apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

looks like you just went into west elm and bought everything they had.

I like it. Some of it is alittle too matchy-matchy for my taste (the blue candles and bedspread in the BR and blue candle in the bath), but overall nicely done. I like the complementary shades of green used in the LR.

The subtle blue stripe in the bedroom is really super cool. However, the mushroom-colored couch really bothers me for some reason...it just dies against the vibrant green. Would you consider a white or yellow couch? Or a fun print?

Personally I'm over the dark-wood craze. I think you've got a good sense of sophistication here, but it needs a wee bit more personality. We dont get much sense of who you and your husband are. That being said, its a new house, and the kind of intricate layering that brings out your personality takes time. (but yeah...shop at an antique store, or a flea market once in a while - West Elm has enough of your money)

Matchy-matchy, but nice and calming.

I really like how your green stripe brings the eye away from the large TV.

It's a soothing and pretty space, and I like the graphic impact of the stripes on the walls. But I find it hard to get any sense of the owners' personalities from their home. With the exception of a wedding photo here and there, the adornments all appear to be very nondescript West Elm-ish things. Compared to the first two entries from the east, something just seems to be missing here.

Love the bedroom. I also like the green stripe behind the TV. The opposite wall seems very solid to me, though; you might consider adding patterned cusions to the sofa, especially in a contrasting color. Nicely done.

I feel like these colors are almost there, but not quite, maybe because everything is so color-coordinated (as others have mentioned). Nothing pops, so everything becomes a neutral, flat wash. I think it's worth pulling out a color wheel and taking some chances!

I love the well-placed horizontal stripes.

This kind of decorating makes me wonder if anyone really lives there. Looks too much like a showroom.

the stripes are super cool.

I agree with a lot of the comments above. It's too much matching for me. Too expected.

Hey, that's my TV! :) Love the green stripe behind it!

It all seems very soothing to me, but doesn't quite flow together as a whole. Each room seems too distinct and separate in its color theme for me. I like it, but feel as if something is missing to unite them a bit more.

Yes, it was surprising to see your photos after reading that you like to try out new colour combinations. But I shouldn't have been by your comments to your father, I quess.

Great start, though. I'm sure you'll get more daring as you both get used to making decisions together and taking risks.

I really like it. The horizontal stripes are strong and chic, and the orange in the bathroom is lovely.

the blue on the wall looks awesome. I've got a blue problem & if I could paint my walls they would all look like your blue walls.

Love the bamboo sticks in the bathroom too.

The term "match-matchy" makes me cringe.

I like the bathroom and the bedroom the best... I agree with an earlier comment about the couch, though. It doesn't quite work against that beautiful wall. But overall, kudos to you for being a) brave enough to be bold with color, and b) brave enough to enter your place to AT!

It's pretty, but a little too much like a hotel or (as stated above) the West Elm catalogue.

Also, it doesn't look like you get great light, so I would have opted for more light-colored wood and furniture. It seems dark in there! Of course, changing all that now would be easier said than done.

I like how you've incorporated plants and flowers in certain places. I think overall the place would gain a lot from a few off-kilter or less polished touches that would say "loosen up!". Maybe a big, wild-looking plant, even a small tree? And more photos or art (and larger art, too). I'm seeing a lot of wood and frames, but not focusing on what's inside the frames.

I love the stripes but besides the paint, what's inside the room needs some personality.

Too safe for me.

Matching the bedroom to your wedding colors is a great idea, very personal, very meaningful.

I'd love to know all the paint colors used for all these "fall colors" posts. If meant to inspire it would be great to be able to follow through if we see something we like... So, can you tell me what you used?
Thanks!

Very serene, but too matchy for me, too.....

I like the color choices, very spa-like...but like others have said, the space could use a few pieces of artwork and some vibrant textiles to liven it up just a bit. Very nice beginning...keep injecting your personality and collections to it.

while im sure the colors warm the space up a bit, all i could focus on was all the "stuff" you had on the walls...the shelves, the shelves, the pictures, the vases, etc...

theres just too much going on and it doesnt let the color speak for itself. the stuff above the couch looks too jumbled, especially next to the painted-grid of vases. you need something large and more "together" to anchor your couch. everything is too spread out...

same with the bedroom-- the ladder thing works alright, but everything else looks too...wimpy.

and in both bathrooms, you make the same mistake-- the white boxes of vases are both hung at the same height as whatever is next to it (a vase, a picture)...and it creates a large awkward space there.

yikes, reading back, this came across as harsh-- but i can see that you're totally into decorating, i just think you need to consider some different styles or ask your friends for some ideas. everything looks like it was bought all in one trip to the same place. change it up a bit! go for an element of surprise!

a good effort, not bad. the stripe behind the TV is the best color element.

First of all, I really like the choices you made for the wall paints. I think it's difficult to find a light blue that isn't blah and the color of your bedroom is that perfect shade. And the green stripe really is awesome!

As for the design of the apartment, I think it just suffers from "first place" syndrome. When I moved into my first apartment (2 years ago), I couldn't wait for it to be done. I had an excel spreadsheet with every specific piece of furniture I was going to buy (1 couch from CB2, 1 bookshelf from Ikea, 1 desk from West elm) etc, etc. and I had every intention to just go to each store and buy each piece. But in the end...I couldn't afford it! Which meant, I had to hunt craigslist and ebay and garage sales. I was able to find pieces that were much more interesting than the stuff that was on the list, and my apartment was all the better for it. When you set out to decorate a whole empty apartment, it's so easy to end up with a showroom that lacks character. The eclectic look of great apartments is hard to "buy". I think you just need time to grow into the apartment, so that it looks lived-in rather than decorated.

ok. you win.

West Elm comment hit the nail on the head. But the colors on their own are soothing. It just doesn't jazz me.

use a pattern somewhere please! It'll give some dimension to the space.

I like the use of stripes, but agree with the West Elm comment. It looks a bit too much like a purchased solution: nice looking, but catalogue-y, rather than personal.

I'd like to see more Yuki personality in his space!

It's not terribly bad. But OMG, enough with the wall hangings already! There's a shelf, shadow bow, or hanging vase on just about every wall. Where is the art? I'm not a fan of shelves over seating/sleeping ares such as sofas up against a wall or beds. They make me nervous that something will fall from the shelf and hit me on the head. Some wall art would make the space much more personalized and warm.

I really wanted to like this one, but only the walls work for me. Somehow everything else takes away from the color story. There just needs to be more focus.

very pastel. nothing very daring or with high contrast. a little bland, but, relaxing.

The stripes are great!

I know both green and blue are cool (vs. warm) colors, but for some reason the shades chosen do not dovetail completely.

I do like the orange/grey combo in bathroom #1.

This is a perfect example of why places like West Elm should be "to the trade only". Bringing good design to the masses is like making spandex pants in an XXL, i.e. the fact that you can buy it doesnt mean you should.

please ...put a white slipcover on your sofa..add some fun pillows (not so matchy matchy need another color for balance)..and tada...your done

ps: they must make all condo in mia that shape and size (cookie cutter)