Name: Christine
Location: Chalfont, PA
Type: 2 Bedroom home, owned (almost, 29 short years to go!)
Why I use color:
Color enhances my mood and is a great sensory pleasure. I spend a lot of time commuting in the dark to a drab office, so at home I want to be surrounded by liveliness that ignites my creative side.
2 Good color tips:
1. Bring seemingly incompatible items together. I was warned about using cow hides with apple green, but it somehow works. I was leary about mixing light and dark woods at first too, but now I’m ready to add some zebrano! Neutrals provide a sleek backdrop, but blasts of carefully placed color are what bring a room to life. If you are unsure where to start, focus on a favorite item, a multi-toned beaded curtain, a funky vase or a fantastic rug and build your room's palette from there. Trust what you are drawn to, it's your individuality.
2. If you have an open floor plan make sure the rooms that can “see each other” are also having a "conversation". My living room is black and white with peacock accents and my dining area is green and brown with silver accents. I made sure each room had some of the other's color. A safe formula is two neutrals to every bright.
2 good color resources:
1&2. My best color resources are nature and art. The green on my dining room wall perfectly matches the trees seen through the clerestory windows in spring. The orange in my office was initially inspired by ‘The Gates’ and one particular tree last fall while looking at foliage, but I must admit, it was a Gatorade cap that I matched to the paint swatch!
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Love those windows, the view!
Not a chartreuse fan, but I love this house, and want to see more of it!!!!! Love the colors in the first pic.
What an awesome place. Great colours- great space.
...now I just want a full house tour. ;-)
This looks like a really interesting space!
I like the way the bright colors are used, yet it still looks almost subdued.
Very nice last entry! I cannot believe I voted on every single one today!!!
Great space! Interested in being on HGTV's Small Space, Big Style? If so, email me at nicole@brainbox.tv to find out more
This is heaven dropped in the middle of a forest. That orange makes me salivate. The lamp next to your desk is exquisite. Great color advice, too!
Holly
What a beautiful home. Is it a ranch? I love the openness of it. And your decorating is darling. Like an update on the 50s atomic ranch. In the first picture, I especially love the table used as a desk, the steel cubes and the lamp. I even love the portraits. did you paint them? This place has just the right amount of funky. The only thing I would change is the kitchen cabinets, which would of course be white so they could pop against that beautiful chartruese.
I would love to have a house like this, I wish I could see the rest of it. Good work!
Oh, i LOVE it. LOVE it. Any chance, just as an aside, that you could post a sketch of your floor plan? We're gutting our house (almost to the studs) and your layout from what I can see is a feel we're going for....pretty please?!
But as far as color? I love it. I love the striped rugs, and the combination of light and dark furniture. It works really well.
Love this; very fun place to hang out. Spectacular windows and view; fantastic furry office chair! I'm sick to death of these colors, but in this well-done space everything looks fresh and appealing. Very nice!
I love the use of the table as your desk and envy your view!
Soooo nice! This is one of my favorites because it makes me want to step into your rooms to look around at all your stuff, and maybe take a nap. :)
I normally loathe both orange and green, yet I LOVE your house! It is beautiful and I want that fuzzy desk chair. And the lamp too. So pretty!
I like those rugs.
Ooooh - that first photo made me smile :) I'd love to work in that space! My productivity would be through the roof and my work would be so much more inspired and creative. Love it. Maybe my favorite pic inthis contest yet.
Super cool, great use of color and textures, and I LOVE your view!! (If I could only convince my neighbors to knock down their house and plant a few trees!!) Also liking the chartreuse!! 29 years will fly by quickly when you have such a great space to come home to!! INSTA-FINALIST!! (PS - THAT NICOLE!! You better take her up on the offer, and she better follow through!!)
That second color tip about rooms that can "see each other" is a real keeper. Good job on the color too!
I love your orange! What's the paint color?
Hey, I have that rug (in first photo) in my orange room too! What glee!
Love it
This is a "small space"? It's a two-bedroom home.
Wow, some really excellent ones are coming through right in the nick of time.
Great color usage, excellent design sense .. nothing is cluttered or too much .. you edited perfectly.
Colorful and fun, but in a very sophisticated, classy and "grown up" way. Kudos!
JeffreyK - what's your point? This is a COLOR contest, isn't it?
relaxing and inspiring. makes me want to drink warm tea and brainstorm creative ideas!
I love your workspace - the desk, colors and chair! Very creative and cosy. Definitely an insta-finalist. This is one of my favorite entries so far. What a fabulous, inspiring view you have!
Anne, scroll up and read Nicole's post.
When can I move in? Love, love, love it.
Oh yes, I see. I didn't realize that you were responding to another post since you didn't refer to it. I guess SSBS should change their name if they're ready to put a 2 bedroom on their show. Of course, the bedrooms could be the size of a full size bed since we don't have sq. ftage of the place.
One thing I really like is the fact that you have LAMPS.
