Name: Marilyn and Peter (www.f2.cc)
Location: Skokie, Illinois
Type: Ranch home, owned
Go to: Original Entry - Marilyn and Peter's Home Studio Harmony
Marilyn and Peter's favorite OTHER entry:
Fuyuen and Alex's Color Haiku Loft.
Straight away, their design and color sensibilities appealed to us because they are similar to our own tastes. Their use of color and decorating style maintains a delicate balance between the influence of clean, minimal lines with a down-to-earth touch. We believe it would be relaxing and fun to be in a space like this...and it also seems like a great environment for throwing parties.
Slate grey is a fantastic color when used in the right amounts and on specifically chosen walls. Gutsy move to match it with a red like that--it totally works. And all that white in the living area is great for balancing everything out so the grey and red don't get too overbearing in the kitchen area. The expanse of white also reflects the incoming light, brightening the room and opening up the space even more.
Mismatching the chair colors at the dining area, but keeping the same style of chair is a fantastic idea that doesn't make the dining area seem monotonous and staged. We have a sitting area in our living room which is somewhat similar to their approach--a photo is included. But we did the reverse: kept the same color of chairs, yet they're different designs.
We're glad they showed two different photos each having its own lighting scheme. Rooms are often transformed by the available lighting and what one might think is "cold" can actually be very warm and inviting depending on the time of day, which lights are turned on or off, etc.
What do you want to do next in your home, if anything, to improve it?:
Our dining room needs some serious work--a fresh paint job; new lighting; new cabinetry/storage space; and of course, a new table, chairs, and tabletop items like new dishes, silverware, napkins, etc. Fuyuen and Alex's loft really inspired us to get moving on our own dining room redesign. Our dining area is a small room which is overcrowded with large, cumbersome chairs and tables, a hideous hanging lamp, and cabinetry that is old and poorly constructed. It needs streamlining in terms of how things are stored and arranged, because space is limited and we will need to use it as efficiently as possible. It's not as big a job as our studio downstairs, but it's something we've been putting off. Our glass design and art careers have been taking us away from spending very much time at home, although we plan on tackling this project very soon.
- Marilyn & Peter
i love your white objects in those glass cases!
Congrats! This entry is proof that "bold" use of color does not exclude the use of white... very inviting space! Lovely contrasts
I'm not wowed by the color use here, but I do have to say I like your home. I don't usually like the mismatched dining chairs (too Friends for me) but doing four different iconic designs all in white is an interesting idea ... focuses on the shapes more than anything.
The anatomy figure in the bedroom would give me the creeps at night, though!
Where did you get that great bed?
Amber, the bed is the Malm from IKEA.
*ENVIOUS*
your place is beautiful. love the toys and the fact that you DO have a cd collection.
This was one of my favorites in the first go-around. Congrats! I am glad to see you here. The more recent half of the finalists appear to be much more deserving and less controversial in nature. Beautiful space!
Yay! My fav. Good luck!
REALLY???? Where's the color?
I agree.. not a LOT of color - which isnt to say this isnt a gorgeous house. Love the white dining set. So pretty.
Fantastic. So pretty and smooth.
This contest has been very inspiring!
It's like watching amateur apartment porn.
Whew! I was worried that this entry wasn't going to show up in the finals, thinking that all the white scared everyone off!
Next to Brooke's entry this had to be my favorite because it brought together everything I imagine my adult sophisticated dream home would have. I grew up in a white home that felt like museum so that when I finally got out on my own I went the complete opposite direction, but I'd like to see my next place take this approach - letting the accessories give a lot of the punch instead of feeling the need to paint every wall in my home a bright color.
You might not have enough color for others, but you do have a truly gorgeous home and even if you don't win anything you should be proud of that!
wow...droool. This place is amazing. I so adore the daybed every time I visit Modernica - and love how you have paired it with the organic bamboo matt on the wall. And boo-ya to all those who say Ikea doesnt look good!
Hey, white is a color too! It's not about which colors you use, but *how* you use them.
I didn't even recognize this at first, but I still really liked it. I love the Yoshitomo Nara piece sitting under the ball clock.
Very skillful use of colour - this was one of my favourite entries so I'm really glad to see it end up in the finalists. Using white as a backdrop with colourful accents totally works here, largely because of the careful editing, great lighting, and nice mix of textures.
Mary and Ronit wrote:
LOL!!
i LOVE this place.....
This is a nice apartment but does not deserve to be a finalist in a color contest. I'm baffled, when much more worthy and colorful entries were just honorable mentions.
this is a really pretty place, but i prefer my color to punch me in the face. lovely what you've done with the glass display cases though!
It's interesting that the winner of the color contest at APARTMENT therapy is a HOUSE and that the walls are white. I know that color can be on many surfaces but this contest wasn't supposed to be about the prettiest home it was supposed to be about the best use of color. Which isn't to say that these folks don't have a great amount of talent.
im sooooooooo excited that you guys one! you were one of my favorites from the very beginning!
i can never understand why people ask...where is the color??! WHITE IS A COLOR!....soon people will realize that color is color...its all about the presentation of the color....
you guys have a great place!...
congrats!
Hmm, my original comment was deleted, which is odd because after I posted it I know I saw it here and now it's gone...
Oh well, it was just to express how much I enjoyed this particular entry. Your home is quite lovely and I hope that when I become a full fledged grown up my house looks as chic as this.
This is one of my favorites. I see plenty of extremely judicious color choices here. I'm always suprised that people don't consider the use of white (or non-satured colors) a color decision. It's like trying to evaluate the placement of objects without taking into consideration the interplay of positive and negative space.
This is one of my favorites! I see plenty of judicious color choices at play here. I'm always suprised by people thinking white (or non-satured colors) doesn't have anything to do with color. It's like trying to evaluate the placement of objects in a home without taking into account the interplay of positive/negative space.
OOOPS...soooo sorry about the double post guys. I thought that the first post didn't go through. (Briefly wondered if I'd been 'blocked') so i retyped a close version.
Apologies. apologies. apologies.
Congratulations!
I´m happy for you and happy to see one of my favorite entries is the winner :) You really did a great job :)
I didn't even realize it was a house, not an apartment. Love, love, love the place, but...carpetbaggers, anyone?
Next year the contestants really ought to be limited to apartment dwellers.
Yes, where did you get the bamboo behind the sofa and how did you do that? thanks . . .
I LOVE that bed!
Congrats on winning!!
where is that awesome coffee table from?!!!
view j a y . t e e . 's profile