apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time


#3 - Alex and Jessica's Bold Bungalow

Name: Alex & Jessica
Location: Venice
Type: 1 Bedroom Rented Bungalow

Why I use color:

I have a very unfair and undeserved bias against white: it’s the color of apartment walls you’re not allowed to paint. The person before you looked at white walls, and so did the person before them. So when we moved into our 580 square foot beach bungalow on a former canal in Venice, we wanted something as unique and bright as the neighborhood itself. The house has an incredible 1960’s aesthetic, so we basically used oversaturated “vintage” colors – avocado green, deep orange, bright yellow - to play up the various wood tones and create visual interest. Everywhere. The colorful furniture and art (like almost all the furniture in the house) was found at thrift stores, flea markets, street corners, parents’ garages, and craigslist. Thanks, Craig!

 
 

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2 Good color tips:
1. Find an artist or a photograph whose colors you really like (I chose Matte Stephens) and create a palette from the piece. If you already like the photograph/sculpture/painting/print, choosing colors from it can make your room a pleasant work of art.

2. Wood has/is color. Please don't paint it.


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Favorite type and brand of paint: I hate to admit going to a big box chain store, but I really like Home Depot's Behr paint. It covers so well for the price, and as you can tell from our thrifty furniture, we don't have a lot of extra money to buy very expensive paint. Plus, I change my mind often and will repaint at least a couple times a year. But if you've got the money, keep it local and go to a small paint store!

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Comments (40)

Is the voting already over for this? What did I miss?

posted by Joan A. on October 3rd 2007 at 10:40am
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Survey is fixed now--vote away!

posted by laure on October 3rd 2007 at 10:49am
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This entry proves that money doesnt matter as long as you've got a clear plan in mind. The conscious decisions to bring out the vintage charm creates a space thats pleasing to the eye - but not a catalogue set piece. Its got color and life and warmth and humanity :-D

posted by Modfan on October 3rd 2007 at 11:01am
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Thanks!

posted by Joan A. on October 3rd 2007 at 11:14am
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I feel a bit inspired to begin tackling flea market & craigs list shopping again after looking at your photos. & I must say the cordinated colors/accessories really make each room special. Love the Minty green bowls in the kitchen.

posted by kariefury on October 3rd 2007 at 11:51am
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simply beautiful... and every corner has a personal touch.. love it..

posted by New York Muhtari on October 3rd 2007 at 11:56am
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it's every color of the rainbow. colors are pretty, but do they all go together? sorry, it makes me dizzy. but that's just my take.

posted by BB on October 3rd 2007 at 12:07pm
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I thought I was over lime green, but your green dining area is fab. I adore your dining chairs and the light fixture.

posted by mmadden on October 3rd 2007 at 12:08pm
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Thanks! I know it's not for everyone, and it's hard to get a sense of how the colors flow from room to room with just these pictures. But it is a fun place to live - we just moved in two months ago and have had a lot of fun thrifting and experimenting with color. No piece of furniture or art - except for the homemade bookshelves - cost more than $50.

posted by no accounting for taste on October 3rd 2007 at 1:29pm
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Please share the color of orange paint from the first photo! And, hm, the red, too. And perhaps the lime green from the dining area...

posted by ricestein on October 3rd 2007 at 1:58pm
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Glad to have seen this. I am no longer tempted to paint my dining room walls lime green. Still, I wonder if the photographs are a tad over-exposed and that's what's causing me problems? I'm glad you like it though. That's all that matters, in the end.

posted by Alana in Canada on October 3rd 2007 at 2:04pm
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The orange and red are the same color, just different light - Fire Island by Behr. The green was a custom mixture I got by mixing an unnecessarily bright green and some leftover olive-y brown. And yes, it took me a long time to get used to the green - it was not my first choice, but I relented since I picked every other color. It's growing on me, and the more things I put on the walls, the better I like it. And although the photos are pretty saturated, it's actually an accurate representation of the actual color in the daytime. It mellows out at night and becomes more avocado than lime.

posted by no accounting for taste on October 3rd 2007 at 2:48pm
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wow!

i generally dont like super bold colors, but you've done a fabulous job. how lucky you are to have those window boxes and that rad pine (?) wall...
voting finalist!!

posted by my little apartment on October 3rd 2007 at 3:14pm
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Thank you, goodnightdean! The windows and the pine wall sold me on the place instantly - it's rare to find so much wood that hasn't been painted. It also has 14 foot vaulted ceilings, exposed wood beams, and five skylights. That didn't hurt either.

posted by no accounting for taste on October 3rd 2007 at 4:05pm
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I tried a green like that but yours is better! What brand/color is it?

