#24 - Russell & Katie's Bright Retro Fabulous | Apartment Therapy San Francisco

#24 - Russell & Katie's Bright Retro Fabulous

Name: Russell & Katie
Location: San Jose
Type: 3 bedroom/2 bath bungalow. Owned.

Why I use color:

We use color to express our own personalities as well the personality of our 50s-era home. So much of what you see is earth tones and pastels and it is just not in our nature to be "safe" when it comes to decorating. Bold colors not only make our home unique and allow us to express ourselves, they make our home truly our own.

2 good color tips:

1. Find one color you love and then go from there. It's easy for things to unfold once you have your first color "idea."

2. Bright and bold is beautiful, but it's easy to overwhelm spaces with color, start out with one wall and then progress if you feel like you need more. Or balance the bold colors with a softer/subtler version on other walls.

2 good color resources:

1. Behr.com lets you see colors in sample rooms. Lots of fun and a wide range of bold colors!

2. A fabric store or any home furnishings store is a good place for inspiration. Look for that color that moves you and use the piece (whatever it may be) for inspiration.

Comments (18)

I love the pink peeking out at the end of the green hallway in Pic #1 ;-)

posted by ridge. on 2006-10-19 13:54:18

i have those sheets :)

posted by cat on 2006-10-19 14:17:42

Totally crazy. Totally awesome!

posted by Lizzie on 2006-10-19 14:36:19

Hot pink, grass green, and sand? I used the same colours in my apartment!

posted by arza on 2006-10-19 15:42:31

Reminds me of the movie Shallow Grave

posted by Schecky on 2006-10-19 16:46:50

yay i love this. im shocked that these colors work with traditional furniture.

posted by jennie (2) on 2006-10-19 16:57:18

Did you choose all the colours from the sheets?

posted by linda on 2006-10-19 18:10:29

the only color i see is on the walls...

posted by Priscilla on 2006-10-19 22:21:23

love the sheets, where are they from? love the colors generally, very nice!

posted by sally on 2006-10-19 18:50:08

Thanks for all the compliments! We are so flattered.

The sheets are from Pottery Barn and they actually came after the paint. The turquoise blue was the first thing we saw and fell in love with - the other colors seemed to come naturally after that!

posted by Katie on 2006-10-19 20:51:22

Like, like that green wall!

posted by Maryam in Marrakesh on 2006-10-20 02:19:37

While your wall colors are some of my favorite colors, the place looks a little non-committal to me. Those colors are fabulous, but I don't think you've really committed to those colors. the furniture seems a contradiction. With those beautiful and intense colors, you need furniture with simpler lines, maybe even some white to pop against the color. The heavy, dark furniture seems a contradiction, not in keeping with the light happy atmosphere of the place. Sorry, but the furniture needs to be ditched.

posted by peggy on 2006-10-20 08:00:26

Just Fab darling!! loving the whole thing, what great great taste you have!

posted by Siobhan on 2006-10-20 08:52:39

Wow, I love those colors!

posted by Amanda on 2006-10-20 13:12:18

great pictures.

posted by angelune on 2006-10-20 13:37:46

i dig the tutti frutti, but the furniture, fabrics, art and its arrangement is entirely another matter. it seems to be two completely different aesthetics, one young and juicy and kicky and one....let's just say not.

posted by purejuice on 2006-10-22 07:53:04

Love the hope chest in picture #2. Is that an heirloom???

posted by jogot on 2006-10-30 09:14:04

Love the whole lot. Think the colours blend very well together. Totally fab!!!

posted by Janet on 2006-11-02 07:44:57