Name: Alison
Location: Chicago, IL
Type of Home: Rental Apartment
What inspired you to use color? I don’t so much choose to use color as it just pops up and forces its way into my life over time. There are certain shades—soft mustard yellow, olive green, blacks, grays and white—I tend to gravitate toward in all aspects of my life, be it plants, clothing or décor. By infusing my house with those colors, I can’t help but surround myself with tones I associate with happiness, serenity, relaxation…and ultimately home
Color Tip: If you find yourself drawn to a color or hue over and over, chances are you’re not going to grow sick of it in your home—go for it! If you’re nervous, though, try some neutrals or almost neutrals (toned-down versions of your favorites) and decorate around those colors with more vibrant “pops” of color that can be readjusted or removed easily.
Welcome, everyone, to our Fourth Annual Fall Colors Sharing & Contest. We're looking for the most beautiful & colorful home in the world and sharing all of the great ideas we get with our readers. This year we're amping things up and hoping to do things better than ever. There are two basic phases, the Sharing Phase and the Voting Phase...
1. Sharing Phase - you comment, judges decide
The 40 best, completed entries will be posted on a daily basis for three weeks. You can view them all at anytime via our new, improved contest pages under ALL ENTRIES. During this time your comments are VERY IMPORTANT as our six judges will be choosing 16 finalists from each region based on comments and their own colorful opinion.
2. Voting Phase - you vote til you drop
Starting October 20th, finalist voting will begin on a daily basis through our new bracketed voting system, which will pit our 16 finalists against one another until only one remains. Sound exciting? We hope so.
Best, Maxwell
OK, hand over the cat and nobody gets hurt : )
I love this place - fresh and happy. The bedroom wall colour is fabulous.
view catspajamas's profile
I want to know about the wine rack and book shelves
view LaDonnaNichole's profile
Such lovely colours and a casual, relaxed style.
How oh HOW did you talk your landlord into so many great colours and so many cute wall hangings? My landlord had a fit about my tiny little clock!
view MsUnreliable's profile
Gorgeous!! I love it! The color of your bedroom is pretty similar to ours.
Emily
view Emily Sneds's profile
I LOVE that you've used a range of soft colors, so that the effect is colorfully subtle, or subtly colorful. This home looks so cozy and inviting, and I love all the art -- the what, where, and how of it.
view visualingual's profile
neat fireplace
view mariegael's profile
Very nice, so inviting and livable. Beautiful taste.
My compliments to the cat fo choosing such a lovely abode.
view holland's profile
The combination of slate blue, soft goldenrod and white is gorgeous. Colors I wouldn't have thought to merge, thanks for the introduction!
I have a cat that could be yours' twin - maybe there's some abyssinian or bengal in yours too? He talks enough I wish he would tell me.
view Spacesha's profile
Very nice, very comfortable. This is what Apartment Therapy is all about--good taste on a budget. Nothing is uber expensive here and it mostly works. I have a few quibbles with the amount of artwork in the bathroom--apply the jewelry rule, remove one thing and it would be perfect. A good real world achievable apartment. Nothing ground breaking, but solid, stylish and comfortable. Uses vintage items very well.
view dandy's profile
Your place makes me smile. Very comfortable happy looking place. I could live here :)
view Sylvia K's profile
Gorgeous -just the right amount of adventure and restraint. Please tell us the colours - please, please,please.
view Bo Placebo's profile
I love it! Walks the perfect line between sophisticated and fun. I second the request for paint colors!
view kls's profile
Great place!!! That wine cabinet is awesome!!!
view danze's profile
i want to know about the wine rack too, looks like a great space!
view allijean's profile
one of my favorites so far. Lovely home.
view Nina79's profile
Very nice use of subtle colors and great art on the walls!
view fabframes's profile
Great space.
view EAM's profile
Boring colors in a nice house.
view gail.gaby's profile
Great colors, especially in the bedroom. Please list the colors somewhere.
And who hung your curtains?
jklouisville
view Jim and Kathy's profile
beautiful colors the showcase all your fantastic artwork! nice place!
view Katie H's profile
what are the little pieces on display under your wine rack?
view SheHasMoxie.blogspot.com's profile
Thanks for the great comments (and votes)! Everyone is such a big fan of the wine rack, but I'm sorry to say it was already installed when I moved in. I think my landlords added it when they renovated in 2000, but I'll check with them to see if they remember the source. I agree it's very handy for getting bottles up off the counter.
To answer some other questions, I found the bookcase on Craiglist here in Chicago. A guy in Bridgeport will build them to your specifications and even deliver in the city. Very reasonably priced--I have his e-mail if anyone is interested.
The pieces underneath the wine rack are old doorplates (I think that's what they'd be called) for doorknobs and keys. I picked them up at a garage sale a few years ago, but I've seen non-painted ones at places like Salvage One.
view alisong's profile
I love the bookshelf and the calm content feeling your apartment evokes. Even the cat seems serene! I am totally voting for you! Hope you win!
view sadsweeper's profile
PLEASE tell us your colors, especially the bedroom color. I love it!
view LLS-D's profile
If you ever want to get rid of that little tiger throw pillow, let me know, I'll trade you for something! It's so great. I love your taste.
view squareharbor7238's profile
Colors:
Sunshower, Twin Falls, Alfalfa.
As far as brands go, I really like Glidden for its value and selection.
Ha! I bought that pillow at the Brown Elephant on Milwaukee. It had a tag that said "crazy cat pillow," which I think--at least in part--convinced me to pony up the $5 for it.
view alisong's profile