Your color and light are great in the daytime but I bet this house is really pleasant at night as well. Nice.
House tour please!! I love it, it looks great!
I can appreciate what you did here because more commonly in these modern homes you get white sterile walls, and they never seem as cozy as this does. Do you have full length windows across from the green walls? The orange office is great - looks like a really fun place to live and work.
Jaw-dropping.
Literally. My jaw dropped.
Insta! Wow, wow, wow! This is my dream space. Gorgeous and all those other adjectives. Yours and the woman's basement with the green and steel gray are the best two, to me, in the contest. Love it. Thanks for sharing.
Talk about save the best for...
INSTA-FINALIST!
this is beautiful. the colors are great and work perfectly with your outstanding views! i love it!
I'm ready to move in with you.
Say what you want about the "sensory pleasure" and the "salivating" - the house is beautiful but these colors make my soul cringe!
Hello! Christine here. Thank you so much for taking the time to post such kind words and generous compliments! Some responses to your questions/comments:
Holly, the lamp is a spaghetti lamp from the sixties, it was my parents in one of their first apartments. I see them (the lamps, not my parents) on ebay all the time and theyÂ’re really affordable.
Peggy, I think the house does classify as a ranch. You nailed it. The rooms photographed are part of the original portion of the house, built in 1957. I think it may have been inspired by the Eichler post and beam houses, but IÂ’m still researching. And yes the portraits are mine, thanks so much for the encouragement!
Rachel, I posted a rough sketch (really rough) of the floor plan for you.
http://www.cdreimage.com/layout.jpg
Not sure how helpful it will be, but fabprefab.com and livemodern.com are great resources for layouts and open floor plans. I had been dreaming about living in a Glidehouse (glidehouse.com) when we found this place. ItÂ’s similar to my place but has excellent built-in storage.
Sydney, the chair is from my boyfriendÂ’s office years ago, I just tossed a fluffy sheepskin over it. TheyÂ’re about $40 at Ikea.
Cookie, the rug is from Target.
Elizabeth, the orange wall color is BehrÂ’s Mango Madness.
Rebecca2, yes, the glass window from my office runs the length of the back of the house and is across from the green wall.
As far as the rest of the house - weÂ’ve only been here a year and the other areas are still very much a work in progress, but it is indeed a labor of love : )
Thanks again!
The colors work so well with your everchanging view. Such a bright and happy place, LOVE it!
Awesome use of colors!!!
Love, love, love your place! Its so happy yet cool.
I could use some good color advice from you, Christine - woman with a paintbrush!
Your usage of textiles and colors, compliment mother earth outside, creating a vibrant, yet earthy tranquility.
WELL DONE.
Susan Nichols
Hope that isn't real fur on chair and skin under table. So tacky, and so cruel! ):
Have some compassion, people!
Hope those aren't leather shoes on YOUR feet.
Bold use of color! Excellent contrast of texture! Inspired design layout! Love it, love it, love it... could you tell I just LOVE IT!! In this space, perfect balance is achieved with just the right amount of warmth added to the cool lines of modern. Christine you truly have a flair for color, this is also apparent in your portraits. You should take top prize!
I don't see anyone in the pictures wearing shoes? huh?
Amazing! I'm inspired~~hope you win !!
stillbirth/still born...
but then again, woo is listening... dr see uss.
whoos afraid of the big bad wolf, colour is best left to nature.
love the windows, so bright i need to wear blinders.
Nice space. Colours of the mediterranean sea between trees.
I agree with amora, good point. I hate fur too! There is no reason to kill defenseless, innocent animals for a rug or chair cover! Duh, how sadistic and stupid can people get!!! Ya, you said it: where is the love and compassion gene in y'all!! And no, Patrick (the other one).. I am vegan.
M/E and amora:
I hear you loud and clear. But, that is the way society is today. There is no shame in using animals as decor accessories, furniture, or fashionwear. Sadly, tis the latest trend.
Nature is not valued as it should be, and that is the reason we are destroying Earth; lest I say it is 'melting' beneath us. There is no balance, and we will tragically pay for it in the end (akin to 'karma'...?!).
It is truely a "me-itis" world, and that love and compassion gene you mentioned, E/M, is a recessive one.
So sad. So sad.
Yo Mother Earth, why all the name calling and hate?
If you are going to start “slinging red paint” at by-products of the meat industry, you will exhaust yourself. Being judgmental and intolerant of others choices is far worse than participating in the food chain Mother Nature created.
Peace out.
Maloney
Whoa, whoa, Maloney, enough with the full-on bologne!
Chill out, this is just a lazy-dazy discussion here. To each his own -- heard of freedom of speech? Here's a refresher:
Article 19 provides that...
1. Everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference.
2. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice.
Don't sweat the small stuff, ma man. Maloney: Peace be with *YOU*! (:
The elitism of animal produbts makes me want to puke.
I think that people who don't like animals tend to be selfish; fur just makes me think of shallow people who have no conscience.
