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East #28: Randi in BK's Color Quirks


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fallcolors3.jpgName: Randi in BK
Location: Brooklyn Heights, NY
Type of Home: 1 BR apt
What inspired you to use color? Life as a renter in New York City has made quite an impact on my color choices. Being stuck with white walls in most of my apartments has meant rethinking ways to inject a bit of life and energy without painting, which has led to bolder choices in furniture and accessories. Could I have imagined having a dusty rose couch and chartreuse chair in the same room five years ago? No way. But going with my gut instinct has led me to being more confident and embracing my personal style, quirks and all...

 
 

Color Tip: Forget matchy-matchy. The most important thing is to stick to similar hues. For the living room, I chose muted shades that feel a little fuzzy (rose, olive, dark chartreuse, dark gray) and steered clear of in-your-face primary colors. Even though nothing matches perfectly, it still seems to "go".
Colors Used: Valspar Hematite 4006-2C in entryway and bedroom

Fall Colors Introduction -------------------------------

fallcolors1.jpgWelcome, everyone, to our Fourth Annual Fall Colors Sharing & Contest. We're looking for the most beautiful & colorful home in the world and sharing all of the great ideas we get with our readers. This year we're amping things up and hoping to do things better than ever. There are two basic phases, the Sharing Phase and the Voting Phase...

1. Sharing Phase - you comment, judges decide

The 40 best, completed entries will be posted on a daily basis for three weeks. You can view them all at anytime via our new, improved contest pages under ALL ENTRIES. During this time your comments are VERY IMPORTANT as our six judges will be choosing 16 finalists from each region based on comments and their own colorful opinion.

2. Voting Phase - you vote till you drop

Starting October 20th, finalist voting will begin on a daily basis through our new bracketed voting system, which will pit our 16 finalists against one another until only one remains. Sound exciting? We hope so.

Best, Maxwell

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Comments (37)

What a lovely living room. I never thought I would want a pink sofa - but that is divine.

posted by oklagirl on October 9th 2008 at 12:43pm
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I'm really glad that you went with your gut because I LOVE the dusty rose couch and the chartreuse chair together! I think your living room is very inviting.

posted by jessibee on October 9th 2008 at 12:43pm
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Just beautiful. It's all the best of MCM's clean lines, but softened and personal. :)

posted by bren03 on October 9th 2008 at 12:53pm
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There are a lot of pieces in this house that I normally don't favor, but you've managed to make them work. The only issue I have is the mirror/bar table area. Something just doesn't feel right about that space. I agree with the chartreuse and dusty rose complimenting each other beautifully. :)

posted by Kimber on October 9th 2008 at 12:56pm
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Love how all the colors are so soft. Looks very sophisticated. Kind of gives the space a romantic feel without being too girly. LOVE LOVE!!!

posted by funkylola on October 9th 2008 at 1:03pm
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Can you tell me where the artwork in the livingroom came from? The one with lots of white and splashes of yellow and orange? It's amazing!

posted by semidivine on October 9th 2008 at 1:08pm
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randi could you let us know who the artist is behind the piece in the living room? (the yellow, pink, orangy one).

i've never really bought art, and i'm trying to figure out what i like... and i looove this!

love your home as well!

posted by eribear12 on October 9th 2008 at 1:09pm
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Very nice and well edited. A good use of desaturated colors. Personally I trend toward the primaries a bit more, but thats me.

posted by Modfan on October 9th 2008 at 1:20pm
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Love, love, love this!!!!
Where did you get that sofa???
There is nothing in this apartment that I don't love!!!

posted by rhianna on October 9th 2008 at 1:22pm
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Great headboard! and i like the desk chair (and Mac, of course)

posted by MellowModernMegan on October 9th 2008 at 1:29pm
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Randi, could you please also tell us where your bedside lamp is from?

posted by mildred on October 9th 2008 at 1:35pm
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love love the colour choice in your bedroom--really makes the headboard pop!

posted by Pablo Rosario on October 9th 2008 at 2:34pm
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I'm also loving the orange/yellow artwork! I'd love to know where it's from.

posted by Cassy on October 9th 2008 at 2:35pm
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What a lovely colorful and cozy home - I always enjoy seeing the successful mix of vintage and new.

posted by bepsf on October 9th 2008 at 3:12pm
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I absolutely love this apartment. It's sophisticated, yet welcoming. It also shows that using color doesn't have to be about painting something bold. There's energy in subtle too.

