apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I raelly like the main post on the stair rails. Reminds me of a light house. Very different.

Ocean Springs, Missouri?

Maybe Ocean Springs, Mississippi?

Heather:
Thanks! I just fixed the post...

I'm very intrigued by that rug. Love the colors.

argh! again, I don't get all the negativity people. the first picture reaction i has was "too much!" but it isn't. it's actually very skillfully done-- as you can see in that second shot. I guess AT readers really only like contemporary spaces? or has some contestant got all of their friends voting negatively? 'coz that's what the lack of comments is making me think.

Saya, I agree with you - this is skillful. I just voted Insta-finalist because the space, while it has so many elements, is SO visually interesting, unexpected, and beautiful.

I love this because it's unexpected. I am so sick of all the "trendy" chocolates, teals, and reds that people have just cribbed from the West Elm or Pottery Barn catalog. This shows individual personality and style and all pulls together really creatively. It reminds me of a Van Gogh painting.

It's lovely and the rug ties it all together. I think cobalt is supposed to be the next trendy color - this spring.

Wow- beautiful architectural details here. The Post at the end of the hand rail is great.

The colours aren't doing this space justice- they are distracting from it. Which makes me sad- because it looks like a lovely place.

It's just toooo much blue.

I think they should swap photos. The first one looks kind of precious. Even though the second one is the same room--the angle makes all the difference. Suddenly the room became big, bold and interesting. Put the second picture first.

I have to say that in a way I agree with Saya. There's not enough CONSTRUCTIVE criticism posted...often times it's just something nasty. I have to argue though that rather than making the comment about contemporary interiors, many people are losing sight that this is a contest NOT soley about interior decorating but about the USE OF COLOR.

That said, I will post my 2 cents worth...
I think that the rug has wonderful colors in it. I think that it has a great color combination in it.
I do think that there is too much blue in the room. I also think that the different shades of blue don't really work together. I like the small green ottoman which picks up the green in the rug. Maybe the room would work better picking up the colors of the rug a bit more. But all in all, I think that it is a good start.

Brillant use of everything, that blue POPS.

I love it.

Insta-Finalist!! Stunning! I would never have thought such a bold blue would look so good, but it's beautiful, vibrant, fun and sophisticated! I don't think anyone else has used a color like this and it's done to perfection. The other colors in the room are perfect accents as well. Seemingly the blue chairs would blend with the walls, but they actually pop. The purple couch is a nice subtle contrast to the blue, not a loud contrast. But the other chairs and the ottoman lighten up the room. This room is what this contest is all about! Well done!

when i first saw this i thought 'holy sh*t!' that blue is totally neon. i LOVE cobalt blue. and i really like your rug. you've pulled together a great room, but i'm not fond of the purple couch. i think it would be nicer brown

I don't get all the no-ways without explanations. This room is beautiful! The taste might be a bit older for most, more Town&Country than Dwell. I want to have a croissant and tea in this room and look at the water and pretend I'm really reading some fancy novel. Pelicolina - i'm sure you won't take all the no's critically, you have done an amazing job with this room. Insta all the way. Classy, fantastic, unexpected and vibrant. Love the blue on the bottom of the couch and what looks to be a blue/orange painting on the back stairwell wall, tying all the details together.

Daring, but I think there are a lot of incompatible styles here, and it doesn't really pull off the eclectic look. I don't like the way the sofa clashes with the wall.

I agree that the second picture showcases the space much more effectively. But I would add a couple of comments. In my home, we have a small living room. There is one long wall, which connects to the kitchen and an abbreviated wall. Behind it is the foyer, and the short living room wall is perpendicular to a much longer wall. We painted the short wall and the longer foyer wall the same color. It really lenghtened the space. That could have been done here with the stairway, to visually expand the living room. I also think the blue walls took away from the view, but I love the color so much it doesn't bother me. But it doesn't accomplish what you were going for. All in all, though, a beautiful space.

although this is not my favorite entry, i LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this color blue! it is pretty much the exact color i have been looking to paint my room (a blue that is not too green or purple, but rather a dark but vibrant true BLUE!). do you know/remember what paint brand and color it was?

and i also agree with the comment that it is nice to see a "non-trendy" use of color. i think chocolate and aqua are gorgeous together, but come on, i also want to see something new and unexpected!

