Name: Joe and Randy
Location: Chicago
Type: 2 bedroom condo, owned
Why we use color: We didn't have a lot of extra cash to buy new furniture and decorations when we moved into our new home. However, we wanted to do something in the first few months that would really spice the place up. The relatively inexpensive answer was colorful paint. We came up with creative ideas for every room, bought the colors we liked, and then rolled up our sleeves and did all the grunt work. In the end it really paid off. We get good feedback on our painting, and our colorful home is always a fun and pleasant place to return to.
2 good color tips:
1. One approach that generally works is to use multiple shades of the same color. This allows you to offer a nice variety of tones, without overdoing it with too many different colors. We used this basic idea for every room in our home.
2. What works for one individual and their unique space might not work for someone else. Think about what kind of colors you want around you everyday. Pay attention to your home's layout and be clever about the way you structure color around it.
2 good color resources:
1. Printed catalogs from your favorite home furnishing stores are truly a great resource. These catalogs offer pages of nice photography with a variety of home layouts and color schemes. Of course, most people don't have homes that look like the pictures in the catalogs. However, it's a good way to get thinking about color ideas.
2. A basic computer graphics editing program can be very helpful.
Create a blank page, and start by adding several large shapes. Try different color combinations to see what you like together. This makes it quick and easy to experiment. If you're doing creative painting, go even further and do a mockup of your walls in the graphics editor. We did this to plan out the more complicated walls in our home.
love, love, love it.
i like the mondrian-y wall.
Yummeh! This is my hands-down favorite. Esp love the funky monochromatic bathroom. You really get the full taste of a color when you see so many shades of it in one space.
That is an amazing wall! This is my favorite so far.
The purple block wall is faboo but it's hard to really see what the green bathroom is all about. Good luck!
What a great idea! I hadn't thought of doing something like this but now I'm thinking "why didn't anyone else??" I'm almost glad you were strapped for cash upon moving in. :)
Love the Mondian wall. The geometry always feels right. It feels luxe and expensive. Kudos. Bravo. Hands down my fave entry.
Oops! Several typos - I meant Mondrian, but I'm sure you know that. :)
absolutely amazing. absolutely love it. brings a whole new dimension to the rooms.
love, love, love this. it's like this contest was made for you - these aren't photographs of expensive peices of furniture, like so many of them are (which i still totally drool over, but that's kind of besides the point), but of amazing and creative uses of color. what a fantastic home to live in!!!
Very well done.
I'm sorry but I don't like it. The space looks very unpleasant to live in.
While I like the look of the wall in the first photo, it's just too dark for me. I would like to see another picture of it with more lighting. The green bathroom looks neat to me, from what I can see.
so much fun! love the purple, Mondrian wall!
I saw this apartment before, so of course the "after" is absolutely fantastic! They created exciting rooms by using paint, geometric designs and imagination. The walls make me smile from the inside. The photo does not give enough credit to the green bathroom - the wall opposite the mirror is a great dimensional treat. And the purple geometry is way too fun.
I love it! The palattes are focused and sophisticated. Your use of pattern is great and offers up great focal points in lieu of other furnishings. I would be smiling all day in this space!
I like it conceptually, but I'm not crazy about the choice of colors.
These two rooms are so wonderful that I had to post (for the first time ever, no less) and kindly request that you share pics of the rest of your rooms. These two are amazing!
so i always wondered, is the bathroom at all indebted to the original ipod shuffle packaging?
Love the Colors, the Designs, and the overall look... Both of You have my Vote...
You both have an amazing sense of style! Love it!
If I wasn't a boring accountant, I would totally copy this!! WOW!! I love it!!
Love the Modrian-inspired design!
Mary
Sorry, I voted No Way. I love the purple wall, and I love how it almost appears to be panels. And I would love to see how it changes with the light. But I can't really see how the color relates to the rest of the place. The photo seems dark, and really only shows a cool wall and a cool lamp.
I love the color selection in the bathroom. Very nice
I couldn't vote for this entry. There is not enough detail on the space. I see a wall, lamp and futon. Just not enough information here...
really poor fotos and dated design.
Thanks for the comments, positive and negative. They've been fun to read! We put a lot of energy into painting our home, so it's exciting to see all of the good feedback. Over an exhausting 3-month period, the two of us painted every wall. We also have a living room with red, a bedroom with blue, and a bathroom with orange. Each is an expression of our style and creativity. Obviously, we like vivid colors! As for the critical comments, we certainly understand that our choice of colors/patterns might not appeal to everyone we strove for a look that would make us happy. Some comments were about the photos, rather than the use of color in our home. Thats kind of besides the point since this is not a photography contest, but perhaps we could improve on our pictures (can be tricky with small rooms though!). Were keeping our finger crossed for the opportunity to take new pictures and share more of our home! Thanks again everyone!
I love the bathroom. Very bright and unique.
Great colors! Looks like a place that would always be exciting to come home to.
Great color! Love the place!
OUTSTANDING, Wish it was my flat!!!
GREAT JOB!!!!!!
Just have to add one comment - this room is NOT PURPLE folks! It's orchid, plum, hot pink - but not a dro of purple - either that or my computer's color sense is waaaay off! Purple has been my favorite color since Kindergarten. If it was truly purple I'd probably go for it whole-heartedly, except that it is quite dark - almost depressing. More light! Adorable light - the piano there makes me think of a piano bar - a place to visit, not live. Futon is out-dated. Guess it is unique tho'. Give you points for that. And if you're happy there - well, that's the point!
Excellent work.
Great color combination. Exciting and welcoming!