Name: Gina and Bradley
Location: Los Angeles , CA
Type: 1-bedroom Los Angeles apartment, rented
Why I use color: We’ve got bold personalities and we LOVE to travel, so bold color suits us & we loved taking the ethnic theme (a spicy mix of Morrocan, Indian and Chinese) and running with it. Well, that and the fact that our schmucky landlord left us with 3 different kinds of white paint on our walls after some repair work was done, so we figured if he was leaving us to repaint the place, we were going to go all out. It’s been great to be able to make the place our own by infusing an otherwise neutral space with color to spare.
2 Good color tips:
1. If you plan on painting your formerly white living room a color called "Atomic Orange", I recommend that a) you really, really take into account the fact that the paint company named the color "ATOMIC ORANGE" (as in - um, yeah - it'll probably be kinda bright) and b. you should work really, really, really hard at prepping your boyfriend-who-has-never-painted-a-room-anything-other-than-white for the fact that his new living room is indeed going to be very, very orange and that it's gonna be oooo-kaaaay. Shhhh. Everything’s gonna be okay…
2. CHECK YOUR FEAR AT THE DOOR and get on board!!! Don’t be afraid of color – For far less than the cost of a transatlantic flight, color can transport you to faraway places with the stroke of a brush. When we’re in our living room, we feel like we’re in the Far East - we actually call the room "Mandarin on Curson" – and our bedroom is as soothing and breezy as a Balinese resort bungalow.
2 Good color resources:
1. We went to the Taschen bookstore clearance sale and bought books with titles like "Living in Morroco" and "Indian Interiors" for inspiration. Travel books are great if you’re going for any kind of ethnic feel.
2. I'm always trolling design blogs looking for new ideas and inspiration - the internet is such a great tool that really opens the world up to you.
And when all else fails, just consult the Crayola 64 (with sharpener, of course.)
This is my favorite one of all! It's beautiful...
They make it look so so easy ... their style, color ideas, and eclectic mix of color, pattern and textures just make we want to come on over and walk through the entire place!! Wonderful & Exciting without being too forward about it all! Great style and taste!
Wanted to peep and mention that it's a rental, hence the Alice in Wonderland kitchen floor. I think we've worked around it quite nicely! that's all. thanks for the nice comments!
I especially like the contrast between the orange and green. It's like being in the middle of a refreshing, exotic cocktail. And the blue window frames? Genius. I am inspired. In fact, I'm going to start reading about painting this weekend. Thanks, inspiration fairies!
oop! one more peep - the window frames aren't blue, they're the same deep burgundy as the rest of the mouldings in the room. Bradley's actually standing over my shoulder going, "Jeez - we may have gone a little out there, but we weren't drunk!"
:)
You can see the color better in the photo of the tv alcove here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/boogieg/sets/72157594342033344/show/
I think it is a wonderful use of space and color. I love the rolling thin table over the bed. What a great idea! The best is the conversion of the closet to the beautful entertainment area.
Beautifully done!
it's beautiful! so warm and inviting. very cozy, yet open. i love it!
Ah, I might be partial but I do like the Moroccan influence. And I have both those books myself;-)
Nice job on the pictures themselves ! I like the orange in the living room best, and cool lighting accents as well. - NICE. Also a shout-out for making the rental your space !
Gosh, I'd never have put those colors together. What a wonderful mix.
Marvelous! The living is room is amazing. That cabinet is amazing. Did you it painted or detail it yourselves?
I've never posted before, I am a new AT'er (becoming quickly addicted), but your beautiful home compelled me to compliment you on your taste and style. I LOVE your living room. And I don't think the Alice & Wonderland floor is so bad...
Sounds like the boldness matches your personality... when given what you started with, this was a beautiful transformation of style and attitude. The only thing missing is the flying carpet... but then again, you two were the genies, creating a magical color palette
Love this!! Best entry by far.
Both these rooms look like pages out of a design magazine!!! I love that they took chances with different color combinations and it turned out brilliantly!!! Two Thumbs Up!!!
The best so far...you guys ROCK!
Warm and inviting....a great example of how a mix of colors can create one overall effect and that small spaces can use color...great job!
Sorry, but don't like this at all. I'm not sure if it's the picture itself but the first photo is dark with what seems like a bunch of color everywhere. The huge mirror only added confusion because I wasn't sure what it was reflecting all I saw was more and more color. Too much color for me. Your style was different and I like that. Good luck to you both and thanks for sharing your home!!
