apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time


#11 - Lyssa's Personalized Colors

Name: Lyssa
Location: Oakland
Type: Rented one bedroom railroad apartment

Why I use color:

After living in my apartment for a year and going through several major life changes (including marriage and pregnancy), I needed to reclaim and reinvent my home. Adding color to the walls transformed my bland rental apartment into a personalized home in a cost-effective, reversible way.

10-16-lyssa2.jpg

I chose each room's color palette to set the mood, maximize the light and unify the decor. In some cases the wall colors determined the furnishings, in others the accents determined the wall colors. Since my apartment has only three rooms, I gave each one its own color, defining each space and diversifying my home's palette.

10-16-lyssa3.jpg

2 Good color tips:

Make the extra effort and go for the two tone room. Don't get so attached to one idea that you choose an imperfect shade. If the color patches aren't working out like you imagined, try a totally different color.

10-16-lyssa4.jpg

Favorite type and brand of paint:

Benjamin Moore Aura

10-16-lyssa5.jpg

Comments (20)

way to make this space your own.

posted by colellis on 2007-10-16 15:09:19
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That chair in your living room is amazing

posted by ll on 2007-10-16 15:10:35
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I like most of this. Some of this is just terrible to me but other things are fantastic.

posted by DubTriptych on 2007-10-16 17:16:18
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I love your kitchen!

posted by dancingspring on 2007-10-16 17:31:26
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It seems like we're seeing a lot of green kitchens this year. Interesting. Anyway, this is a lovely space, because it shows off your individuality.

posted by mmadden on 2007-10-16 21:52:08
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lovely!

posted by sanna on 2007-10-17 05:10:46
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Congrats on making it your own...your definately on to something here. I could see your kitchen improving by introducing another (contrasting) color to give it some depth. It seems a little too matchy-matchy, its needs to be broken up a bit, even with something small. How about a robin's blue le creuset set?

posted by plasticransom on 2007-10-17 13:19:31
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Love the shot from one room to another. the colors go so well together.

posted by ebrown on 2007-10-17 23:22:00
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I absolutely adore that kitchen. It looks so calm and the plant fits it so perfectly.

posted by Kuri on 2007-10-17 23:23:33
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love the light green color in the kitchen!

posted by LuluLiz on 2007-10-18 01:08:40
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Really, really lovely. I love how all the colors are unique, and yet subtle enough to blend when you're able to see multiple rooms at once. And it's really nice that the kitchen is a bolder, as a counterpoint to the rest of the place. Well done!

posted by samsd on 2007-10-18 10:18:34
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I like how the two greens play off of each other in the kitchen area.

posted by orangejuce on 2007-10-18 11:32:59
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something went colorful wrong here!!!!

posted by carliepop on 2007-10-18 15:13:40
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silver radiator? oh pray tell how did you do that! we have 3 radiators (4, really, but one is behind the shoe closet in the entry) and they are all exposed.

posted by olya on 2007-10-19 13:32:46
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I love the circular chair by the window and the lavender wall color.

posted by bohemiangirlpdx on 2007-10-19 15:16:12
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Unfortunately, the paint on the radiator is lead based, it came with the apartment, along with strict instructions to keep the baby away from it.

posted by Lyssa on 2007-10-22 00:10:12
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Love the chair and the window. Good Luck!!

posted by DAVIDTHOMSEN on 2007-10-22 18:50:33
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That rocking horse (?) is adorable.

posted by jigglyphurbs on 2007-10-24 12:30:04
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you've got some nice pieces of furniture with lots of character.

posted by flyinglimegreen on 2007-10-26 12:57:39
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Loving the yellows in the living room, would you share the color names? Assuming they are BM...

posted by BloggingMama on 2007-11-03 11:26:35
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