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Lori's Eye Popping Neutra
Room for Color - West #19

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Name: Lori
Location: Los Angeles, California
Type of Home: rental apartment

Color Inspiration: The background palette of white and the abundant natural light inspires me to introduce eye-popping color.


Give Lori a THUMBS UP if you think this room belongs in the finals!
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Primary Twist



Colors Used: Saturated, primary colors and warm honey-toned woods.



Color Tip: Select one accent color (mine is red!) and inject complementary colors against a blank white canvas.

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Comments (50)

Is this a classroom?

posted by heatherdazy on October 12th 2009 at 8:23pm
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This is FANTASTIC!

posted by ncantine on October 12th 2009 at 8:30pm
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I like the neutral walls with the fun pops of color everywhere! My favorite is the wall of shelves with the globes and Fiesta pottery. There are interesting little collections that don't overpower. Very cute and well done!

posted by junklover on October 12th 2009 at 8:31pm
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looks like a daycare setting. fun colours!

posted by tourderockhappy on October 12th 2009 at 8:31pm
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I really like this! There's lots of stuff, but there's still an open, airy feel to the space. I think the white walls help, and the way like objects have been displayed together also helps. Although the colour scheme is fun and playful, there is still a sense of sophistication about its use here.

Out of curiosity, how is your blu dot table holding up? We're thinking about getting one. They seem solid in person, and the finish seems durable too. But I wouldn't mind hearing from someone who has one.

posted by anmar on October 12th 2009 at 8:33pm
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Gorgeous...i can never great places like this in LA!

posted by Bridget212323 on October 12th 2009 at 8:34pm
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It seems very Montessori to me. I love it! Where did you get those shelves - the ones with the globes, mugs and typewriters on them?

posted by mercedezzz on October 12th 2009 at 9:00pm
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I really, truly thought it was a daycare classroom. The chairs are too small for the table, or the table is too big for the chairs.

posted by sally305 on October 12th 2009 at 9:14pm
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I am in agreement with others that this looks like a daycare center or classroom.

posted by suzy8track on October 12th 2009 at 9:35pm
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Just imagine the hoards of mid century modern loving hipster parents who would love to send their kids to this childcare center.

posted by TheoJ on October 12th 2009 at 10:03pm
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I'm on the daycare wagon too. Fun looking place, but reminds me too much of kindergarten, and unfortunately I would not want to go back to that.

posted by Aster on October 13th 2009 at 12:03am
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I, too, thought it was some kind of learning space, and assumed it belonged to a family that homeschools or is into Montessori. This seems to be a problem for some commenters -- why is that? To me, it looks like a fabulous space.

posted by TammyE on October 13th 2009 at 12:24am
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I'ts not a classroom, its a great "collectible" decor ...
who deserve although it devotes a "house tour" !

White wall and colored mid-century stuff rock's !!!
a collection of children chairs does not necessarily transform the room into a daycare ...

"3 thumbs up" for me ...

posted by teddy_qui_dit on October 13th 2009 at 4:35am
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What is a neutra?

posted by mirandabee on October 13th 2009 at 8:43am
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to me it looks like you translated that poster in the 3rd pic to your apt. cute

posted by mariegael on October 13th 2009 at 9:10am
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I thought day-care center at first, too-- I think it has something to do with the dining chair height. Aren't those DCM's a little low for the table?

posted by shirley-temple-of-doom on October 13th 2009 at 9:21am
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Probably a richard neutra house, i think it's great! love the globes.

posted by rainierzed on October 13th 2009 at 9:28am
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As a day care center or a playroom, this would certainly be stylish, but as an adult’s living room? How incredibly awkward

While I understand the votes it’s gotten – it is fun to look at – there’s something creepily Michael Jacksoneque about not being able to differentiate an adult’s living room from a day care center.

posted by akay on October 13th 2009 at 9:29am
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Beautiful room. Your stict color choices and editing are great. Shapes, form, negative space: this is a museum quality room! Fantastic!

posted by suitcasey on October 13th 2009 at 10:25am
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what a fun home--it's one of my favorites in the color contest so far

posted by bcthree on October 13th 2009 at 10:27am
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I agree with akay. It's fun as a daycare room for children... but for adults, it does seem awkward (the low table in the first picture especially). Not to say the room isn't lovely (because it is!).

posted by Courtachino on October 13th 2009 at 10:40am
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I love this room! I don't think it looks like a preschool, it just looks like a really fun family home (with great taste).

posted by megah on October 13th 2009 at 1:54pm
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A very inviting space, modern and fun. Nice globe collection too.

posted by aj on October 13th 2009 at 2:36pm
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Stunning! What a terrific use of color!

posted by steveonthinair on October 13th 2009 at 2:47pm
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This is a GREAT room for a preschool....As a person with a degree in early childhood development who taught pre-school for 8 years I would be unable to relax at your home because it so uncomfortably follows the guidelines for a well designed classroom (see below if interested). I am glad it works for you and it is creative even if it is not my thing.


Here are some pre-school classroom design principles for child directed play:
A reading area w/ a couch, and child sized seating
A large low activity table alongside low child height open shelves where toys (and a dollhouse?) are easily accessible to the children,
Separate small table with one chair to indicate solitary play/learning (maybe with that collection of radios?),
Activity areas are clearly outlined with carpeting or other visual markers separating activity areas and traffic patterns,
Interesting artwork down at child's eye level (posters, pictures on shelves)
Display interesting "themes" of objects such as typewriters, globes, radios (in non-classroom settings we call them "collections")

posted by oy_vey on October 13th 2009 at 3:05pm
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I like the overall effect, but the first pic especially looks like a kindergarten classroom, with the cubbies & kiddy-size chairs across the room & story time chair in the foreground

posted by cmelton13 on October 13th 2009 at 3:47pm
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I like it...but it feels like a montessori classroom to me.

