apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Would be nice if we could see the room, not just the artwork.

Come on now, this is ridiuclous.

Is the first photo a picture of your wall? Did you actually paint the wall with vertical stripes (that would be cool) or is it artwork that's hanging on the wall? I can't tell from the photo.

how is this even allowed?

How is this ridiculous? While it's not my colors, I think its ingenious!

The first photo is of the wall in the hall, they said that it was cramped, which would explain why the shot is tight. The second photo is of the art on the opposite wall that inspired the stripes.

I can't believe the negativity on this one.

I've posted several comments on AT about the annoyance of nasty comments and how unnecessary they are. But I'm only human.

Where the hell is the room? And Justin is soooooo right. How is this even allowed? Does this mean I can submit a photo of one of my own paintings and a second of my cat because her colors are similar? Without intending any disrespect, how do we even know this art is in "the room"?

Keith Haring would not be happy.....

Devyn: This is about colors withint the context of a room. These aren't negative comments that are posted. We simply want to see the room. And if its a cramped space, then lets see how color makes it an enjoyable space.

11 people (at this point) voted insta-finalist on two shots of art WITHOUT A ROOM. Yet, a young girl from New Zealand submits her blue bedroom (in her parents house - hence, there are some rules she's living by) and no one votes positively or gives her comments or suggestions.

This is simply a breach of contest rules. We just want to see the room.

While I can't speak for the actual size of the room... Being that it is an entry hall, it could be that the "room" is simply too small to take a decent photo of. OK, So you'll need to use your imagination just a bit here, since you can't see the entire space in a photo.

My entry hall is 3.5 x 4 feet, and I wouldn't be able to show the entire space either. But I could show you a sliver! and it would show about the same amount of space as Cyril and Ginos.

Just because it is a tiny space doesn't mean that it can't be an enjoyable space. Nor does it mean this this isn't a brilliant use of color.

Jackie (the original one) and Devyn:

The rules criteria for this contest are almost nonexistent and therefore wildly open to interpretation. I do wish AT firms them up just a little next year. **hint**

Because unfortunately, most of the more disagreeable "discussions" on these boards come about because of that fact.

AT is looking for the below, according to the official contest page:

"The boldest, coolest, most colorful room along with all the tips and resources we need to get color ourselves."

They do not state that there must be two pictures of the room at different angles, pictures must include furniture, or that both pictures must feature the room and not just a feature of the room, for example. Therefore, those people that vote Insta-finalist! AND those that vote No Way, Jose are truly valid votes based on each one's personal interpretation of that one sentence.

I really like the stripes on the wall. What a great idea to paint stripes the same color as the Keith Haring work. How were the stripes painted? I imagine it was a very exact and time consuming process.

I think it's more enjoyable to take pleasure in other's creativity and not worry so much about contest rules. Rules shmules. I have faith that the best ones that have the most "wows" will win.

Lisa from VA:

As you pointed out: "The boldest, coolest, most colorful room along with all the tips and resources we need to get color ourselves."

I do believe the word ROOM is in this sentence. This is my only picky point. I simply want to see a room, whether it is the hallway, the bathroom, or the closet. I just want to see something that indicates there is an actual ROOM. It doesn't matter whether I like the room, I just want to see it. And I agree that AT needs to firm up the rules a bit.

I happen to like the stripes in this one, and I like Keith Haring. But Keith Haring didn't enter his room because he's dead. And having a Keith Haring isn't what this contest is about. Taking the colors from the Haring and making the stripes is interesting, creative, but I don't see a ROOM in the painting, not even a hint of a hallway. I don't think this belongs in this particular contest. That's it.

Hey guys!
Thanks for all the feedback. First of all, in response to a photo of the room, it is simply not possible. This space in our condo was the most challenging to work with. It's an "L" shaped hallway that measures 34" at its widest spot. I tried to use the photos to show most of the striped wall that took about 3weeks to paint. Each set of stripes had to cure/harden for several days before taping over them to create the next run of stripes. With a tape measure, a laser guide, lots of patience, the project was finally completed. Our entire condo is vibrant and bold in it's use of colors. I used the Keith Haring print that I made myself, to tone down the stripes a little bit. Sadly, I cannot figure a way to show a photo of the entire hallway. Also, sadly,in retrospect, I think I should have shown a photo of another room instead of the Keith Haring wall. I thought the rules wanted us to show 2 photos of one room showing the BOLD use of colors. I think the stripes were a very bold idea. Thankfully it turned out how I inteded it. I hate doing projects that take 3 weeks only to have to admit defeat.I hope we get a chance to show photos of our uses of color in the other rooms of our condo. Good luck everyone!

