Name: NinaRibena
Location: Canberra, Australia
Type: Bungalow, Newly extended to 5 bedrooms.
Why I use color:
Life without colour would drive me mad, it gives life to my own environment. The design of a home should absolutely reflect who lives in it, and mine is constantly evolving. I have tried to use colour in a way that adds warmth and fun...
I have two small children and I choose to credit them with good taste, and so avoiding primary colours in my decoration, I have teamed slightly more sophisticated reds and chartreuse with muted shades of grey/brown in a fun way. Many of the artworks and furnishings are all my own creations, the tall painting in the dining room and the apple-art in the family room tie the colours together perfectly and keep the mood light hearted and playful.
I like my home a little bit zany, luckily I have a husband who lets me go for it (well most of the time)!
2 Good color tips:
1. all-over room coverage in candy colours can only end in madness (our house when we bought it!)
2. use a theme board or sample board to put your look together before you go for itand dont be boring!
Favorite type and brand of paint:
Wattyl ID, matt acrylic.
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Comments from when entry was posted on AT:NY (oops!):
Nice, but it's mostly the same color scheme used as an accent - I'd like to see a little more variation.
posted by kygirl on 2007-10-05 12:35:28
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Wow. Can I please move in? Seriously, winter is coming in NYC!!
This looks so warm and inviting...love all the fabric on the walls....
posted by Clairepetrol on 2007-10-05 12:36:50
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now THIS is judicious use of colour, and in a home with kids too! it works.
posted by ange_lune on 2007-10-05 12:37:32
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I enjoy and respect this entry, because it seems to be one of only a few, in which the person knows how to truly deal with color, and not just slap up half the color wheel on one wall and call it inventive. Using color needs to be done in an edited manner otherwise i just screams indecision on the part of the owner.
I also really enjoy the furniture placement in the 4th picture. (childs playroom??) its minimal and chic but still comfortable. Nice job!! i vote "insta-finalist"
posted by E.M.H on 2007-10-05 12:39:11
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hi - i'm new here (and probably on the wrong thread). i'm in ny and in the market for a custom rug and looking for any suggestions on stores or contacts in the ny area. we have been working with abc carpet but have run into some problems - the sample we ordered is now 2 months delayed - concerned that the actual rug could take forever. any help with names #s would be appreciated. thanks.
posted by csb123456 on 2007-10-05 12:43:11
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Love all the different patterns in the fabrics usd throughout the space, and I LOVE the bright red and green punches of color. Nothing is overdone, its just enough and its so warm. Great entry.
posted by kasia on 2007-10-05 12:46:01
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csb123456, go to the Open Thread and re-post your question.
I really like this entry! I'm partial to reds, so that's no doubt part of my enthusiasm. Yes, it is "the same color scheme" throughout, but that's a big part of why I think it works. Using color well certainly doesn't mean using EVERY color, does it? This gets an insta-finalist vote from me!
posted by cmcinnyc on 2007-10-05 12:47:31
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csb--repost your question on today's open thread.
This is lovely. Yes, it is the same colour scheme used throughout--and that's mighty difficult. I like how the bright colours are used: just enough to cheer you, not enough to oppress you. Lovely.
posted by Alana in Canada on 2007-10-05 12:50:23
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I love it ... being one of those who move quite often, I love the fact that this is also a to-go color solution.
posted by Emmm on 2007-10-05 12:50:36
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its beautiful - but come on - shouldn't this go in the west coast competitions???
posted by Meg on 2007-10-05 12:51:37
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It's really nice and fun (and I like that you consider your kids to be more sophisticated than red, yellow, and blue); and I love the fabric on the walls, as well as the pink and green throw on the couch (WHERE did you get that??).
I just don't think it's the "boldest" or "most colorful" home I've seen so far.
posted by shani-o on 2007-10-05 12:51:49
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Ooh la la! It looks like you really played around with plums, pinks and reds, and the result is really fun - and I love how those colors interplay with the greens in the last picture. And you really have a great eye for prints.
As for a suggestion - would you consider getting a larger and/or more colorful rug for under the dining table? The barely-big-enough gray rug isn't doing much.
posted by mmadden on 2007-10-05 13:05:12
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Copyright © 2008 Apartment Therapy
Sorry about the mix-up, everyone! This was posted on AT:NY earlier but has now been copied over. The voting hasn't been affected. The comments from NY, however, didn't copy over into the comment section, so you can see them above.
view leslie's profile
Love it!
view Lady J's profile
Absolutely delightful. One of my favorite entries so far. You have pulled off a sophisticated use of color (non-primary) and come up with something at once cozy and modern. I love the restrained hand and the airy feel of the place. Even the patterns are a welcome addition and done with a soft touch.
