Name: Jon
Location: Irvine, CA
Why I use color:
"The downstairs bedroom leads to the patio, which happens to be in the front of my town home. I just wanted something, fun, relaxing, and tropical, because I had installed a fountain right outside. I couldn't decide on a color scheme, and it was really frustrating- part of me wanted something punchy, like oranges and pinks, and then another part wanted something with cooler tones, greens and turquoises- and I was having a hard time deciding until I came across a photo in an old "how to" decorate book from the 60's, that was my saving inspiration- use all the colors! The solution was to keep all of my grounding pieces neutral/white or plain wood, and use all the colors together as accents- I think in the end, orange won out overall, but paint wise, I only limited it on the wall to a corner and painted a block up on the ceiling, sort of creating a small fun, but cozy nook, that complimented my (admittedly) 70's kitschy-but-had-to-have-it Papasan chair."
Color Tips:
"It seems to help that if you use one color, repeat it somewhere else. In my case, I had so many colors, so it was easy to incorporate a lot of pieces of different colors.
Don't be afraid to mix tints and shades and textures as well- it helps prevent things from looking too "matchy-matchy".
If you use a lot of color, make sure you have someplace for your eyes to rest- otherwise, its visual overload. In my case, keeping the walls, carpet, and furniture pieces white/neutral helped resolve that.
"
Color Resources:
60's /70's children’s craft books
Your local fashion department store-"if you can dress yourself, you can dress a room"
This is a very creative! I love it.
Wow!! Gorgeous!!! Love the colors!
makes me feel like I want steal things :-) Nice dresser and lot of nicer details.
Outstanding mix of colors! The white keeps it fresh.
This is a great example of how vast expanses of color need NOT be employed to have a room feel colorful.
LOVE the twist on the color blocking... running it partially onto the ceiling. A great trick, especially the way you have it employed.
Like how this is "retro-populated" but remains very new/young in spirit.
Oooh, ooh, ooh!!! Now this I love.
It's cheery, not too cluttered, and - no coincidence here - probably resembles my own living space and taste better than any other entry.
Love the nook.
this is light and fresh and loose I love your furniture. It works and looks effortless at the same time.
LOVE THIS ROOM!!!! Could you come be my interior decorator?
Beautiful Jon. It fuses color without clutter and seems to encompass the energy of a city and tranquility of an exotic beachy retreat.
Jon, this is absolutely beautiful. It's colorful, but serene and peaceful. Keeping the walls white except for the orange accent absolutely makes the space. I am on a HUGE simplifying mission (even though I'm not a clutter person), so I am not at all drawn to this many objects. But this is one combination of many objects that doesn't feel overwhelming. Very, very, very well done! The best yet on either coast.
I like the layers and more complex mix of objects. As others have said, the room feels fresh and even uncluttered despite the lush mix, and it doesn't have the cookie cutter look of some of the more minimal rooms. It looks as if a person with passion and interests really lives here.
All I can say is WOW. This is absolutely fresh and fun. I like the way the room looks bright but at the same time cozy and most of all I love the creative mix of decor.
dig it, modern yet comfortable.
WOW!!! It's fresh,,,Its's screams COLOR!!! Luv it!!
I especially love the pillows! Can you recommend some fabric sources?
Does Jim Morrison live here? Very nice indeed!!!
love it, it's colorful and fun but not overdone. this is a great example to me of how to use color without it being too much. i would love to live in a room like this!
minimalist maxima and absolutely color-fabulous!!!
cool room! retro but modern at the same time - love the colors! the room is clean, yet really pops with unique colors and fun stuff! wish I lived here : )
Every time I look, I find more to like.
genious....absolutely genious!
SILK! If you don't win... people are dumb!
SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALA--DOOOOHSHIS!
i love how you've created smaller rooms within the space with the orange color block and the grass matts. your thoughtful collections are expertly displayed and create such a rich and colorful texture for the room.
happy and fun-just like the designer!
I love all the color and the Ikea stuff, but the lava lamp is killing me!
Jon, will you come decorate my house? I love it...all the vintage details are spectacular!
This is the winner of the contest as far as I'm concerned. Color, texture, personality--this is a room I want to live in. Everything in it is beautiful on its own and alltogether. Bravo!
Good Job-
I love your credenza! where is it from?
I adore it. Really, this is first-class work. It's comfortable, welcoming, original, so creative. Fantastic!
wow- thanks so much for everyone's nice comments- its been so fun to see all the other submissions to see other interpretations of "color"-
a quick answer to some questions people have asked:
pillows/fabrics- half of the pillows were bought- but i did make some, and got most of fabric at the local JoAnn's Fabrics- no place too fancy- however, i did find that the crate&barrel outlet in Cabazon sells great remnants pretty cheap- made one from fabric i got there-
the credenza was found (for cheap!) at a Home Consignment Center in Aliso Viejo, CA.
thanks again for the votes and comments- KEEP VOTING! maybe i'll make the finals! (fingers crossed)
Wow Jon-you really understand color and design. I LOVE IT. I really do like that little nook. Great idea.
I agree, this is the winner out of all the fantastic submissions. Fearless and brilliant. It elevates my mood just to look at it.
Awesome! Love the orange paint stripe! I wish I could so that at my place, but then everyone would laugh at me for copying you. Great work!
Love your orange nook!
the nuetral walls really make your colors pop. your color blocking with the bamboo screen and colorblocking with the orange paint create frames and boundries. SUPER-B! -em
I was going along and thinking "Yeah, that's cool.." you know, whatever. And then BAM! I got to that orange accent wall. That is heat! It made me go back and really look at all of the other details in the room. Beautiful space. Major hotness....
I love this room! I love the bold colors that are used!
An instant winner!
"The BEST Jerry, THE BEST!"
I love the bold use of colors. Well done!
Great colors... Very clean! I dig it!
A very cohesive color-extravaganza with lots of visual candy minus the clutter or confusion. This one gets my vote! YEAH!!
So beautiful. What talent!
I love this room, you should win. Can you plz,plz,plz tell me in what store did you got the cushions? I loved them. You are an amazing interior designer, I love how you mied the colors to create that retro look...
this room is amazin im doin a a bedroom for my gcse textiles course can u make some suggestions on what i could do? im thinkin about a tropical/nature theme. i really do love this room the combonation of colour is spectacular.