Name: Kristen
Location: Chicago, IL
Why I use color:
"I love a feast for the senses. These colors remind me of Neapolitan ice cream, cherry blossoms, even donuts! Everything here is not just colorful but tactile too. At just 7.5' x 9.5', this room is smaller than lots of states' jail cells (so small that pictures are tough) - so I aimed to make it into a luxurious little jewel box with seductive, touchable fabrics and rich, pale colors."
"This entire room was decorated in less than a week with absolutely no money. Everything is a hand-me-down, Craigslist/estate/garage sale cheapie, or dumpster dive special. New fabrics came from a discount outlet, and the Flor was bought on clearance for half the price. I consider myself a true "dumpster diva"! It's a great place to be inspired."
Color Tips:
"1. Start with a color that you have a strong and pleasant associations - whether that's of a place you love, of your favorite flowers (this room was based on the fresh pale pink of dogwood and cherry blossoms), or even food. (Food is never a bad place to start - if you want to eat up a room because the colors are so luscious, you're doing something right!) So if a certain yellow makes you hungry for a hot buttery croissant, if a barkcloth pillow reminds you of unny days at Grandma's, or if a silk curtain panel instantly conjures the image of a Turkish boudoir - go for it! Make it the central theme of your room and you're off to the races."
"2. Don't feel tied to an object that you're not crazy about. Couches can be covered, or if they really don't blow your skirt up, swapped out for something you love more. *ALL* furniture - even expensive furniture - is a dime a dozen - there's someone who'll pay you to take it away, and someone who'll sell you what you really want at a price you can afford, if you're willing to watch and wait. That is why God made Craigslist and eBay.
3. Don't assume that you can't do something you love without a lot of money, time or expertise. All you need is a little planning around what you have, and an organized attitude about finding what you want to fill out your idea. "
Had to smile -- my mother went for your accent purple heavily in her own sewing room. I guess it just says, "Let's create!"
THANK GOD! this is the LAST entry!
I suspect your picture quality does not do justice to this room. I really love using clothing as wall art and that kimono looks gorgeous.
Thanks.
Agreed, I need a drink! Luigi, if I were in NYC I'd meet you for an espresso.
Neapolitan ice cream AND the dotted-Swiss dress that Winona Ryder wore in Age of Innocence, which I absolutely loved her in. The brown with the pink is really pretty delicious.
This is so, so wonderful. Kristen, the way you write about your considerable accomplishment made me smile and made me proud of you. Such creativity and such a positive way of looking at dumpster diving. I too wish I could get to know you.
Your room makes me happy.
Both opposable thumbs UP.
Can I have this room?
As others have said, it's especially gratifying that people on a budget can "blow my skirt up"....cue naughty rejoinder from p(too).
Next contest, can we have more subcategories, with separate prizes for Mostest with the Leastest, etc.?
Kristen, you make color LIVE. It's fun to see for ourselves, but to have you narrate us through the room was a bonus joy. You write so well and your little sewing room is gorgeous!
i'm jealous of anyone who has a dedicated space for sewing. I love the brown and pink, the lamp and the little dancing ladies and the striped curtains.
Kristen,
You're my kind of girl! If you don't win a prize, you should receive a copy of the set "The Tightwad Gazette!" Great set of books, I couldn't dedicate myself as well to the regimen as the author, but I've learned alot from them. Your room is subliminally energized relaxation. You've done a very nice job and thanks for sharing your sources. Low cost treasures are the epitome of recycling and you've put it together well.
Cooking Cajun
Thank you, everybody, for the nice comments!
My photos are indeed crappy. I finished painting at 11:53 before the midnight deadline, so they're taken in terrible light. The pink came out, but it dominated everything and you can't see what's going on. The actual colors/materials are a deep chocolate brown and cream ultrasuede in the curtains, with pink and brown braid, walnut faux-painted wood on the desk and dresser, deep brown leather lamps, and russet-y brown & fawn colored Flor tiles. The kimono is a rich russet-red with pink, gold and brown in it, the Chinese scroll is cream on grey, with red and pink accents, and the rawhide shades have little flecks of aqua blue. There's other stuff that's obliterated in the photos - a leopard hat, various brown & pink scraps of tweeds and barkcloth - that picks up the same stuff without being too matchy-matchy. The ladies (my favorite) were scavenged from a pile of construction waste in the back yard at an estate sale, and they were 100% free! They're my favorite find ever - I believe they were part of a (tragically dismantled) "girlie" theme 1940s basement bar. Gotta love Chicago!
I really do appreciate the kind words- I feel lucky even to be in the same contest with some of the amazing stuff here.
I'd love to see better photos when you have time to take them.
ohmigosh, those are ladies! And all this time I've been thinking they were monkeys! (cue Homer Simpson voice: "mmmm, monkeys.) Seriously, though, I really want to eat those curtains! ("mmm, neopolitan ice cream!")
if you made dresses you would be my saivior. brown and pink are my girlfriends favorite colors and im trying to find a vintage brown and pink polka dotted dress, but i cant find any. who knows, maybe im looking in all the wrong places (which is most likely th problem.)