Thanks!

posted by jlk on October 3rd 2007 at 6:59pm
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L-O-V-E it!

posted by olga on October 3rd 2007 at 7:44pm
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cheerful and personal -- love the first picture, btw

posted by JonathanB on October 3rd 2007 at 8:15pm
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Thanks! For the green, I started out with Behr's Rolling Hills, and that was way too bright, so I added some of their "Restful" left by the previous tenants and made my own color and had the local store match it. I couldn't find a chip at the local store or at home depot that came close to the final product - they were all too over or undersaturated.

posted by no accounting for taste on October 3rd 2007 at 8:50pm
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before i saw the city name, i thought to myself, "this is so venice." which is, of course, a very good thing. (i'm wannabe venice- mar vista)

posted by greengelato on October 3rd 2007 at 9:37pm
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Next time, remove the cats from the kitchen counters. Not a big fan of pets walking where I prepare food. Couldn't get past that photo. And the photography looks dated, like these came out of an old magazine. Still, great bold colors and kudos for people who still use lime green!

posted by colormyworld on October 3rd 2007 at 11:00pm
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What color in the bathroom, please? I really like it!

posted by sarahduckie on October 4th 2007 at 4:30am
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I second props on the bathroom color! Love it!

posted by lesterhead on October 4th 2007 at 6:24am
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Funny about the cats - we also have two dogs and they're such a part of our lives that it would never occur to me to stage a photo and make sure there are no animals in it. I never even thought about it, sorry. And I'll take the comment about the old magazine photo as a compliment. It's a style I prefer and was intentional. Clearly I don't spend a lot of time looking at Elle Decor.

Anyway, thanks :) The bathroom color in the picture is Behr's Reef Green. It's the darkest color on that card, but I also used Window Pane (the lightest on the same card) in some recessed shelving which looks pretty.

The many skylights and the huge window in the kitchen provide all the light during the day - we only turn on a few lamps at night. The colors can vary drastically depending on the time of day and whether it's cloudy - the white in the living room photo is actually a pale seafoam green which is really visible only when it's cloudy or in the evening.

posted by no accounting for taste on October 4th 2007 at 7:04am
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Somehow you've made your space look fresh and personal while remaining true to 60s colors! Wow.

posted by Aulaire on October 4th 2007 at 8:11am
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HATED IT!!! Way too cluttered. Makes me claustrophibic just to look at it. The smaller the space the more serene it should be, not as if you fell into a junk shop. Also, did the hammock chair come from your college dorm? The sofa is pathetic, nice lines, but so worn. Slipcover?

posted by LooniePie on October 4th 2007 at 12:09pm
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The smaller the space the more serene it should be

Huh? According to who, you? Maybe for your space, but that doesn't make it wrong for someone else. There isn't one "design bible" that says so.

posted by Monkeyme on October 4th 2007 at 12:56pm
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Great space, the colored pottery in the kitchen window add so much to the orange wall. I live the green room, and the swing hang from the ceiling.

Some people here are so hateful, if you have nothing good to say just don't say it at all, and again this is a contest about the use of color not what kind of furniture you have in your home (I really wonder how the haters have their homes set up?)

posted by KM on October 4th 2007 at 1:49pm
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Thanks LooniePie! I love junk shops. The hammock chair is from my boyfriend's parents' Eichler. Some people tear down Eichlers. Some people vote for Republicans. The sofa is tweed, that's what it looks like. We have our own taste, and I think slipcovers are nastier than your attitude. Where's your entry? Just vote "longshot" and leave it at that.

posted by no accounting for taste on October 4th 2007 at 7:37pm
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I like it very much! I think a rule I have when I mix colors for paintings is 4 muted 2 bright. You chose really nice colors and Im very pleased you used one of my paintings as inspiration.
I have spent my whole life at junk shops I don't think I would be here today (clothed anyway) without them.It Looks Great!!!!!!

posted by matte stephens on October 4th 2007 at 9:43pm
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Loonie pie was an abused child. We forgive your comments.

posted by colormyworld on October 5th 2007 at 4:41pm
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wonderful space and don't listen to the trolls. insta for me; esp. since i can't figure out how you've found an eames lounge chair for under $50... :-)

the colors are wonderful and work together well. thank you for the inspiration!

posted by olya on October 5th 2007 at 7:37pm
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you know, i'm looking at these photos again, and i think this place is truly, wonderfully fabulous. forgive me for saying this, but i don't think the photography really captures your place well. i bet it looks eons better in person!

posted by greengelato on October 5th 2007 at 10:52pm
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LOVE this!
you have completely embraced the unexpected!
also, you put together items that don't normally "match" in such a fresh and personal way, that they are great together!

posted by elizabet on October 8th 2007 at 7:28am
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I love the art!

posted by orangejuce on October 15th 2007 at 10:49am
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hohum...is it just me, or am i seeing the same palette everywhere. What happed to monochromatic????

posted by carliepop on October 18th 2007 at 10:06am
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love the cats!

posted by damova on October 30th 2007 at 6:49am
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i came here just because i was sure someone was going to spazz out over the cat on the counter. thanks for not letting me down, colormyworld.

posted by loislane on October 8th 2008 at 6:23am
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that kitchen is to die for

posted by elinka189 on October 8th 2008 at 6:42am
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The place is cute, but the opening or default shot with the cats all over the kitchen counters????
Ehhhhhh.

10 for style
0 for hygiene
and before you ask, I have cats and no they aren't allowed on the counter

posted by mongoose1 on October 8th 2008 at 7:05am
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love, love , love it!!!! i grew up reading my mom's old sunset books (still have them...) and always wanted to live in a mid century modern environment. the cats in the kitchen are divine- just like my guys.
a question about your turquoise/blue lamp base in the lower right corner in the photo with the swing- where did you get it? any more photos? - it looks great- reminds me of some of the scandinavian pottery

posted by ratgrl on October 8th 2008 at 7:22am
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