My favorite thing in the room is that quote from The Outsiders!

Love the colors, including the touch of hot pink.
A fresh and inviting space, and yet there is no feeling of "in your face" bright colors.
Very nice... good luck!

I remember this house tour! So glad you entered this contest! So pretty!

I, too, love the quote from The Outsiders. I use it frequently and many have no idea what I am speaking of. Love the whole room. Great work.

I like the simplicity of this room. It's really nice and it doesn't make the full-on color tiring.

Stay gold, Pony Boy.

We used to say that all the time in college, ca. 1983. So awesome.

Delightful. My husband would go crazy for that "Outsiders" quote.

Where is the coffee table from? I love it!

The dog is precious.

Don't usually care for blue walls, but this color combination is just perfect - it really reflects the sun and sea inspiration so well. And I sort of love the random string lights around, just really relaxed and happy.

Sunny, simple, happy, bright ... oh, why don't I just write "perfect" and be done with it?

This lifts my spirits and makes me happy just looking at it!

Fresh and pretty! Could you tell me, though, whether it's actually okay to put your couch up against a radiator? If so, that would solve a lot of my furniture arranging problems.

I love the touches of yellow and the sleeping dog really makes the room look warm and inviting. Not too sure about the touch of pink that Just Saying is talking about.

The strings of lights are so cheesy compared to everything else.

Love the Ikea Klippan loveseats!

What a lighthearted approach! I can tell you had fun with this sunny, happy room and your dog is adorable! I love a big dog on a couch! Ours left the room when he realized we were taking pictures. :)

joy!

Blue and yellow are a great combo and I love that shade of blue on the walls!

I love that even though it's by the door (as set-ups will be), the space is defined so well as a relaxing, social room. It looks so inviting to me! A nice place to sit with a friend for a chat, or to just sit back and daydream!

Thank you everybody for the lovely comments. They are truly, truly appreciated.
@ goletagoleta - The table was a craigslist find! @rmbnn - We really love the soft, calm, magical glow that string lights add to a space. Not for everyone but certainly an intentional choice on our part as you can see in our house tour: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/melyssa-teds-colorful-carriage-house-house-tour-176833

You are brilliant.

So bright and cheerful. Love the blue walls and all the accessories. You have such a great eye. Can you come and decorate my house?

I wish my living room were like that! it's really cheerful!

The Outsiders! A classic!

I must give a shout-out to Union Press in Somerville, MA for the "Stay Gold Pony Boy" print (and to Ted, for finding it!). Handcut, handset, authentic letterpress printing:

http://www.unionpressprints.com/

Love the light and positive energy this place reflects! It looks so put together without over trying. Very creative!!

I was intrigued by the Stay Gold print and watched the movie last night. I love to see a house so full of art, music and movie influences. And string lights are the most eye pleasure/cozy atmosphere for the money spent, in any decorating project, in my opinion. Good luck in the contest.

I love your living room ( I loved it when I saw your house tour). Can you tell me where you got the ottoman? I'd like to get one like this for my sister's living room. Thanks.

Thank you margf. I wish I could tell you where the ottoman is from - it was a craigslist score that I was told came from an estate sale?!?