apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

The blue is way too overpowering. It's all I see.

Nix on sky blue with any wood except for maybe blonde wood.

Hey Heather - the paragraph under the second picture is leftover from the Craving For Comfort entry.

thanks, tr...and sorry for any confusion! text is fixed now.

I voted no because I don't like the blue with the blonde wood and the black dinning room furniture.

I think the kitchen looks beautiful! It has a warm and welcoming feel.I wish I could visit.

This is all just wrong, wrong, wrong. The blue is way too bright, I would have chosen a darker wood instead of the blond, and the furniture totally lacks any taste or style.

I like it. Its fresh and fun. Love the matadoors!

a less-intense blue would probably work better with this wood. something a bit 'dirtier' to go with the cool steel of the appliances and the ashy-grey in the wood.
Try Benjamin Moore's buxton blue (HC-149) or yarmouth blue (HC-150).

nope. Good start, bold use of colors, but not enough creativity used here. And seriously folks... flash photography is so wrong for anything except crime photos.

Totally unoriginal. The paint is too bright and some of the furniture looks like something from the 1960's. The curtain blends in with the table--and not even hung correctly to boot. Outside some of the pictures on the walls, the whole thing is just totally dreadful and tacky.

I really wish words like "dreadful" would be banished - Hey, someone lives here!

I like your stainless steel and that big urn like thing that you have over the fridge. I am dying to have one of those fridges...some day!

Majie - your room is bold, daring and original. Who else has a matador motif in their kitchen?? I think the aqua color is invigorating and it would put me in a good mood just to walk into this room. I think the black curtains and dining set are hip and cool in a retro kind of way.

Just awful. I would not even put this scheme in a doghouse.

Again, an entry of painted walls. I am thrilled that you painted so boldly, but IMO the contest is looking for more comprehensive approaches to the use of color.

I agree with Maryam. I think if you're going to say something so insulting and unhelpful you should be required to put a link to your own home pictures. I'd love to see how the perfect people live.

More and more this contest is turning me off to Apartment Therapy. I had no idea what a bunch of snobs -- and narrow idea of "style" -- was at work here.

I like the blue. I think it may seem overwhelming because of the accessories in the space...a bigger curtain hung high over the window, some tall and brightly colored vases above the cabinets might help. I just don't think the look has been carried through to finish yet.

The blue IS a bit overwhelming for me... but I think that may be the flash photography? I wonder how the blue reads when you're in the space and the only light are those lovely lamps... I feel as if I don't have enough information to vote!

It's not bad...but I think I would have toned the blue down a bit (it is much too loud) and also would have used different curtains. With those changes, and eliminating the matador pictures, it would look less lowbrow.

I love the colors in this kitchen! Insta-happy is what I feel. The colors are invigorating and the theme is unexpected, yet personal. And the kitchen appliances are modern and striking. The black curtains and dining room set do darken the space and the proportions are not the best. If the owner is open to suggestions I would say go for long, to the floor white linen curtains hung above and outside the window frame to visually enlargen and open up the dining area. I would also replace the current dining set with an all stainless steel table and white oversized slip-covered chairs. And to accentute the matador theme, I would replace the existing light fixtures with over-sized horn chandeliers, preferably in red!

*bonus points for bravery! Not just anyone can pick colors THEY love and go for it!

Ugh. Too trailer parkish. Where did all this come from, Wal-Mart?

I love the bright greeny-blue. Exciting and fun.

Not too excited about the decor, I must say. The colors jump out before the rest of the room does, suggesting they are way too strong. The matador theme clashes with everything else and the dinette set just doesn't work at all. However, I do like the high ceilings and wood floors. Everything else: Change, puhleeeeese!

So what happens? Does everyone huddle together and decide blue and green are the only colors. I mean I like both colors alot but enough. Oh yea and don't get me started on stripes!

I like the blue. It'd be better w/ lighter wood, but that could be a budgetary thing, it's expensive to change out cabinets. I like the black chairs and curtain. I do wish we could see another room though since the two pictures look pretty much alike.

I find this approach fresh and lovely. I think that people need to remember that at the end of each photograph is a person who has chosen those colors for themselves and it is their living space.

It's a risk and it's a start. I'd love to see some red added.

TWO THUMBS UP

YIKES!! The color is way too overwhelming for me and the curtain looks very strange - maybe because it appears to blend into the table? It also looks hung awkwardly - the white window trim is exposed on top but no where else - just looks awkward.

woah, people are harsh!

I love the blue. It's a strangely flattering color for most people, and I bet that makes the kitchen an even more attractive place to hang out it.

The black curtain really doesn't help the rest of the kitchen, though. It becomes the focal point of the room, and detracts from the beautiful colors in the matador poster. If that curtain was replaced with a dark brown curtain, this kitchen would look so much more sophisticated and pulled together. (I think!)

Why can't we make negative comments if we don't like the color or set-up? I would rather be honest, instead of saying something like this,

"I love the blue. It's a strangely flattering color for most people, and I bet that makes the kitchen an even more attractive place to hang out it."

WHAT?

Lets call a spade a spade here folks - Majie made a few mistakes with this room.

This shade of blue is okay--for a dress or a blouse. For walls? A definite no-no. The black curtain also a "don't"--it blends in with the furniture and the white window trim being exposed makes it look cheap and tacky. A lighter curtain that fits properly as well as a different type of dinette set, in addition to toning down the paint, MAY add a bit more elegance, though not much.

And for those whining about negative comments--get over it. How can one learn and improve if people are not honest in their opinions?

Hey Alli,
I called a spade a spade when checking the "no way, jose" box, but don't see the problem in keeping my comments, while honest, more constructive and encouraging.

The cyan color is quite flattering — especially for people like me with pinkish skin tones and blue eyes. It's the combination of the black with the bright blue that makes this kitchen a bit garish. Fixing that may not take this room to the top of the competition, but it will make a perfectly fine kitchen much better.

I am personally not crazy about this color. However, I think if you changed out that big black curtain (and rod!) for something cream with a red print, it could be pretty cool! You need some more red in there to pull off that scheme of the Matador and bull thing you've got going on. Also, as far as the rod goes, hang it over the window trim, not on top of it, and let the drape cascade to the floor. Or go with a Roman shade with an inside mount.

hmmm...I'm intrigued by the toffee coloured wall beyond the kitchen. That aside, I like blue, I like light coloured woods. I like your kitchen. I only wish there was a better lighting set up for the photos. I do believe it would have, as they keep saying here, "popped" a bit better. But kudos to you, and you get a "yay" vote from me.

how many ways is it possible to "not get it"???