apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Gorgeous! Love all the colors and the rest of the apartment. I've become obsessed with plants lately and I love all of yours! Although on top of the TV is a little risky, haha!

I love the color in your place--it looks cheery and like it's been put together over time.

I'd love to know where you got the sheer red curtains for the windows in the living room.

it's not my style, but it is fun. it reminds me of how my childhood friend's mom decorated. so, i instantly feel warm & comfortable when looking at it.

I like all the colors used here. Love all your plants too. Nicely done!

Lovely home! I'm glad to see someone else who is as nuts for plants as I am.

cheery and cozy

just adorable! I am totally going to "borrow" that parasol idea....I just adore it!

It's like crazy cat lady edited down to something cool.

Mad respect for just saying screw it to the design police and going with the happy colors you clearly love. This is a house that looks nothing like mine, and I don't even exactly like it, but it convinces me that you are completely fabulous. Well played.

I agree with elvedon. Not exactly my style, but who cares---this place screams moxie. Very warm and eclectic.

it looks so homey :) the queen anne stool seem incongruous with all the bright colors, i think it would look great painted.

Love it, and unlike some of the other commenters, this actually IS totally my style - so if they liked it, you can only imagine how i feel. What a fun, funky, colorful, cheerful, happy home!

lol I love this place. I think the thing that got me was the "I gave myself to Jesus, but now he never calls" picture in the frame. I have the magnet version of that one:)

Beautiful house!

This is a really beautiful and personal home, with lots of style and wonderful color, but I don't think its a particularly sophisticated use of color, as some of the other entrants in this contest are

Definitely not sophisticated: that is a compliment! I love that it looks like a real person did it and not some Project Design reject. I really like the home, it looks happy and cheerful and I would love it if my place looked like that :-)

sorry but ... you. have. too. much. shtuff. ew (too many colors too)

This is my favorite entry so far. Definitely right up my alley!

somewhat quaint. lots of personality. the blue in the livingroom is very atmospheric; i bet it changes hues with the light. like it

I love the colors in this place. It looks like a great place to come home to and relax. I also enjoy the decorative accents.

Love love love it. It has style, comfort and most importantly, character. The 1950's clock, the saddle, the parasols, the turqouise desk-- these elements are clearly not items purchased out of an IKEA catalog... and yet you display them flawlessly.

Kudos to you for entering an apartment into this contest that looks as though a real person actually lives there.

PS. would love to see what ralphemole's digs look like.

I have to agree with the previous post. I best thing about this place is it look like a real person designed it. While it must be nice to live in a world where you can simple purchase your way to a great looking place, most of us do not. This apartment has the look of objects collected over time, and put together in a way that creates an overall feel of comfort. Nice work!

love it. it's like a matisse painting. total eye candy without over doing it. well done. i have worked for an interior design firm and we would totally have used your palette. cute cat too.

I can't believe how beautiful your place is! It looks sophisticated, yet very livable and warm. The natural light enhances the colors so beautifully! It must be great to wake up and live with the exciting visuals around you. Love it much.

I like how you have so many areas with different moods without making it overwhelming or like a rainbow. Nice job!

Looks like a great place to have a party!!

Hi, Michele, what a great job you have done with your apartment. The colors work very well togehter and all your furniture looks great! What I am most impressed with is the fact that you did this by yourself and on a very, very limited budget. Win, place or show, I am very proud! Dad.

Wow, really, really beautifull. I agree with many of the previous comments as well-this place was created by a real person with a budget-not a buy by room designer home. The details are what make it truly inspirational. I would love to see what you could do to my house....

OK Everyone....may I have your attention for a moment?

I've just checked out the "top comments" entries and I'm glad I did. In comparison to what I viewed, Michelle is the winner! Her apartment embodies a wealth of colorful inspiration wrapped in what I consider to be good home design.

A "Calm, healthy, beautiful home" according to Apartment Therapy's mission statement, is what we all strive for. Those qualities are exactly what Michelle's apartment has in abundance. It's artful use of color and well-placed belongings makes it a unique entry in this contest.

Good luck Michelle...you really deserve to win based on your inspiration and motivation to create a truly colorful apartment.

this is by far the best apartement for the dollar! it is so great what she you have done with what you have! the colors are so perfectly put together and your decor is so nicely arranged! YOUR PLACE IS AWESOME I AM ENVIOUS!!!!!

it's getting cold here in the east, this picture makes me want to crawl in, curl up on the couch, and drink some hot cocoa. Love it!

I really feel like this is a comfortable place to be and wish you luck. Your friend "livealoneinpawtucket" is kind of rude though.

Shazzam! This apartment is absolutely gorgeous! It's eclectic, funky and original without feeling overwhelming and cluttered. I adore your bold choice of colors. Very calming and yet at the same time invigorating. You can tell Michelle, that you must be a very confident, energetic and creative gal! I also appreciate how one can get a sense of the entire apartment in these pics, rather than only a few rooms in the other entries. You have splashed the fun and color into every nook and cranny.

While all of the homes shown are very nice... I think the other contestants can start writing their concession speeches.... clearly, we have a winner!

Wow! So many colors and the flow is ultrafragalicious! It looks like a movie should be filmed there. I bet it would radiate on the silver screen in somethin starring Johnny Dep and Rose McGowen. Gotta love how the silky sheer see thru red drapery matches with the chairs(that look like they might rocking chairs) and retro red table with the plants to add a little extra pazzaz. The decore is totaly sui generis. Please let me know if you ever decide to have a yard sale! Definately got my vote. I have never even met you but I can identify with your personallity just by the pictures posted. By far the BEST ENTRY!

This apartment is wonderful! The colors are great and it seems like a real place, comfortable and inviting. Some entries look so sterile, to me this seems like a real home. It's got so many creative elements and a great range of colors. Great job.