Name: Hana
Location: Mountain View
Type: 1-bedroom, rented
Why I use color:
When i was growing up, my mom always kept a beautiful home for us. I've been raised to love "tasteful." One of the ways to have a "tasteful" home is, according to my mom, to use lots of neutral colors. She called them timeless. Our house wasn't boring. Teaspoons from all over Europe, beautiful modern pottery pieces, and playful artworks filled our house. While I inherited most of my mother's aesthetics, I love bold colors. Since I rent an apartment, my decor doesn't need to be timeless. My aesthetics are constantly evolving. Every year, I find new things beautiful and try to incorporate them into my environment. I bring colors to my place in small splashes. I do not have the luxury of being able to paint the walls. I bring colors to my place in a chair, in a pillow, in a stuffed animal, and even in a collection of books.
i like it, you have some cool collections.
I think the living room looks really nice, I love the colors of the furniture and pillows (the patterns are great too). The second picture is just too bare though. I'll count the books as color since you've actually set some of them up as a display instead of just sticking on them on the shelf. It's just kind of a stark area, and though it doesn't look bad by any means, I just don't think it's especially skillful. I do like how you tried to fill some empty space on the wall with the hanging flowers(?), but it still needs something imo.
i completely agree with amanda. there are other entries who use almost the same colors and type of decorations and look much better. while i like the style of furniture and stuffed toys and most definitely snoopy, the color design needs more attention. maybe bigger things on the walls you can't paint?
Pull-eeeze! Red and green plastic furniture?
Well... I guess if you enjoy living with furniture made from petrochemicals.
OK
I disagree with the posts so far. The first picture I wasn't so enamored with. Nice, but kinda boring. The second picture was where I was impressed. I think it's hard to tell a color story with a lot of elements, without it looking too kitchy or contrived. There are enough elements for me to want to see where each of those pops of color are coming from, but not too many that I give up prematurely. It's fun!
do you have kids or are those your stuffed animals?
wow, elliot b., i hope you live in a bubble!
cool space, it's young and fun (more stuff on the walls would be nice, though, it's a bit sparse looking).
i love the mix of elements: a well-loved stuffed animal here, gorgeous eames rocking chair there... and i'm thoroughly impressed by the way you arranged your books... good luck!
I would never live in a bubble. That's plastic too.
The first picture really does evoke fall colors for me, and the grouping seems cozy, and the perfect place to peacefully curl up and read. The whimsy in the stuffed animals adds on top of the couch adds to that effect. You have balance in the colors and the room comes across as genuinely livable, rather than artificial.
Having lived in several apartments, especially while younger, I know the frustration of not being able to paint. What I love about the second picture is that it immediately set my mind spinning about how, by simply regrouping the colors in my existing library, and adding a few fun touches of "found" objects, small vases, toys, or other splashes of sentiment and color, I could easily transform an ordinary room into a space that made me smile. The tips are great, too, especially for people who want practical and easy ways to improve their environment through color on a budget.
I think it looks awesome!
You have a nice balance in your apartment. The first picture is very earthy and warm. The second picture is modern and eclectic. I especially like the arrangement of three pumpkins, two flowers, and bunch of oranges.
haha, it's true. maybe that wasn't the 'zinger' i was going for, as you've clearly underminded it! still, though, calling someone out on their chair's "petrochemical content"? COME ON!
The best thing about this entry: all the colourful comments. Read those and skip the pictures. For me, though livable and nice, it is not anything special. Best of luck though!
eeeee, totoro!
i think this entry is a great example how to make a space yours and personal, but not so much with color.
It's a color contest, and I'm not seeing much color.
I was just in a bad mood. Actually I think the colors are nicely done :)
I really love your place. I think it's warm and cozy and brings a smile to my face.
For me, colours should be used to draw us in... I just don't feel drawn into this place. The first space seems really uncomfortable and the colours contrived in a "don't worry, I'm bringin' 70s back on purpose" kind of way. The second little niche, says "don't mess this up or mommy will be mad". Maybe I'm way off. But, I voted "no way".
I really like the way you hung your art above the sofa. I like the size and arrangement of the photos(?). Wish I could see 'em. The colors feel very balanced even though you seem to have a more experimental approach; I think you must have an innately good eye. I also like how you've kept things bright and small and on the low side to make the space feel bigger and allow for more flexibility. Well done!
And extra points for the TOTORO, of course!
Subtle and cute. It's a nice clean look.