Great job. Quite an accomplishment. Hope to see you in the finals.
view peggy's profile
P.S. - sorry, can you tell me about the second photo? Are those canvases covered with fabric? Love them.
Also - though beautiful, I usually find Amy Butler a bit predictable, but your use of her fabric does not look so cliche. Looks fantastic with that cross pillow, chartruese canvas and Asian-inspired lamp. You have a great eye.
view peggy's profile
your dining room chairs are fantastic!
view lala's profile
I really love the accent color throughout, it ties the rooms together so nicely! This is definitely color that is 'livable,' well-edited, and not overwhelming. And I've been looking for storage cubbies (2nd picture) like the ones in your landing strip FOREVER--with rounded corners, not straight edges. I know you're in Australia, but can anyone help me out with an online source or a stateside store? Thanks!
view mint's profile
Yay! An Australian entry! And a gorgeous one to boot! LOVE it. So fresh and happy.
Note to editors: Any chance of ever getting an ATOz or beginning an Australian segment on one of the west coast sites?
view stoat's profile
I loved your place! I wish I could live in a home like this :) Insta-finalist!
view erika_ees's profile
The children's room has such a fun, yet open, easy, uncluttered feel to it. I think too often, I equate children and fun with colors and 'stuff' everywhere.
I love the cubicles in the mudroom/hallway! I am looking for something like that. Where did you find them?!
view KateClaire's profile
I love this entry, particularly the fact that it's kid-friendly. Where did you get your dining table and chairs from? (Please say somewhere in Oz!) And I love the landing strip with the small cushion that kids can use to sit on while they take off their shoes. I've been racking my brain trying to figure out how to do something like that in my small apartment. This entry has given me lots of ideas.
view Kat's profile
Very nice.
What are the chairs in the first photo?
view Caitlin in Seattle's profile
Love, love LOVE the dining room.
view Candice's profile
Clever use of colour without overpowering. Means you can redecorate easily by just replacing the accessories, without having to repaint the entire house. Love the shades of red with the green...refreshing!
view candi75's profile
Thankyou everyone for your brilliant comments so far! To answer a couple of your queries... Peggy, the canvasses in the entry hall are covered with some gorgeous papers. Lala, our dining chairs were actually thrifted ($20 for the 4! I made the cushions). The table was a MAGIS designer splurge (available via. The rounded storage cubes were from Hotdollar, similar ones seen recently at Homeart (all in Australia sorry!). And the rug in the dining room...would adore to have a Nanimarquina number in there, but the budget wont stretch sadly!!! such is life!
view ninaribena's profile
ooh, i'd love to chill out at a place like this. :)
view greengelato's profile
This shows a nice balance to me, the colors are stimulating enough for kids but grown-up at the same time. You are so lucky to have found those dining chairs!
view RJD's profile
Hey Ribena! Its beaut.And I reckon easy in future to bring in another colour accent to the red/green or just one of them as time lets you change your moods...I get obsessed with a colour too and then somehow life shifts and Im ready for a smidge of something different and gradually Im in a completely new colour phase...its interesting just to observe...Go Woman!XRuth(&Harry)
view mannamamma's profile
I love this room... and the small cubbies. I'm definitely stealing some ideas for my new place!
view JuliaL's profile
Very nice! Love the dining room especially. Where is the throw on the sofa in the last pic from?
view sporkyspice's profile
Good variety of design and display within a theme of core colours without looking like a pastel circus..
view seascape's profile
On the third photo there are rounded corner open boxes in white. I am wondering where they could be bought. Though I live in Europe, so quite far from Australian and the US, I would love to know where are such furnitures available. Thanks
view chybee's profile
I would love to know where you got that ladybug!!! My toddler would love that. =)
view BloggingMama's profile
Hi BloggingMama,
The lady bug is a favourite here too! It's called a "Wheely Bug", made in Australia. We got ours on an online store.
http://www.wheelybug.com/
Available in the US thru http://www.princelionheart.com/site/p_wheely_7503.html
lots of fun,
Cheers, Ninaribena
view ninaribena's profile