Name: Erin
Location: Chicago
Type: 3 bedroom, owned
Why I use color:"It makes me happy! Each evening when I come home from a long day in the hospital, I sit on my sofa and smile at my orange wall."
#17- Erin's Home of Happiness
2 Good color tips:
"Go for it! If you have an inkling that a given color might brighten your day, give it a try - it's only paint. I've encouraged almost all of my friends to take this leap. If you can't paint your walls, paint your dresser an outrageous color and build a room around that. "
"That said, use restraint. It has taken me some time to learn this - when painting my first apartment out of college I went wild, filled each room with colors that had little to do with one another and had minimal continuity. Gradually I repainted several of those rooms in ways that, looking back on it, toned things down a bit while still being dramatic. When we purchased our condo I consciously tried to tone myself down, choosing more subtle tan-yellows, greys and dark browns for many of the walls and limiting my standard orange to one focal wall. I did, however, let loose a bit in the office/craft room with a deep teal that makes everything else in the room pop! The overall picture is much more mature and restrained while still being fun and colorful."
Favorite type and brand of paint:"Benjamin Moore, specifically purchased from the sometimes helpful people at Sappano's Paint, who also have a great selection of wallpaper!"
Comments (28)
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Just lovely. Way to maintain continuity throughout the house.
view colellis's profile
wow... i love it!
I really like the contrast of wall paper in your diningroom!
view LSVENdesign's profile
Fantastic!!! I think we have a first-place Chicago winner this year! By far, this is the only entry that's really made me go "WOW!" What a great-looking, cozy, charming space. Beautiful!
view Devon's profile
I love the turqouise dresser in the last picture!
view zelda139's profile
Rock star effort!
view Lady J's profile
So cute! The colors really work great together.
view heps's profile
that blue/turqoise wall is awesome!
view suziegoombs's profile
Since 3 of your shots are vignettes, it's hard to get a sense of how the colors work in the whole room. I like what I see, but I'd like to see more.
view sprite's profile
Best of Chicago so far!
view Tiffany's profile
Yay for a successful orange/blue combo!! I love the personality coming through in your photos...and I have to say - if this is you after you toned your colors down... yikes! (in a very good way)
view Modfan's profile
Drool. Voted Instafinalist because I'd love to see more shots of your home!
view mmadden's profile
I love your creative use of color. You are a winner! An admirer in Edwardsville.
view ratasha's profile
one of my top 2 or 3 so far. love the first pic, the colors are great together
view renata's profile
yeah, this is pretty much the best thing I've ever seen. I mean, there are no airplanes drawn on the walls, and no ultimate cluttering of the kitchen. BEST OF CHI-TOWN...HANDS DOWN!
view aleskis's profile
I agree. Best thing I've ever seen. :) Your home is just beautiful.
view Crewgrrl20's profile
What a colorfull and cozy place you have created for your home. LOVE IT!!!
view JHG's profile
LOVE the total, in-your-face boldness of it all!! WONDERFUL!!
view Sleek's profile
Oh wow! That first shot really takes my breath away. Good call on breaking up those two wall colors with a pattern in between.
view Casey Dukes's profile
What a lovely home! This is definitely one of my favorites. I'd love to see more photos. Can you tell me the names of the orange and taupe paint colors? I'm looking at those 2 colors for my place.
view vagabond's profile
love the dining room wallpaper!!!!!...the color combinations in your home are so very nice, warm and peppy.
comment about the contest in general....i would love to see floorplans in all the AT contests....it would help to see how colors flow from one space to another.
view polkadot's profile
This place is awesome!
view orangejuce's profile
GORGEOUS colors, all of them. exceptional!
view olya's profile
Incredible! I wish I could have voted - instafinalist from me!
Wish I could see that wall with the wallpaper up close...I'm not a huge fan of wallpaper but you seemed to make it work very well! Whereabout in Chicago are you?
view BloggingMama's profile
Wow, look at those colors go. Insta-WINNER! This is the epitome of "I've Got Color!"
Great job!!!
view clanalois's profile
Gorgeous pallette. Decorative, but not cluttered. Lovely!
view ina_Cambridge's profile
great apt.
view nicolej's profile
I really like Erin's coffee table? Any thoughts what it is, or where to get one like it? Thanks!
view grosso's profile
This is just lovely. I especially love the shot of your living room and dining room. You've done a very nice job of distributing color and pattern through the space. This looks like a very livable home!
view Kat21's profile