apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

it looks like a comfy elegant room. love it.

i'm dying i love it so! the drama and the use of would-be boring colors in such an exciting way is so well executed, great room!!

the colors. the ceilings. the windows. This is quite possibly my favorite rooms so far. w.o.w.

WOW

oh how I covet your floors.

this is so beautiful it hurts - i am consumed with envy. i thought i got over my victorian phase. no i have not.

This is beautiful! It would be wonderful to see a house tour.

Definitely giving this a thumbs up (also, think inspiration for my bedroom cure project???)

Erin @ SYL: Slipcover Your Life Blog

Beautiful. Love the floors, the color combo, the less than perfect plaster walls....love it all.

This is a lovely room and the color features well but why on earth is it "zen"?

DawnMarie04 - Thank you so much!

The first picture didn't really do it for me, but by the third my breath was utterly taken away. This room is stunning.

I thought this was great the first time I saw it on AT and it's still cool but for reposting you should change things up a bit. :)

Some gutsy combinations here...but somehow, it works!

P.S. The only that doesn't quite do it for me is the IKEA window panels.

A qualified thumbs up. Great floors, pizzaz-ytreatments on the door casings and color palette.

But the overall effect is ruined by those teetering stacks of magazines on the floors and on the "doctor's office" reading rack. This is supposed to be a Zen like bedroom; not a waiting room.

They belie the homeowner's intent to create a sense of tranquility.

Interesting that I used the regular Ralph Lauren "Stone" in my living room and it's a super light gray compared to this!

I love the dramatic colors and lighting. Definitely inspiring!

i've always loved that flower bedding from anthropologie and it's fantastic with houndstooth!

I spent quite some time looking at this room as there are so many little details (the floor, the doors). The use of gold as an accent with the grey brightens the room without detracting from the moody feeling. The trim must have taken forever, but gives it a dressed up feeling, almost like wearing a tuxedo. Great room!

Dying, I'm so jealous! (But curious: where's the houndstooth from?)

Actually, the magazine stacks were one of the first things I noticed, approvingly. Stacks of magazines = real people live here. And, for some of us, magazines can induce zen-like trances! :-)
You've done wonderful things to this wonderful space. Congrats.

This has to be one of the most "real" rooms that still packs a punch. The devil is in the detail on the architecture which lets the real world happen around it (magazines, quirky ornaments etc) and pulls you in to the dramatic scale of the room and I think you got it right! - love the zap of colour with the neutrals and the black and white and confirms firmly in my mind what I am now going to do for the "Cure" in my own bedroom

Wow. thanks islandsavvy.
even if designed & styled professionally, i agree.
isn't that a no-no for AT?
no vote from me.

that's so not cool.

AT does allow "professional spaces", but personally I feel it's like using a cheatsheet on an exam.

Hey thank you bc-rocks.
Still a personal choice whether to vote ya or nay for professionally designed spaces.
Would you vote for Jonathan Adler if he entered a colourful, gorgeous room?
Um no. Not me.
To me, Apartment Therapy reflects the average person who strives to characterize, personify & enrich their space... that's just how I see it.

"my husband and I" or... interior design company achievement?
striking space indeed, but i'd like to know how much the homeowners personalised their *own space* w/o color theory adopting it as their *own project*?

Did this space already win in Small Cool contest 2009?

Nice to see whole home.

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/boston/small-cool-2009/small-cool-2009-colortheorys-victorian-grandness-little-division-02-080867

Ah, jealousy. It makes for snarky comments :) But seriously y'all....the guy is a designer....and colortheory is his company....so this is his house that he designed with his wife.

Ah, so husband is interior design company. Neat.

I don't think it's necessarily jealousy, Kab. It's a very pretty room, but I just get this sort of high school kid coming in to play ball with sixth graders kind of vibe - especially when the space has won before and been featured elsewhere, and the company has another entry. But whatever. If you got it, flaunt it, I guess.

And yes, I acknowledge that it's an awesome room and within the rules :)

An unfair advantage. I'm glad I read the comments before voting.

How unfair! A talented man uses his talent to try to win a competition? This is an outrage! An outrage, I say!

Outrage is a bit of an overstatement, "Kab".
lol
"no accounting for taste" said it:
Professionals playing with novices...
that's just plain unfair.
AT is chock-full of design neophytes trying to make positive changes in their home.
These are professional designers who continue to seek AT recognition... which they have already received.
Enough contests already!

No need to reward them for professional good taste.
They already have that, and they know it.

Kendra & Brad:
How many more Apartment Therapy applaudes do you want/need already?
Yes, it's a nice space.
We, the readers, have acknowledged that by YOU winning the Small Space "little division" Contest back in April of this year!!!
Let someone else take the limelight please.

My God is this a joke? The room is a nightmare. There is nothing zen about the room. The signature wall application looks like a creepy spider looking to invade the poor person that has to sleep on the bed. Ditto for the bed cover. Also what the heck is going on in the corner with all those pots thrown into the corner. The room gives me the creeps big time.......opps I think I see a vampire in the mirror....