Hmm - Wondering what "huge mirror" you're talking about. I have a feeling you're looking at the doorway into the kitchen.
At least you were polite in your critique - I sincerely appreciated that. :)
Beautiful and so, so serene. The colors are bold but also somehow muted, which is great. I painted my living room "Fireball Orange" and it's a nightmare...I'm having professionals come in about an hour to make it go away. So color is a tricky thing, and you guys nailed it.
And I don't mind the Alice in Wonderland kitchen floor.
Have I seen the Moroccan design pulled off better? Yes. Does that take anything away from this space? No.
I love that you took chances and you were daring with your choices. And though it's not my style, it works. I like the entertainment room MUCH better than the bedroom though. The bedroom kind of falls flat with the contemporary IKEA bed, table and pictures "set up" and then the traditional pillows .. but the first pic makes up for it, in my opinion.
In contention. Good job and thank you for sharing!
Gina & Bradley,
I love the warm rich tones. You guys should do some interior design. It's bold, but coxy. I am impressed.
I mean "COZY!!!"
Ooooh! So cool! I wish they would come do my house!
Wow - that's awesome. The living room looks so warm and inviting which is a nice counterpoint to the more streamlined bedroom (which has such a calm vibe - must be a nice room to wake up in!)
To skillfully combine so many colors and actually have it work?! You nailed the tones, and I think that's so important - you can't just say "Orange goes with blue" - it's got to be the RIGHT orange (is there a lighter color washed over the orange? if so, nice job - it doesn't look dated as so many paint effects can), and the RIGHT blue (I love that cobalt rug!), etc. That living room just looks so warm and inviting. And is that a BED in your living room?! How cool is that? Please let me know when you're having your next party so I can lounge on it with a cocktail in my hand. I can only imagine how gorgeous the place must be at night - I get the feeling that glow above the lamp is only a hint of what happens when night falls. And the lighting in the TV area is so nice with the paint in there - it looks golden. Great use of space - I'm assuming that may have been a closet in a previous life? Nice entry. Best of luck!
Modern lines - yet very warm. Bold colors- yet subtle at the same time. Fabulous design...
I am forwarding to my cousin who graduated from Pratt Design and my niece who lives in Brooklyn. Want them to see what you have done with the colors and textures. I think you two have a future in design. Good luck.
Love the idea of using travel books for inspiration, it adds much more flavor to our modern everything-looks-the-same world. Both rooms have a great balance of colors and elements throughout that really create that feeling of "ahhh, I'm home." Especially the bedroom which has such a light and restful feel to it, and the contrast of the wall colors add just the right touch of spice to make it interesting, yet still restful. Good luck!
I really like the blue window sills with the orange wall. I wanted to do a blue window frame/sill with a yellow wall for my kitchen but realized -- finally -- that THAT particular color combo is forever ruined by IKEA.
Drats. But hey, the orange/blue combo survives and prospers!
I must say, this is a terrific combonation of color, light and textures! The walls create this feeling of warmth, a nice big hug, while the trim has this weightless cooling effect that allows you to take a deep refreshing breath. The television nook is a true delight and the lighting inside is terrific! A futon?! Incredible idea!
And the bedroom? I think its terrific! You are a palm ceiling fan away from your own island get-away. Terrific!
Nice Job Gina. You always have been a talented & creative individual.
Your photos make one feel invited in!
Best regards,
Dick
I am amazed. I can't do this at all and I guess that's why I'm so enamored of others that do it so well and this woman should have a show or something so she can teach people like me. So I guess that means I really like it.
Especially love the bedroom! Great job!
Abosolutely wonderfull. Great Job. Im now inspired to make -over my bedroom
Very Nice! Please come to NY immediately and bring your magic to my little studio.
Gina, Bradley I love the use of warm colors for the space, it adds great dimasion to what seems to be a small space...
I LOVE it. I recently discovered the majic of color in my own home and, like you, it took a while to convince my better half that something other than beige or light grey would be livable. Your apartment reminds me of the Mexican colors and would make me want to come home at night and spend a lot of time there. It shows the bold, inquisitive, adventurous nature that you state you both have. Keep up the great work and...go color.
Wish I could see it in person! Looks fabulous!
Very nice! Not wild about the bedroom, but everything else was very stylish, comfortable and made excellent use of color.
Maybe I just overlooked it, but what did you use for the couch/bed in the living room? did you just cover a mattress or did you build something?
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