Name: Arno
Location: Chicago, IL
Type of Home: Rent-to-own
What inspired you to use color? Color is in my blood. I'm Mexican and everything in my culture is colorful and vibrant. As an artist, I'm inspired by many things but my aesthetic is to have everything stand out on its own. Every object should have its story to tell and yet still be able to relate to everything else, just like plants do in an elaborate garden.
Inspiration continued:If you look at nature, there are so many color combinations that anything new we think we have come up with, has probably been done already. I look at plants and the animal kingdom for inspiration.
Color Tip: When using color, don't be afraid to be yourself and pick colors that move you. My favorite thing to do is to use the power of three; whether it’s combining colors, textures and time periods, it works every time. It creates a harmonious mixture and balance. Color is just a coat of paint that can easily be covered, so whether you rent or own, you should always make it your own. Life is full of expressions and the only risks are the ones we don’t take.
Colors Used: I'm not sure what exact color names I used here, but I like Ralph Lauren’s finishes and Sherwin Williams’ large color selection. Basically, there are no good or bad colors; it’s in combining them that we create what works or doesn’t work for us.
Welcome, everyone, to our Fourth Annual Fall Colors Sharing & Contest. We're looking for the most beautiful & colorful home in the world and sharing all of the great ideas we get with our readers. This year we're amping things up and hoping to do things better than ever. There are two basic phases, the Sharing Phase and the Voting Phase...
1. Sharing Phase - you comment, judges decide
The 40 best, completed entries will be posted on a daily basis for three weeks. You can view them all at anytime via our new, improved contest pages under ALL ENTRIES. During this time your comments are VERY IMPORTANT as our six judges will be choosing 16 finalists from each region based on comments and their own colorful opinion.
2. Voting Phase - you vote til you drop
Starting October 20th, finalist voting will begin on a daily basis through our new bracketed voting system, which will pit our 16 finalists against one another until only one remains. Sound exciting? We hope so.
Best, Maxwell
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I love the way the colors play up the funky angles and walls of this space. It's a fun way for the architecture to interact visually with the Space Age pieces.
This is great! Love all the colors and the little areas for the doggies! The blue chair is fantastic and I'm looking for something similar myself...where did u get it? You have a nice mix of furniture and accessories that works very well together. Definitely one of my favorites in this contest.
yay! my favorite so far.
I really like the funky niches for the pets and the mix of vintage finds...
...but that Broyhill Brasilia armoire in the bedroom makes me cringe seeing it's legs removed and the walnut painted over...
...and the painting for the headboard is just plain Nasty - and bad Feng-Shui. (Things hung above the bed should be inspirational - this could inspire homicide)
wow. I love it.
I especially love how creative you got by painting the mid-century pieces, and making it fit right into that lovely home of yours. What a risk taker!
You've made your home a great expression of yourself (cleanly! and orderly!), and I even feel like I know you a little bit now! That headboard is a little wacky, but I can kind of see it fitting into your space overall...I know how hard it is to "be yourself" in a tight space, I'm definately saving this one for inspiration... thanks for sharing!
ummmmmmmm......awesome
I like the niches for the pets - and the mix of vintage finds...
..but I feel sad looking at that Broyhill Brasilia armoire in the bedroom with its legs stripped off and it's walnut painted white...
...and that headboard is just plain Nasty - Things that hang above the bed should be inspirational, but that thing would inspire homicide.
love the stripes on the floor (is that carpet?) and the pet area
I love what you've done with the mid-century pieces...especially that armoire! The white just makes it's details pop perfectly. The chair in the bedroom is so cool! The lamps...everything. I love so much here...and the cubbies for puppies - pure cuteness!
This is incredible! The best entry yet by far. I agree with you that every object should stand out on it's own. I could spend hours just looking at these photos examining all the careful attention to detail. Amazing.
this is definitely my favorite so far. love the colors!
I think this is such an interesting mix of colors and very cool furniture. The colors are those inbetween colors in the color spectrum that I would never know what to do with. You made them almost tonal but still they pop. The colors are a great backdrop to your amazing furniture pieces. Its almost midcentury dollhouse in a good way.
I agree with the headboard its a miss in relation to the rest.
Agreed, LOVE THIS! Esp the puppies :)
i have always wanted to live in an attic. can you feel my envy?
I love this! My bedroom and craft rooms are in a converted attic so it's interesting to see how others decorate those types of rooms. And those pet niches are great! My cats are jealous.
i love the 'headboard'
oooohhhhh.... like walking into a sparkly fruity martini!!
looooove the happy colors, decor, everything! love the dogs!!
Bright and fun. I love the niches and the headboard.
very innovative approach to all aspects of the space!
way to liven up an attic!
This rocks...I am a contestant too but YOU get my vote!
