proud of, how would it strike you?

And there is no REQUIREMENT that you post anything neagtive, at all. It's a contest. Sometimes, believe it or not, you can just let your vote express your opinion and leave it at that.

I love this space; it is something like what I was hoping to achieve in my own (but somehow yours photographed much better than mine did). Thanks for the inspiration and ideas, and never mind the first comment by the so-called "Liz"...she obviously has no taste or manners.

It's kind of funny that if you post something negative, then a bunch of people jump out and say "Hey, you're not posting right!" It's really pointless. I feel like I've posted this before: Just take the good with the bad and don't worry about it. It all balances out in the end.

I meant to also post about what's actually going on in this room. I like it, but don't love it. Take what's going on in the first picture and do the same in the rest of the room. Easy!

Thank God for thick skin!

Let me start by saying thank you to all for your comments and criticisms(constructive or not).
I knew what I was getting myself into when I entered this contest.
The room in question is my family room and my husband and I planned for it to be a fun & playful space. We are both fairly young 26 & 27 and this is our first home. We did not intend for the room to be formal in any way because we also have formal livingroom. Most of the furniture in here is left over from different rooms in our old apartment and since the furniture is still in good condition there wasn't any sense in replacing it.

Believe me, if you would have seen this room when we bought the house a year ago, you would have a full appreciation of the color.

This is the third time this room has been painted in the year that we have lived here and it's definetly not the last. We love it for now or atleast until we get some cash and some taste ;>)lol

Oh yeah, the sofa is actually charcoal grey.

I was really glad to see this entry. Many people buy from Ikea and cannot afford expensive furniture. What a great job they did pulling it off. I'm seeing a space that looks designed. Very little clutter, carefully chosen accessories, and a color scheme rather than lots of crazy colors just thrown together. I do think having all white cabinets under the windows would provide more balance with the other white elements in the room.

The other thing I love about this entry is that it is a real space. I'd love to live in an incredible loft that has great design already built in, but I don't. It's inspiring to see someone make a room with plain bones look so cheerful and inviting. There are a lot of other entries that attempted to do the same, but ended up looking to me like a mish mash rather than a well put thought out space.

Um, if I hate a regular poster and think he is full of himself should I tell him or just keep it to myself?

I like this entry. I also live in a brick ranch, and there are definitely some challenges to this sort of space, the worst being really low ceilings, and a snese of 'cheapness' that the houses can feel like.

I think that this place is great example of what people on a limtied budget can do, and how color is a great way to change the decor.

I agree there is something missing - I think the floor is what is throwing me off. I can't tell by the pictures but it looks like either vinyl flooring or parquet. To enhance the beachhouse effect, I would consider possibly painting the floor white.

If you think about your room as a bell curve, most of the colors you have here are the middle and high end of the curve. What I might suggest some darket colors - I'd love to see a warm dark chocolate brown on the floor. I think that woul give you a way to really drop out the floor and ground everything, so your furniture and paint colors pop out at the top.

Just a thought. :)

I dunno. When I saw the living room, my reaction was "Wow! People can get a lot out of IKEA furniture!" I think it looks pretty great. I was also struck by how well balanced the furniture arrangement is. I think the room has good flow. I love the swirly toss pillows. Personally, I would have gone with just one wall color, the green, but I think the palette is focused. I think a charcoal gray sofa is a great choice for a lighter gray rug. I've seen a lot of entries that have a lot of colors that just don't gel as a whole, and that isn't a problem with this space.

What I would like to see more of is comments that discuss how well a space embodies Apartment Therapy principles. I'm okay with critical comments as long as they are grounded on some sort of objective criteria. You know, things like flow, balance, color palette, functionality. Words like "cheap," "tasteless" and "immature" are so subjective, they're meaningless as far as critiquing (sp?) goes.

Pasqu--

Sorry you feel that way.

Even MORE sorry you use the word "hate" about a person you've never met, and have no idea what "he's" all about.

I like how white is used here and incorporated into the decor to read as an intentional color, and not an afterthought, or default color.

Wow, what's "imature" is not the colors for this entry but the posters. C'mon guys, grow up. This site get's so dramatic sometimes. It's amusing.

I really like the white furniture and I love your multi colored cushions. I like their paterns. I'm not crazy about the armoires all lined up in front of the windows, but maybe that's the point. I think they might look better if they were seperated. Maybe the 2 white ones stay where they are and move the wood one somewhere else. I might just move the wooden one to another room. When I get bored of my rooms, I switch stuff around and when something no longer looks like it fits, I try and find a spot for it somewhere else in the apartment (as long as it doesn't look ridiculously out of place). I don't LOVE the floor, I think it could look better with some wood flors either white or a lighter shade wood. Floors are expensive to redo though.

Good luck in the contest hun!!

The colors are calming and peaceful. The whole room is so well balanced I feel like 10 minutes in here would be the most relaxing 10 minutes of my day. Nicely done.

Bright and lively! Like it.

I feel like your really on to something here; the palette is right but the assemblage is slightly off. I think the over-reliance on symmetry (the cabinet arrangement by the windows) is a bit visually trying. The colors, though lively and certainly bold, somehow don't come together -- and so what we end up with is a room with many interesting and colorful "moments" but not a cohesive whole. I'm not an expert by any means, but sandwiching an herb green wall between two surf blue walls appears to clash and to fracture the room design rather than pull it together. However, as Patrick noted, you do a nice job of making white/non-color an accent to color; it's usually the other way around, and it's a charming reversal.

The first pic is wonderfully fresh and understated. Second one seems a bit dark though because of the high small windows much like my own... a good trick is painting the area bigger with white and covering with semitransparent curtains starting at the ceiling. It gives the impression of a larger window and lightens the room.