Many professional designers have featured their personal spaces on this site - is that now off limits?

Ya but this professional space has already WON the SMALL SPACE CONTEST 2009 here on AT.
Is that really fair? Um... no.
But here again, the Colortheory interior design owner is here again as a contest applicant using his wife, Kendra, to boost his business name or promotions or ego or something.
Outright weird, like this room.
Sorry!

There must be something wrong with me because I don't get it and I see that everyone loves it. I didn't get it when it won the Small Cool contest either, not even in my top 20. To my eyes it's a combination of trend bingo and trying too hard. I don't mean to write this just to make a negative comment - I'm confused because I'm so far opposite this popular aesthetic. Is this the Rate My Space site by any chance?

I think this is a beautiful space! Great job. This contest is about beautiful rooms and this is one of those indeed. Keep it up!

It's very, umm, grey... (esp. after looking at the rest of the appt.). The floors are what makes this room IMO.

Well I don't mean to be completely negative, but talk about desperate for exposure. This is getting to be grossly excessive & redundant!
Kendra & Husband: we have seen enough of this heterogeneous space already here on AT as well as on DesignSponge, DTI, and your very own Colortherapy. It comes across as greedy, sneaky, puffed-up and very close to narcissistic.
Consider withdrawing your vainglorious submission to allow a loyal "East" AT reader/ fledgling DIY non-professional the taking.
Please & thank-you.

For me, it's not professional vs. amateur that bugs, it's that they've already won a previous AT contest. Shouldn't it be in the AT rules that once you win or place, you're done with all future contests?

Oh, there's another thing that bugs. In the Small Cool contest, just like here, their entry just so happens to coincide with a house tour feature on another major blog. Seems like a cheat/workaround to get more photos & visibility.

I always really like this apt every time I see it. But I'd also kinda like to NOT see it for a while... :)

I have to agree with the latest comments. I don't know how "fair" this is or whether that matters at all, but it's certainly tasteless because of the Small Cool Space win just earlier this year.

Love the bold use of pattern of color!

Not so sure the placement of Buddhas at the foot of the bed is respectful. Something to think about.

Love the room, but like a lot of other posters, I'm getting a little bored of seeing this place entered EVERYWHERE!

I don't care about if the room has won an AT contest before, if the owners are professional designers or if the space is posted elsewhere. My first thought was "candles over the bed?" I would be too worried about wax dripping on my head to get into the "zen" feeling" But thats just me.

wasn't the other contest won with the other end of this appartment? I see how people think this is too much of the same, but for AT to barr someone to enter a different room might exclude some genuinely interesting entries.

Also, the competition for me is less about finding the 'winner' than getting exposed to a lot of different designs and ideas - professional and otherwise. I'm new to AT though and had not seen this room before. If someone is obsessed with entering their same stuff over and over, well, to me that just suggests they have nothing better to do - but I'm not offended by it.

The gorgeous features of the moldings and windows (love floor to ceiling windows) are nicely accented with touches of black on the white. Normally, I would think of grey as a dismal color, but is cheery in this room with touches of yellow and black. It's very elegant.

Isn't this a competition about color? And the color scheme is black, white, and grey?

I think the architectural paint treatment conflicts with the organic decor, personally.

Can I have my vote back please?

I am a friend of Kendra and Brad and I have had the pleasure of seeing all of the creative ways they have "dressed up" the already stunning interior of their apartment over the years. It seemed like every time I visited the space there was a new wall color, homemade accent or creative detail added. Although I do not always personally love their choices I have always appreciated their creativity--which I believe was truly a collaboration. As for the fairness of entering a "professional design" in this contest I am confused by the uproar--while this couple may make a buck designing for others, this is their own personal space, a place where they have experimented and created a "professional" showplace and a home full of love and....cats!

ShaSha09... have you not read the comments here?
The general uproar is the fact Colortheory et al have already won an AT contest.. THIS YEAR!!
Entering yet another AT contest under wife's unassuming name is just plain cunning, egocentric and quite frankly unprofessional for a business owner! Is it bragging rights or ego stroke? I just don't get the blatant greed.
Give it up, Kendra & Brad Dufton (aka Colortheory) because we the AT public have already acknowledged your professional (albeit treacherous) designer eye with your hotshot Little Division win this past spring.
Your space has been seen and the consensus has spoken.
Stop the smug. Withdraw entry now. please.

Aaron/ ApartmentTherapy: one more vote to be withdrawn please.
Now that I know the facts, I refuse to "thumbs up" a previously commended space of 2009. It's just not fair to the rest of the entries!

Here's the thing about colorTHEORY.
The company began in January 2009. Prior to
colorTHEORY, our experience has been working in
furniture retail.

Training wise, it's all been on my own.
I unfortunately never graduated from college, in fact I barely attended 2 years and never got as far as taking a true
design course.

