The living room is a nice combination of inviting and masculine.

ooo i love how you got the colors working for you, esp in the living room

This is one of those spaces comes "sooooo" close but just missed it. Which is unfortunate, as it has a nice personality and feels live in - in a good way. Much preferably to some of the more sterile, high-luxe entries.

The good stuff: Wonderful color in the bedroom - it may be the lighting, but that green has a nice mid-century palette to it. I'm not usually a fan of short curtains, but these work. Its obviously a tight bedroom, but you make it work. Nice touch with the little flower vase by the books and you can never go wrong with Big Star!

The orange in the kitchen is fun and only painting below the trim was a good choice - keeps the orange from being too overwhelming.

In the living room, the brick and the lighting really warm up the black leather furniture. I often find black leather to be too cold and uber-masculine, but it works here.

The bad: That TV in the middle of everything almost ruins that space. It creates a way awkward separation from the armchairs and creates a not so nice theater seating layout. Everything else works so well, except that. If you got the money, I'd craiglist the thing and the TV stand and buy one of those affordably priced flat screens and mount it on a wall. Or buy a digital projector and just bring out the projector when you need it.

In the kitchen, I'm not digging the wall clock - I don't know if its the color or just that its too small, but it looks lonely up there and totally overwhelmed by the orange. You need something big enough and the right color to balance out the orange.

Overall, good show.

I love the living room! Also, even though I'm not a huge fan of the color orange it's starting to look better and better! I'm soooo glad some of the entries are not scared of using bold colors - sadly I am. :( But not by choice, I'm a renter.

Too bad since paint is about the most inexpensive way to transform a room.

This looks great to me. Stunning colors all around. I have to say that a flat screen/projector would certainly enhance cleaner lines in the living room. Too bad DWR doesn't sell those, so if you win you could get one.

I think that this a instant finalist because it has such strong elements and wonderful potential. I think the winners should be folks who have a little room for improvement. That's what the prize is all about, isn't it?

The entries that look like they're straight from a magazine are already complete and I sense their keepers have the resources to constantly improve them.

I find it interesting that renters are afraid to paint. I'm my previous renting life, I painted every place I lived in -- the only caveat was that I had to return it to the original color before I left (in many cases, just prime it, as the landlord was going to repaint it anyway).

A little bit of extra work, but well worth it. (and the work can be minimized by only painting one accent wall)

Love your small kitchen and every imperfection in its wall. It brings me to a sunny place :) I especially like the tropical plant - I plan to get some plants like it for my new place. (Nice to see someone growing plants inside.) I like the colors and feeling of the place. I'm wondering how you have enough room to open the drawers of the bedroom dresser! Honestly, I think you did the best you could have done with such a small living room.

There's so much to like. Your bedroom's a great color. The curtains are workin'. I like that dresser too.

It seems as if the TV and that painting above it are fighting for attention. Maybe, you should just move the TV into the bedroom. It can sit on that dresser. Oh, wait. On second thought, I don't think it will fit there.

I guess I'll have to agree with Dave and suggest you either get something flatter or get something smaller -- TV-wise.

Tony G.

I don't think the size of the TV is that big a deal, but I get the feeling that the painting is not actually hung and is just propped up on the back of the TV.

You could possibly give the clock in the kitchen more presence by mounting it on something.

Still... your home is very well done.

I really love the orange in the kitchen. And the rest looks great too.
And while I think we could all benefit from a nice flat screen tv, whatta ya gonna do?

@jennifer in sf - I agree, if its outside one's budget, whattya gonna do.

In the alternative, I'd switch the black leather lounger with the TV. Move the TV over into the corner, and move the lounger closer to the other chair. As it is now, whoever sits in either of those chairs, has a big ole TV next to their head - kind interferes with the conversational feng shui.

I find it interesting that renters are afraid to paint.

Having been a landlord and dealt with tenants' notions of an appropriate paint job, I'd never again allow it, and I don't even ask landlords about us painting when we rent (as we do now).

While I totally sympathize with the tastefully domestic people here, landlords are not being arbitrary and cruel in refusing to let temporary residents splash paint around their property.

On the other hand, if you've been allowed to paint in bold colors and done them well, good for you.

it's kitschy but not corny. i am instantly in love.

i think the plant looks weird and out of place.

other than that, i think the place looks fab. is that a Marushka behind the TV?

Where is the kettle on the stovetop from?

Great job on the color choices!

Extra points for Big Star!

The whole place is great, but the bedroom rules. Please, what is that paint colors?