Name: Alana W.
Location: Washington,DC
Why I use color:
"I use color to separate areas. Having lived in small, city apartments, I often have rooms that need to be used for many distinct functions. For example, the room I've submitted is my dining, living, and kitchen area. I love using a bold, punch of color like this pumpkin color on a wall to define a particular area, even if it is seen from the rest of the room. The trick is not to make the room a hodgepodge of fighting colors. Contrast against furniture and materials is really important too. I wouldn't use all dark colors or all light colors entirely. Color should be a mood setter and emphasize the things in a room that you're attracted to. I think it's true that orange is a great color for enjoying company and cuisine."
Color Tips:
"(1) No more than 2 or three bold colors in a room
(2) Using two different colors of the same tone against a contrasting color often works
(3) Throw it all out there and strip it down to a wall here or there and add some great accents"
Color Resources:
"1. Paint Recipes by Liz Wagstaff
2. Random orchids"
I love the green tile in the kitchen.
I think this is a lovely room--the colors are bold, yet mature, and it doesn't look too matchy match.
I love the tiled backsplash. It adds a delightful dimension to the kitchen.
Very topical with the pumpkins and all. I like how they tie in with the fantastic pumpkin colored wall. I think this needs more color for this contest though.
Genius. Sometimes less is more, even in color contests. Subtle yet bold.
What style! I love the use of color, contrasting patterns, and modern furniture. The look is hip, urban, relaxed, and also very fun!!!
I love the use of contrast and color throughout this apartment, particularly the bold pumpkin colored wall next to the green tile backsplash in the kitchen. These warm colors tie in nicely with the modern furniture, subtle accents, and hardwood floors, for a sophisticated, contemporary, and fun look.
Great room. Nice use of color and space. Love the layout.
This apartment is snazzy! Just the right mix of contemporary and classic. The color helps to separate each area.
I love the contrast of the dark wood kitchen table/chairs with the pumpkin wall. Also, the backsplash in the kitchen is fantastic!
Color is everything and is used here brilliantly to define and conquer space issues. Bold and exciting, modern and clean. Bravo!
I believe the pumpkin color and tranquil contrasts inspire a mood of comfort and potential self-actualization. The space is limitless, yet womblike in its embrace. The Autumnal oeuvre sets an inviting, lively theme without crossing into the dangerously garish. I'm attracted to this space, and can imagine waiting with bated breath for the cuisine within.
I love the flow of the kitchen into the dining room. I love the pumpkin! The rooms are so inviting. Great job.
The pumpkin is AWESOME. I am a "color phobe" myself (scared of anything that's not a shade of beige) but this really looks gorgeous.
The white trimmed Art Deco-esque cut-through the orange wall adds the right mix of modern and funky.
Superb use of color to open up rooms and make them flow into each other. The living space is inviting and comfortable. Brilliant!
Having seen the before and after of this space I think this person deserves 2 blue ribbons! Fabulous transformation! Colors are exciting and functional.
Karen Barker, Long and Foster
The very appealing pumpkin color wall gives wonderful life to the room and overall space without being overbearing. Subtle and contrasting color accents throughout the entire place work extremely well together and are beautifully integrated within the design concept of the total area. A very well thought-out and pleasingly livable environment!
I like everything about it, but I was immediately attracted to the pumpkin-colored wall.
The apartment is bold and modern yet very livable. Definitely worthy of a blue-ribbon!
I love it!!! Great tile and colors!
Alana W. has captured space-time in these gorgeous rooms. Einstein discovered the elegant formula that changed physics, E=MC(squared), where E is energy, M is mass, and C is the speed of light. Alana has discovered the formula to revolutionize interior design, B=PC(squared), where B is Blue Ribbon, P is pumpkin, and C is color. I cannot wait for her adaptation of String Theory. Do they make ribbons on eleven dimensions?
hmmm.... i love love love the tile and how it contrasts with the pumpkin shade- not the typical orange. i just feel like there could be a few elements in the living room area to tie the space together. i know you want to break up the space, but adding a few throw pillows that tie in that great pumpkin or some other accesory(ies) would really top it off for me!
Well, I'm no cunning linguist but this this is a room I could spend time in, preferably over one of those 5-hour meals with great company and lots and lots of fine red wine.
I really like the mirror you have in the picture it looks great with the white and orange contrast.
Where did you get it at?
I always thought orange was a great colour for enjoying company and cuisine! I also always thought fuchsia pink was an erogenously stimulating colour great for enjoying ones own genitalia, but that's for the master bedroom. Ok seriously now, I love it. Orange offsets the azure mosaic tiles perfectly (but I'm afraid those cabinets just have to go!) Great all-seeing 70s retro mirror and I'm also taken by that curious skeletal twig plant holder in the background of the living room. Creative genius through and through.
This apartment is a fabulous blend of city chic, vintage sass, and good design -- all brought together by a great choice in colors. Bravo!
This is the one. Bold use of color, but not too bold. The orange highlights in the backsplash and in the cupboard bring it all together. But that's not a pee stain on the couch, is it?
Alana's place is so inviting, warm, and cozy - yet so suited to city living. I love it! The color palette is sensational.
Funny, I painted my living room orange too. We must be related...
Sorry, but painting one wall doesn't qualify you to win an apartment color contest in my book.
Solid. ...Of course, I'd be happy in a yurt with a dirt floor, as long as there was a recliner in front of a big TV showing a football game. But this is very nice too.
Alana has done a spendid job of arranging her kitchen, dining and open living room areas. With her creative use of color to set off her dining area and the use of irridescent color tiles for her kitchen backsplash, she has captured a contemporary, relaxed mood so condusive to entertaining friends. This apartment definitely qualifies for the blue ribbon. In fact, I would love Alana to do wonders for my living space.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the pumkin color!
The orange hue is totally warming, relaxing. It's so important to have a welcoming feeling, especially in thoses places, where meals are shared and serious (or not) conversations had. So the color creates an opening for people, if you will.
The hue also just looks aromatic -- harkins pumpkin spice and cider on the one hand; paprika and chili on the other.
The dark wood is classy, the walls warm, the dark appliances sheek, the tile cooling and mod. It's a win win.
I love the retro white trim!