Color Inspiration: My grandmother's house, which is a 1970 gem featuring exposed brick and wood, wall-to-wall caramel-colored carpet, orange Formica countertops, and bright custom wallpaper. The painting above the television is by Matte Stephens, whose work has inspired almost every color in my house.
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Color Inspiration continued: Clearly, I'm also obsessed with wood, and I embrace the myriad of shades provided by the pine wall, the trim, the floor, and the furniture. I wouldn't dream of painting any of it. Everything in the room (and the whole house, for that matter) was either gifted or thrifted for $200 or less, so it took a long time to assemble coherently. I sewed the curtains and the chair cushions myself, which may or may not have been a mistake.
Colors Used: The wall color is Deep River by Benjamin Moore (I used their zero-VOC Natura paint, which is awesome). The wood and the sofa provide the deep golden browns, and the flea market finds like the curtains and wall art provide the brighter dose of yellow.
Color Tip: Use color.Not too much. Mostly neutrals. Neutrals don't have to be beige or white; navy blue, gray, pale peach, or natural grasscloth or wood can count as neutrals. I mean, jeans are blue, but we think of them as neutral and can wear almost ay color shirt with them, right?
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Wow, this is how it's done. What an argument for slowly collecting things over time. I love absolutely everything here, including the light. It's rich, layered, and the color hits exactly the note. Beautiful.
Beautiful--real, lived-in, unique, warm, gorgeous wall color.
oh my gosh, I need a weathered Chesterfield! Why oh why did my parents get rid of theirs from when they were living in London in the 60s & 70s.
Absolutely wonderful. You're the first contestant whose photos I want for inspiration file.
Perfection!!!
I was so excited when I thought that was an ombre wall! I guess it's just the shadow. Still a beautiful home.
What a wonderfully cozy room.
Wow.
This is good...
House tour, house tour, house tour...
I'm so impressed with how she took what could of easily been a disaster and made it beautiful.
this house = vintage cabinesque = my heart = i want.... 'nuff said.
that is just not how I picture Venice Ca
I love it all! Do you have a blog? I feel like I have read it before, if you do... but I can't for the life of me remember what its called..
I also like the pops of green. Beautiful! House tour, please!
My favorite so far.
This is one of the best put together rooms I've seen. Bravo! Just love it.
This is definitely my favourite so far. The colour sings.
(and I love wood and natural textures just like you)
Beautifully put together. Bravo!!
It's quite a cosy, lovely place ; )
I completely agree that neutrals are more than beige and grey. Really well done. What a unique and comfortable space!
http://inspiredroomdesign.com
stunning!!
This is a space that can really be lived in. Absolutely beautiful!
Home.
I want this.
I've been keeping an eye on the contest since it began, and this is the only one that has made me want to vote.
Jessica, you're just my style.
House tour, please!
Love to see a house tour that is budget friendly & beautiful. This is real livin'!!
Beautiful balance of warm and cool. The space with the shelving and artwork is nicely done.
AMAZING. love the mix of ecclectic, mid century, and organic.
This place is wonderful--so warm and cozy! I love the wood and the color scheme--brilliant.
I am seriously coveting your gorgeous sofa. The whole place is infused with warmth and personality. Really lovely job.
Sophisticated, livable, and yes, colorful too. Love it :)
these colors are fantastic. the home is beautiful. i could move right in!
So very beautiful!
It's perfect.
Wow, I'm sort of speechless ... thank you all for the comments and the votes! @sholt, I do have a blog, but it's against the rules to post it here :)
One word: WOW!!!!
This place looks stylish without money, just taste. Looks lovely, elegant, and true- not just a scenario for the snapshots.
Wonderful place, but again, this is a "color" Competition!!!!
Slate grey's a "color", and an unusual wall color, to boot. I'd deem this a highly color-saturated room, wouldn't you?
Color doesn't have to be bright & sherbety to qualify.
I like this room-- the word "handsome" comes to mind. Love the battered wood table with the mismatched chairs, and the overhead lamp.
