Name: Elizabeth and Toby
Location: Oakland
Type: 2 bedroom lower unit of a duplex - rented
Why I use color:
To claim our space. When we moved into our apartment EVERYTHING was the same color of white - walls, ceilings, trim, cabinets, built-ins, throughout the entire apartment. And let's face it, unless you're going for the super minimalist, super modern look, all white just looks styleless. The first thing that we did, before moving in furniture or anything, was paint the walls, and immediately it made the space feel more personal. Especially in a rental, where you can't make any big structural changes, adding color through paint, accessories, and art makes a space feel uniquely "you" and not just like renter #46. . .
. . .We also use color to balance out our personalities. Toby is totally a neutral guy - his office is all blacks, whites, and greys, and the whole house would be too if he had his way with it. Elizabeth, however, is the kind of girl who thinks bright turquoise is the perfect color for bedroom walls. So we balanced, by having the neutral walls (which are a greenish tan) and furniture, and then adding the bright yellow accessories, along with some greens, oranges, pinks, and blues. It gives Elizabeth enough bright, and Toby enough calm to make us both happy in the space.
2 good color tips:
1. Create "areas" of color in a room. You can start with a neutral base and add splashes of color to different parts of the room, allowing you to get multiple colors in without having it feel too crazy. We have a corner with all blue objects, a brown and yellow area, a green corner, etc. They all tie together through the neutral walls. Flowers are great for this, they're a big part of our design, and you can change flowers when your mood changes, bringing a whole different range of colors and so feel to your room.
2. Art! Art is a great way to bring color into a room, and can be a really affordable way to do it. We don't have a single piece that cost over $100, and most cost much much less. If you're strapped for cash, you can frame wallpaper scraps, wrapping paper, greeting cards, etc. (like we did) to add blocks of color and pattern. We think this looks best done in groups, and will probably add some more when we find more paper we like, but a really stunning card or paper could stand on its own.
2 good color resources:
1. Florist shops. A never ending source of color, and an especially great way to take a color home with you and try it out in your space. We never thought of using purple with the yellows and greens until a friend brought us some irises and they just popped in the room. Also great because if you get bored, you can switch them out. We sometimes will do all yellow flowers, all white, or a mix.
2. eBay is great because you come across things you never would have thought of. Example: a search for "vase" or "wall paper" will get you a ton of hits, which you can then sift through and find things you would have never thought of that will look perfect in your room. If you're having a hard time looking for the perfect accent color, try looking for the perfect accent piece and then go off the colors in it.
Oakland, wuht wuht!
are those some paper-source papers I see in the frames in the first picture?
Very nice, comfy and pretty and not pretentious in any way. I's like to be here.
beautiful home...i just wish there was more color.
I voted Insta-Finalist because everything seems to have been picked to work within this space.
What is more amazing is that it works without a matchy-matchy feeling. Instead of distributing items in the same color evenly around the space, it just seems that all the colors are chosen from a specific palette that you can pick any one out of the palette and it will work with whatever you set it next too.
Lovely and relaxing.
Please, what is the name of the paint you used? It makes me feel so calm!
I voted Insta Finalist because even though there's not a ton of bright color here, I really love it and respond to it, so it my book that's skillful. I can't quite figure out what the wall color is, but it's really nice. The pillows in the first picture look great, and I like how you bring the yellow up with the art. I love the art and plants in the second picture. This room is just so classy.
Lovely place - calm and peaceful with good punches of color. The color is subtle, but very well thought out.
Side note: Paper-Source uses very questionable labor practices in their Chicago warehouse. There was a big dustup earlier this year with protesters taking over one of their stores. I've steered clear since. Sad- since their papers are so great.
The color scheme in the second picture is elegant and calming to boot! There is nice color, handsome architectural elements, and graceful flowers.
My bone to pick is with the first pic: the pops of color in the pillows make the otherwise sedate/relaxing color on the wall just seem sort of drab. I don't know if they are too bold for the wall, or just the wrong color altogether. Replace those and I'm fine. At any rate, love the wall color with those floors!
What I wouldn't give for those built ins...
Can you please share the origin of that picture on the fireplace? lovely.
I voted Insta-finalist because I love the calm feeling of the wall color coupled with the uplifting counterpoint of the yellow. I am assuming a few of the accessories on the mantel are also yellow - at least they seem to be. I also like the amount of accessorizing. The room is warm and inviting, revealing lots of personality, without feeling overdone.
What Karen says is right. And everything in these rooms feels right too. What a beautiful entry. Great fall colours... everything nearly perfect while remaining perfectly inviting. Good luck!
Just gorgeous.
Where did the lovvely little table in the top pic come from?
Thanks so much for all the great comments everyone! We really love our new home (we've only been here for 3 months) and are glad that other people do too.
I'll try to answer some of the questions/comments now.
- Some of the framed pieces in the first picture are Paper Source papers (some are wallpaper samples, and some are cards.) Modfan - I hadn't heard about their questionable labor practices at all before, and will definitely look into this. Really disappointing, because their papers and stores are so beautiful, but we really try to be socially conscious in our shopping, so thanks for letting me know. Bummer.
- Pearl - The wall color is Behr's Lion. It actually is more green than the pictures show (at least how they show on my monitor) - it's a really subtle color that changes dramatically with the light. During the day when there's a lot of natural light it's a warm tan with some yellow and green tones, but at night when there's all artificial light it turns into a pretty pale green. The best thing about it is that it looks great in all of its variations.
