apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

How did you mount the light fixtures in the bedroom and where are they from? I am looking for something just like it!

It looks like some really nice colors, but unfortunately, the lighting in the pictures make it impossible to see any of the subtle touches. Though on the plus side, it looks like your apartment gets tons of sun!!

What a cheery abode! Leave your Prozac at the door!

This looks like a very do-able and live-able use of bold color.
And you're killing me with “Tears of a Black Tiger”
so I want to see "Darjeeling Express" in the living room!
:)

Love everything (EXCEPT FOR THAT MIDDLE PICTURE). What is that art in the very last picture??

Really love that shot of your bedroom. Great color combo.

I love the squareness of the couch and the coffee table softened by the circularity of the rug. A beautiful job!

LOVE LOVE LOVE

While the photos are not great, the place sure is!

So gorgeous! I'd love a close-up of the white-on-white damask. I really love this place.

WOW. Come re-do my place ;-)

Beautiful! Insta-finalist for me. I was already planning to do something bold with my kitchen but you've just inspired me to try and pluck up my courage for the bathroom.
Just going to go and have another little enjoy of your pictures now...

This is just incredibly beautiful and harmonious. I really like the fabric wall hangings behind the sofa, an elegant way to bring color in.

you mentioned three of my favorite directors!
i LOVE the marble-topped table and those chairs...
the bedroom shot is great and i really like the pink in the bathroom-- well done!

Rock star. I'm in love. Can't wait to see more pics after the contest.

Please give details about your bedroom linens! Love this cheerful spot.

The drapery panels behind the couch are wickedly good!

I think this is the happiest entry I've seen. Bravo!

I totally love the second pic! Awesome job! Insta-finalist :-)

I love your apartment- and your description makes me think you'd be a super-cool person to hang out with, too. Your space reflects this so well. LOVE it!

Love the vision here. Bold but pulled-together colors and an upbeat, warm feel. Plenty of personality shines through in the well-featured art. Excellent work.

What a beautiful place! I love all the small details like the double line above the baseboard in the last shot. This entry really feels like a home that was built up over time with a realistic budget. It's the kind of combination of new, used and made that I imaging most of us live with. It's so well edited but not at all a just-for-show home. My favorite by far!

thanks for all the great feedback! this site has been a lifeline & font of glorious inspiration as i put my apartment together, so i'm happy to get a chance to share it with y'all :)

to address some queries:
* the bedroom lights are from west elm. i had to rewire them for plug-in. don't seem to be on sale anymore :(
* the bedroom linens are from eq3. found them at the richmond, va store when visiting a friend. it is tough to find fun, modern & colorful sheets, ya know! the yellow blanket is ikea while the white bedspread is from FOLD. oh, the pink-ish pillows are from target while the peacock one is from michele varian... gorgeous in person!
* the small painting in the last photograph is by glenn ligon... a lovely gift from the artist after we did a project together: http://collections.walkerart.org/item/archive/2503

sorry about the poor photo quality. had only one weekend and a lousy point 'n' shoot. if i make it to the finals, i heretofore promise to seek out a better camera and to show you the white-on-white damask stencils (which i adore :)

How do you rewire lights to be plub-in?

well, i took the hardwire lamp into home depot and asked them what to get (basically an extensiton cord & an on/off switch) and then gave them to a handyman i've hired for various jobs and like magic it was done!

in other words, i don't know the nitty-gritty details, but it didn't seem too hard and the home depot guys/handyman really helped :)

Kemi's place looks fabulous! It is brilliantly inspired colors with classic details! She should win the whole contest!

Kemi,
Your apartment is an inspiration and a joy! I cannot wait to own my own home, and explore the palettes of my favorite directors, two of whom you name! Here's to boldness, brightness and elegance in all things!

My fave is the black chairs at the end. They are gorgeous!! In fact, I love all the hits of black, they really bring the colours to life.

I love this place! I love being able to see two contrasting colors - pink and teal, from the same room. I've always wanted to paint a room teal!

kemi,
The place looks great. Lots of bright colors and beautiful artwork. Looking at your place makes me want to redecorate and paint my own home :)

Tola Renee

Simply gorgeous!

So elegant and cheerful. I love your boldness and warmth.

What an eye for detail and color! I love that this apartment works on both a macro and micro scale - the big bold palette that you get from a distance and the carefully selected artwork that peppers the walls. Can't wait to see more details in the finals . . . I am dying to see those white damask walls ;)

Wow, Kemi--I had no idea your apartment was so cute! I especially like what you did around the baseboards, with the black lines. Great job and congratulations.

--Eduardo

Okay, you've converted me. I keep saying I really don't like yellow, but... this is one of the finest uses of yellow I've ever seen. I absolutely love it in small doses paired with the shocking pink.

I love the first pic, those lights by your bed are totally fab. And - what a great idea to mount the fake chandelier (from Urban Outfitters?) to the wall - I may steal that idea.

I adore the second pic where you have let us see the full integration of the colors and how they relate to each other. I struggled a little with the sofa and the rug - they seem a tad incongruous to me. But - I hope you win and can replace them! I love the acrylic table and lamp.

And your art collection is to die for.

Great work! Hope to see you in the finals!

P.S. - I had to look at your wonderful apartment again. I may have been wrong about my opinion of your sofa and rug. I see there are earthy touches as well as the bold color on my second view. Perhaps this apartment is more skillfully layered than I at first realized.

Beautiful. Simply beautiful. Can't wait to see more.

Now THIS is bold and colorful! I'd like to see more of the bathroom though, to see how the pink theme is worked out.

I am instantly inspired by Kemi's style. Her home is a clean setting with plenty of personality. All done effectively on a realistic budget. Bravo

hi peggy, thanks for taking a 2nd look and your kind words! yes, there are actually several earthy touches throughout the space, including wooden african stool/end tables and sculputure. i didn't want it all too man-made.

as for the chandelier... yes, urban outfitters to the rescue again (i got a ton of fun colorful things there). i broke the half of the first chandelier (my clumsy gene), so i just re-purposed the unbroken half as art above my bed :)

yes, yellow grows on you... in small doses!

Kemi,
your studio looks amazing!!!. Love the color combination. Fantastico!!! Toyin.

kemi, your apartment is really striking, unforgettable and lovely. It would be a great place to come back to after a long day at work especially in the winter. Now I really must do something about my living room......

Ditmas Park in the house!

that is one killer foyer

Wow, this is amazing! This is how I want my apartment to look!

The yellow on the bed really hurt my eyes on the computer screen. Not a fan.

Love everything else!!