LOL LOL!! You people crack me up!!!
Anyone ever heard the one about the people speak the loudest have the least amount to say?
One thing I've learned is that when you are secure and sure in your thinking you need not say a word in judgment, hate or negativity towards another who may not think as you do. When YOU are sure, no one else need be.
All of this "loud" talking in here shows me that there are alot of people who are control freaks who are not happy with the choice that THEY'VE made, but more want to "convert" others .. which, is selfish and so against the "PEACE" you say you encompass. If you truly held that peace dear, you would feel love and compassion for others, no matter their "misgivings" .. you phoney peace makers!!!!
Isn't the saying "live and let live"? Don't be hypocritical .. it doesn't look good on you (much like fur, no?)
I happen to love fur, but can RESPECT (try it) anyone who does not like it. I can even see the reasons why. Would I go to the lengths of calling people stupid or "sad" (I LOVE that highly judgmental, superiority-complex-in-a-box comment) because of their opposing thoughts. Nope. Since you fur haters are supposed to be the exalted, more civilized ones here .. why not act like it. Geez. ... lol ...
Try to get through a sentence without name calling, ok kids?!
So hilarious! I am loving this conversation so much (or too much), I feel compelled to give my two bits.
I am intrigued by this topic of interest. I see both sides here, and am especially beguiled by the use of such delicate and significant words as love, compassion, respect, and judgement.
This has amusingly, yet needlessly, turned into a loud, confusing, cacaphonic dialogue!
I fancy an excerpt from Missy: "...feel love and compassion for others..." So ironic this is said, when that is in fact what people here are trying to define, within the boundaries of their own personal views. That appears to be the underlying theme of the conversation, and that is perfectly fine. Animal protectionists versus animal consumers. The million dollar question: Who has the most love and compassion???
My goodness, how grossly insensitive, absurd and impolitic!
The premise or argument here is based on the expression of personal ideological and ethical values, nothing else. No one person is better than another because of their modi vivendi, ie perspectives, principles, convictions or progressive logic. People here are just being passionate and expressive about their beliefs. I frankly do not see evidence of any blatant and intentional disrespect directed towards anyone here at AT (ie hate, negativity, name calling, control freakin, red paint slingin, blah blah blah).
To cite MotherEarth: "There is no reason to kill defenseless, innocent animals for a rug or chair cover! Duh, how sadistic and stupid can people get!" I understand how that can be quickly taken out of context and twisted and contorted by people who hold the opposite opinion, hence the beginnings of this defensive and offensive behaviour! It's just an opinion, not an insult thrown at anyone personally here (I perceive M.E. is directing his/her emotions towards the "killing" in the industry, ie the factory farms, fur trade, and/or animal slaughterhouses).
Okay, so yes, I agree that the *practices* of making animal products is indeed unjustifiable and, for a lack of a better word, 'expired'.
Sidenote... a close family member of mine works at at a mink farm, and I am fully knowledgeable of the facts within the industry... I have the respect and civility to spare you the details. Yet, I am not going to hold anything against my relative (or anyone else who believes similarly), nor am I going to try to do some "converting". For he is family ... and, think for a moment, aren't we all?
Things that make you go hmmmmm.
Tolerance and respect. Important words.
Missy, you make me laugh by stating "fur-haters are supposed to be the the exalted, more civilized ones" and they are (my personal favorite) "phony peacemakers". Pardon me, but I am confused? Is that not passing judgement (ie labelling) that you so strongly condemn? No such thing, dear, you *must* know that. We are all equal, created equal, and are each given equal opportunity to opinion and choice. Think about it.
So much hypocrisy entwined within the finger-pointing! So sad, yet I find this blasphemous language and sanctimonious self-righteousness strangely amusing!
Yet, the lesson is so incredibly simple. Let's revisit what we were taught when we were teenyweeny youngsters:
Have *RESPECT* and tolerance towards other people's views, practice *COMPASSION* and *LOVE* and treat others how you want to be treated, do not be so quick to *JUDGE* others, and last but not least...let's aim to live in harmony and be at *PEACE*. Truly, people, it's not rocket science!
Afterall, if Mahatma Ghandi, Dali Lama, and Nelson Mandela can choose and embrace and live all of the above, so can YOU!!!
You guys are all a great bunch, let's keep it that way!
xo Lynn
Thanks, Lynn. Way to set it straight. You said it perfectly and graciously! Now let's all get back on track!
Thanks Lynn .. too bad you missed the whole point of my post. But you basically said everything that I already did - not very creative, but I'll give you an 'A' for effort (and a smiley face to boot!) :)
See how easy it is for even YOU to miss the point .. DEAR? .. lol ..
You people still crack me up!!!
Fab use of color. Love the contrast with the natural beauty that flows in from your windows! I esp. love the use of table as a desk and your animal skin rug. You must tell me how to get a rug of my own. Thanks for sharing your home and creativty with us all!!!