posted by Ellecapitale on October 9th 2008 at 3:34pm
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oh my, this is lovely.

posted by kellylc on October 9th 2008 at 3:59pm
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great! where do you get the white table under the gold mirror?

posted by mariegael on October 9th 2008 at 4:00pm
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I like your place, and your choice of art looks really great in it. I too especially like your living room. That sheepskin rug under the end table cracks me up, though. I also love the headboard on your bed.

posted by Margiefriend on October 9th 2008 at 4:34pm
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This is a lovely, sophisticated use of color. Someone has been to art school, methinks...

posted by Lisa Hunter (Montreal) on October 9th 2008 at 4:43pm
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Beautiful and serene. I love it!

posted by Caitlin in Seattle on October 9th 2008 at 4:53pm
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Is that a Brasilia dresser I see? I have the DR set--table, chairs and credenza.

Great apartment with a good sense of when to use Plexi!

posted by madsarah on October 9th 2008 at 5:19pm
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I love it all! The bar area does feel a bit cluttered next to the shelves and the thing that's covering the bottom part of the shelf however it's realistic. We don't have to look like we live in a magazine. I also want to know about that art!!!!!!!

posted by rosiewm on October 9th 2008 at 5:20pm
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I love the blue in the bedroom - I've been looking for something very similar for my abode! What's the brand/name?

posted by bksarah on October 9th 2008 at 6:41pm
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I love this place and the color combinaitons.
I like color but I find some of the 'in your face' colors of other posts just too much. They make me excited and nervous and for me a home should primarily be a place of calm where you can unwinde after a long day. This place is just that.

posted by Nina79 on October 10th 2008 at 12:27am
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lovely home and use of colors.
your book, Timeless Tiaras, is intriguing, it looks quite thick and interesting to think there are so many in this world.

is there a cat in a few photos?
also love the orange art in the living room.

posted by sassydo on October 10th 2008 at 4:32am
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Very nice. Very domino, in a good way.

posted by brittanykate on October 10th 2008 at 7:05am
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Love the color in your entryway / bedroom. Thank you for sharing it!

posted by GinaAnn9 on October 10th 2008 at 10:40am
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Very subdued and lovely mixing.

posted by Elizabeth II on October 10th 2008 at 11:16am
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I was out all day and came home to find my apartment posted! Thank you so much for all of the lovely comments, I'm thrilled to get such good feedback from this great community.

To answer a few questions:

The artwork in the living room is by Jen Dunlap, a friend and wonderful artist. Visit her at www.funlap.com.

I bought the couch at Two Jakes in Williamsburg. If you are a MCM fan, I can't recommend it enough. They have reasonable prices and a great selection. This particular couch actually came from the Time Life building from the '60s.

The bedside lamp is a Jonathan Adler base.

Yes, it is a Brasilia dresser! It's always fun seeing the other pieces in that collection. I got it at Repop in Fort Greene.

As for art school--no, although I wish I had the means to go back to school for interior design. Maybe someday! I am a writer with an expertise in jewelry, hence the Tiara book. And there is an animal in the pics, but she's actually a dog (albeit a tiny one).

posted by Randi in BK on October 10th 2008 at 2:38pm
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When do I move in?

posted by carlac on October 10th 2008 at 3:21pm
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lovely. great use of lucite. ditto all the positive comments above. your artwork is wonderful, especially, to me at least, the large piece with white desk, Ghost chair--fresh.

posted by avianmission on October 11th 2008 at 4:51am
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I love the living room photo. I also love that you feature your friend's artwork.

posted by Hope on October 11th 2008 at 8:14am
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Love the colors together! Proportion is so important in a small apartment, and you've nailed it with furniture placement and design. Beautiful!

posted by laurenpaige on October 11th 2008 at 8:57am
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Love it. A top contender.

posted by martita on October 12th 2008 at 5:29pm
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OK BUT SERIOUSLY: where did you get the seven deadly sins pillow. I want!!!

posted by marlamischief1 on October 21st 2008 at 9:32am
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The pillows are from Jonathan Adler--I got them at a sample sale and I LOVE them!

posted by Randi in BK on October 21st 2008 at 11:06am
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Love it!

posted by Nevis on October 22nd 2008 at 12:07pm
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