I agree with kyd that while my taste runs toward the mod, I think this place is really original in the color scheme and eclectic in the furnishings—not trendy. That super saturated cobalt is not a color I've ever really been drawn to either to in home decor or wardrobe, but this is a great use of the color, well complimented by accents throughout the room. AND I agree with KLEM that the 2nd photo really shows a more flattering angle!

I love your shade of blue. Ever since seeing Killing Zoe, I've wished I were bold enough to paint a room this perfectly true blue. However, I do think you come dangerously close to over accessorizing. To me, the blue votives lining the windows and blue candleholders on the coffee table distract from the luscious color of the walls. The same is true of the blue childrens chair though I'm sure this is a functional item in your home. The floor length tan/light brown curtains, however, do a great job of keeping everything elegant.

I think its very whimsical. I would like to have a tea party here! I think it would be totally fitting & look really cool if you covered the chandelier in the 2nd picture with long, whispy peacock feathers.

Thanks everyone for the kind comments.

Amanda, Suzanne, Jane-you all made entering the contest a happy experience.

BC-I'm sure your place is lovely, you should enter it next time.

Kyd-It's really called Benjamin Moore Blue. Really.

I didn't place the photos in any order, maybe the rules should ask for them to be labeled first and second, but thanks all for liking the second shot as well. And I'm not sure how purple clashes with blue, but to each his or her own. The blue is only on these walls and a little bit of another, the rest is open to the yellow entry. In the evening, the walls just disappear and we have a fantastic view of our town's harbor and out to an island, so the blue does exactly what we intended.

adorable.

Beautiful carpet! Where did you find it?

ooh, pretty pretty pretty. good call on the Van Gough comment - it also reminds me of sea glass; I want this house to be on the edge of a cliff, facing a stormy sea (with a widow's walk!).

I'm glad that this entry moves beyond the typical "modern" (read: trendy) colors that have appeared in the majority of the other posts. Sure, those colors are great now, but in ten years (hell, in ten MONTHS) they may look dated. In this home, however, it's clear that the owner has embraced colors that they absolutely love, and how can you not appreciate that?

I love it!

Wonderful room :)

I dont usually comment, but I wanted to say that the Sims 2 has the same exact windows as yours.

I think your windows are breathtaking and I love the lavender of your couch. But your chairs kind of looks a little far away from your coffee table to me. i.e. not sure how this would work for entertaining.

it's like Willy Wonka meets my grandmother's home... a lot of clutter in the one room.

Now all this room needs is the ringmaster, a pair of tigers, and some jugglers. This would work well in a creepy circus themed nightmare, but this is just too frenetic and scrambled for reality.

I voted this a 'no way.' As constructively as possible....I think it's just too much confusion. The blues are too much together. I would say, either lose all the extra blue stuff and stick with a few blue throw pillows on the sofa, or lose the blue on the walls and let the furniture/accessories stand out. This just looks like someone is trying too hard.

I'd like to compliment Pelicolina on accomplishing something unique in this space. It feels solid, traditional, classic, without being dull, fussy, or uptight. For anyone who has ever attempted to do this, it's more difficult than it seems. Anyone can do trendy, or boring traditional, but modern classicism is tricky. But this room looks as if it is hard to photograph, given the height of the space and all those saturated colors. I think if I walked into the room, I would instantly feel both stimulated and comfortable, and that has a lot to do with the volume of the space, the abundant natural light, and the views, as well as the adventurous use of vibrant color.

Well, this has been an interesting experience. I want to thank almost all the commentors for their input. Some of the other entries had very harsh posts, sometimes not having anything to do with the entry! Most of all, it's been fun to see all the great uses of color and style. A few entries have made me want to paint other rooms.

Natashaa, it's a pottery barn rug I bought at their outlet, it has a very William Morris pattern on it.

Maryam, the entertaining I do the most is for kids 4 & under, leaving lots of room for them to tear around! :)

Thanks, ATM, you seem to be able to tell a lot from my small pics, unlike others.

Good luck to all the finalists!