Gino: The stripes really are wonderful. I simply don't understand this, in your own words, "I hope we get a chance to show photos of our uses of color in the other rooms of our condo....." Well, that chance is this contest. If the stripes are an indication of how you use and interpret color, then surely the rest of the condo is wonderful. You could have shown photos of a part of the condo that could be considered a room. Hopefully, you understand my confusion and that I don't mean any of this in a negative manner. I just wanted to see a room.

And yes, Good luck everyone.

Jackie Original - "A room" might be what is throwing people off. The barely there rules say "a room," and some people take that literally - as in "one room." So, she did a picture of the one room and its inspiration. She couldn't have done 2 of the same hallway, from the sound of it. Makes sense to me.

Others have submitted more than one room - and I have wondered how that squares with the rules but then figured that it's not my contest so "oh well."

Ive commented about people in this contest who submit two photos of exactly the same space, so its only fair that I comment about the stunning lack of judgement in this entry.

The colored stripes are fantastic, well done. Its a great way to push the limits of simply painting. But we could have drawn the connection to Kieth Haring if you had simply told us that. And Jackie (O) makes a valid point - THIS is your chance to show another point in your house. Does this entry get you to the finals? No way Jose'.

this is just a contest, why do some of you people such negative and mean people? do you not have any happiness in your life or what? It's one thing to critique a room and another to bash people. get a grip, you big meanies.

because it's a contest and therefore judging, which involves value statements, that's why not all the comments are 'positive'.
yes, this is a skillful painting of colored stripes, but this could easily be a piece of board, and we wouldn't know the difference. we'd like to see how color was used in the living space, to see how the color was incorporated with the design (not just read about it). it's a contest, so you've got to do your best. if you need to borrow a friend's wide-angle lens to photograph a narrow hall, then that's what you'll have to do, because otherwise, you won't win a contest about using color in your home.

I like the colors. Initially I thought it was a drape, and then I read the description. I think it's a rather good way of using colors.

Kick-A hallway. I'd love to see more of the apartment if it's as bright as that.

Great artwork, but I can't see your place.

OMG, I am in love with those stripes. Now how do I come up with 3 weeks to do it at my place in Morocco. Hmmm...

The stripes are beautiful and skillfully done. I'd love to see more of this apt.

Modfan & Angelune:

Thank you, not for agreeing with me, but for paying attention to the point at hand.

Meanpeoplesuck: No one has said anything mean here. Everyone compliments the stripes. Bashing? And what the hell does "happiness in your life" have to do with freakin stripes?

What sucks is your "name".

I can't erase the last sentence of my previous post, but I do apologize. My stooping to the level I've protested so much is inexcusable; certainly it isn't my normal MO. Regrets.....

Did u steal that painting from an old MTV studio!

Hmmmm....

Hey everyone!
Wow! Lots of comments!Thanks!Don't worry about the negative ones. I view it as constructive criticism. Trust me, if I can live with my partners comments, I can handle the feedback I have gotten on here!
FYI, no Debby! I didn't steal this painting from an MTV studio:)
Its so hard to show what is going on in this space. I guess I should have borrowed someones wideangle lense. But, it would have to be a "Fisheye" lense, and then I couldn't show how razor straight my stripes are! I wish our original entries could include 3 or 4 photos. That would have helped so much!
Last thought, everyones spaces are so unique, cool and personal. We each probably take it very personal when someone comments on a project we were brave enough to show to the public. For those of you that love my stripes, thank you soooo much for the compliments. It makes me feel so proud. For those of you who are a bit frustrated with my entry, sorry. I am too. But, this has been a lot of fun reading and commenting on everyone's personal projects in their homes!

Gino, how can you ignore the negative comments? you're pictures are of pictures in your living space, not your living space. you may as well photograph the photographs sitting in picture frames on your bed side table. this does not show a good use of color, let alone any one.

I have to second all the comments about the rules needing desperately to have been written with more care and less ambiguity. If this contest were just for fun, I think people would be more laid back about it. But with thousands of dollars worth of prizes on the line, people get frustrated and upset, and things escalate from there. (People also don't feel comfortable saying nice things about other people because those people are competing for all that money).

Cyral & Gino--couldn't you have given us a shot of the whole room that the Haring is hanging in? Or is that room as cramped as the hallway?

I think the stripes to complement the Haring are wonderful, but I am voting no way jose for the same reason as other commenters--I don't actually have any idea what your apt looks like except one tiny patch of stripes.

Perhaps a good future project or how-to theme for AT would be:


"How to take high quality photos of interior decor, even in cramped spaces."