apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Adorable. Your sectional is great. The art over the couch is cool. I usually don't like that kind of stuff. I guess it's all the negitive space around it that makes it interesting.

i think this might be my favorite entry so far. i love that dove grey blue-ish color in the living room. i keep seeing it paired with white accessories, warm woods, and deep oranges, and i love it.

in terms of 'design' stuff, i really like the way you've tied in generally neutral household items (black wire chairs, wooden furniture, etc.) into this color scheme. that really gives the more traditionally "colorful" items a chance to shine and helps the entire place (or what we see of it here) stay laid back and not overdecorated.

i also like the vaguely MCM vibe that isn't consumed with big ticket obvious stuff. even the eames lounger manages to look simple and useful here rather than flashy and OMG I TOTALLY HAVE A SUBSCRIPTION TO THE DWR CATALOG GUYS!).

brava!

Thanks guys! I have to say that afer submitting our pics I got so nervous about what the comments we might get would be. These two are a lovely start (no meanies yet) and much appreciated.

sophisticated, and i think the only really sophisticated entry so far.
what is the blue check on the couch?

I like that couch (great color combo).I have those wingo sculptures, too -- they look really fantastic against dark walls. You have so much floor space - it might look nice to put something on the other side of the couch too so it doesn't look so empty.

Your cone chairs in the kitchen are so great, too!

Really wonderful. Stylish AND livable. :) Also dying to know where you got your dining chairs--they've inspired me. (thanks!)

The entries with good photography really stand out. But this one is extra special too. Let's see more! Those chairs in the first picture could look really awful, but paired with the wall color and the floor, they actually look good!

That first picture really drew me in - nice mix of wood, metal and color.

I agree with pbphoenix that good photography is making a big difference. Sort of unfortunate, but true.

I think you need a bigger rug in the living room, but other than that the place looks great. I agree that there have been very few sophisticated-looking entries; this one is terrific.

Love it! Where did you get your b/w check linoleum? I will go anywhere in the Bay Area to get it! We can't find it anywhere and I see many entries here with it.

Sydney: I agree that we could use a larger rug, so hopefully we place somewhere in the contest so we can get a new one. :)

Maryam: We actually do have a seating area on the other side of the coffee table, it does make it more balanced. Good point. Just isnt pictured, due to the two photo limitation.

Purejuice: The couch was a Cragislist treasure that had been reupholstered by a girl in the area. So I dunno about the fabrics.

Becky: The cone chairs were found at a MCM store in Sacramento and we love them. I have seen some cool chairs at Mickey's Monkey on Pierce and Haight every once in awhile so you should check it out.

Yet another entry that makes me want to have black & white tiles in my kitchen! This is one of my favorite entries so far. It is similar to how I like to decorate - clean-lined furniture pieces, lots of neutral with pops of color. Relaxing but not boring. That dove grey is lovely and it looks like you get lots of nice light in the living room too.

Amanda, love your place! I had the same dilemma about my rug being too small. Because I really, really loved the furry rug, but couldn't afford the big one. I ended up sewing a couple together.

I love the simplicity of your place. I am always fascinated by people who use color well AND achieve simplicity. You use just the right amount of touches. I love the sectional, the coffee table and the wall hanging.

Good work. Thanks for sharing!

Makes me happy. I'm taking notes on this one. And I too am coveting all of the b&w kitchen floors that keep showing up, they all look so good with the color! I swear, that is getting added to the someday kitchen remodel plan.

This is fabulous. Love the chartruese wall color with the black & white check floor.

love it love it love it!

Very classy and punctuated. Plus you have a Eames chair...no fair! I want one.

Very nice! Could you tell us please the name of the blue-grey paint in the living room? I like it a lot. I think that your living room would look even better with a much bigger rug in the same style like this one

i like the art work on the back wall of your living room. are they mirrors? where'd you find them?

Chartruese against the black and white. Wonderful, and those chairs are quite nice and I love that sofa. I won't pretend to know the rights and wrongs (if any) of the design, it just looks like a really comfy place to be.

steph - the wall art is by Kenneth Wingard. I have one too and love it. Go to http://www.wingardhome.com/wallart.html

a great entry. I love this. Please tell us your paint colors!

Love the uncluttered, spare sensibility that still manages to have that warm, lived in feel. I bet you actually eat on that dining table and curl up on that sofa!! So far, one of the most cohesive, pulled together interiors of all entries.

Bravo.

I think that this is my favourite entry so far for the Northwest.

I love your living room. It looks like it would be a beautiful place to spend time, even on a rainy or foggy day, and since I'm in the Northwest, too, I know how important that is! The decor is very simple but uses different textures and materials together very nicely. And I like that you use vintage pieces that you love with restraint and style, without going over the top and having a home that looks like a 'collection'.

okay, i was one of the early dissenters of the green... but that first picture. wow. with those chairs and that floor. okay, i know understand the power of green. but more than anything in the world, that is one kick ass couch-- i wish the pretty but too tall coffee table let me see more of it!

"i NOW understand the power of green."

