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Jessica's Mostly Neutrals
Room for Color - West #16

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Name: Jessica
Location: Venice, California
Type of Home: rental bungalow

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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Cozy Modern Cottage



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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Comments (69)

Well done girlfriend. Brava!!

posted by medusa12120 on October 9th 2009 at 8:39pm
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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.

posted by tequila red on October 9th 2009 at 8:50pm
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Beautiful--real, lived-in, unique, warm, gorgeous wall color.

posted by SQ on October 9th 2009 at 9:01pm
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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.

posted by Slow Lorus on October 9th 2009 at 9:33pm
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Absolutely wonderful. You're the first contestant whose photos I want for inspiration file.

posted by greta on October 9th 2009 at 9:57pm
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Perfection!!!

posted by Coralia on October 9th 2009 at 10:07pm
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I was so excited when I thought that was an ombre wall! I guess it's just the shadow. Still a beautiful home.

posted by ARC on October 9th 2009 at 10:32pm
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What a wonderfully cozy room.

posted by Hydra on October 9th 2009 at 10:38pm
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Wow.
This is good...

posted by falconette on October 9th 2009 at 10:43pm
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House tour, house tour, house tour...

posted by KidMoe on October 9th 2009 at 11:17pm
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I'm so impressed with how she took what could of easily been a disaster and made it beautiful.

posted by abbyD on October 9th 2009 at 11:53pm
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this house = vintage cabinesque = my heart = i want.... 'nuff said.

posted by millerindustries on October 10th 2009 at 12:33am
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that is just not how I picture Venice Ca

posted by Usbek de Perse on October 10th 2009 at 1:10am
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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..

posted by sholt on October 10th 2009 at 1:39am
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I also like the pops of green. Beautiful! House tour, please!

posted by mihaela on October 10th 2009 at 2:18am
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My favorite so far.

posted by kamilya on October 10th 2009 at 2:26am
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This is one of the best put together rooms I've seen. Bravo! Just love it.

posted by jmjbean on October 10th 2009 at 3:17am
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This is definitely my favourite so far. The colour sings.

(and I love wood and natural textures just like you)

Beautifully put together. Bravo!!

posted by mschatelaine on October 10th 2009 at 4:14am
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It's quite a cosy, lovely place ; )

posted by audrey_1976 on October 10th 2009 at 4:39am
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This is by far my favorite. You used strong colour, worked with the wood that already was present and did it all on a budget. It all looks so right and enjoyable.

posted by TheoJ on October 10th 2009 at 5:49am
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I completely agree that neutrals are more than beige and grey. Really well done. What a unique and comfortable space!
http://inspiredroomdesign.com

posted by farmhousemoderne on October 10th 2009 at 7:57am
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stunning!!

posted by shrewt on October 10th 2009 at 8:31am
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This is a space that can really be lived in. Absolutely beautiful!

posted by babydoll on October 10th 2009 at 8:55am
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Home.

posted by scootergirl on October 10th 2009 at 9:15am
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I want this.

posted by cassielynn on October 10th 2009 at 9:49am
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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.

posted by krunkinator on October 10th 2009 at 10:05am
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House tour, please!

posted by h144 on October 10th 2009 at 10:14am
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Love to see a house tour that is budget friendly & beautiful. This is real livin'!!

posted by solop on October 10th 2009 at 10:31am
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Beautiful balance of warm and cool. The space with the shelving and artwork is nicely done.

posted by muirwoods08 on October 10th 2009 at 11:00am
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AMAZING. love the mix of ecclectic, mid century, and organic.

posted by rainierzed on October 10th 2009 at 11:46am
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This place is wonderful--so warm and cozy! I love the wood and the color scheme--brilliant.

posted by jd2 on October 10th 2009 at 11:46am
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I am seriously coveting your gorgeous sofa. The whole place is infused with warmth and personality. Really lovely job.

posted by sara Stubbert on October 10th 2009 at 12:14pm
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Sophisticated, livable, and yes, colorful too. Love it :)

posted by slowdown on October 10th 2009 at 12:18pm
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these colors are fantastic. the home is beautiful. i could move right in!

posted by SpanishOlives on October 10th 2009 at 12:38pm
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So very beautiful!

posted by briecode on October 10th 2009 at 12:41pm
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It's perfect.

posted by firebird on October 10th 2009 at 12:59pm
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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 :)

posted by TVsJessica on October 10th 2009 at 1:44pm
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very inviting. i have the same black wrought iron stool!

posted by beddybee on October 10th 2009 at 1:45pm
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One word: WOW!!!!

This place looks stylish without money, just taste. Looks lovely, elegant, and true- not just a scenario for the snapshots.

posted by Gaby_S on October 10th 2009 at 1:56pm
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Wonderful place, but again, this is a "color" Competition!!!!

posted by hillaryanne22 on October 10th 2009 at 2:01pm
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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.

posted by shirley-temple-of-doom on October 10th 2009 at 2:37pm
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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?

posted by k02 on October 10th 2009 at 3:01pm
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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.

posted by TVsJessica on October 10th 2009 at 3:10pm
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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!

posted by talby on October 10th 2009 at 3:15pm
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This is so unbelievably cool. One of my favorite house tours ever!

posted by bookgirl on October 10th 2009 at 4:08pm
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Simply: to die for! I have to hand it to you, and I'm in this contest!!!

posted by Vcast on October 10th 2009 at 5:26pm
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@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!

posted by k02 on October 10th 2009 at 5:39pm
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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.

posted by phongalong on October 10th 2009 at 6:00pm
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Vcast - same to you!

posted by TVsJessica on October 10th 2009 at 8:26pm
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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).

posted by mschatelaine on October 11th 2009 at 1:13am
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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.

posted by JoJenks on October 11th 2009 at 3:36am
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this is the first entry I really wanted to vote.. Well done !!!

posted by New York Muhtari on October 11th 2009 at 10:15am
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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 :)

posted by gretchenalexis on October 11th 2009 at 10:26am
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I am sooo stealing your sofa. (Seriously, though- where did you find that??)

posted by Jennifer 42 on October 11th 2009 at 3:35pm
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i like the apricot drapes. it reminds me of a great duvet i had years ago

posted by heyheyhey on October 11th 2009 at 4:35pm
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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.

posted by TVsJessica on October 11th 2009 at 4:52pm
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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!!

posted by JetKatDesign on October 11th 2009 at 10:32pm
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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!

posted by sasefina on October 12th 2009 at 1:51am
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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.

posted by Kate (NC) on October 12th 2009 at 12:07pm
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such an intriguing room. you've done a great job here.

posted by aimul on October 15th 2009 at 10:02pm
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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.

posted by smoothsailing on October 16th 2009 at 11:26am
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i love how you've pulled together all the different woods - that's not easy to do!

posted by shannanigans on October 20th 2009 at 9:56am
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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/

posted by talldrink on October 21st 2009 at 9:38am
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Utterly fabulous.

posted by ponytailed_informant on October 27th 2009 at 7:57am
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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.

posted by no accounting for taste on October 27th 2009 at 10:02am
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i loved your room and the subtleties of the colors. sorry that you didn't make it to the final round.

posted by aimul on October 28th 2009 at 6:29pm
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I absolutely adooore your room! very sad you are not in the finalist!
well done :)

posted by margauxachard on October 30th 2009 at 10:56am
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Joined apartment because I was so inspired by your design. I have been searching for a coffee table like yours for years...any suggestions?

posted by sandanista on November 6th 2009 at 4:14pm
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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!

posted by no accounting for taste on November 20th 2009 at 4:50pm
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