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Name: Kate
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Type of Home: One Bedroom Rental Apartment
Color Inspiration: I have always been inspired by the tried-and-true Swedish decor mantra of bright, crisp white with pops of bright colors. A recent trip to Sweden and tours of my family's homes re-affirmed my love affair for keeping things simple yet interesting...
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Scandinavian White + Bright
Color Inspiration continued:...using small doses of bright colors to warm up a mostly white space. I've always loved bright blue and orange together (so much so that my wedding party wore the colors!), so we chose a bright blue accent wall to set off our white artwork and furniture. Bursts of bright orange and some yellow add warmth and contrast. For a short-term rental and on a limited budget (the dining table and bookshelf are IKEA Craigslist finds!), I'm really happy with how this room came together.
Colors Used: The blue paint on the accent wall is Yosemite Blue by Benjamin Moore. The fabric on the matching two couch pillows is by Amy Butler.
Color Tip: I say go with your favorites. In a place like a living room, however, it's important to keep editing and scaling back so that you're left with just enough color and not overwhelmed. Keeping main furniture pieces like the couch, coffee table, and table white or neutral helps counter the brightness of the colors and gives your eye a chance to rest. If you use colors you love, you can't go wrong with intuition and a critical eye!
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I like it. A little more Ikea than most people would probably like, but I think it comes off quite well. I love the accent wall, it makes me reconsider doing one behind my own couch.
Overall very nice, especially for a short term rental on a budget! I wish my apartment had looked that good (I also lived in Ann Arbor a couple years ago while a student, and also have a name of Kate, lol).
view everythingistaken's profile
I went to the University of Wisconsin-Madison and that set of twin white chairs are practically a symbol of our school! There are 100's of them on our Union Terrace, overlooking Lake Mendota. . .
Where did you get those?
view LydiaKutko's profile
This is homey and cute but also refined. I love the texture combination of the quilt on the leather couch. Some curtains would balance and elevate the room even more (maybe in a rich blue/gray to tie into the accent wall and chair).
view Polpol's profile
Thanks, everybody! @LydiaKutko - I got the chairs as a wedding gift last year from family as both my husband and I went to UW-Madison. =) You can find them on the online Wisconsin shop. They only come in white and red (instead of orange, green, yellow like on the Terrace!) but I love the versatility of the white.
view lakegeneva3's profile
I didn't notice the window before, but I agree curtains would be great. Nothing softens rental vertical blinds better than curtains over the top. I've done that several times in my apartments.
(But seriously, you guys are killing me... I moved from Ann Arbor to Madison last year, two places that are rarely represented on AT, so I'm loving all the similarities. And yes, those chairs are very similar to the terrace off Lake Mendota!)
view everythingistaken's profile
Interesting how the books are arranged by color. This is a wonderful home.
view Usbek de Perse's profile
(yes, curtains... on my list but haven't gotten to that yet!)
view lakegeneva3's profile
not only is it pretty. it's cozy.
view RichardTamayo's profile
Looks great! Everything seems to fit together perfectly, and the terrace chairs are the icing on the cake.
view pearlsgirl415's profile
GORGEOUS! you've got great taste-it's beautiful
view cookingteach's profile
It looks cozy and has nice touches of color for a rental apartment. Cute terrace chairs...they're different from the usual retro metal ones you see.
view verily's profile
Where did you get the white Dala horse?
view aj's profile
I love the white terrace chairs, too! How chic! :)
view kellybking's profile
The orange and white quilt over the sofa arm is sucha nice touch. Where did you find such a fabulous quilt in just the right colors??? ;)
view kellybking's profile
While everyone is asking where you got..the lovely print of the man with the hat on- where did you get this? I am positive that I met the artist at the Chicago Renegade Craft Fair and was about to buy this very print!
view maybeamezzo's profile
maybeamezzo -
I don't know artist's name, but they're on etsy and I've seen some of they're stuff at Urban Outfitters.
view mechelle's profile
also, those chairs are pretty great!
view mechelle's profile
FYI, if you go to the Color Contest Page, it give an Error 404 :(
A2 Representing!!!
view sarrazak's profile
@ aj - the white dala horse was, again, a wedding gift! but i also saw them in sweden at the dala horse factory this summer. i'm sure you can find one online. =)
@maybeamezzo - the artist is ashley g. she has an etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=4187 but this one that's printed on wood i got at urban outfitters here in ann arbor. i love it, too!
view lakegeneva3's profile
so far my fave room for color entries.....
view puttinbuttin's profile
Wow... i love the bookselves. They look great! :)
view msaaf21's profile
what a lovely, cozy, unique living room - its amazing what the right colors can do to warm up a space. nice work, Kate!
view misterBconway's profile
www.union.wisc.edu/terracestore
For the sunburst chairs in red or white. About $265
GO RED!
view mjs7640's profile
love it. love the wall. love those fancy chairs! love it all
view atorrano's profile
Hope you win, Kate!!! :)
view kellybking's profile
I like your sofa
view emal's profile
What a bright and comfortable living space. Very homey.
view ksteiner's profile