But there are a lot of fantastic things in that room. I think the collections would read better if each collection was in a different place in the room instead of all in one area.

That yellow rocker...ohhh so good.

posted by Jess2nola on October 13th 2009 at 5:41pm
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Lori here....thanks for all the interesting comments. "Daycare center?" That's funny! I'll try to address some questions:
Anmar - I've had the Blue Dot Strut table for just over 4 years and it is holding up pretty well, but since it is lacquer, you have to be careful with the finish.
Mercedezzz - the floating wall shelves are LACK, at Ikea.
Sally305 and shirley-temple-of-doom - Yes, the table height is about 2 inches higher than what I would prefer; the Eames DCM chairs lower your back side, making it too low for my personal, ideal comfort, so at some point I will replace that table and definitely not the classic chairs.
Mirandabee - Richard Neutra was a modernist architect known for his light-filled spaces. He built my place in 1937, if you can believe it.
Mariegael - Good eye! That poster and the surrounding scenario begs the question: "Life imitating art, or vice versa?"
Courtachino - That "low" table you refer to is a standard sized coffee table height - must be the angle of the photograph.
Thanks again for checking in! If I decide to convert my space into a Neverland or a daycare center, you all will be the first to know! Cheers!

posted by redchairs on October 13th 2009 at 6:30pm
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Sorry - Eames DCW chairs.....not DCM.

posted by redchairs on October 13th 2009 at 6:48pm
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I like your attitude!

I also find it funny with the child/adult space distiction mentioned. I WISH we could make that distinction in our house... Better then to have a artsy and fun space that works for kids AND adults, or you will spend your time having to fend off grabby fingers, rescue climbing children reaching for things up high, or suffer as your delicatley placed design accents get moved around. This room seems like it would hold up well to that kind of treatment!

posted by wigglebutt on October 13th 2009 at 8:16pm
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This is like candy...for the brain!!!

posted by sarrazak on October 13th 2009 at 8:58pm
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Most amazing PM apartment I've seen in this entire city. It's sophistication reinforces these ignorant, uninformed designer-wannabes who say it looks like a daycare back in their hole. They don't know anything about great taste.

posted by Madischicken on October 13th 2009 at 10:14pm
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This is such a fun and creative space! I'm envying your red chair collection and the way it reflects the wall art. Thanks for sharing-- it's one of my favorites.

posted by csc76 on October 13th 2009 at 11:47pm
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Fab stuff Lori!!! Love it!

posted by Dancingchef on October 14th 2009 at 2:19am
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It's a fun, colorful, stylistically unified space, but not particularly sophisticated, Madischicken. Now I guess I'll crawl back into my hole.

posted by slowdown on October 14th 2009 at 10:51pm
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A very fun space!

posted by vintagerenewal on October 16th 2009 at 10:02pm
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Looks like a great place. Nice furniture. I really like the use of color. It's a shame that others aren't so appreciative but I'm sure that it's much nicer than most of our pads.

posted by Chidog on October 18th 2009 at 11:29pm
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HI FRIENDS AND FAMILY! Vote for me, please, TUESDAY OCT 20 - I only have 24 hours to get your votes - thanks so much! Lori

posted by redchairs on October 18th 2009 at 11:46pm
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I love your house, it is so much fun!!!!

posted by alexeast1984 on October 20th 2009 at 2:49am
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This apartment is even better in REAL LIFE! Wonderful collection of Art and Americana!

posted by ROZANGACASAN on October 20th 2009 at 12:14pm
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It was hard to match red color with beach or birch wood , shelves or floors, for my case before. But this one works real good. It is good idea to split small red chair from same color table and to repeat same color pattern here and there. I like small objects with same pattern as well.

posted by laconician on October 20th 2009 at 12:30pm
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You can tell a very stylish woman lives in there...
Great taste.

posted by carlo62 on October 20th 2009 at 1:22pm
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Even though I thought Jason and Sarah's room was fantastic, I voted for this one because it was whimsical.

posted by netdragon on October 20th 2009 at 1:33pm
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Mille grazie, Carlo!

posted by redchairs on October 20th 2009 at 11:08pm
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Lori, your room was our favorite entry! Love what you have done with your space!

posted by jasonandsarah on October 20th 2009 at 11:41pm
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Thanks, Jason and Sarah - love you guys! Have all your friends vote for me and I will invite you all over for a fun cocktail party! LOVE YOU! Lori xoxoxoxo

posted by redchairs on October 21st 2009 at 12:26am
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Looks great Lori! Good Luck! I hope you win!

posted by Gaye50 on October 22nd 2009 at 12:45pm
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Thanks, Gaye! Vote tomorrow - again! :( Hope it is not an imposition!

posted by redchairs on October 22nd 2009 at 9:58pm
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this is my favorite entry! I always struggle with injecting color in my white walled rental apts(where i'm not allowed to paint) so this home is an inspiration...

posted by Bridget212323 on October 23rd 2009 at 4:37pm
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Thanks, Bridget212323 - even though I am losing to my, er... competition, this is even more fun:
http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/AxJSfA8OMlhnXSN0
My daughter and me! ENJOY!

posted by redchairs on October 23rd 2009 at 9:17pm
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