apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Beautiful! I love the teal and the red. The entire space looks warm and inviting.

I like the general direction you're going. For some reason though, the greenery isn't working for me (topiaries, etc). I think it's distracting to the eye.

When I see the colors I think of a peacock, but in a good way. I love that shade of blueish green (or is it greenish blue?).
Either way I really like your space!

I like the red valances...but they seem like the only real use of color to me.

Is the painting referenced the one over the TV? If that is the inspiration I would think there would be more deeper blues and greens around?

The teal curtains look gorgeous! An interesting mix of textures/surfaces too.

it looks very dated and I dont really see any color jumping out at me. Its looks very midwestern and that ain't a good think especially if you live in Oakland. Its also looks very overcrowded with knick knacks, bric-a-brac and such. I don't even know what to say about that topiary thingy. Overall I would have to say that its dreadful.

Edina Monsoon,

The design and color of this entry is much better than your grammar, spelling, typing, and observation skills - the entrant lives in Richmond, VA, not Oakland.

Your comments are rude and unneccessary.

Correction:

Edina Monsoon,

The design and color of this entry are much better than your grammar, spelling, typing, and observation skills - the entrant lives in Richmond, VA, not Oakland.

Your comments are rude and unneccessary.

I like the topiary! I'm always surprised by the lack of plants in AT submissions.

Richmond, VA, Yea!

I love the teal curtains with the red valances! However, I would like to see those colors somewhere else in the design. There is only one red pillow and the teal colors are actually in another room.

If you ignore the curtains, the rooms are very neutral in both color and feel. Take advantage of the curtain's excitement and decorate with that boldness in mind.

Don't see much color here besides beige and cherry...wait...isn't this an apartment therapy contest?... frankly I'm tired of the 12-bedroom rural mcmansions popping up...oh, the topiary stays...its really all the place has going for it, aside from the capiz lantern.

Hi Guys its Heather,

Thanks for the comments, all I can say is "oh well, we tried" for those who dislike our space. I still love it:-). I used the topiary to break up the space; I would love to use a metal sculpture but we are both non-union teachers....plants are much less expensive. The color of the walls is actually a greenish gold....didn't seem to come out in the pics. Our space is 1200sq feet...not much of a mansion. Also we actually live in the city of Richmond, not in the suburbs. I love this site but I have also figured out that I don't have the backbone for your nasty comments. Thanks to everyone for their constructive comments and to those who are willing to post their homes, it takes a lot.

Heather,

I love the curtains. Where did you get them? What material are they made of?

We got the curtains from JCpenneys, all four panels for 75...not bad! I know they still have them, because we have only been in our space for six months...so they are still around. The valances were made by us. Take Care-

There's something about capiz that conjures up warm throughts of being on a tropical island, with cabanas and coconut juice.

On another note, I'm really liking all the reflective surfaces in your den/living area. Though I'm not entirely keen on the colors as a whole (I'm drawn to bolder colors, but again, this is a matter of personal preference) the way light is bounced around the room certainly makes the space more visually stimulating.

Edina,

I have a feeling that your days are numbered.

A LONG SHOT!!! Not good.

Hi Melanie, it's Heather

Could you tell me what you don't like about it and what you would improve that next time around. Do you have pictures of your space to point me in the right direction. Thanks and have a great weekend-

I love the whole place...the furniture is gorgeous but where did you get that mirror?

Heather,

Don't worry about the negative comments from Melanie and Edina. Your house is sure beautiful and very neat. I’m sure they’re jealous and hate the idea that
they don’t have a nice place like yours. People that don’t have anything positive to say should just be quiet.

Enjoy your beautiful home!:-)

Wow thanks bebel. Your comments make me feel a lot better. I guess I am a tender hearted teacher.

This is our first home together and I am really proud that we can even own a home as teachers and that we designed/decorated it together. Thanks again.

OOPS...the mirror is Storehouse on clearance...only 200!!

WHERE DID YOU GET THE SOFA??? LOVE THE SOFA!

We actually got it from EQ3, for around 1200. It is so very comfortable, but if I did it again I would choose a hearty fabric.

Heather,
Sorry to say, but I have never seen a color combination as hideous as this. Teal with Red? Not sure how teal makes it into the category of "Fall Colors". What were you thinking, there is clearly no coherent plan. I can practically taste the bile in my throat. Who decorates a room around a picture? Maybe you got the idea out of some bad 80's movie like "Working Girl", or the same JCPenney catalog where you found the drapes? The mirrors must be from the same bad movie. Are the plants even real? Who puts a topiary in their living room, maybe on the porch, but a living room? All around this room is bad! The only redeeming quality is the pendant light in the Dining Room. Wish the survey was still on. Definitely a LONG SHOT, I see others agree.

msvelvet, One can only imagine what a pitiful life you must lead to post such comments.
Heather

Hi Heather, I quite like the quiet richness scattered around the rooms, and I think the colors are pretty and *almost* connect up together. I think there is just a little bit of continuity missing, but it shouldn't take a lot to grab it. Here's my idea, which shouldn't require a huge repaint of the walls, or new furniture, or anything else major...

I agree with the earlier poster that if you are taking your inspiration from the goldfish painting, there should be more deep greens and blues (the teal curtains are a good start). Something a painter friend of mine does that I don't generally see around, and which breaks any decor out of the "cookie cutter" mode is to paint the mats of your pictures. You could use swirling deep greens and blues like in the picture, or use one of those colors on each picture, leaving cool brush stroke textures.

Last of all, I like the teal/red painting, and the red grasses in front of it.

Best of luck to you!

melanie is lame and a coward ha