Design has just been a passion of mine, for well, I guess my entire life. I study and follow designer's works whom I admire, and interpret their aesthetic to my own.

Basically what I'm trying to say is, is that I'm just one of you guys. Sure maybe I'm a little more into design in sense of taking risks and "going for it", but I feel it's
unfair to be penalized for following your heart.

Although it states more than clear in the rules that ALL previous entries, including Winners and House Tours are allowed to enter this competition, we understand that
it's an over kill.

We're happy to withdraw our entry for the
Color Contest.

thank you Brad. that would be the ethical thing to do.

looks like a bad challenge on an HGTV show. Less is MORE!

Grey... yellow... natural wood floors... ew.

I believe Brad is only NOW considering withdrawing from this contest because there is ZERO chance he, er I mean his wife, will take this thing - AT readers will not allow it!
Brad @ ColorTHEORY: Nice try NOT being honest, conscientious & morally straight-up from the get-go. We appreciate the opportunity to judge YOU & your space (over & over again), but it is time to go.

Tough Love. That's all I have to say.
Lesson to be learned ~ repetition does not work on Apartment Therapy {we are a righteous bunch and have memories like elephants!}
Good luck in other endeavors.

You know, I've been reading AT for at least 3-4 years now, maybe longer, who knows. I don't even enjoy this site any more because of the sanctimonious, biting tone of the commenters. Love the site, hate the comments most of the time.

I like this room. I like it a lot. I was really enjoying it until I started reading all of the comments and it just turned everything sour. Not because I learned that we had seen this house before (I don't care!), but because the comments bullied someone who wasn't breaking any rules into withdrawing their submission. How ridiculous. If you don't like it, DON'T VOTE FOR IT! I'm disgusted. Again.

As for unfairness, etc, etc .. the eligibility guidelines say:

"The room can be designed by a professional, weekend hobbyist or design enthusiast."

and the FAQ says:

"My home was previously featured on Apartment Therapy – am I still eligible to enter the 2009 Room for Color Contest?
Yes, readers previously shared their homes with the community are eligible. "

Brad and Kendra, sorry about the way you've been treated.

P.S. fellow readers, if you're so concerned about repetition, maybe you should find some other site to frequent. Seriously.

THANK YOU RedShoes, for your kind words.
Touching on your point to the Readers who are so concerned about repetition on AT, I ask why aren't your homes in the contest?

Sorry but some of us here find it rude.

yes, if you don't like the entry or the fact that they won the contest earlier this year, just don't vote. no rules were broken here as redshoes points outs. it's okay to question the rules and post your arguments as to why they shouldn't be allowed to enter but to outright demand that someone withdraw when the rules clearly state it's okay for past contestants and professionals to enter is simply being smug. also the tone is simply hateful & petty--esp yours summerlove.

Why is this entry still here? I thought Brad volunteered to remove it?
Look allow me to explain.
To the majority of us, this re-entry looks like gluttonous attempt to take the cake again, and even appears like a stagy business promotions stunt. This home has already won a contest here. Okay, now why steal the thunder from someone else?
This theatrical bedroom could easily have been a HouseCall or something not contest-related as this melodramatic home has been repeated times over here on Apartment-Therapy and elsewhere (no, repetition is not a good thing when it comes to "peacocking" in ego-exuberant design taste *AND* behavior! It's conceited and tacky!)
Quite simply it's pushing the boundaries of self-centeredness. So many other entries deserve the titleshot. Give them the chance.

thank goodness for freedom of speech! we ATers are a passionate bunch! worse than fashion followers!!! LOL. we are all entitled to our opinions and some have spoken more fervently than others (i dont feel hate just peeps standing up for personal values). we are divided. so what? some people are sentimental about their homes obviously like this pro interior designer dude who has won before and shared with other design blogs. its a unique home and worthy of acclaim but i just want to say that i do understand the whole overstated/showoff/kill-the-underdog thingy

and for my next trick...

Are those windows or mirrors on the pocket door? If mirrors, where did you get them?

Wow. The uproar. But just focusing on the room, I do like the grey and yellow combination. Because of the abundance of pattern and "stuff" the design is more baroque than zen (Asian-themed elements don't equal zen). But when it comes down to it, the space is neat because of those gorgeous floors and high ceilings. Kudos for preserving the floor or restoring it, or whatever you did to them. I personally find the decor somewhat gaudy. The room would be gorgeous empty.

love love love the wall paper!!!!

there's not a single sheet of wallpaper in the bedroom, still
thank you for your compliment sarah_stone.

As for all the Haters, who have left me the rudest and most negative comments I have ever read on AT, I'd like you all to know that you've only motivated me more to push the design bar, and hope to make you even more jealous.

I'm out!

To interpret these comments as forms of "jealousy" obviously exemplifies arrogance on your part, Brad.

I think it's marvelous, but I could live without the black inset trim. It makes it a little active for a bedroom in my opinion. A solid trim would have unified it more quietly.