apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time


#35 - Amanda's Medium for Expression

Name: Amanda
Location: Harrisburg, PA
Type: 3 bedroom, owned

Why I use color:

Color has given my home so much character and provided another medium of expression for me in my favorite space. It inspires me, centers me, and renews me. Color is easily accessible, endlessly unique, and completely uncomplicated...

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Each shade and hue makes a statement and conveys a personality all its own. Color has made the most significant contribution to the transformation of my house into a home. I think the more appropriate question might be "Why not use color?!"

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2 Good color tips:

1. Choose a color based on the mood or feeling you want to set for the room.

2. Don't be afraid to try a color you really like. You can always repaint it!

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Favorite type and brand of paint:

Valspar (you can find it at Lowe's) It is great paint with excellent color choices and is totally affordable! I have even had professional painters recommend it to me.

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Comments (25)

I'm not typically someone who loves blue, but the bedroom is beautiful. I love the roman shades. The whole room looks very peaceful.

posted by dmstudio on 2007-10-24 16:38:39
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oooh I like how white is the consistent colour througout. And now for the obligatory Where did you get that (silk?) Roman shade and the duvet cover in the white/pink/red room?? I love them both!

posted by Clairepetrol on 2007-10-24 16:39:33
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What a gourgous shade of blue.

posted by SoSpunky5 on 2007-10-24 16:51:16
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I like the bedroom but I dont like each room is sooo color-coordinated. Gets a bit boring.

posted by jgee on 2007-10-24 16:54:22
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Love the bedroom. Would think that some contrasting pieces would take the rooms to the next level. Red or orange or bright green where you least expect it.

posted by TracyM on 2007-10-24 17:12:21
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Great paint color choices! I'd encourage you to mix things up a bit. Go nuts and explore contrasting colors and accessories/artwork that, at first glance, don't match. You might be surprised by what unexpected color combinations you come up with.

posted by mmadden on 2007-10-24 17:12:47
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This is the first entry that made me "MMMM!" at every picture. I love it.

posted by chellebird on 2007-10-24 19:40:43
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I like the mirror over the bathroom sink. Improves the vanity.

posted by monarda on 2007-10-24 20:08:29
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I love the blue in that bedroom, and I like the contrast of colors in the living room. I think this may be my favorite entry so far!

posted by Maureen on 2007-10-24 20:33:41
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The blue, ebony (or "espresso"?) and whites of the bedroom compliment each other beautifully and peacefully. And then I saw the living room, and knew that I was home.

What's for dinner?

;-)

posted by btoddster on 2007-10-24 20:56:07
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This is lovely and so well composed but still lived-in looking. Thank you for sharing this. I agree that bringing in a little contrast in accessories would help take this to the next level but I am still voting insta. Love it.

posted by Anne (in Reno) on 2007-10-24 21:43:51
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I love this!

posted by fastkat on 2007-10-24 23:06:41
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It's not just white that's in all the rooms, there's white and black, too. So, although each room has its own color, there really is a theme going on. I think that the color of yellow you used in the bathroom goes very well with that wood vanity, which really should all keep in mind, because I KNOW that there will be more people asking how to make that work in a "good question" or two at some point in future, and we'll want to remember to put a link to this in our answers.

I really like this entry a lot.

posted by Curtis on 2007-10-24 23:24:07
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I like how the orange you selected by the tub makes what appear to be somewhat dated tile recede into the background and almost appear fresh and modern. Instead of picking an obvious color out of the tile, you took a color with a hue and saturation on the more energetic end of the spectrum.

posted by Gur on 2007-10-25 01:06:24
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Everything looks to "done" in a very West Elm/Pottery Barn catalog kind of way.

posted by Bruised on 2007-10-25 01:49:31
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beautiful colors!

posted by juge on 2007-10-25 05:44:04
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While I do love the choice and use of colors, I agree that it is bit too "coordinated". A little more contrast would be nice.

I do, however, love the bed in the first image. Where did you get it?

posted by rebelsoul30 on 2007-10-25 09:31:04
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I like strong colors... very brave. But I get the sense that each room has just one color that dominates everything. I agree with the other comments that there should be some other colors mixed into the fray.

posted by hejiranyc on 2007-10-25 09:40:13
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Yay Harrisburg! PA Represent! :) I like the "apple cider" color in the last photo...great colors.

posted by Christine (the one in DC) on 2007-10-25 09:53:58
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A co-worker just walked by and saw the first picture, "Monochromatic much?" she says.

Personally, I think the blues are glorious.
Endlessly relaxing.
So fresh too!

I don't know about anyone else, but after seeing that bedroom, I'm definitely ready for a nap!

posted by marc from vancouver on 2007-10-25 10:13:16
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Nice, but a little too matchy-matchy and very much like a catalog. It makes it seem like there's no creativity or personality involved.

posted by sspros on 2007-10-25 11:46:06
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LOVE this.
Looks so clean and bright.

posted by kerry0 on 2007-10-25 12:35:15
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It's very pick-a-wallcolor-for-each-room(ish) but eh, It's okay. I would like to see the wall colors used more creatively. Maybe not to see all of the walls of a particular room painted the same color. The paint job looks very detailed and precise, like a professional did them... superb!
It's a lovely looking home.

posted by orangejuce on 2007-10-25 12:53:12
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Oh please, please, please tell me the name of that blue and the white on the trim. It's hard to match it to the right Valspar color from the pic. I would love you forever. Could you please email it to me. Thanks.

posted by amisare waswerebeen on 2007-10-25 13:54:56
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I think it's quite brave to go with a monochromatic scheme in each room. It reminds me of the bookshelves with the books grouped by color.

posted by kaylia on 2007-10-26 22:31:12
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