I love that headboard and that dancer lamp is brilliant with it. You really rock in every detail.
love!!!
ATTICS ARE HARD! you did a good job. i'd enjoy a house tour.
i guess i'm the only one that doesn't really like this. i definitely don't like the floors.
did you paint the floors yourself? it adds a nice playful touch to the space!
Awesome awesome. I totally dig the bar!
It's just so darn charming.
AMAZING way to use tiny attic space, and loads of color- but it makes me feel a little sad. Where's the personality? The things that make me say "Arno totally lives here"? I don't see anything that seems personal, unique or reflective of the owner.
this is so like a Matthew Williamson house. Fabulous!
I love this. It has almost no windows (right?) but still does not seem dark or cavernous, as most attics would! i think the light flooring really helps with that.
Nice job ;)
How bright and cute without being "precious". Everything works and love all the little private bed-spots for the pets.
Love how well-coordinated it all is, and eclectic at the same time. This would be a great place even in all white, but the color really gives me a sense of "you" (or, at least I get a sense of *someone* and hopefully that's you).
Would love to see what happens to the space in full sun. Zowie!
This is totally storybook! I love it! So Alice In Wonderland-y. I love your pooch too and how s/he manages to casually be in every shot.
Great entry! Good luck
This is just wonderful. I love the furniture too--it looks like there are lots of custom-painted details there, too.
OMG adorable puppehs!!! Love the place...I'm totally adding it to my delicious bookmarks right now.
Arno, you're amazing!
I love this too....it's so very intentional. love it.
That headboard is so cool! Did you paint that? Where can I buy one? This is an awesome space!!
I love the advice you give, the use of color and wood grain is great! Some of my favorite furniture pieces.
Your pups are a sleepy bunch. Love this space.
Wow….. Your attic looks absolutely fabulous. I love the colors and your furniture everything sure does seem to have story behind it. I love your advice not to be scared of colors. I think the little dog house is very innovative and bright idea. I love everything you’re a great designer!!!!! Can you come over to my house to give it a complete make over? =)
Arno, your rockin home is in my top 3. Loves it.
You make the bold colors and retro furniture work well together!
A very "breath of fresh air" atmosphere.
Love the look, you did a wonderful job!
Thank you all for your fun comments! You’d be amazed to know that not one furniture piece here is over $60 with the exception of the white chairs which were bought from Target and painted white. I found the blue chair and the TV piece in the alley! The rest of the furniture pieces are mostly from thrift stores except the dining table, which I bought from CB2 in black, and painted white. The floors are painted white as well with porch paint and finished with several coats of polyurethane. As far as the headboard, well what can I say, I’m an artist and I like it bold and fun. It works well with all the simplicity because of its madness and my dreams are more adventurous because of it! Btw, the doggies’ names are Cypress and Soleil - boy and girl Pekinese.
Arno! This is Eliza from Austin, Darrell's friend. I LOVE LOVE LOVE your place, and I would most especially love to be one of the animals in your abode. I can only imagine how warm and welcoming your place will feel when you come in from the frigid cold!
LOVE IT! (and the cute little dog)
Arno...YOU are the BEST.You rock! I want you to come decorate everything everywhere for me. What are your rates? well it doesnt even matter because you are worth quad drillions to me baby!
lots of love...and prosperity to you. WIN WIN WIN
Arno, That looks great! An amazing use of color. Congrats!
This is by far the best room I've seen featured on apartmenttherapy yet. The use of color coupled with the affordability of the pieces makes it a true standout. Arno should have his own show so we can all learn from such a talented designer!
This is so beautiful -- I absolutely LOVE the use of color. Arno, I want your help designing MY space. Good luck...but you won't need it. This is fantastic!
I am so envious!
Completely and totally AMAZING! I love everything about this! Definite winner by far!
Absolutely love the headboard! The moose antlers also add such a modern touch!
Looooove it!
It always amazes me how people are SO judgmental when it comes to what they consider art. It sounds like some of you (ok, one in particular) think Thomas Kinkaid is just the bee's knee's, or you bought that Pollock painting/print because you knew he was famous. If you don't 'get it' or don't like it, no worries...it's not in your house.
I like the juxtaposition of the "streetart" inspired piece above the bed with the graphic arabesque bed linens in the bed area, giving the whole mid century vibe a breather. Btw...I love that you gave the credenza and wardrobe a wackjob, they would have been way too dark for the space.
I totally didn't even think about the lack of windows until I read the comments, good job, you were so successful in making the space bright!
Love the colors and the simplicity of the furnishings. The accent pieces are great, especially the funky moosehead!! This would be a terrific place to live!
Fantastic! Clean and bright and vivid. And what you've done with the vintage furniture is brilliant.