The color looks like a greenish-dark-taupe on my monitor, but every photograph seems to have a slightly different tint to the shade. I adore it, but I've no idea what it is, or which it is! Is it a mostly-greenish slate gray, or a slate gray that's just getting a green hint from my monitor, or is it predominantly blue but greenish thanks to the lighting? Anyone? I just can't put my finger on it... or maybe if we could get a paint brand/number for it?
k02 - it's a bluish slate gray that looks different at different times of day and in different areas of the room, depending on where the light is coming from. There are four skylights in the room, so it's really hard to make it look consistent, but I like that about it. The color is called Deep River by Benjamin Moore.
Oh wow, this is a perfect little bungalow- the pieces work together so incredibly well, and it's lived in without being cluttered, tidy without being overly sanitary. Love it, you have a commendable sense of style. I second the call for a house tour!
This is so unbelievably cool. One of my favorite house tours ever!
Simply: to die for! I have to hand it to you, and I'm in this contest!!!
@TVsJessica: it's the inconsistency that I love... but that also makes it awfully hard to assess from photo monitor, natch. Thanks for color name!
That sofa looks like a larger version of this http://www.lookatmybeautifulsofa.com/2009/10/this-leather-chair-looks-like-pie/.
I like how brusque it is. It's kind of muscle-y, haha.
Vcast - same to you!
I would just like to point out to other fans of this home (of which I am one) that style-wise it is very much in the aesthetic of Marie-Claire Maison. So if you enjoy the look here, you may want to check out that magazine one day. (very inspirational).
Brava, Jessica! Love it.
Not sure why contestants are prohibited from posting their blog name, as one can easily find out by clicking on their profile.
this is the first entry I really wanted to vote.. Well done !!!
i love the colors here - those blue walls are gorgeous, especially with all the different warm wood tones. and the dork in me loves the michael pollan-ish color tip :)
I am sooo stealing your sofa. (Seriously, though- where did you find that??)
i like the apricot drapes. it reminds me of a great duvet i had years ago
Thanks again all :) @Jennifer 42 - I bought the sofa off craigslist for $200 from a Finnish diplomat who was moving back to Europe. He bought it in London some years ago, and noted that "many important people have sat on this couch," but didn't elaborate.
uh, yeah... this place is amazing!! i'm in this contest, too. as soon as i'm knocked out, i'll be rooting for you!!
I too have been watching the contest and have only now been inspired to vote. Beautifully, beautifully done! This is not my style at all but anyone can see that you have wonderful taste. Cheers, and yes, house tour please!
I love this and am pleased to see the high marks for what I think of as ""personality" based decor, rather than "trendy" based decor. Cozy, homey and interesting. Would like to know the stories the couch could tell, (if couches could tell.) All the furnishings look they have tales to tell.
such an intriguing room. you've done a great job here.
wow...although I love the place, I am aghast at the lack of colour...this being a color contest and all...everything is so very subdued that yes, I could see this place pictured in a decor magazine, but cannot thumbs up this for a colour contest.
i love how you've pulled together all the different woods - that's not easy to do!
Such a lovely room. I love the Deep River Grey color in contrast with the wood paneling. You've really achieved a relaxed, warm space thats eclectic and charming and feels "real." I also love the fact that this was your grandmothers home and you did it on a budget! Well done.
http://atalldrink.blogspot.com/
Utterly fabulous.
Thank you :) @talldrink - oops, perhaps I should have phrased it better! My grandmother's house was one of my inspirations for using color. It mixes solids, patterns, bright colors, neutrals, and natural materials in interesting ways and still feels comfortable and lived-in. But I definitely did it on a budget.
i loved your room and the subtleties of the colors. sorry that you didn't make it to the final round.
I absolutely adooore your room! very sad you are not in the finalist!
well done :)
Joined apartment because I was so inspired by your design. I have been searching for a coffee table like yours for years...any suggestions?
sandanista, I searched for years too. I found some in antique stores, but they were too pricey and not the right shape. I found this one at a flea market for $100 or so after a long search ... I guess it takes a lot of patience and luck!
Chesterfield sofa FTW!