**peering into mug o' coffee wondering if it's actually decaf**

I really like this entry even though it feels quite unfinished. I love the green/chartreusse color, and your vintage kitchen furniture. The living room is a good start--love the three dimensional wall art and I agree with others that a bigger (and bolder) rug would do wonders for the space. But I really think you have a great style, and this apartment is really on its way.

Beautiful combination of form and color in a functional environment. This is the best that I have seen!

Amandave! I love your apartment - it makes want to move to San Fran! Maybe I'll have to come visit to make a better decision...

Very nice! I love how your apartment feels and looks so warm through your use of color and accented textures, and that you've still been able to preserve the openness and feeling of space. Space is so rare and precious in San Francisco apartments. You've done amazing work.

groovy. smart. love it.

The colors are wonderful!

Excellent!!

this defines taste.....it fact i dont believe it could be anymore tasty.

Looking at the voting and reading the comments I'm starting to pick up on how this works. My grandfather was the best (not the most genuine)furniture salesman who ever lived... his praise was inversely proportionate to the hideousness of its object. I truly don't know what to say about this grotesque entry having so many "insta finalist" votes... glad I'm not in this contest. I think I just lost interest. (I mean no harm... best wishes, etc. Okay, I'll exit now.)

KAJP is obviously off his/her meds.

So that's the difference! I'm relieved to know that you all are on drugs... geez... it stinks being the "sober one" at the party... guess I'm the D.D. here...

(lol SARASF)

Your entry is as nice as the comments you've posted!

Really like the icy blue and the vibrant pear green. I know you can't see it here, but I'm really curious, is the ceiling in the living room painted? You've got great height, a color on the ceiling would be fabulous, drawing your eyes up from the low horizontal plane of the couches. A softer version of the red cushions, a terra cotta/dusky orange would be a nice contrast.

And never read the snarky coments, they are from people with tiny...white walls.

It seems hard to believe that any of the people making such glowing comments would want to live in this space. It just doesn't invite. Doesn't work. Is that snarky? I actually like the kitchen... but, it's not exactly "insta-finalist" material, is it? When people sink into that low-rider sofa, what do they see? A big ol' white ceiling and a lot of faded out grey and white. Are those amazing fall colours? Is that "using colour" well? The wood floors are lovely. Could you put the fluffy bathtub mat back in the bathroom and get a rug that makes sense? And I don't know what to say about the so-called "art" behind the sofa... to each his own, I suppose. But, having travelled the world and having seen so much... why settle for that? Just that? Is that passing for art in America? Sad. Not trying to snark here... but, shouldn't we hold our standards a little higher? If this is "sophisticated" then I don't want sophistication... what does that mean? Looking at this living room, I'd say it means sterile, uncomfortable, uninviting, blah, blah, blah... too bad, because this place has a lot of potential. At least you can read all of the non-snarky comments and ignore mine completely! I'm only trying to be honest... no snarky feelings, I promise! Good luck!

the negative comments begin... and we started off so well! unfortunately due to the 2 photo limitation we weren't able to photograph the whole living room. as to how inviting our living room is, i'm going to have to disagree. we have friends over a few times a week and everyone loves it. how many living rooms can comfortably seat 12? if given the chance to show more photos i'm sure you will see how it all ties together. the colour is not grey at all, but rather a soothing blue/green, the light of the day washed it out a bit in the photo. regardless everyone has their own taste. my wife and i love it. so whether it's just amanda & i, or few of our closest friends over for game night the living room is a perfect place to gather, comfortably.

I think it's great that you had the couch reupholstered. The white piping on the fabric makes it look chic. I love to see older things made new, with different colors!

Looks good. I'm not going to pretend like I know the first thing about color, composition or anything. But I'd probably grow excessive sideburns and drink Tom Collinses (Tom Collins's?) while listening to South American percussion LPs if I had those rooms in my domicile.

Hmmmm. I think Kelsey has it right, though perhaps she is wrong about the exact colors... either way, I can see them as greyish myself.

Obviously if you don't like this or if you don't rave about it, it hurts people's feelings. That's too bad... because the contest requires feedback for the NO WAY voting. Anyway, this is just everyone's opinion. So, it doesn't really matter....

I just want to know what those "art" thingies over the ginormous short-seat sofas are supposed to be? Combined with the fluffy bath rug they do sorta produce a motif or random white fluffiness. I don't see much artistic value in them. Clouds themselves are more interesting... one can lie under a summer sky and imagine them as all sorts of shapes as they float overhead. Your fluffies are going to just sit there... and sit there... glad you like them... but I'd love to know if there is some meaning behind them?? Maybe that is the missing piece here?!!

It all seems a bit sparse doesn't it?

I guess you could fit twelve in there... what else is there? I would want to sit in that amazing leather chair. Now that is a work of art!

The floors are nice too. Alas, my little ol' vote won't make a bit of difference as all your friends and admirers have already voted you so highly. Good luck!

Amanda and David, what is the wall color in your living room photo? It's so nice, I think I might just repaint my dining room that very color.