I am also not a fan of the headboard (but I'm also not so rude as to call it "nasty" or "inspiring homicide" -- what an ass.) But I can see how the headboard works for you, bringing a bold statement of individuality to a room that is otherwise customized in a more low-key fashion. Don't let the jerks get you down.
Fine work indeed.
This place is so great. I too live in an attic and have been trying to think of ways to not make it seem so dreary and depressing (though I feel lucky to at least have two windows!). Love how bright and cheery everything looks, especially the room with the yellow wall - my "living room" has nearly the same set-up except that the room is only 9 feet wide. Luckily it gets a little wider towards the back of the apartment in the bedroom, but not by much. Many many great ideas here. The accent walls look like a good solution for adding color without making the commitment to using just one color over the entire slopped walls/ceiling surface.
I'm almost tempted to use an emoticon in response to this post. A very happy one. Such is my love for this apartment. I love the philosophy behind Arno's style. Lots of love.
Lovely place!
Well done :)
Once again, thank you all for your lively comments. I love the different views on the large painting over the bed. I'm having a ball reading your comments! As Andy Warhol said, "Art is what you can get away with." This is not necessarily my philosophy but it makes good sense to me. If you have an idea, doesn't it make sense to visualize it at least once? You can change it thereafter. This is what I mean when I say that it's more risky to do what is safe. We need to live a little people and look into your inner child! Another great quote to add here by my favorite wit, Oscar Wilde: "The worst thing about being talked about is not being talked about.
As far as the windows are concerned, I have two skylights; one overlooking the dining table and one in the bedroom. There’s also a glass block window on the brick wall. So I do have light. This place was an old ugly attic that was renovated over the summer last year. We remodeled it completely. You would really be amazed if this was a before-and-after contest.
Arno
I love it!
This is amazing! I love how everything is clean and happy and then you get to the headboard, and its so raw! So real! LOVE IT!
The 70's called and they want their furniture back.
you've inspired me to make my finished attic more than a storage pit. thanks!
This so cool and colorful. I just love it!!!
Absolutely incredible job. None of the other entries are in the same stratosphere! Good luck... I'll be voting4Arno the whole way through!
I own several Arno Mayorga art pieces (paintings) and have to say, he is one of the most talented modern artists of our time. This space design is just a fraction of his multi-faceted abilities. I can't wait to see what his next project will be!
Did anyone else notice the lack of a kitchen? WHERE IS YOUR KITCHEN! It's gotta look just as good as the rest of the house- I wanna see it! HOUSE TOUR please.
Amazing work! What did you do on the floors? Love it all!
Arno - I love the room structure, the colors and the design of the furniture and floor plan that you chose. Your Hired!!
Fran
I love everything about this room!
I really love what you've done with your space...so bright and happy, it must be pure joy to come home to.
Great work Arno!
it's beautiful, and optimisic, and calming all at once. I love it, Arno!
Fun and so bold!
Thank you everyone for you comments, votes and support!
This has to been a fun ride and may the best and most colorful home win!
Arno
It wasn't the 70's, gail.gaby, it was me, because I looooove the furniture!
Love it. Vibrant and warm.
The colors and furniture choices are excellent. I love it!
Arno it's beautiful and so peaceful
HEYYYYYY! whats up, i slept in that house, lol, dang, that house is pretty cool though.
Good Luck Arno!!! You did a great work...
Thank you all for your continued support. I have been blessed to have a great family, friends, coworkers and Apartment Therapy enthusiasts that have commented and voted for me all along. And, I especially want to thank Mario, my fiancé who has been there for me come rain or come shine.
Thank you,
Arno
Arno, esta increible! Que talento! Congratulations - it's great to see a fellow tapatio get so much attention for your brilliant work! The multicultural team is rooting for you!
Im ever so proud of you!!! Your an absolute amazing person with an absolute amazing talent!!!!
Kudos to you, my dear friend..... =)
This looks great as a attic room, But is this a real living area or a spare room to design? I see no kitchen or any artifacts showing us your real character and to me it shows no warmth, But only decorative rooms.
As a apartment renter I have no spare rooms to keep in perfect shape. I would like ideas to enhance the rooms I do live in everyday.
i love the ballerina lamp by your bedside.
I LOVE this room! It's gorgeous and beautiful and says so much. It reminds me of Pushing Daisies in its personality and that's a major complement. It has this nostalgic uniqueness and yet a modern edge to it. And I most definitely love the colors. What a look, it inspires me and is one of the highlights of this contest for me.
Bookmark :)
Oh that place is so cozy. I like the citrus colors. Also the blow up moosehead. That coffe table is so ugly, especially with smoked glass, that it is actually cool. You must have found it on a street corner, come on, admit it. It actually goes really well in your place.
Love the use of colors but the painting above the bed looks like something a girfriend would do to a piece of art after she caught you cheating!