- Hanifa - the built ins were one of the reasons we went for this place (I looked at 40 apartments before we found this one!) Now I just need to finish moving books, etc into them.
The art over the fireplace is a print done by a good friend of ours, Lacey Volk. She is amazing, and this piece of hers is probably my favorite piece in our house. I especially love it because when you get up close you see that the image is made up of hundreds (thousands?) of tiny pointing hand symbols, repeated over and over. She's currently an artist-in-residence at St. Mary's College in Maryland, and I can give you her contact information if you're interested in seeing more of her work.
- Karen - you're right, a few of the accessories on the mantel are yellow. There are small spots of yellow all around the room, which help keep your eyes moving.
- Deb - the table is from West Elm. I think it unfortunately has sold out now.
Thanks again everyone! Your comments make us feel the same way our living room does - all warm and fuzzy inside.
Artistic but homey and comfortable all at once.
Really nice, very soothing and tastefully done, and a satisfying combination of colors that I wouldn't think would work together, but they do. My only objection is the grouping of so many tiny, framed pieces. I don't think they add anything. I'd go for one larger and more striking work. All I get from the pic is too many wooden frames surrounding non-descript imagery.
grey and yellow is a really sophisticated kinda tangy combination, and it resonates that its the result of a partnership of tastes. i like the grey and yellow abstract non art on the walls. call me shallow.
nice entry, thank you.
Very nice and inviting.
mojorly stylized without being remotely oppressive, there is a nice air of calm in what you see.
i second lisa from VA's comments - everything goes perfectly together without being matchy-matchy. it's great.
I love the colors and decor you have selected for your apartment! It looks, and I'm sure is very comfortable - no stiffness at all, just totatally inviting. Terrific work. You have my vote for Insta-Finalist!
Great use of color. An artist at work in a serene setting. A place I'd like to come home to.
Lovely, lovely. But, why nothing in the beautiful cabinets? Do you have no books? What's going to go there?
Hey everyone, it's Elizabeth again.
Kelsey - the matching cabinets on the other side of the fireplace are filled with books, and I have several more boxes of books to unpack into the side you see, but just haven't gotten around to getting them out of storage at my parents' house yet. The emptiness bugs me too, but don't worry, they won't empty for much longer!
Tons of thanks again to everyone for all the great comments, we're really overjoyed that so much love is coming in over the internet for our little home!
Your home is amazing and beautiful, but I wish there was color on the walls. Maybe your still figuring it out, or it's a rental? Jump off that color bridge and dive into some fun!
Perfect example of "less is more". Claaaasseeee. Bravo!
Nice example of yellows used nicely. Usually I think yellow is scary, but not here. :)
Go Oakland! great spacing of the small frames and complementary art/patterns
I know I'm a little late to the party here, but catching up on some voting. I love neutrals and this is inspiring- no red accent walls or lime green chandeliers, and yet the use of color is so clear and purposeful. Elizabeth, I know you've answered a lot of questions, but one more: Where did you get the greenish yellow pillow on the couch? I'm shopping for throw pillows and love that one.
Thanks- well done.
Hey ESP,
no problem, I'm happy to answer questions! And thanks so much for the compliments.
The pillow is actually lemon yellow, no green, but I know that it's showing up greenish on a lot of computers (unfortunately my good camera wasn't working when I took pictures, so they didn't come out quite as well as I would have liked.)
It's a Thomas Paul pillow, but is a pattern that's currently discontinued. However, you can find a lot of the older ones on eBay, which is where that particular one came from. They are my all time favorite pillows, in fact all of the pillows you see in the pictures are Thomas Paul. Great patterns and great colors.
thanks again!
Oooh! I dig this. And I'm such a bright color person, normally. Inspired use of those bits of intense yellows and other colors in amid those botanical-creamy walls. So soothing and comfortable!
Elizabeth,
I love your chairs. Where did you buy them?
Susan
Hey Susan,
They're the POANG chair from IKEA. We'd been seeing them forever at the store, and always thought they were confortable but not very attractive (or well, just very very IKEA looking,) until we saw them in leather, and it made all the difference. They are pricey in leather - about $300 each, but have become so ubiquitous that we were able to get them in the wood color and with the leather cushions we wanted in brand new condition off craiglist for about $100 each. And they are so so comfortable.
Thanks!
Ok this may be my favorite room in the contest.
I love that the color is used in a subtle way such that it creates a really cohesive design...not hello! its a yellow/green room! like many of the entries. It is also a great room to begin with- the fireplace and built-ins are wonderful. I love the artwork above the fireplace...and I am a sucker for Thomas Paul pillows.
I also find this room inspirational, as I am looking for a way to incorporate color into my black and white living room (including my collection of black/white TP pillows).....really great, thanks for sharing!
I've looked at at least 20 rooms and this one is the first that I wanted to duplicate. Very well coordinated - modern but not too much. Airy and very comfortable.
Thanks so much everyone, this was so much fun. We are SO flattered that people have been inspired by our space!
If anyone is interested in seeing more pictures of our living room, you can click on my name at the bottom.
Thanks again to everyone for all the great comments!
Your home is beautiful and inspirational..but a question mark pops into my head when I see neutral tones included in a color contest. Neutrals are colors too! (i hear you).
view daniele's profile